ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey has designated the insurgent group Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organisation, according to a presidential decision published on Friday, as Damascus prepares for a military assault in northwest Syria where the group holds sway. The notice in the Official Gazette matches a decision by the United Nations in June to add Tahrir al-Sham to the list of people and organisations whose assets are to be frozen because of links to militant groups al Qaeda and Islamic State. It comes before an expected attack by the Syrian army, backed by Russia, on the northwestern Syrian region of Idlib which is home to nearly 3 million people on the border with Turkey. Tahrir al-Sham, which includes the al Qaeda-linked group formerly known as Nusra Front, is the most powerful jihadist alliance in Idlib, the last major rebel-controlled enclave outside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's control. Russia said on Friday the Syrian government had every right to chase terrorists out of … [Read more...] about Turkey designates Syria’s Tahrir al-Sham as terrorist group
Turkey
Turkey’s Erdogan says Turkey needs S-400 missile defence systems
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey needs Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries and will procure them as soon as possible, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday. The United States has expressed concern that NATO ally Turkey's planned deployment of the S-400s could risk the security of some U.S.-made weapons and other technology used by Turkey, including the F-35 jet. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for military officers, Erdogan said Turkey also needs F-35 fighter jets and will continue to pay its installments to procure them from the United States, but would procure jets elsewhere if the United States halts the delivery of the F-35 fighter jets. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Sarah Dadouch; Editing by David Dolan) … [Read more...] about Turkey’s Erdogan says Turkey needs S-400 missile defence systems
Turkey hikes tax on forex deposits to prop up lira
Turkey on Friday (Aug 31) raised tax on foreign currency deposits in a bid to prop up the tumbling lira, in a presidential decision published in the official gazette. The lira has lost nearly 45 percent of its value against the dollar since the beginning of this year AFP/Yasin AKGUL The withholding tax on foreign currency deposits of up to six months was raised from 18 to 20 per cent, while tax on deposits of up to one year was hiked from 15 to 16 per cent, under the decision that came into force on Friday. Meanwhile tax on lira savings deposits of up to six months was brought down from 15 to 5 per cent. Tax on deposits of up to one year came down to 3 from 12 per cent, and to zero from 10 per cent on deposits of more than one year. The news helped the lira rebound slightly following earlier losses, trading Friday at 6.5 against the dollar and 7.6 against the euro. The embattled lira had tumbled almost 5 per cent in value on Thursday, trading at around 6.7 to the dollar, amid … [Read more...] about Turkey hikes tax on forex deposits to prop up lira
A look at Turkey’s post-coup crackdown
Updated 8:20 am CDT, Thursday, August 30, 2018 Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second right, receives greetings by naval officers on Victory Day at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. Turkey celebrates Victory Day on Aug. 30, to mark the Turkish victory against Greek forces at the Battle of Dumlupinar, the crucial battle of the War of Independence in 1922 that led subsequently to the foundation of modern Turkish republic. (Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool) less Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second right, receives greetings by naval officers on Victory Day at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. Turkey celebrates Victory Day on ... more Photo: AP Photo: AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 Turkey's President Recep … [Read more...] about A look at Turkey’s post-coup crackdown
Purged NATO officer speaks out after escaping jail in Turkey
Lorne Cook, Associated Press Updated 8:22 am CDT, Thursday, August 30, 2018 In this photo taken on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, Cafer Topkaya, a former naval officer posted to NATO, gestures, during an interview in his apartment in Brussels. After more than a year in prison in Turkey, Topkaya, fled the country and a potentially heavy sentence for crimes he says he did not commit. less In this photo taken on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, Cafer Topkaya, a former naval officer posted to NATO, gestures, during an interview in his apartment in Brussels. After more than a year in prison in Turkey, ... more Photo: Virginia Mayo, AP FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014 file photo, flags flutter in the wind in front of NATO headquarters in Brussels. After more than a year in prison in Turkey, a former naval officer posted to NATO fled the country and a potentially heavy sentence for crimes he says he did not commit. less FILE … [Read more...] about Purged NATO officer speaks out after escaping jail in Turkey