The world's "most expensive airport" sells a piece of banana for nearly $7, that's Rs 582. Istanbul Airport is the unofficial leader when it comes to the price tag of its food and beverages. A Daily Mail report suggests that passengers have to shell out nearly 20 dollars (Rs 1,698) for a beer that sells for $1.70 (Rs 145) in the city.
Passengers at the Istanbul Airport say that the food and drinks have unbelievable price tags. A Big Mac costs $24 (Rs 2,086), a measly-looking piece of lasagna costs $27.78 (Rs 2,376), and a savoury croissant could be anywhere between $16.44 (Rs 1,406) and $19.84 (Rs 1,697).
Leonard Berberi, a writer for the Italian news website L&rsquo;Economia, spotted the overpriced items at Istanbul Airport, Turkey, and could not believe his eyes. He described the lasagna as something that looked like a "piece of brick" with "grated cheese and a pseudo-basil leaf."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ryanair-called-police-on-woman-after-their-in-flight-card-machine-malfunctioned-8937374" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ryanair called police on woman after the in-flight card machine malfunctioned and she couldn't pay</a>
As he went around the airport, he noticed that a half-litre bottle of Efes, Turkey&rsquo;s most popular beer, cost nearly 20 dollars (Rs 1,698) at the airport. Just a day back, he had paid $1.70 (Rs 145) for it at Taksim Square. The price hike is a whopping 1,067 per cent.
He noticed that it was the same story at other popular food outlets. Burger King was selling a Whopper for $24.95 (Rs 2,134), while McDonald's was charging $28.69 (Rs 2,453) for a Double Quarter Pounder.
Four pieces of fried chicken wings, a soda and French fries would lighten your pocket by $19.85 (Rs 1,697). A Reddit user claimed that they once paid $7 (Rs 582) for a piece of banana.&nbsp;
<h2>High food prices at Indian airports</h2>
While Turkey airport is becoming notorious for charging too much for food, it is a similar story at several international airports. The prices at most food outlets at airports are highly inflated. A bottle of water at the Delhi International Airport can cost Rs 100 and even more. For a KFC meal, customers usually end up paying 2.5 times the price they would usually pay in the city.
A simple piece of samosa or break pakoda costs Rs 150 and more, while a pint of beer costs upwards of Rs 450.
The reason given for high prices is the operational and maintenance costs.&nbsp;

At this airport, passengers have to shell out nearly 20 dollars (Rs 1,698) for a beer that sells for $1.70 (Rs 145) in the city.  World Trending

The world's "most expensive airport" sells a piece of banana for nearly $7, that's Rs 582. Istanbul Airport is the unofficial leader when it comes to the price tag of its food and beverages. A Daily Mail report suggests that passengers have to shell out nearly 20 dollars (Rs 1,698) for a beer that sells for $1.70 (Rs 145) in the city. Passengers at the Istanbul Airport say that the food and drinks have unbelievable price tags. A Big Mac costs $24 (Rs 2,086), a measly-looking piece of lasagna costs $27.78 (Rs 2,376), and a savoury croissant could be anywhere between $16.44 (Rs 1,406) and $19.84 (Rs 1,697). Leonard Berberi, a writer for the Italian news website L’Economia, spotted the overpriced items at Istanbul Airport, Turkey, and could not believe his eyes. He described the lasagna as something that looked like a "piece of brick" with "grated cheese and a pseudo-basil leaf." Also Read: Ryanair called police on woman after the in-flight card machine malfunctioned and she couldn't pay As he went around the airport, he noticed that a half-litre bottle of Efes, Turkey’s most popular beer, cost nearly 20 dollars (Rs 1,698) at the airport. Just a day back, he had paid $1.70 (Rs 145) for it at Taksim Square. The price hike is a whopping 1,067 per cent. He noticed that it was the same story at other popular food outlets. Burger King was selling a Whopper for $24.95 (Rs 2,134), while McDonald's was charging $28.69 (Rs 2,453) for a Double Quarter Pounder. Four pieces of fried chicken wings, a soda and French fries would lighten your pocket by $19.85 (Rs 1,697). A Reddit user claimed that they once paid $7 (Rs 582) for a piece of banana. High food prices at Indian airports While Turkey airport is becoming notorious for charging too much for food, it is a similar story at several international airports. The prices at most food outlets at airports are highly inflated. A bottle of water at the Delhi International Airport can cost Rs 100 and even more. For a KFC meal, customers usually end up paying 2.5 times the price they would usually pay in the city. A simple piece of samosa or break pakoda costs Rs 150 and more, while a pint of beer costs upwards of Rs 450. The reason given for high prices is the operational and maintenance costs.

$7 (Rs 582) for a banana? $24 (Rs 2,100) for a burger? THIS might be world's most expensive airport

Five new hires are selflessly roaming the halls of one of the world's busiest transportation hubs as they hope to provide a stress-free travel experience for anxious passengers. They are the Istanbul airport's therapy dogs who are always ready to offer support with strokes, belly rubs and kisses, take a look.

The Therapy Dog team art part of Istanbul airport's new pilot project

At least six people have died and 81 have been injured in a blast that rocked the Turkish capital over the weekend. One suspect has been arrested.

Istanbul street blast suspect arrested

In this news, we bring to you the latest updates from the blast that rocked the Turkish capital over the weekend. At least six people have died and 81 have been injured in a "heinous act."

Istanbul Explosion: 6 killed, at least 81 injured in suspected terror attack

Three people have died and 179 were injured when a plane skidded off the runway at an&nbsp;Istanbul&nbsp;airport, caught fire and split into three after landing in rough weather.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/52-injured-as-plane-breaks-into-three-after-skidding-off-istanbul-runway-278922">52 injured as plane breaks into three after skidding off Istanbul runway</a>

Live images broadcast on Turkish television showed several people climbing through a large crack in the severed aircraft and escaping onto one of the wings at the rear.

The Boeing 737 operated by Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines had flown into&nbsp;Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport from the Aegean port city of Izmir on Wednesday, NTV television reported.

<img alt="turkey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ae1aac04-029a-4662-a9fd-a88cae4a8f7b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%287%29_21.jpg" />

The plane was apparently buffeted by strong winds and heavy rain lashing&nbsp;Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. &nbsp;

Three Turks were killed and 179 injured, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

"Some passengers evacuated the plane by themselves but others are stuck inside and our rescuers are working to free them," Transport Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan said on CNN-Turk television.

<img alt="turkey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d56898e-0a2a-4177-8335-d4633522cdd9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%288%29_21.jpg" />

The plane was carrying 177 passengers and six crew members, state news agency Anadolu said, revising the previous total given by Turkish authorities. Turkish media reports said there were 12 children on board.

Istanbul&nbsp;governor Ali Yerlikaya said the plane "slid some 60 metres (200 feet)" after skidding off the runway, and then "fell about 30-40 metres" down a bank.&nbsp;

<img alt="turkey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1417591e-eee5-4bca-bede-fde28d112945" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%289%29_22.jpg" />

The accident, which he attributed to bad weather, "could have had more serious consequences", he said.

NTV showed images of the badly damaged plane and flames inside, which were later put out by firefighters.

After darkness fell, television footage showed dozens of rescue workers in high-visibility jackets surrounding the plane with flashlights.&nbsp;

Some sprayed water jets onto the severed body of the aircraft, while others could be seen climbing up onto the plane to comb through the cabin.

According to NTV, Turhan said the plane broke after a "strong landing" at Sabiha Gokcen, one of two main international airports in&nbsp;Istanbul.

The front of the plane including the cockpit was sliced off from the bulk of the fuselage, and another huge fissure separated the rear of the aircraft including the tail.

Sabiha Gokcen, which lies on the Asian side of Turkey's commercial hub, was closed and flights were being redirected to&nbsp;Istanbul's main airport.

There had been very strong winds and rain in the area before the incident and poor weather conditions in&nbsp;Istanbul, particularly in winter, often lead to the cancellation of flights.

The&nbsp;Istanbul&nbsp;public prosecutor has launched an investigation into the incident.&nbsp;

The plane had landed at the airport at 1518 GMT, the private DHA news agency reported.

In January 2018, a Pegasus Boeing 737-800 slid down an embankment at Trabzon airport on the Black Sea and landed just metres from the water with its wheels stuck in thick mud.&nbsp;

After four days, the plane was eventually lifted back onto the runway with engineers using cranes. All 162 passengers and six crew were safely evacuated.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought to make&nbsp;Istanbul&nbsp;the world's top aviation hub and in 2018 opened a new mega-airport in the city of 15 million people.

Pegasus, which has been flying for 20 years, has a fleet of 83 aircraft, including 47 Boeings and 36 Airbus planes, according to its website.

Three people have died and 179 were injured when a plane skidded off the runway at an Istanbul airport, caught fire and split into three after landing in rough weather.

Three people have died and 179 were injured when a plane skidded off the runway at an Istanbul airport, caught fire and split into three after landing in rough weather. Also read: 52 injured as plane breaks into three after skidding off Istanbul runway Live images broadcast on Turkish television showed several people climbing through a large crack in the severed aircraft and escaping onto one of the wings at the rear. The Boeing 737 operated by Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines had flown into Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport from the Aegean port city of Izmir on Wednesday, NTV television reported. The plane was apparently buffeted by strong winds and heavy rain lashing Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. Three Turks were killed and 179 injured, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters. "Some passengers evacuated the plane by themselves but others are stuck inside and our rescuers are working to free them," Transport Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan said on CNN-Turk television. The plane was carrying 177 passengers and six crew members, state news agency Anadolu said, revising the previous total given by Turkish authorities. Turkish media reports said there were 12 children on board. Istanbul governor Ali Yerlikaya said the plane "slid some 60 metres (200 feet)" after skidding off the runway, and then "fell about 30-40 metres" down a bank. The accident, which he attributed to bad weather, "could have had more serious consequences", he said. NTV showed images of the badly damaged plane and flames inside, which were later put out by firefighters. After darkness fell, television footage showed dozens of rescue workers in high-visibility jackets surrounding the plane with flashlights. Some sprayed water jets onto the severed body of the aircraft, while others could be seen climbing up onto the plane to comb through the cabin. According to NTV, Turhan said the plane broke after a "strong landing" at Sabiha Gokcen, one of two main international airports in Istanbul. The front of the plane including the cockpit was sliced off from the bulk of the fuselage, and another huge fissure separated the rear of the aircraft including the tail. Sabiha Gokcen, which lies on the Asian side of Turkey's commercial hub, was closed and flights were being redirected to Istanbul's main airport. There had been very strong winds and rain in the area before the incident and poor weather conditions in Istanbul, particularly in winter, often lead to the cancellation of flights. The Istanbul public prosecutor has launched an investigation into the incident. The plane had landed at the airport at 1518 GMT, the private DHA news agency reported. In January 2018, a Pegasus Boeing 737-800 slid down an embankment at Trabzon airport on the Black Sea and landed just metres from the water with its wheels stuck in thick mud. After four days, the plane was eventually lifted back onto the runway with engineers using cranes. All 162 passengers and six crew were safely evacuated. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought to make Istanbul the world's top aviation hub and in 2018 opened a new mega-airport in the city of 15 million people. Pegasus, which has been flying for 20 years, has a fleet of 83 aircraft, including 47 Boeings and 36 Airbus planes, according to its website.

Turkey plane accident: Three dead, 179 injured in mishap

A plane carrying 177 people skidded off the runway at an Istanbul airport, caught fire and split into three after landing in rough weather on Wednesday.

Officials said that no-one had lost their lives in the spectacular accident, but dozens of people were injured.

Live images broadcast on Turkish television showed several people climbing through a large crack in the severed aircraft and escaping onto one of the wings at the rear.

The Boeing 737 operated by Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines had flown into Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport from the Aegean port city of Izmir, NTV television reported.

The plane was buffeted by strong winds and heavy rain lashing Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. &nbsp;

<img alt="Istanbul plane accident" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="820bed92-3efb-44c0-a792-2dcd3f450e40" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1OQ37L.jpg" />

Fifty-two people were injured and taken to hospital, Istanbul governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement on Twitter, but there were no deaths.

"Some passengers evacuated the plane by themselves but others are stuck inside and our rescuers are working to free them," Transport Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan said on CNN-Turk television.

<img alt="Istanbul plane accident" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="87d4949f-e6b8-4871-b482-ac41765c1a52" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1OQ2KX.jpg" />

The plane was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members, the governor said, while Turkish media reports said there were 12 children on board.

Turkish media also said the two pilots, a Turkish national and a South Korean, were seriously hurt.&nbsp;

NTV showed images of the badly damaged plane and flames inside, which were later put out by firefighters.

After darkness fell, television footage showed dozens of rescue workers in high-visibility jackets surrounding the plane with flashlights.&nbsp;

Some sprayed water jets onto the severed body of the aircraft, while others could be seen climbing up onto the plane to comb through the cabin.

'Strong landing'&nbsp;

According to NTV, Turhan said the plane broke after a "strong landing" at Sabiha Gokcen, one of two main international airports in Istanbul.

The front of the plane including the cockpit was sliced off from the bulk of the fuselage, and another huge fissure separated the rear of the aircraft including the tail.

Sabiha Gokcen, which lies on the Asian side of Turkey's commercial hub, was closed and flights were being redirected to Istanbul's main airport.

There had been very strong winds and rain in the area before the incident and poor weather conditions in Istanbul, particularly in winter, often lead to the cancellation of flights.

The Istanbul public prosecutor has launched an investigation into the incident.&nbsp;

The plane had landed at the airport at 1518 GMT, the private DHA news agency reported.

In January 2018, a Pegasus Boeing 737-800 slid down an embankment at Trabzon airport on the Black Sea and landed just metres from the water with its wheels stuck in thick mud.&nbsp;

After four days, the plane was eventually lifted back onto the runway with engineers using cranes. All 162 passenger and six crew were safely evacuated.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought to make Istanbul the world's top aviation hub and in 2018 opened a new mega-airport in the city of 15 million people.

Pegasus, which has been flying for 20 years, has a fleet of 83 aircraft, including 47 Boeings and 36 Airbus planes, according to its website.

A plane carrying 177 people skidded off the runway at an Istanbul airport, caught fire and split into three after landing in rough weather on Wednesday. Officials said that no-one had lost their lives in the spectacular accident, but dozens of people were injured.

A plane carrying 177 people skidded off the runway at an Istanbul airport, caught fire and split into three after landing in rough weather on Wednesday. Officials said that no-one had lost their lives in the spectacular accident, but dozens of people were injured. Live images broadcast on Turkish television showed several people climbing through a large crack in the severed aircraft and escaping onto one of the wings at the rear. The Boeing 737 operated by Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines had flown into Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport from the Aegean port city of Izmir, NTV television reported. The plane was buffeted by strong winds and heavy rain lashing Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. Fifty-two people were injured and taken to hospital, Istanbul governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement on Twitter, but there were no deaths. "Some passengers evacuated the plane by themselves but others are stuck inside and our rescuers are working to free them," Transport Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan said on CNN-Turk television. The plane was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members, the governor said, while Turkish media reports said there were 12 children on board. Turkish media also said the two pilots, a Turkish national and a South Korean, were seriously hurt. NTV showed images of the badly damaged plane and flames inside, which were later put out by firefighters. After darkness fell, television footage showed dozens of rescue workers in high-visibility jackets surrounding the plane with flashlights. Some sprayed water jets onto the severed body of the aircraft, while others could be seen climbing up onto the plane to comb through the cabin. 'Strong landing' According to NTV, Turhan said the plane broke after a "strong landing" at Sabiha Gokcen, one of two main international airports in Istanbul. The front of the plane including the cockpit was sliced off from the bulk of the fuselage, and another huge fissure separated the rear of the aircraft including the tail. Sabiha Gokcen, which lies on the Asian side of Turkey's commercial hub, was closed and flights were being redirected to Istanbul's main airport. There had been very strong winds and rain in the area before the incident and poor weather conditions in Istanbul, particularly in winter, often lead to the cancellation of flights. The Istanbul public prosecutor has launched an investigation into the incident. The plane had landed at the airport at 1518 GMT, the private DHA news agency reported. In January 2018, a Pegasus Boeing 737-800 slid down an embankment at Trabzon airport on the Black Sea and landed just metres from the water with its wheels stuck in thick mud. After four days, the plane was eventually lifted back onto the runway with engineers using cranes. All 162 passenger and six crew were safely evacuated. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought to make Istanbul the world's top aviation hub and in 2018 opened a new mega-airport in the city of 15 million people. Pegasus, which has been flying for 20 years, has a fleet of 83 aircraft, including 47 Boeings and 36 Airbus planes, according to its website.

52 injured as plane breaks into three after skidding off Istanbul runway

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Monday due to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest.

The airport, one of a number of&nbsp;mega-projects under Erdogan's rule, was initially scheduled to fully open on Monday but construction has been marred by delays and a workers' strike over poor conditions.

Erdogan has championed the 10.5 billion euro ($12 billion) project in his bid to make Istanbul a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant.

However the airport will only offer flights to five destinations until an expanded opening on December 29, from when it is expected to handle up to 90 million passengers a year, rising to 200 million when all facilities are completed in 2028.

That would be nearly double the number of passengers moving through the world's current busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in the US city of Atlanta.

The first flight from the as-yet unnamed airport will be to Ankara on Thursday.

Erdogan is expected to reveal the airport's new name at a lavish ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Monday attended by foreign leaders Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The inauguration for the new facility, which will replace Istanbul's ageing Ataturk Airport, takes place on the 95th anniversary of modern Turkey's founding by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

However the president, who has been accused by secularists of undermining Ataturk's legacy, has indicated he would prefer not to have the new airport named after the founder.

Many observers predict Erdogan, who often references the Ottoman Empire, will instead name it after an Ottoman-era sultan such as Abdulhamid II. Some supporters have even argued it should carry Erdogan's name.&nbsp;

The two-month period after Monday's "soft opening" will be used to identify "where we need to work a bit more", Kadri Samsunlu, director general of the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA), told foreign media visiting the site on Thursday.

The "entire business" at Ataturk -- including planes and equipment -- will be moved to the new airport over a 45-hour period after the "hard opening" at the end of the year, Samsunlu added.&nbsp;

Authorities say a metro line will be built to link the airport, which is near the Black Sea coast on the European side of Istanbul, to the city centre 35 kilometres (22 miles) away.

Crackdown on striking workers&nbsp;

Before its glitzy launch, the airport looked more like a construction site on Thursday, with dump trucks roaring past, a road being paved and workers quickly dismantling scaffolding.

When completed in 2028, it will have six runways and two terminals spread over 76 square kilometres (29 square miles), the IGA said. That would make it three times the size of Ataturk.

Turkish Airlines will take advantage of the extra space by expanding its commercial and cargo operations, a source at the company told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"Next year we will add 40 airplanes to our fleet. By 2023 we will have 450 planes and transport more then 120 million passengers a year," the source said.

The 35,000 people employed on the project have had to scramble to complete it on time.

Last month, hundreds of workers walked off the job to protest poor conditions and work-related deaths on the site.

Turkish authorities quickly cracked down, arresting hundreds, according to labour unions.

Most were released without charge, but around 20 remain in prison.

Thirty workers have died on the site since construction began in 2015, according to the IGA. The unions say the real number is much higher.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Monday due to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Monday due to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest. The airport, one of a number of mega-projects under Erdogan's rule, was initially scheduled to fully open on Monday but construction has been marred by delays and a workers' strike over poor conditions. Erdogan has championed the 10.5 billion euro ($12 billion) project in his bid to make Istanbul a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant. However the airport will only offer flights to five destinations until an expanded opening on December 29, from when it is expected to handle up to 90 million passengers a year, rising to 200 million when all facilities are completed in 2028. That would be nearly double the number of passengers moving through the world's current busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in the US city of Atlanta. The first flight from the as-yet unnamed airport will be to Ankara on Thursday. Erdogan is expected to reveal the airport's new name at a lavish ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Monday attended by foreign leaders Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The inauguration for the new facility, which will replace Istanbul's ageing Ataturk Airport, takes place on the 95th anniversary of modern Turkey's founding by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. However the president, who has been accused by secularists of undermining Ataturk's legacy, has indicated he would prefer not to have the new airport named after the founder. Many observers predict Erdogan, who often references the Ottoman Empire, will instead name it after an Ottoman-era sultan such as Abdulhamid II. Some supporters have even argued it should carry Erdogan's name. The two-month period after Monday's "soft opening" will be used to identify "where we need to work a bit more", Kadri Samsunlu, director general of the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA), told foreign media visiting the site on Thursday. The "entire business" at Ataturk -- including planes and equipment -- will be moved to the new airport over a 45-hour period after the "hard opening" at the end of the year, Samsunlu added. Authorities say a metro line will be built to link the airport, which is near the Black Sea coast on the European side of Istanbul, to the city centre 35 kilometres (22 miles) away. Crackdown on striking workers Before its glitzy launch, the airport looked more like a construction site on Thursday, with dump trucks roaring past, a road being paved and workers quickly dismantling scaffolding. When completed in 2028, it will have six runways and two terminals spread over 76 square kilometres (29 square miles), the IGA said. That would make it three times the size of Ataturk. Turkish Airlines will take advantage of the extra space by expanding its commercial and cargo operations, a source at the company told AFP on condition of anonymity. "Next year we will add 40 airplanes to our fleet. By 2023 we will have 450 planes and transport more then 120 million passengers a year," the source said. The 35,000 people employed on the project have had to scramble to complete it on time. Last month, hundreds of workers walked off the job to protest poor conditions and work-related deaths on the site. Turkish authorities quickly cracked down, arresting hundreds, according to labour unions. Most were released without charge, but around 20 remain in prison. Thirty workers have died on the site since construction began in 2015, according to the IGA. The unions say the real number is much higher.

Turkey to unveil giant new Istanbul airport

A billboard advertisement at Istanbul&#39;s international airport accused Sweden of having &quot;the highest rape rate worldwide&quot;, state media reported Friday just days after Stockholm accused Ankara of legalising sex with children. 
 
Printed in English and Turkish and displayed at the departures section of Ataturk airport, the huge banner ad reads: &quot;Travel Warning! Did you know that Sweden has the highest rape rate worldwide?&quot; Anadolu news agency reported alongside a picture of the ad.&nbsp; 
 
Alongside it was an enlarged copy of the front page of Gunes, a pro-government newspaper, with a headline saying: &quot;Sweden, a country of rape.&quot; 
 
Anadolu said billboard advertisements at the airport were operated by a private company.&nbsp; 
 
The advert was largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallstrom caused a storm after writing a tweet which said the &quot;Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed&quot;, following a controversial ruling by the Turkish constitutional court.
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<h5>Printed in English and Turkish and displayed at the departures section of Ataturk airport, the huge banner ad reads: &quot;Travel Warning! Did you know that Sweden has the highest rape rate worldwide?&quot;</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Printed in English and Turkish and displayed at the departures section of Ataturk airport, the huge banner ad reads: &quot;Travel Warning! Did you know that Sweden has the highest rape rate worldwide?&quot; " target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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Her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu blasted her remark as &quot;unacceptable&quot;, saying Wallstrom should have acted &quot;responsibly&quot;. 
 
Turkey&#39;s constitutional court in July annulled a criminal code provision punishing as &quot;sexual abuse&quot; all sexual acts involving children under the age of 15, responding to a petition brought by a lower court.&nbsp; 
 
The top court has given parliament a six-month period to draw up new rules based on its ruling. 
 
The lower court that brought the petition was worried there was no distinction between cases of sexual acts involving a young teenager or a toddler. 
 
The legal age of consent in Turkey remains 18 and was not affected by the ruling. But it sparked outrage among activists worried it would open the way for unpunished child sexual abuse. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

The advert was largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallstrom's tweet caused a storm

A billboard advertisement at Istanbul's international airport accused Sweden of having "the highest rape rate worldwide", state media reported Friday just days after Stockholm accused Ankara of legalising sex with children. Printed in English and Turkish and displayed at the departures section of Ataturk airport, the huge banner ad reads: "Travel Warning! Did you know that Sweden has the highest rape rate worldwide?" Anadolu news agency reported alongside a picture of the ad. Alongside it was an enlarged copy of the front page of Gunes, a pro-government newspaper, with a headline saying: "Sweden, a country of rape." Anadolu said billboard advertisements at the airport were operated by a private company. The advert was largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallstrom caused a storm after writing a tweet which said the "Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed", following a controversial ruling by the Turkish constitutional court. Printed in English and Turkish and displayed at the departures section of Ataturk airport, the huge banner ad reads: "Travel Warning! Did you know that Sweden has the highest rape rate worldwide?" Her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu blasted her remark as "unacceptable", saying Wallstrom should have acted "responsibly". Turkey's constitutional court in July annulled a criminal code provision punishing as "sexual abuse" all sexual acts involving children under the age of 15, responding to a petition brought by a lower court. The top court has given parliament a six-month period to draw up new rules based on its ruling. The lower court that brought the petition was worried there was no distinction between cases of sexual acts involving a young teenager or a toddler. The legal age of consent in Turkey remains 18 and was not affected by the ruling. But it sparked outrage among activists worried it would open the way for unpunished child sexual abuse. (AFP)

Turkey airport ad accuses Sweden of 'highest rape rate'

Two suspected Islamic State jihadists have been detained at Istanbul&#39;s Ataturk airport days after it was hit by suicide bombers, as Turkish authorities move to boost security at sensitive sites. 
 
Dogan news agency said the two suspects held late Sunday were Kyrgyz nationals, identifying them only by their initials, KV and FMI, aged 25 and 35 respectively. 
 
Police found night-vision binoculars and military-style clothes in their suitcases, the agency said, along with two passports in different names. 
 
The pair were questioned by anti-terror police in Istanbul. It was not clear whether they had been leaving or arriving at the airport. 
 
Their detention came as 13 suspects, including three foreigners, were charged Sunday over the June 28 gun and suicide bomb assault at the airport that killed 45 people including 19 foreigners. 
 
Officials believe the Islamic State group was behind the attack, the worst in a series to hit Turkey&#39;s biggest city this year. 
 
In total police have detained 29 people &quot;including foreigners&quot; in connection with the airport assault, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. 
 
Yildirim said Monday that police were on high alert and had boosted their presence at the airport and other sensitive Istanbul sites including metro stations and the Marmaray rail tunnel. 
 
A team of 80 special forces troops have been patrolling Ataturk airport, one of Europe&#39;s busiest hubs, since Sunday. 
 
Last week&#39;s carnage &quot;followed a new model&quot; of attack in Turkey, Yildirim said, noting that the bombers had first sprayed passengers with bullets, allowing them to get inside the terminal before blowing themselves up. 
 
Of more than 200 people injured, 47 are still in hospital. 
 
Authorities believe the attackers were a Russian, an Uzbek and a Kyrgyz national. 
 
State news agency Anadolu has named two of them as Rakim Bulgarov and Vadim Osmanov, without giving their nationalities. 
 
Central Asia&#39;s former Soviet republics have been a major source of foreign jihadists travelling to fight with IS and other extremist groups in Iraq and Syria. 
 
Turkish media have identified the strike&#39;s organiser as Akhmed Chatayev, the Chechen leader of an IS cell in Istanbul who allegedly masterminded two other deadly attacks that killed tourists in the city. 
 
Turkey has been rocked by a series of attacks over the past year, blamed on both IS jihadists and Kurdish rebels. 
 
(AFP)

Turkey has been rocked by a series of attacks over the past year, blamed on both IS jihadists and Kurdish rebels

Two suspected Islamic State jihadists have been detained at Istanbul's Ataturk airport days after it was hit by suicide bombers, as Turkish authorities move to boost security at sensitive sites. Dogan news agency said the two suspects held late Sunday were Kyrgyz nationals, identifying them only by their initials, KV and FMI, aged 25 and 35 respectively. Police found night-vision binoculars and military-style clothes in their suitcases, the agency said, along with two passports in different names. The pair were questioned by anti-terror police in Istanbul. It was not clear whether they had been leaving or arriving at the airport. Their detention came as 13 suspects, including three foreigners, were charged Sunday over the June 28 gun and suicide bomb assault at the airport that killed 45 people including 19 foreigners. Officials believe the Islamic State group was behind the attack, the worst in a series to hit Turkey's biggest city this year. In total police have detained 29 people "including foreigners" in connection with the airport assault, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. Yildirim said Monday that police were on high alert and had boosted their presence at the airport and other sensitive Istanbul sites including metro stations and the Marmaray rail tunnel. A team of 80 special forces troops have been patrolling Ataturk airport, one of Europe's busiest hubs, since Sunday. Last week's carnage "followed a new model" of attack in Turkey, Yildirim said, noting that the bombers had first sprayed passengers with bullets, allowing them to get inside the terminal before blowing themselves up. Of more than 200 people injured, 47 are still in hospital. Authorities believe the attackers were a Russian, an Uzbek and a Kyrgyz national. State news agency Anadolu has named two of them as Rakim Bulgarov and Vadim Osmanov, without giving their nationalities. Central Asia's former Soviet republics have been a major source of foreign jihadists travelling to fight with IS and other extremist groups in Iraq and Syria. Turkish media have identified the strike's organiser as Akhmed Chatayev, the Chechen leader of an IS cell in Istanbul who allegedly masterminded two other deadly attacks that killed tourists in the city. Turkey has been rocked by a series of attacks over the past year, blamed on both IS jihadists and Kurdish rebels. (AFP)

IS suspects held at Istanbul airport days after attack

Three suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up in the main international airport in Istanbul on Tuesday night, killing 36 people and wounding close to 150, officials said. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that initial indications point at Islamic State as being responsible for the attack. 
 
&quot;According to assessments so far, 36 people have lost their lives and there were also many wounded,&quot; Yildirim told reporters at the site of the attack on Europe&#39;s third-busiest airport. The attack took place shortly before 10 pm local time when two gunmen opened fire at a security checkpoint at Ataturk airport, The New York Times quoted officials. 
 
Police fired shots to try to stop two of the attackers just before they reached a security checkpoint at the arrivals hall at Ataturk airport, but they detonated their explosives, one of the officials said. 
 
Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said authorities believed there were three suicide bombers, an account corroborated by witnesses. 
 
A Turkish official said the vast majority of those killed were Turkish nationals, but foreigners were also among the dead. 
 
&quot;There was a huge explosion, extremely loud. The roof came down. Inside the airport it is terrible, you can&#39;t recognise it, the damage is big,&quot; said Ali Tekin, who was at the arrivals hall waiting for a guest when the attack took place. 
 
A woman named Duygu, who was at passport control having just arrived from Germany, said she threw herself onto the floor with the sound of the explosion. Several witnesses also reported hearing gunfire shortly before the attacks. 
 
&quot;Everyone started running away. Everywhere was covered with blood and body parts. I saw bullet holes on the doors,&quot; she said outside the airport. 
 
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest in a string of suicide bombings in Turkey this year, but the Dogan news agency said initial indications suggested Islamic State may have been responsible, citing police sources. 
 
A Turkish official said it was too soon to assign blame. 
 
The attack bore some similarities to a suicide bombing by Islamic State militants at Brussels airport in March which killed 16 people. A coordinated attack also targeted a rush-hour metro train, killing a further 16 people in the Belgian capital. 
 
Paul Roos, 77, described seeing one of the attackers &quot;randomly shooting&quot; on the departures floor of the terminal. 
 
&quot;He was just firing at anyone coming in front of him. He was wearing all black. His face was not masked. I was 50 metres (55 yards) away from him,&quot; said Roos, a South African on his way back to Cape Town with his wife after a holiday in southern Turkey. 
 
&quot;We ducked behind a counter but I stood up and watched him. Two explosions went off shortly after one another. By that time he had stopped shooting,&quot; Roos told Reuters. 
 
&quot;He turned around and started coming towards us. He was holding his gun inside his jacket. He looked around anxiously to see if anyone was going to stop him and then went down the escalator ... We heard some more gunfire and then another explosion, and then it was over.&quot; 
 
&quot;Could have been anywhere&quot; 
 
President Tayyip Erdogan said the attack should serve as a turning point in the global fight against militant groups. 
 
&quot;The attack, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, shows that terrorism strikes with no regard for faith and values,&quot; he said in a statement. 
 
&quot;The bombs that exploded in Istanbul today could have gone off at any airport in any city around the world,&quot; he said, urging all governments to join forces against terrorism. 
 
Speaking in Parliament earlier, Turkish justice minister Bekir Bozdag said initial reports suggested one attacker had initially opened fire with a Kalashnikov then detonated explosives. 
 
Ataturk is Turkey&#39;s largest airport and a major transport hub for international travellers. Pictures posted on social media from the site showed wounded people lying on the ground inside and outside one of the terminal buildings. 
 
A helicopter buzzed overhead as police evacuated the building. Dozens of passengers walked back down access roads with their luggage, trying to hail cabs. The US embassy urged US citizens to avoid the area. 
 
Flights halted 
 
Authorities halted the take-off of scheduled flights from the airport and passengers were transferred to hotels, a Turkish Airlines official said. Earlier an airport official said some flights to the airport had been diverted. 
 
The airport will be closed for up to 48 hours, Turkey told one foreign government. 
 
In the United States, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reacted to the explosions by putting armed, high-visibility patrols at the three main airports in the New York metropolitan region. 
 
Turkey has suffered a spate of bombings this year, including two suicide attacks in tourist areas of Istanbul blamed on Islamic State, and two car bombings in the capital, Ankara, which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group. 
 
In the most recent attack, a car bomb ripped through a police bus in central Istanbul during the morning rush hour, killing 11 people and wounding 36 near the main tourist district, a major university and the mayor&#39;s office. 
 
Turkey, which is part of the US-led coalition against Islamic State, is also fighting Kurdish militants in its largely Kurdish southeast. 
 
One person was killed on December 23, 2015, when an explosion hit Istanbul&#39;s second airport, Sabiha Gokcen, located on the Asian side of the city. That attack was claimed by a Kurdish militant group. 
 
(Agencies)

Three gunmen with suspected links to IS fired indiscriminately in Turkey's international airport before blowing themselves up

Three suicide bombers opened fire before blowing themselves up in the main international airport in Istanbul on Tuesday night, killing 36 people and wounding close to 150, officials said. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that initial indications point at Islamic State as being responsible for the attack. "According to assessments so far, 36 people have lost their lives and there were also many wounded," Yildirim told reporters at the site of the attack on Europe's third-busiest airport. The attack took place shortly before 10 pm local time when two gunmen opened fire at a security checkpoint at Ataturk airport, The New York Times quoted officials. Police fired shots to try to stop two of the attackers just before they reached a security checkpoint at the arrivals hall at Ataturk airport, but they detonated their explosives, one of the officials said. Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said authorities believed there were three suicide bombers, an account corroborated by witnesses. A Turkish official said the vast majority of those killed were Turkish nationals, but foreigners were also among the dead. "There was a huge explosion, extremely loud. The roof came down. Inside the airport it is terrible, you can't recognise it, the damage is big," said Ali Tekin, who was at the arrivals hall waiting for a guest when the attack took place. A woman named Duygu, who was at passport control having just arrived from Germany, said she threw herself onto the floor with the sound of the explosion. Several witnesses also reported hearing gunfire shortly before the attacks. "Everyone started running away. Everywhere was covered with blood and body parts. I saw bullet holes on the doors," she said outside the airport. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest in a string of suicide bombings in Turkey this year, but the Dogan news agency said initial indications suggested Islamic State may have been responsible, citing police sources. A Turkish official said it was too soon to assign blame. The attack bore some similarities to a suicide bombing by Islamic State militants at Brussels airport in March which killed 16 people. A coordinated attack also targeted a rush-hour metro train, killing a further 16 people in the Belgian capital. Paul Roos, 77, described seeing one of the attackers "randomly shooting" on the departures floor of the terminal. "He was just firing at anyone coming in front of him. He was wearing all black. His face was not masked. I was 50 metres (55 yards) away from him," said Roos, a South African on his way back to Cape Town with his wife after a holiday in southern Turkey. "We ducked behind a counter but I stood up and watched him. Two explosions went off shortly after one another. By that time he had stopped shooting," Roos told Reuters. "He turned around and started coming towards us. He was holding his gun inside his jacket. He looked around anxiously to see if anyone was going to stop him and then went down the escalator ... We heard some more gunfire and then another explosion, and then it was over." "Could have been anywhere" President Tayyip Erdogan said the attack should serve as a turning point in the global fight against militant groups. "The attack, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, shows that terrorism strikes with no regard for faith and values," he said in a statement. "The bombs that exploded in Istanbul today could have gone off at any airport in any city around the world," he said, urging all governments to join forces against terrorism. Speaking in Parliament earlier, Turkish justice minister Bekir Bozdag said initial reports suggested one attacker had initially opened fire with a Kalashnikov then detonated explosives. Ataturk is Turkey's largest airport and a major transport hub for international travellers. Pictures posted on social media from the site showed wounded people lying on the ground inside and outside one of the terminal buildings. A helicopter buzzed overhead as police evacuated the building. Dozens of passengers walked back down access roads with their luggage, trying to hail cabs. The US embassy urged US citizens to avoid the area. Flights halted Authorities halted the take-off of scheduled flights from the airport and passengers were transferred to hotels, a Turkish Airlines official said. Earlier an airport official said some flights to the airport had been diverted. The airport will be closed for up to 48 hours, Turkey told one foreign government. In the United States, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reacted to the explosions by putting armed, high-visibility patrols at the three main airports in the New York metropolitan region. Turkey has suffered a spate of bombings this year, including two suicide attacks in tourist areas of Istanbul blamed on Islamic State, and two car bombings in the capital, Ankara, which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group. In the most recent attack, a car bomb ripped through a police bus in central Istanbul during the morning rush hour, killing 11 people and wounding 36 near the main tourist district, a major university and the mayor's office. Turkey, which is part of the US-led coalition against Islamic State, is also fighting Kurdish militants in its largely Kurdish southeast. One person was killed on December 23, 2015, when an explosion hit Istanbul's second airport, Sabiha Gokcen, located on the Asian side of the city. That attack was claimed by a Kurdish militant group. (Agencies)