Turkey | Common News Update

Dec192020 by adminNo Comments

Hospital fire kills 8 COVID-19 patients at ICU in Turkey

Health

Turkish media say eight people have been killed in a fire at an intensive care unit treating COVID-19 patientsByThe Associated PressDecember 19, 2020, 9:32 AM• 2 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleANKARA, Turkey -- A fire broke out Saturday at an intensive care unit treating COVID-19 patients in southern Turkey after an oxygen cylinder exploded, killing eight people, state-run media reported.The Anadolu news agency said the fire took place at the privately-run Sanko University Hospital unit in Gaziantep. It cited a hospital statement identifying the victims as being between 56 and 85. The fire was quickly brought under control.The statement said 14 patients undergoing intensive care treatment were transferred to other hospitals. An investigation was underway.The pro...

Dec142020 by adminNo Comments

Trump administration sanctions Turkey for Russian missile system

World

Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The Trump administration hit Turkey with a round of sanctions Monday for purchasing a Russian missile defense system in 2017. President Donald Trump had initially stalled on hitting the NATO ally with sanctions, even though Turkey's purchase of the missile system violated U.S. sanctions law. Advertisement The delay brought complaints from Republicans and Democrats and Congress had recently passed the annual defense policy bill that required Trump to enact the sanctions within 30 days. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a deal to purchase the S-400 missile system for $ 2.5 billion with Russian President Vladimir Putin. NATO allies argued that the system posed a threat to their allies and U.S. warplanes like the F-35. Turkey said the Presidency of Defense Industrie...

Dec122020 by adminNo Comments

EU approves sanctions on Turkey for gas drilling

World

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- European Union leaders agreed to impose sanctions against officials in Turkey and their entities for gas drilling off waters claimed by Cyprus, bringing a retort from Turkey and disappointment from Greece. The EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell said the bloc will name those individuals and companies facing sanctions in the "next few weeks" while holding off on the possibility of harsher sanctions until they can consult with the incoming United States administration under President-elect Joe Biden. Advertisement Greece and France pushed the EU for tougher action, saying it already agreed it would hit Turkey with sanctions if it didn't stop its actions. Turkey had been sending its Oruc Reis research vessel in Greek waters but removed it when Germany intervened. Turkey i...

Dec32020 by adminNo Comments

Turkey announces vaccination plan for Chinese CoronaVac

Health

Turkey’s health minister has announced a vaccination plan starting with an experimental “inactivated vaccine” later this month to combat the COVID-19 pandemic amid a surge in infections and deathsBy ZEYNEP BILGINSOY Associated PressDecember 3, 2020, 8:58 AM• 4 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleISTANBUL -- Turkey’s health minister has announced a vaccination plan starting with an experimental “inactivated vaccine” later this month to combat the COVID-19 pandemic amid a surge in infections and deaths.Fahrettin Koca had previously announced an agreement with Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech for 50 million doses of CoronaVac, which is currently in Phase 3 trials. Koca said in a statement late Wednesday that the first shipment of the inactivated vaccine...

Oct252020 by adminNo Comments

France withdraws ambassador to Turkey amid rising tension with Erdogan

World

Oct. 24 (UPI) -- France has withdrawn its ambassador to Turkey for "consultations" after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insulted President Emmanuel Macron in television remarks over the treatment of Muslims in France. Macron has vowed to work against "Islamist separatism" in France after a Paris teacher was beheaded in a plot linked to anger over cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad used in a middle school class. Advertisement "What is the problem of this person called Macron with Muslims and Islam?" Erdogan said in the central Turkish city of Kayseri on Saturday. "Macron needs treatment on a mental level. What else can be said to a head of state who does not understand freedom of belief and who behaves in this way to millions of people living in his country who are members ...