Turkey news stories on Newser

Turks Suspect Bird Is Israeli Spy

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:03:50 CDT

A tiny bird triggered a peck of trouble in a Turkish village when residents became convinced the creature was an Israeli spy. The dead European bee-eater was discovered wearing a metal band stamped with the word "Israel." Investigating villagers determined that the cheeper's nostrils were larger than average, possibly large...

Turkey: Syria Firing Across Our Border

Matt Cantor — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:37:44 CDT

Syrian government forces killed two and wounded three in a cross-border shooting into Turkey yesterday, according to Turkish officials. The shots, which rang out near one of the biggest Syrian refugee camps, came days before a UN-brokered cease-fire was set to begin, further indicating that the deal is on thin...

Turkey to US Museums: We Want Our Stuff Back

John Johnson — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 09:36:45 CDT

Turkey has taken note of how neighbors Italy and Greece have cajoled US museums into returning their long-lost antiquities, and it wants in. The government has asked four American facilities—the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Met, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and Harvard's Dumbarton Oaks collection—to return a...

Turkey Closes Syria Embassy

Kevin Spak — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:27:03 CDT

Turkey shut down its embassy in Syria today, and plans to join with the US to provide “nonlethal” aid to Syria's rebels. White House officials tell the New York Times that the two nations will provide things like communication equipment and medical supplies directly to opposition groups, and urge their...

Turkish Helicopter Crashes Into House in Afghanistan

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:10:05 CDT

A Turkish military helicopter crashed into a house near the Afghan capital today, killing 12 Turkish soldiers on board and two girls on the ground, Turkish and Afghan officials say. It was by far the deadliest incident involving Turkish soldiers in Afghanistan, where they have a noncombat role. The helicopter,...

Syria Studding Refugee Routes With Mines

Kevin Spak — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 07:04:30 CDT

Earlier reports accused Syria of planting landmines along its Lebanese border, and according to witnesses, the practice shows no sign of waning. Mines are being placed along the routes refugees typically use to flee into neighboring Lebanon and Turkey, Human Rights Watch said today, citing eyewitness reports. One former Syrian...

More Syrian Generals Defect to Opposition

Matt Cantor — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:13:05 CST

More military leaders are defecting in Syria: Reuters reports that four high-ranking officers jumped ship and reached a deserters' camp in Turkey. One rebel leader says a total of seven brigadier generals have now joined the opposition. The AP also notes four military defections, though the ranks are different. Regardless,...

Global Happiness Tops Pre-Recession Levels

Mark Russell — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:54:58 CST

People are happier today than they were before the worldwide recession hit, according to an Ipsos survey of 19,000 adults in 24 countries, reports the Economist . Those calling themselves "happy" numbered 77% in the poll, up from 74% in 2007, and those who labeled themselves "very happy" was up...

Docs Perform First Quadruple Limb Transplant

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:58:05 CST

Doctors in Turkey say they have performed the world's first quadruple limb transplant on a man who lost both arms and legs at age 13, Sky News reports. The 20-hour operation at a hospital in Ankara required more than 50 doctors working on the patient, 27-year-old Sevket Cavdar. "We have...