A large forest fire was burning in Turkey's Marmara Island on August 12 destroying at least five houses, private Demiroren news agency reported.

Your Story: Wildfire breaks out on Turkish Island

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-kill-70-combatants-in-northwest-syria-report-242094">Syrian regime forces</a> seized a town on the edge of Idlib province Sunday, a monitor said, their first ground advance since resuming an offensive on the jihadist-dominated enclave more than three months ago.

The region of northwestern Syria, which is home to an estimated three million civilians, has come under almost daily Syrian and Russian bombardment since late April.

The most recent fighting focused on an area straddling Idlib and Hama provinces, a war monitor said, and claimed dozens of lives on both sides.

"Regime forces seized the town of Al-Habeet, in Idlib's southern countryside, at dawn," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, said.

The regime's latest gains were in the north of Hama province, which lies to the south of Idlib.

The area has escaped the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government since 2015 and is the last major bastion of opposition to his regime and its allies.

The capture of Al-Habeet, one of several strategic targets for advancing pro-regime forces, came after another night of deadly fighting, the Observatory said.

According to the Britain-based monitor's tally, 70 combatants were killed on Saturday alone, 32 of them pro-government forces.

The remaining 38 were from the opposing ranks of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the jihadist outfit led by members of Al Qaeda's former Syria franchise, and allied rebel fighters.

Rami Abdel Rahman said another 27 combatants, nine of them government fighters, were killed in early fighting on Sunday.

He described Al-Habeet as 'the first town in southern Idlib to be taken by the regime since the start of the escalation' in April.

The town is seen as a stepping stone towards Khan Sheikhun, one of the main towns in Idlib and the target of some of the eight-year-old conflict's deadliest airstrikes.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced in recent weeks and aid groups have warned that an all-out assault on Idlib could turn the current humanitarian emergency into a catastrophe of proportions previously unseen.

The fighting is a violation of a deal that was reached by the battle's two main foreign brokers Russia and Turkey but was never implemented.

Russia is Damascus&nbsp;main backer while Turkey holds sway over some rebel and jihadist forces along its border.

The deal's terms were never realistic but the agreement sealed in the Russian resort of Sochi in September 2018 staved off a fully-fledged offensive that risks triggering the Syrian civil war's bloodiest phase yet.

Syrian regime forces seized a town on the edge of Idlib province Sunday, a monitor said, their first ground advance since resuming an offensive on the jihadist-dominated enclave more than three months ago.

Syrian regime forces seized a town on the edge of Idlib province Sunday, a monitor said, their first ground advance since resuming an offensive on the jihadist-dominated enclave more than three months ago. The region of northwestern Syria, which is home to an estimated three million civilians, has come under almost daily Syrian and Russian bombardment since late April. The most recent fighting focused on an area straddling Idlib and Hama provinces, a war monitor said, and claimed dozens of lives on both sides. "Regime forces seized the town of Al-Habeet, in Idlib's southern countryside, at dawn," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, said. The regime's latest gains were in the north of Hama province, which lies to the south of Idlib. The area has escaped the control of President Bashar al-Assad's government since 2015 and is the last major bastion of opposition to his regime and its allies. The capture of Al-Habeet, one of several strategic targets for advancing pro-regime forces, came after another night of deadly fighting, the Observatory said. According to the Britain-based monitor's tally, 70 combatants were killed on Saturday alone, 32 of them pro-government forces. The remaining 38 were from the opposing ranks of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the jihadist outfit led by members of Al Qaeda's former Syria franchise, and allied rebel fighters. Rami Abdel Rahman said another 27 combatants, nine of them government fighters, were killed in early fighting on Sunday. He described Al-Habeet as 'the first town in southern Idlib to be taken by the regime since the start of the escalation' in April. The town is seen as a stepping stone towards Khan Sheikhun, one of the main towns in Idlib and the target of some of the eight-year-old conflict's deadliest airstrikes. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced in recent weeks and aid groups have warned that an all-out assault on Idlib could turn the current humanitarian emergency into a catastrophe of proportions previously unseen. The fighting is a violation of a deal that was reached by the battle's two main foreign brokers Russia and Turkey but was never implemented. Russia is Damascus main backer while Turkey holds sway over some rebel and jihadist forces along its border. The deal's terms were never realistic but the agreement sealed in the Russian resort of Sochi in September 2018 staved off a fully-fledged offensive that risks triggering the Syrian civil war's bloodiest phase yet.

Syria regime gains ground in deadly Idlib push: Monitor

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-us-talks-positive-and-rather-constructiveturkeys-defence-minister-241348">Turkish and US officials reached agreement</a> Wednesday to establish a "joint operations centre" for northern Syria aimed at creating a safe zone to manage tensions between Turkey and a US-backed Kurdish militia.&nbsp;

Coming after three days of tense negotiations, the agreement contained no details on the size and nature of the safe zone, but appeared to provide some breathing room after Turkey had threatened an imminent attack on the Kurdish YPG group which controls large swathes of northern Syria.&nbsp;

Turkey sees the YPG as a terrorist offshoot of the Kurdish PKK, which has fought a bloody insurgency inside its territory for the past 35 years.

The US, however, supports the militia as the main fighting force against the Islamic State group. &nbsp;

The defence ministry said in a statement that Ankara had agreed with US officials to "implement without delay the first measures aimed at eliminating Turkey's concerns.&nbsp;

"In that framework, to quickly create in Turkey a joint operation centre to coordinate and manage the implementation of the safe zone with the US."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the talks had gone in "a positive direction".&nbsp;

He refused to give a date on when the joint operation centre would be established nor provide details about the safe zone.&nbsp;

But he said the agreement showed Turkey's resolve to intervene "east of the Euphrates" was "now being done with the Americans."

'Peace corridor'

The three-point agreement described the planned safe zone as a "peace corridor" that can "ensure that our Syrian brothers will be able to return to their country".&nbsp;

Turkey has the highest number of Syrian refugees in the world at more than 3.6 million and has faced increasing pressure domestically to speed up repatriations to peaceful parts of the country.

All sides agree that a buffer zone is needed to keep the YPG away from Turkey's borders, but they have differed on how large it should be, or who should control it.&nbsp;

The talks came at a delicate moment between Turkey and the US, who have grown increasingly estranged over a number of issues, including American support for the Kurds and Turkey's decision to buy a Russian S-400 missile defence system.&nbsp;

It is also a tricky moment for Erdogan domestically after his party lost control of Istanbul and Ankara in municipal elections this year, and has seen high-profile defections.&nbsp;

"He needed to show he was both tough for Turkish security and willing to relieve the pressure on Turkey from millions of refugees. This led him toward a credible threat to invade Syria unilaterally," Nicholas Heras, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security, told AFP.

"The US has started a process to give Erdogan a chaperoned presence east of the Euphrates, and the managed resettlement of some refugees."

Heras said the goal for the US was to prevent the destruction of the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG is the leading force, to ensure it remains the dominant player in northern and eastern Syria.&nbsp;

Erdogan warned in recent days that patience was running out with the Americans to find a solution in northern Syria.&nbsp;

"Turkey has the right to eliminate all threats against its national security," he said in a televised speech on Tuesday.&nbsp;

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper countered that any unilateral action by Turkey would be "unacceptable".&nbsp;

But by the third day of talks, his Turkish counterpart, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, said there were positive signs.

"We witnessed with satisfaction that our partners grew closer to our position. We would prefer to act together with our American ally. If that isn't possible we have said multiple times that we will do what is necessary," he told the state-run Anadolu news agency.&nbsp;

Turkish media outlets have often shown images in recent weeks of military convoys heading for the border area, carrying equipment and fighting units.&nbsp;

Turkey has twice carried out unilateral offensives into northern Syria against the Islamic State group and YPG, in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

Turkish and US officials reached agreement Wednesday to establish a "joint operations centre" for northern Syria aimed at creating a safe zone to manage tensions between Turkey and a US-backed Kurdish militia.

Turkish and US officials reached agreement Wednesday to establish a "joint operations centre" for northern Syria aimed at creating a safe zone to manage tensions between Turkey and a US-backed Kurdish militia. Coming after three days of tense negotiations, the agreement contained no details on the size and nature of the safe zone, but appeared to provide some breathing room after Turkey had threatened an imminent attack on the Kurdish YPG group which controls large swathes of northern Syria. Turkey sees the YPG as a terrorist offshoot of the Kurdish PKK, which has fought a bloody insurgency inside its territory for the past 35 years. The US, however, supports the militia as the main fighting force against the Islamic State group. The defence ministry said in a statement that Ankara had agreed with US officials to "implement without delay the first measures aimed at eliminating Turkey's concerns. "In that framework, to quickly create in Turkey a joint operation centre to coordinate and manage the implementation of the safe zone with the US." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the talks had gone in "a positive direction". He refused to give a date on when the joint operation centre would be established nor provide details about the safe zone. But he said the agreement showed Turkey's resolve to intervene "east of the Euphrates" was "now being done with the Americans." 'Peace corridor' The three-point agreement described the planned safe zone as a "peace corridor" that can "ensure that our Syrian brothers will be able to return to their country". Turkey has the highest number of Syrian refugees in the world at more than 3.6 million and has faced increasing pressure domestically to speed up repatriations to peaceful parts of the country. All sides agree that a buffer zone is needed to keep the YPG away from Turkey's borders, but they have differed on how large it should be, or who should control it. The talks came at a delicate moment between Turkey and the US, who have grown increasingly estranged over a number of issues, including American support for the Kurds and Turkey's decision to buy a Russian S-400 missile defence system. It is also a tricky moment for Erdogan domestically after his party lost control of Istanbul and Ankara in municipal elections this year, and has seen high-profile defections. "He needed to show he was both tough for Turkish security and willing to relieve the pressure on Turkey from millions of refugees. This led him toward a credible threat to invade Syria unilaterally," Nicholas Heras, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security, told AFP. "The US has started a process to give Erdogan a chaperoned presence east of the Euphrates, and the managed resettlement of some refugees." Heras said the goal for the US was to prevent the destruction of the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG is the leading force, to ensure it remains the dominant player in northern and eastern Syria. Erdogan warned in recent days that patience was running out with the Americans to find a solution in northern Syria. "Turkey has the right to eliminate all threats against its national security," he said in a televised speech on Tuesday. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper countered that any unilateral action by Turkey would be "unacceptable". But by the third day of talks, his Turkish counterpart, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, said there were positive signs. "We witnessed with satisfaction that our partners grew closer to our position. We would prefer to act together with our American ally. If that isn't possible we have said multiple times that we will do what is necessary," he told the state-run Anadolu news agency. Turkish media outlets have often shown images in recent weeks of military convoys heading for the border area, carrying equipment and fighting units. Turkey has twice carried out unilateral offensives into northern Syria against the Islamic State group and YPG, in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

Turkey, US agree 'joint operation centre' for north Syria

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said the United States is getting closer to Turkey's views on a proposed safe zone in northeast Syria, and that its military deployment plans are complete, state-owned Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.

Speaking in Ankara, Akar also said that Turkey has told the United States it would prefer to act together.

"Our plans, preparations, the deployment of our units in the field are all complete. But we said we wanted to act together with our friend and ally, the United States," Akar was quoted by Anadolu as saying.

Turkey has been growing impatient with the United States, which had agreed to create a safe zone inside Syria's northeastern border with Turkey, set to be cleared of the Kurdish YPG militia.

Ankara has accused Washington of stalling progress on setting up the safe zone and has demanded it sever its relations with the YPG. The group was Washington's main ally on the ground in Syria during the battle against Islamic State, but Turkey designates it as a terrorist organization.

On Wednesday, the third days of Turkish-US talks on the safe zone, Akar described them as "positive and rather constructive", and that he expected them to finish within hours.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said the United States is getting closer to Turkey's views on a proposed safe zone in northeast Syria, and that its military deployment plans are complete, state-owned Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said the United States is getting closer to Turkey's views on a proposed safe zone in northeast Syria, and that its military deployment plans are complete, state-owned Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday. Speaking in Ankara, Akar also said that Turkey has told the United States it would prefer to act together. "Our plans, preparations, the deployment of our units in the field are all complete. But we said we wanted to act together with our friend and ally, the United States," Akar was quoted by Anadolu as saying. Turkey has been growing impatient with the United States, which had agreed to create a safe zone inside Syria's northeastern border with Turkey, set to be cleared of the Kurdish YPG militia. Ankara has accused Washington of stalling progress on setting up the safe zone and has demanded it sever its relations with the YPG. The group was Washington's main ally on the ground in Syria during the battle against Islamic State, but Turkey designates it as a terrorist organization. On Wednesday, the third days of Turkish-US talks on the safe zone, Akar described them as "positive and rather constructive", and that he expected them to finish within hours.

Turkish-US talks 'positive and rather constructive':Turkey's Defence Minister

The Syrian army said on Monday it was resuming military operations in a Russian-led campaign in northwest Syria that has uprooted tens of thousands and killed hundreds, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-moves-to-oversee-all-online-content-raises-concerns-over-censorship-240008">blaming Turkey for</a> not abiding by its commitments under a truce deal.

Syrian state media said on Thursday the ceasefire would depend on militants complying <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-air-strikes-in-northwest-syria-after-ceasefire-declared-observatory-240282">with a Russian-Turkish deal</a> last year aimed at creating an Idlib buffer zone.

'The agreement to a truce was conditional. This did not happen.. We resume our military operations against terrorist organisations,' said the army statement.&nbsp;

Since Damascus declared a ceasefire on Thursday night, its warplanes have not mounted air strikes, though the combatants are still shelling each other.

Damascus accuses Turkey and the rebels it supports of failing to comply with the terms of the de-escalation agreement which requires heavy weapons and jihadist insurgents to be withdrawn from a buffer zone.

Under its deals with Moscow, Ankara has forces stationed on the ground in the Idlib region at a dozen military positions.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry declined immediate comment.

The region - including Idlib province and parts of nearby Hama - was part of the last major stronghold of armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, who has vowed to reclaim all of Syria.

Rebel factions, which had agreed to the latest ceasefire to give civilians a reprieve from the heavy bombing while reserving the right to respond to attacks, said the Syrian army had violated the ceasefire by maintaining its shelling of populated areas.

A week-long aerial attack on cities in Hama and southern Idlib province before the ceasefire led to the most civilian casualties since Russian jets joined the Syrian army on April 26 in the offensive to recapture the enclave.

The Russian-led campaign has been costly to Moscow and its Syrian ally.

They appear to have failed to secure any significant territorial gains despite weeks of relentless bombing and have suffered heavy human losses, according to Western military experts.

Rebels said they were prepared to continue another round of fierce fighting after the Syrian army`s unilateral announcement to end the ceasefire.

"Today (Syrian President) Assad's gangs announced they were resuming the battles and we tell them we are ready and our will to fight is there and God willing we will inflict heavy casualties,' Captain Naji Mustafa, spokesman for the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front (NLF) coalition of mainstream rebels group, told Reuters.

Rebels say Moscow has deployed special troops to make a military breakthrough with no success in one of the biggest campaigns waged by Moscow in Syria since its direct intervention in September 2015.&nbsp;

For three months, an army offensive backed by Russia has killed at least 400 civilians in northwest Syria and uprooted more than 440,000 people, the United Nations says.

Residents and rescuers say the three-month-old campaign has left dozens of villages and towns in ruins.

Russia and its Syrian army ally deny their jets indiscriminately hit civilian areas with cluster munitions and incendiary weapons, which residents in opposition areas say are meant to paralyse everyday life.

 
&nbsp;

The Syrian army said on Monday it was resuming military operations in a Russian-led campaign in northwest Syria that has uprooted tens of thousands and killed hundreds, blaming Turkey for not abiding by its commitments under a truce deal.

The Syrian army said on Monday it was resuming military operations in a Russian-led campaign in northwest Syria that has uprooted tens of thousands and killed hundreds, blaming Turkey for not abiding by its commitments under a truce deal. Syrian state media said on Thursday the ceasefire would depend on militants complying with a Russian-Turkish deal last year aimed at creating an Idlib buffer zone. 'The agreement to a truce was conditional. This did not happen.. We resume our military operations against terrorist organisations,' said the army statement. Since Damascus declared a ceasefire on Thursday night, its warplanes have not mounted air strikes, though the combatants are still shelling each other. Damascus accuses Turkey and the rebels it supports of failing to comply with the terms of the de-escalation agreement which requires heavy weapons and jihadist insurgents to be withdrawn from a buffer zone. Under its deals with Moscow, Ankara has forces stationed on the ground in the Idlib region at a dozen military positions. The Turkish Foreign Ministry declined immediate comment. The region - including Idlib province and parts of nearby Hama - was part of the last major stronghold of armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, who has vowed to reclaim all of Syria. Rebel factions, which had agreed to the latest ceasefire to give civilians a reprieve from the heavy bombing while reserving the right to respond to attacks, said the Syrian army had violated the ceasefire by maintaining its shelling of populated areas. A week-long aerial attack on cities in Hama and southern Idlib province before the ceasefire led to the most civilian casualties since Russian jets joined the Syrian army on April 26 in the offensive to recapture the enclave. The Russian-led campaign has been costly to Moscow and its Syrian ally. They appear to have failed to secure any significant territorial gains despite weeks of relentless bombing and have suffered heavy human losses, according to Western military experts. Rebels said they were prepared to continue another round of fierce fighting after the Syrian army`s unilateral announcement to end the ceasefire. "Today (Syrian President) Assad's gangs announced they were resuming the battles and we tell them we are ready and our will to fight is there and God willing we will inflict heavy casualties,' Captain Naji Mustafa, spokesman for the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front (NLF) coalition of mainstream rebels group, told Reuters. Rebels say Moscow has deployed special troops to make a military breakthrough with no success in one of the biggest campaigns waged by Moscow in Syria since its direct intervention in September 2015. For three months, an army offensive backed by Russia has killed at least 400 civilians in northwest Syria and uprooted more than 440,000 people, the United Nations says. Residents and rescuers say the three-month-old campaign has left dozens of villages and towns in ruins. Russia and its Syrian army ally deny their jets indiscriminately hit civilian areas with cluster munitions and incendiary weapons, which residents in opposition areas say are meant to paralyse everyday life.

Syrian army resumes military operations against rebels in northwest Syria

A ceasefire in northwest <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/regime-and-russian-airstrikes-killed-15-civilians-in-northwest-syria-monitor-239097">Syria</a> reduced violence in the rebel stronghold, a monitor said, with no airstrikes on Friday after a three months army offensive killed hundreds while yielding no big territorial gains.

Though the combatants exchanged fire and shelling on Friday, the British based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian government and Russian warplanes mounted no air raids.

More than 400 civilians have been killed in the escalation since late April and more than 440,000 uprooted, the United Nations said last week.

The targeted region is part of the last major piece of territory which rebels hold after facing defeat across much of Syria at the hands of President Bashar al-Assad with his allies Russia and Iran.

Syrian state media said the ceasefire would start on Thursday night if militants fulfilled a Russian Turkish deal that had tried last year to create a demilitarized buffer zone.

The Turkey-backed opposition, which is taking part in Syria talks hosted by Kazakhstan, agreed to the ceasefire and said it must "guarantee the safety of civilians". It reserved the right to respond to "violations by Assad's regime and its militias".

Though Turkey-backed&nbsp;rebel factions also operate in Idlib province in the northwest, the dominant force there is the jihadist Tahrir al-Sham alliance, formerly the Nusra Front.

In a statement on Friday, it said the truce declaration from Damascus proved the failure of "the criminal regime's military operation against the liberated north." Tahrir al-Sham did not reject the ceasefire but warned that any attack from the other side would cancel it, vowing to retaliate.

Russia's RIA news agency cited a Kazakh Foreign Ministry official as saying the agreement does not include jihadists who might not observe it.

Turkey is following the situation after the ceasefire reports, the Foreign Ministry said.

"In every talk we hold with Russia, we tell them the (Syrian) regime needs to stop its attacks ... but the situation is apparent," Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy said.

Under its deals with Moscow, Ankara has forces stationed on the ground in the Idlib region at a dozen military positions.

A series of truce deals have failed to fully end Idlib fighting and Russian-Turkish attempts have not managed to resolve the eight-year conflict.

Syrian state news agency SANA said militants fired missiles that hit a village in government territory, killing one person and injuring three other civilians on Friday.

In the latest offensive, Assad's side has been unable to gain much ground from the insurgents. The government says it has been responding to militant attacks.

The fighting has also inflicted a heavy toll on both rebel and government fighters: the Observatory war monitoring group says each side has lost around 1,000 fighters.

The United Nations will investigate attacks on U.N.-supported facilities and other humanitarian sites, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday, after two-thirds of the Security Council pushed for an inquiry.

Britain, France, the United States, Germany, Belgium, Peru, Poland, Kuwait, the Dominican Republic, and Indonesia had delivered a demarche a formal diplomatic petition over the lack of an inquiry into attacks on some 14 locations in Syria.

 
&nbsp;

A ceasefire in northwest Syria reduced violence in the rebel stronghold, a monitor said, with no airstrikes on Friday after a three months army offensive killed hundreds while yielding no big territorial gains.

A ceasefire in northwest Syria reduced violence in the rebel stronghold, a monitor said, with no airstrikes on Friday after a three months army offensive killed hundreds while yielding no big territorial gains. Though the combatants exchanged fire and shelling on Friday, the British based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian government and Russian warplanes mounted no air raids. More than 400 civilians have been killed in the escalation since late April and more than 440,000 uprooted, the United Nations said last week. The targeted region is part of the last major piece of territory which rebels hold after facing defeat across much of Syria at the hands of President Bashar al-Assad with his allies Russia and Iran. Syrian state media said the ceasefire would start on Thursday night if militants fulfilled a Russian Turkish deal that had tried last year to create a demilitarized buffer zone. The Turkey-backed opposition, which is taking part in Syria talks hosted by Kazakhstan, agreed to the ceasefire and said it must "guarantee the safety of civilians". It reserved the right to respond to "violations by Assad's regime and its militias". Though Turkey-backed rebel factions also operate in Idlib province in the northwest, the dominant force there is the jihadist Tahrir al-Sham alliance, formerly the Nusra Front. In a statement on Friday, it said the truce declaration from Damascus proved the failure of "the criminal regime's military operation against the liberated north." Tahrir al-Sham did not reject the ceasefire but warned that any attack from the other side would cancel it, vowing to retaliate. Russia's RIA news agency cited a Kazakh Foreign Ministry official as saying the agreement does not include jihadists who might not observe it. Turkey is following the situation after the ceasefire reports, the Foreign Ministry said. "In every talk we hold with Russia, we tell them the (Syrian) regime needs to stop its attacks ... but the situation is apparent," Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy said. Under its deals with Moscow, Ankara has forces stationed on the ground in the Idlib region at a dozen military positions. A series of truce deals have failed to fully end Idlib fighting and Russian-Turkish attempts have not managed to resolve the eight-year conflict. Syrian state news agency SANA said militants fired missiles that hit a village in government territory, killing one person and injuring three other civilians on Friday. In the latest offensive, Assad's side has been unable to gain much ground from the insurgents. The government says it has been responding to militant attacks. The fighting has also inflicted a heavy toll on both rebel and government fighters: the Observatory war monitoring group says each side has lost around 1,000 fighters. The United Nations will investigate attacks on U.N.-supported facilities and other humanitarian sites, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday, after two-thirds of the Security Council pushed for an inquiry. Britain, France, the United States, Germany, Belgium, Peru, Poland, Kuwait, the Dominican Republic, and Indonesia had delivered a demarche a formal diplomatic petition over the lack of an inquiry into attacks on some 14 locations in Syria.

No air strikes in northwest Syria after ceasefire declared: Report

From the once pristine rivers of Hindu Kush to the slums of Islamabad, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-proposes-consular-access-to-kulbhushan-jadhav-with-riders-239957">Pakistan</a> is being smothered by plastic due to a lack of public awareness, government inertia, and poor waste management.

Plastic bags are a large part of the problem the nation uses some 55 billion of them each year, according to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/asian-countries-turning-back-wealthy-worlds-waste-239943">Pakistan Plastic Manufacturers Association</a>.

Beaches deluged with plastic waste and dying marine life entangled in bags have shocked other countries into action around 120 have implemented some form of single-use plastic ban.&nbsp;

Pakistan is among them but struggles with enforcement. There is no cohesive national policy and regional efforts often fail to consider the importance of educational outreach with many in rural areas claiming to be unaware of the damage single-use plastic can wreak.&nbsp;

"Fighting for the environment, we do not know about that," says salesman Mohammad Tahir, who uses plastic bags to wrap vegetables for his customers.&nbsp;

The 42-year-old hails from the mountainous Chitral district, which first banned the use of such bags two years ago but to little effect.&nbsp;

"I like plastic bags," shrugs resident Khairul Azam, while shopping at a local market. &nbsp;

"Once home, I throw them away... I know it is not good, but we don't have waste bins in my neighbourhood," he adds.&nbsp;

Instead such waste litters the roadsides and hillsides. It also clogs the streams that feed into the Indus River, which is now the second most plastic polluted river in the world, behind only the Yangtze River in China, according to a study by the German Environmental Research Center Helmholtz.&nbsp;

'Eating plastic'

Plastics swamp the Arabian Sea coastline, where the sewers of the sprawling port city of Karachi spew its waste.

According to the United Nations, single-use plastic bags kill up to one million birds, hundreds of thousands of marine mammals and turtles, along with "countless" fish each year.&nbsp;

And yet in Pakistan, authorities say the amount of plastic used is increasing by 15 per cent each year.&nbsp;

Recycling options are limited and waste disposal is often woefully mismanaged even in the capital garbage is often simply burned in the street.

"Plastic doesn't degrade. It only becomes smaller and smaller," says Hassaan Sipra, an environmental researcher.

"Animals eat it. You eat them. Then it generates liver dysfunctions, diabetes, diarrhoea. But because it is cheap and convenient, people don't see the health consequences," he adds.&nbsp;

A new report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that an average person ingests up to five grams of plastic a week roughly equal to the weight of a credit card.

Plastic bags have become part of the "culture" in Pakistan, says Nazifa Butt, a researcher with WWF.&nbsp;

"We would never use a cup of tea without a saucer. You will never be sold anything without a plastic bag. It is considered insulting," she adds.

In Chitral, authorities first tried to ban plastic bags in 2017, with an additional measure passed earlier this year stating that only biodegradable bags also criticised for their environmental impact can be used in the area.

Authorities have also backed new environmental awareness campaigns in schools, according to a local official.

But many shops still do not use biodegradable bags and enforcement against single-use plastics remains minimal.&nbsp;

"The local government is not sincere," said Shabir Ahmad, chairman of the Chitral traders union.&nbsp;

He explains: "They never check the market. They don't find the shopkeepers."

'Health menace'

"I can confiscate all the plastic bags in one hour. But then, what is the alternative?" says Khurshid Alam Mehsud, a district administrative officer in Chitral, who insists more "time" is needed to address the issue.

Provincial governments in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with municipal authorities in Lahore have issued similar bans. But little has changed on the ground due to lack of law enforcement.

However, Prime Minister Imran Khan's government which has long vowed to make environmental issues a priority is hoping to reverse the plastic tsunami says climate change minister Malik Amin Aslam.

As of August 14, plastic bags will be banned in the capital Islamabad, with violators subject to heavy fines.&nbsp;

"This love affair with plastic has to end in Pakistan," says Aslam, who hopes that the ban in Islamabad will serve as a "model" for the rest of the country.

Some shopkeepers who spoke to AFP in Islamabad appeared prepared for the move but others said they were unaware of the new measure.

Plastics manufacturers who say up to 400,000 people work directly or indirectly in the industry have also raised concerns.

But the Khan's government says the action is necessary regardless.

Aslam says: "It's a health menace, it's an economic menace, it is an environmental menace. It is something that we need to get rid of." 
&nbsp;

From the once pristine rivers of Hindu Kush to the slums of Islamabad, Pakistan is being smothered by plastic due to a lack of public awareness, government inertia, and poor waste management.

From the once pristine rivers of Hindu Kush to the slums of Islamabad, Pakistan is being smothered by plastic due to a lack of public awareness, government inertia, and poor waste management. Plastic bags are a large part of the problem the nation uses some 55 billion of them each year, according to the Pakistan Plastic Manufacturers Association. Beaches deluged with plastic waste and dying marine life entangled in bags have shocked other countries into action around 120 have implemented some form of single-use plastic ban. Pakistan is among them but struggles with enforcement. There is no cohesive national policy and regional efforts often fail to consider the importance of educational outreach with many in rural areas claiming to be unaware of the damage single-use plastic can wreak. "Fighting for the environment, we do not know about that," says salesman Mohammad Tahir, who uses plastic bags to wrap vegetables for his customers. The 42-year-old hails from the mountainous Chitral district, which first banned the use of such bags two years ago but to little effect. "I like plastic bags," shrugs resident Khairul Azam, while shopping at a local market. "Once home, I throw them away... I know it is not good, but we don't have waste bins in my neighbourhood," he adds. Instead such waste litters the roadsides and hillsides. It also clogs the streams that feed into the Indus River, which is now the second most plastic polluted river in the world, behind only the Yangtze River in China, according to a study by the German Environmental Research Center Helmholtz. 'Eating plastic' Plastics swamp the Arabian Sea coastline, where the sewers of the sprawling port city of Karachi spew its waste. According to the United Nations, single-use plastic bags kill up to one million birds, hundreds of thousands of marine mammals and turtles, along with "countless" fish each year. And yet in Pakistan, authorities say the amount of plastic used is increasing by 15 per cent each year. Recycling options are limited and waste disposal is often woefully mismanaged even in the capital garbage is often simply burned in the street. "Plastic doesn't degrade. It only becomes smaller and smaller," says Hassaan Sipra, an environmental researcher. "Animals eat it. You eat them. Then it generates liver dysfunctions, diabetes, diarrhoea. But because it is cheap and convenient, people don't see the health consequences," he adds. A new report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that an average person ingests up to five grams of plastic a week roughly equal to the weight of a credit card. Plastic bags have become part of the "culture" in Pakistan, says Nazifa Butt, a researcher with WWF. "We would never use a cup of tea without a saucer. You will never be sold anything without a plastic bag. It is considered insulting," she adds. In Chitral, authorities first tried to ban plastic bags in 2017, with an additional measure passed earlier this year stating that only biodegradable bags also criticised for their environmental impact can be used in the area. Authorities have also backed new environmental awareness campaigns in schools, according to a local official. But many shops still do not use biodegradable bags and enforcement against single-use plastics remains minimal. "The local government is not sincere," said Shabir Ahmad, chairman of the Chitral traders union. He explains: "They never check the market. They don't find the shopkeepers." 'Health menace' "I can confiscate all the plastic bags in one hour. But then, what is the alternative?" says Khurshid Alam Mehsud, a district administrative officer in Chitral, who insists more "time" is needed to address the issue. Provincial governments in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with municipal authorities in Lahore have issued similar bans. But little has changed on the ground due to lack of law enforcement. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan's government which has long vowed to make environmental issues a priority is hoping to reverse the plastic tsunami says climate change minister Malik Amin Aslam. As of August 14, plastic bags will be banned in the capital Islamabad, with violators subject to heavy fines. "This love affair with plastic has to end in Pakistan," says Aslam, who hopes that the ban in Islamabad will serve as a "model" for the rest of the country. Some shopkeepers who spoke to AFP in Islamabad appeared prepared for the move but others said they were unaware of the new measure. Plastics manufacturers who say up to 400,000 people work directly or indirectly in the industry have also raised concerns. But the Khan's government says the action is necessary regardless. Aslam says: "It's a health menace, it's an economic menace, it is an environmental menace. It is something that we need to get rid of."

'I like plastic': Pakistan's toxic 'love affair' with waste

Every once in a while, a photograph of a migrant’s tragic death (usually that of a child) catches the public’s imagination. The 2015 image of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, fleeing from the Syrian civil war, dead face down in the surf on a Turkish beach, triggered a wave of sympathy that ended with Germany opening its borders to 900,000 refugees that year; and Hungary building a border fence to keep them out.

And now, here we are again. A picture of 23-month-old Valeria Martinez, tucked into her father Oscar’s T-shirt, both dead face down on the banks of the Rio Grande, has unleashed a similar wave of sympathy in the United States, although it certainly hasn’t reached the White House yet. And once again, most of the migrants are claiming to be refugees.

In fact, few migrants fit the legal definition of refugees in either case. The Arabs and Afghans trying to get into Europe had fled genuine wars, but they were already in Turkey, which is quite safe. They just wanted to move on to somewhere with better job opportunities and a higher standard of living. That’s understandable, but it doesn’t get you the right of asylum as a refugee.

The same applies to migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe, even though thousands of them are drowning in the attempt. They are fleeing poverty, or dictatorial regimes, or even climate change, but they are not fleeing war.

Neither do they have a “well-founded fear” of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. That is the language of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, so they don’t qualify as refugees. You may feel sorry for them, but there is no legal duty to let them in.

The Refugee Convention was incorporated into the US law in the Refugee Act of 1980, so few of the people now seeking entry at the Mexican border qualify either. This matters, because while 20 years ago, 98% of the people crossing the border were Mexican young men seeking work, more than half are now entire families from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras — and most of them claim to be refugees.

They are not, and that is why US courts are rejecting at least three-quarters of the applications for refugee status. You may wish that the law took a more generous and humanitarian view, but it does not. And if you think things are bad now, they will be ten times worse in 20 years’ time.

Global warming is starting to bite. We’re still on the learner slopes, but the onslaught of droughts and floods, and then the crop failures that they cause, are multiplying, especially in the tropics and the sub-tropics where temperatures are already high.

In the worst-hit areas, family farms are failing, some people are going hungry, and the number of people on the move is starting to soar. This is precisely what unpublished, in-house government studies were predicting 20 years ago in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Now it’s here.

As the number of migrants goes up, the willingness of host populations to receive them will inevitably go down. That’s human nature. You may deplore it, but it’s not going to change. And behind uncomfortable considerations of what the politics will permit, lies the even starker reality that they can’t all come.&nbsp;

Twenty years from now there will be far more people who desperately want to move than the destination countries could possibly accommodate.

So, the borders will start slamming shut in the countries, mostly in the temperate zone of the planet, where the climate is still tolerable and there is still enough food to eat. And don’t believe the myth that you cannot really shut a border. You can do so quite easily if you are willing to kill the people who try to cross it illegally, and the governments of the destination countries will probably end up doing just that.&nbsp;

Their military and their civil servants, if not their politicians, were already having grim internal debates about it 15 years ago. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-few-immigrants-fit-the-legal-definition-of-global-refugees-2777770">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Every once in a while, a photograph of a migrant’s tragic death (usually that of a child) catches the public’s imagination. The 2015 image of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, fleeing from the Syrian civil war, dead face down in the surf on a Turkish beach, triggered a wave of sympathy that ended with Germany opening its borders to 900,000 refugees that year; and Hungary building a border fence to keep them out.

Every once in a while, a photograph of a migrant’s tragic death (usually that of a child) catches the public’s imagination. The 2015 image of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, fleeing from the Syrian civil war, dead face down in the surf on a Turkish beach, triggered a wave of sympathy that ended with Germany opening its borders to 900,000 refugees that year; and Hungary building a border fence to keep them out. And now, here we are again. A picture of 23-month-old Valeria Martinez, tucked into her father Oscar’s T-shirt, both dead face down on the banks of the Rio Grande, has unleashed a similar wave of sympathy in the United States, although it certainly hasn’t reached the White House yet. And once again, most of the migrants are claiming to be refugees. In fact, few migrants fit the legal definition of refugees in either case. The Arabs and Afghans trying to get into Europe had fled genuine wars, but they were already in Turkey, which is quite safe. They just wanted to move on to somewhere with better job opportunities and a higher standard of living. That’s understandable, but it doesn’t get you the right of asylum as a refugee. The same applies to migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe, even though thousands of them are drowning in the attempt. They are fleeing poverty, or dictatorial regimes, or even climate change, but they are not fleeing war. Neither do they have a “well-founded fear” of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. That is the language of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, so they don’t qualify as refugees. You may feel sorry for them, but there is no legal duty to let them in. The Refugee Convention was incorporated into the US law in the Refugee Act of 1980, so few of the people now seeking entry at the Mexican border qualify either. This matters, because while 20 years ago, 98% of the people crossing the border were Mexican young men seeking work, more than half are now entire families from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras — and most of them claim to be refugees. They are not, and that is why US courts are rejecting at least three-quarters of the applications for refugee status. You may wish that the law took a more generous and humanitarian view, but it does not. And if you think things are bad now, they will be ten times worse in 20 years’ time. Global warming is starting to bite. We’re still on the learner slopes, but the onslaught of droughts and floods, and then the crop failures that they cause, are multiplying, especially in the tropics and the sub-tropics where temperatures are already high. In the worst-hit areas, family farms are failing, some people are going hungry, and the number of people on the move is starting to soar. This is precisely what unpublished, in-house government studies were predicting 20 years ago in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Now it’s here. As the number of migrants goes up, the willingness of host populations to receive them will inevitably go down. That’s human nature. You may deplore it, but it’s not going to change. And behind uncomfortable considerations of what the politics will permit, lies the even starker reality that they can’t all come. Twenty years from now there will be far more people who desperately want to move than the destination countries could possibly accommodate. So, the borders will start slamming shut in the countries, mostly in the temperate zone of the planet, where the climate is still tolerable and there is still enough food to eat. And don’t believe the myth that you cannot really shut a border. You can do so quite easily if you are willing to kill the people who try to cross it illegally, and the governments of the destination countries will probably end up doing just that. Their military and their civil servants, if not their politicians, were already having grim internal debates about it 15 years ago. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Few immigrants fit the legal definition of global refugees

Turkey on Thursday granted its radio and television watchdog sweeping oversight overall online content, including streaming platforms like Netflix and online news outlets, in a move that raised concerns over possible censorship.

The move was initially approved by Turkey's parliament in March last year, with support from President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party and its nationalist ally.

The regulation, published in Turkey's Official Gazette on Thursday, mandates all online content providers to obtain broadcasting licenses from RTUK, which will then supervise the content put out by the providers.

Aside from streaming giant Netflix, other platforms like local streaming websites PuhuTV and BluTV, which in recent years have produced popular shows, will be subject to supervision and potential fines or loss of their license.

In addition to subscription services like Netflix, free online news outlets which rely on advertising for their revenues will also be subject to the same measures.

"The aim of this regulation is to establish the methods and principles to regulate the presentation and provision of radio, television and on-demand broadcast services, the handing of broadcast licenses to media service providers, the granting of broadcasting authorities to platform administrators and the supervision of the broadcasts in question," the regulation said.

It said that the content providers that do not comply with the regulation and RTUK's guidelines would be given 30 days to adjust their content to the required standards or face having their licenses suspended for three months and later cancelled. Thursday's announcement did not specify what standards the watchdog would expect.

A spokeswoman for Netflix in Turkey said the platform was closely following developments and wanted to continue providing content for Turkey.

Tightening grip

Yaman Akdeniz, a law professor and cybersecurity expert at Istanbul Bilgi University, said that the move went against Turkey's recently announced package of judicial reforms which aimed to address EU concerns about deteriorating human rights.

"The regulation granting RTUK the authority to censor the internet came into effect today... Soon, access to the Netflix platform or to news outlets broadcasting from abroad... could be blocked," Akdeniz wrote on Twitter.

Critics have also voiced concerns that the move will allow the government to tighten its grip on media, which is largely under the influence of Erdogan and his AK Party.

Kerem Altiparmak, a human rights lawyer, said the move was the "biggest step in Turkish censorship history" and said all outlets producing opposition news would be affected.

"Everyone who produces alternative news and broadcasts will be impacted by this regulation," Altiparmak wrote on Twitter. "Every news report that can be against the government will be taken under control."

Turkey on Thursday granted its radio and television watchdog sweeping oversight overall online content, including streaming platforms like Netflix and online news outlets, in a move that raised concerns over possible censorship.

Turkey on Thursday granted its radio and television watchdog sweeping oversight overall online content, including streaming platforms like Netflix and online news outlets, in a move that raised concerns over possible censorship. The move was initially approved by Turkey's parliament in March last year, with support from President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party and its nationalist ally. The regulation, published in Turkey's Official Gazette on Thursday, mandates all online content providers to obtain broadcasting licenses from RTUK, which will then supervise the content put out by the providers. Aside from streaming giant Netflix, other platforms like local streaming websites PuhuTV and BluTV, which in recent years have produced popular shows, will be subject to supervision and potential fines or loss of their license. In addition to subscription services like Netflix, free online news outlets which rely on advertising for their revenues will also be subject to the same measures. "The aim of this regulation is to establish the methods and principles to regulate the presentation and provision of radio, television and on-demand broadcast services, the handing of broadcast licenses to media service providers, the granting of broadcasting authorities to platform administrators and the supervision of the broadcasts in question," the regulation said. It said that the content providers that do not comply with the regulation and RTUK's guidelines would be given 30 days to adjust their content to the required standards or face having their licenses suspended for three months and later cancelled. Thursday's announcement did not specify what standards the watchdog would expect. A spokeswoman for Netflix in Turkey said the platform was closely following developments and wanted to continue providing content for Turkey. Tightening grip Yaman Akdeniz, a law professor and cybersecurity expert at Istanbul Bilgi University, said that the move went against Turkey's recently announced package of judicial reforms which aimed to address EU concerns about deteriorating human rights. "The regulation granting RTUK the authority to censor the internet came into effect today... Soon, access to the Netflix platform or to news outlets broadcasting from abroad... could be blocked," Akdeniz wrote on Twitter. Critics have also voiced concerns that the move will allow the government to tighten its grip on media, which is largely under the influence of Erdogan and his AK Party. Kerem Altiparmak, a human rights lawyer, said the move was the "biggest step in Turkish censorship history" and said all outlets producing opposition news would be affected. "Everyone who produces alternative news and broadcasts will be impacted by this regulation," Altiparmak wrote on Twitter. "Every news report that can be against the government will be taken under control."

Turkey moves to oversee all online content, raises concerns over censorship

Turkey's central bank cut its inflation forecasts on Wednesday and new governor Murat Uysal said it has "considerable" room for manoeuvre on interest rates in coming months, a week after it began an expected policy easing cycle with a big cut.

Uysal appointed this month after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan-says-trump-can-waive-sanctions-on-turkey-report-236013">President Tayyip Erdogan</a> dismissed his predecessor also said the bank had independence in its use of tools to reach its inflation target.

Periodic doubts about the bank's freedom from political interference resurfaced after Murat Cetinkaya's abrupt sacking. Erdogan said the former bank governor had failed to follow instructions.

The upbeat comments by Uysal, who was Cetinkaya's deputy, set the scene for more rate cuts over the next months, especially if a spreading monetary easing trend among major central banks continues to stabilise the Turkish lira after its meltdown last year.

The lira was up 0.6 per cent at 5.53 against the dollar at 1246 GMT, on track for a sixth straight day of gains.

"In the upcoming period, we have a considerable room for manoeuvre on rates. Its application, timing and size will depend on the improvements on price and financial stability," Uysal said. "We will make (the decision) based on data."

The central bank hiked its policy rate to 24 per cent at the peak of last year's currency crisis. High rates, along with companies burdened with large amounts of foreign currency debt, drove the economy into recession and cut nearly 30 per cent from the value of the lira.

It also sent inflation soaring above 25 per cent. It has since fallen to below 16 per cent, paving the way for the bank to cut rates last week by 425 basis points to 19.75 per cent.

On Wednesday, the bank cut its inflation forecast for 2019 to 13.9 per cent from 14.6 per cent but left next year's outlook unchanged at 8.2 per cent. Uysal said the policy would depend on the inflation outlook.

In a separate publication of the minutes of the bank's policy meeting last week, it said there was a risk that inflation would not edge lower as expected.

"Although other central banks have generally been cutting, Turkish interest rates remain high and there's room for more cuts," said Nikolay Markov, senior economist at Pictet Asset Management, who expects the policy rate to fall to about 14 per cent by mid-2020.

"People thought (Uysal) would be a lot more political and what he has said today makes sense and that provides some comfort to foreign investors."

Asked in a press conference about Cetinkaya's sacking, Uysal said it had met legal requirements.

He also said the central bank had a more optimistic outlook for the economy in 2020 as lira volatility ebbed.

"The delayed, cumulative effects of the exchange rate slowly being left behind is turning our expectations for 2020 to a positive trajectory," he said.

Turkey's central bank cut its inflation forecasts on Wednesday and new governor Murat Uysal said it has "considerable" room for manoeuvre on interest rates in coming months, a week after it began an expected policy easing cycle with a big cut.

Turkey's central bank cut its inflation forecasts on Wednesday and new governor Murat Uysal said it has "considerable" room for manoeuvre on interest rates in coming months, a week after it began an expected policy easing cycle with a big cut. Uysal appointed this month after President Tayyip Erdogan dismissed his predecessor also said the bank had independence in its use of tools to reach its inflation target. Periodic doubts about the bank's freedom from political interference resurfaced after Murat Cetinkaya's abrupt sacking. Erdogan said the former bank governor had failed to follow instructions. The upbeat comments by Uysal, who was Cetinkaya's deputy, set the scene for more rate cuts over the next months, especially if a spreading monetary easing trend among major central banks continues to stabilise the Turkish lira after its meltdown last year. The lira was up 0.6 per cent at 5.53 against the dollar at 1246 GMT, on track for a sixth straight day of gains. "In the upcoming period, we have a considerable room for manoeuvre on rates. Its application, timing and size will depend on the improvements on price and financial stability," Uysal said. "We will make (the decision) based on data." The central bank hiked its policy rate to 24 per cent at the peak of last year's currency crisis. High rates, along with companies burdened with large amounts of foreign currency debt, drove the economy into recession and cut nearly 30 per cent from the value of the lira. It also sent inflation soaring above 25 per cent. It has since fallen to below 16 per cent, paving the way for the bank to cut rates last week by 425 basis points to 19.75 per cent. On Wednesday, the bank cut its inflation forecast for 2019 to 13.9 per cent from 14.6 per cent but left next year's outlook unchanged at 8.2 per cent. Uysal said the policy would depend on the inflation outlook. In a separate publication of the minutes of the bank's policy meeting last week, it said there was a risk that inflation would not edge lower as expected. "Although other central banks have generally been cutting, Turkish interest rates remain high and there's room for more cuts," said Nikolay Markov, senior economist at Pictet Asset Management, who expects the policy rate to fall to about 14 per cent by mid-2020. "People thought (Uysal) would be a lot more political and what he has said today makes sense and that provides some comfort to foreign investors." Asked in a press conference about Cetinkaya's sacking, Uysal said it had met legal requirements. He also said the central bank had a more optimistic outlook for the economy in 2020 as lira volatility ebbed. "The delayed, cumulative effects of the exchange rate slowly being left behind is turning our expectations for 2020 to a positive trajectory," he said.

Turkey's cenbank trims inflation view, new head sees room for rate cuts

Still reeling from his sudden deportation from Turkey with just the clothes on his back, Mohammad Hassan stood in the arrivals hall at a border crossing in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/regime-and-russian-airstrikes-killed-15-civilians-in-northwest-syria-monitor-239097">northern Syria</a> unsure what to do next.

"I left Syria seven years ago," said the 22-year-old. "I don't know anything about this country."

He was among dozens to queue up one morning last week to register with officials at the Bab al-Hawa crossing many in complete disbelief.

During Hassan's years of exile, Syria's landscape changed dramatically.

With no say in the matter, he has just been bussed into the country's last opposition bastion of Idlib, administered since the start of the year by jihadists.

His home city of Aleppo to the east has been under regime control since 2016, making it near impossible for him to return to the former rebel stronghold.

"My family is in Aleppo but I can't go there," he said, looking dejected in a black jacket and baseball cap.

Regime forces have detained young men in areas they have retaken with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-russia-signs-rs-1500-crore-deal-for-air-to-air-missiles-for-su-30-fighters-239257">Russian backing</a> since 2015 and forced others to join President Bashar al-Assad's army.

'They lied'

Syria's eight-year conflict has killed more than 370,000 people since it started in 2011, as well as displacing millions at home and abroad.

Some 3.5 million Syrian refugees live in Turkey alone, the United Nations says.&nbsp;

Hassan used to live in Istanbul, where authorities are leading a crackdown on unregistered migrants.

They have arrested 6,000 including Syrians over the past two weeks, the interior ministry said last Wednesday.

Critics have raised concern over reports that hundreds of Syrian refugees have been deported, after being forced to sign consent forms in Turkish they do not understand.

Hassan said he tried several times to get a temporary residency permit but was refused.&nbsp;

"In Istanbul, they've stopped issuing them to Syrians," he said.

Without the right "temporary protection" permit, he was stopped and arrested.

After more than a week in jail, Hassan was presented with a wad of papers to ink with a finger, which he was told would allow him to stay in Turkey legally.

"They lied to us," he said.

Instead, "we were shocked when the next morning they loaded us on buses and sent us back to Syria."&nbsp;

The crackdown has alarmed human rights campaigners.

"Turkey claims it helps Syrians voluntarily return to their country, but threatening to lock them up until they agree to return, forcing them to sign forms, and dumping them in a war zone is neither voluntary nor legal," said Gerry Simpson, an associate director at Human Rights Watch.

Bab al-Hawa crossing spokesman Mazen Alloush said Syrians were being deported daily.

Most had tried to illegally cross the border, but others were residents sent home for not having the right papers, he said.&nbsp;

More than 4,400 Syrians have been sent back via Bab al-Hawa this month, he said. &nbsp;

At a press conference in Istanbul on Thursday, Syria's exiled opposition said it had received assurances from Turkish authorities that Syrian "families would not be deported to Syria".

But Anas Abdah, the head of the Syrian National Coalition, called on all Syrians in Turkey to settle their status with the authorities.

'No family'&nbsp;

Inside the arrivals hall in Bab al-Hawa, Luay Mohammed, 23, said he was still in shock after being bussed back in the middle of the night.

"I have no idea how I will start over" in Syria, said the young man, back in his home country for the first time in four years.

After waiting in line, he finally reached his turn at the counter, leaning in to hear the official registering his details on a computer behind the perforated glass.

Muhammed had been detained in Turkey's southern city of Antalya, where he worked in a restaurant, he told AFP.

Around a week ago, he had rushed a friend injured in a fight with locals to the hospital on his motorbike, only to find the police waiting.

"They took us to the police station," he said before they were transferred to a jail containing around 350 foreigners.

"They took us back to Syria in the middle of the night," he said.

Hassan said he would try to travel east to his home city of Manbij. But that too is complicated.&nbsp;

The northern city is now under the control of a military council allied to Syria's Kurds, who are seen by Turkey and its Syrian rebel proxies as "terrorists".

And even if he did find a job, he would be without his family. "My family isn't in Syria, two of my brothers are still in Turkey," he said.

Still reeling from his sudden deportation from Turkey with just the clothes on his back, Mohammad Hassan stood in the arrivals hall at a border crossing in northern Syria unsure what to do next.

Still reeling from his sudden deportation from Turkey with just the clothes on his back, Mohammad Hassan stood in the arrivals hall at a border crossing in northern Syria unsure what to do next. "I left Syria seven years ago," said the 22-year-old. "I don't know anything about this country." He was among dozens to queue up one morning last week to register with officials at the Bab al-Hawa crossing many in complete disbelief. During Hassan's years of exile, Syria's landscape changed dramatically. With no say in the matter, he has just been bussed into the country's last opposition bastion of Idlib, administered since the start of the year by jihadists. His home city of Aleppo to the east has been under regime control since 2016, making it near impossible for him to return to the former rebel stronghold. "My family is in Aleppo but I can't go there," he said, looking dejected in a black jacket and baseball cap. Regime forces have detained young men in areas they have retaken with Russian backing since 2015 and forced others to join President Bashar al-Assad's army. 'They lied' Syria's eight-year conflict has killed more than 370,000 people since it started in 2011, as well as displacing millions at home and abroad. Some 3.5 million Syrian refugees live in Turkey alone, the United Nations says. Hassan used to live in Istanbul, where authorities are leading a crackdown on unregistered migrants. They have arrested 6,000 including Syrians over the past two weeks, the interior ministry said last Wednesday. Critics have raised concern over reports that hundreds of Syrian refugees have been deported, after being forced to sign consent forms in Turkish they do not understand. Hassan said he tried several times to get a temporary residency permit but was refused. "In Istanbul, they've stopped issuing them to Syrians," he said. Without the right "temporary protection" permit, he was stopped and arrested. After more than a week in jail, Hassan was presented with a wad of papers to ink with a finger, which he was told would allow him to stay in Turkey legally. "They lied to us," he said. Instead, "we were shocked when the next morning they loaded us on buses and sent us back to Syria." The crackdown has alarmed human rights campaigners. "Turkey claims it helps Syrians voluntarily return to their country, but threatening to lock them up until they agree to return, forcing them to sign forms, and dumping them in a war zone is neither voluntary nor legal," said Gerry Simpson, an associate director at Human Rights Watch. Bab al-Hawa crossing spokesman Mazen Alloush said Syrians were being deported daily. Most had tried to illegally cross the border, but others were residents sent home for not having the right papers, he said. More than 4,400 Syrians have been sent back via Bab al-Hawa this month, he said. At a press conference in Istanbul on Thursday, Syria's exiled opposition said it had received assurances from Turkish authorities that Syrian "families would not be deported to Syria". But Anas Abdah, the head of the Syrian National Coalition, called on all Syrians in Turkey to settle their status with the authorities. 'No family' Inside the arrivals hall in Bab al-Hawa, Luay Mohammed, 23, said he was still in shock after being bussed back in the middle of the night. "I have no idea how I will start over" in Syria, said the young man, back in his home country for the first time in four years. After waiting in line, he finally reached his turn at the counter, leaning in to hear the official registering his details on a computer behind the perforated glass. Muhammed had been detained in Turkey's southern city of Antalya, where he worked in a restaurant, he told AFP. Around a week ago, he had rushed a friend injured in a fight with locals to the hospital on his motorbike, only to find the police waiting. "They took us to the police station," he said before they were transferred to a jail containing around 350 foreigners. "They took us back to Syria in the middle of the night," he said. Hassan said he would try to travel east to his home city of Manbij. But that too is complicated. The northern city is now under the control of a military council allied to Syria's Kurds, who are seen by Turkey and its Syrian rebel proxies as "terrorists". And even if he did find a job, he would be without his family. "My family isn't in Syria, two of my brothers are still in Turkey," he said.

Deported from Turkey, Syrians return to unfamiliar country

Turkey`s Defence Ministry said on Saturday it had "neutralised" 34 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq in air strikes on July 17-19.

Sixteen militants were "neutralised" in airstrikes on northern Iraq`s Qandil region on July 17, and 18 in airstrikes on the Karacak region on July 19, it said. The ministry commonly uses the term "neutralised" to refer to those killed but it can also refer to those wounded or captured.

The PKK, considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and European Union, has waged an insurgency for autonomy in Turkey`s largely Kurdish southeast since 1984. It has fighters based in northern Iraq, mainly in the Qandil region.

The Defence Ministry said it had "neutralised" a total of 255 PKK militants in operations in northern Iraq since May 27, when Ankara launched an offensive there against the PKK.

Turkey frequently launches airstrikes in the region but the latest campaign, dubbed "Operation Claw", has included artillery fire and ground operations.&nbsp;

Turkey`s Defence Ministry said on Saturday it had "neutralised" 34 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq in air strikes on July 17-19. Sixteen militants were "neutralised" in airstrikes on northern Iraq`s Qandil region on July 17, and 18 in airstrikes on the Karacak region on July 19, it said.

Turkey`s Defence Ministry said on Saturday it had "neutralised" 34 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq in air strikes on July 17-19. Sixteen militants were "neutralised" in airstrikes on northern Iraq`s Qandil region on July 17, and 18 in airstrikes on the Karacak region on July 19, it said. The ministry commonly uses the term "neutralised" to refer to those killed but it can also refer to those wounded or captured. The PKK, considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and European Union, has waged an insurgency for autonomy in Turkey`s largely Kurdish southeast since 1984. It has fighters based in northern Iraq, mainly in the Qandil region. The Defence Ministry said it had "neutralised" a total of 255 PKK militants in operations in northern Iraq since May 27, when Ankara launched an offensive there against the PKK. Turkey frequently launches airstrikes in the region but the latest campaign, dubbed "Operation Claw", has included artillery fire and ground operations.

Turkey says it 'neutralised' 34 PKK militants in air strikes on July 17-19

The first shipment of Russian <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mike-pompeo-expresses-disappointment-over-turkeys-acquisition-of-russian-s-400-missiles-237351">S-400 defence systems</a> to Turkey has been completed and a second shipment is now being planned to arrive in Ankara, Turkish military officials said on Thursday.

Turkey began accepting delivery of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-concerned-by-turkeys-acquisition-of-russias-s-400-missile-defence-system-235300">S-400s earlier this month </a>in a move that has strained ties with its NATO ally, the United States.

In response, Washington suspended Ankara from the F-35 jet programme over security concerns and has warned of possible US sanctions, but Turkey has so far dismissed the warnings.

On Thursday, the officials said Turkey was still engaged in talks with US officials to procure the Patriot defence system, which Washington had offered as an alternative to the S-400s.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-turkey-cant-have-both-s-400-and-f-35-236783/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

They also said France would deploy one SAMP-T battery, a missile defence system developed by the Franco-Italian EUROSAM consortium, along the southern Turkish border.

"If the United States portrays an adversarial attitude towards us, we will take retaliatory measures, as we've told them. This is not a threat or a bluff," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with broadcaster TGRT Haber.

"We are not a country that will bow down to those who show a animosity towards Turkey," he said, reiterating a threat of retaliation that Turkey made last month.

Cavusoglu added that he did not expect the US administration to take such action.

"Trump does not want to impose sanctions on Turkey and he frequently says that his administration and the previous U.S. administration is also responsible for Turkey not being able to buy Patriot systems. This is true," Cavusoglu said.

Turkey, like other partners in the F-35 programme, was part of the manufacturing supply chain for the high-tech jet aircraft, producing some 900 parts. A U.S. official said it would cost some $500 million to $600 million to shift F-35 manufacturing from Turkey.

Separately, the TASS news agency cited Sergei Chemezov, head of Russia's Rostec state conglomerate, as saying that Russia and Turkey were in talks about the possibility of jointly manufacturing some components of Russia's S-400 missile defence system in Turkey.

The first shipment of Russian S-400 defence systems to Turkey has been completed and a second shipment is now being planned to arrive in Ankara, Turkish military officials said on Thursday.

The first shipment of Russian S-400 defence systems to Turkey has been completed and a second shipment is now being planned to arrive in Ankara, Turkish military officials said on Thursday. Turkey began accepting delivery of the S-400s earlier this month in a move that has strained ties with its NATO ally, the United States. In response, Washington suspended Ankara from the F-35 jet programme over security concerns and has warned of possible US sanctions, but Turkey has so far dismissed the warnings. On Thursday, the officials said Turkey was still engaged in talks with US officials to procure the Patriot defence system, which Washington had offered as an alternative to the S-400s. They also said France would deploy one SAMP-T battery, a missile defence system developed by the Franco-Italian EUROSAM consortium, along the southern Turkish border. "If the United States portrays an adversarial attitude towards us, we will take retaliatory measures, as we've told them. This is not a threat or a bluff," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with broadcaster TGRT Haber. "We are not a country that will bow down to those who show a animosity towards Turkey," he said, reiterating a threat of retaliation that Turkey made last month. Cavusoglu added that he did not expect the US administration to take such action. "Trump does not want to impose sanctions on Turkey and he frequently says that his administration and the previous U.S. administration is also responsible for Turkey not being able to buy Patriot systems. This is true," Cavusoglu said. Turkey, like other partners in the F-35 programme, was part of the manufacturing supply chain for the high-tech jet aircraft, producing some 900 parts. A U.S. official said it would cost some $500 million to $600 million to shift F-35 manufacturing from Turkey. Separately, the TASS news agency cited Sergei Chemezov, head of Russia's Rostec state conglomerate, as saying that Russia and Turkey were in talks about the possibility of jointly manufacturing some components of Russia's S-400 missile defence system in Turkey.

First shipment of Russian S-400 missile defence system completed, second planned: Turkey

Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that he was convinced President Donald Trump did not want to impose sanctions over its purchase of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unfair-to-remove-one-of-the-partners-in-f-35-programme-turkey-to-us-236968">Russian S-400 missile defence system</a>.

The US president has taken a soft line on Turkey over its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-removing-turkey-from-f-35-programme-after-its-russian-missile-defence-purchase-236770">purchase of the S-400 system</a> -- which was delivered on July 13 -- saying Thursday that he did not envisage sanctions "for now".

But Washington did respond by kicking Turkey out of its F-35 fighter jet programme -&nbsp;a loss of billions of dollars for Turkish defence contractors.

The US says Russia could glean technical secrets about the new fighter jet if it is operated alongside the S-400.&nbsp;

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="http://13.235.153.162/videos/us-turkey-cant-have-both-s-400-and-f-35-236783/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

"Trump does not want to impose sanctions on Turkey," said Cavusoglu in an interview with TV station TGRT Haber.

"When Trump promises something, he does his best to stick to it, but there are different points of view in the United States."

It is up to US lawmakers to decide on further punishing Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which prescribes penalties for countries that deal with Russia's defence sector.

But Cavusoglu said he expected Trump to waive any potential sanctions imposed by the US Congress.&nbsp;

"That is our expectation," he told TGRT Haber.

He also said exclusion from the F-35 programme could force Turkey to look elsewhere for new fighter jets.&nbsp;

"If the United States doesn't give us the F-35, while we are waiting to build our own planes... we will have to get them from another country, and no one can say anything about that," he said. &nbsp;

"We have the right to look at the options," he added, while insisting that Turkey would never leave the NATO alliance.&nbsp;

Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that he was convinced President Donald Trump did not want to impose sanctions over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system.

Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that he was convinced President Donald Trump did not want to impose sanctions over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system. The US president has taken a soft line on Turkey over its purchase of the S-400 system -- which was delivered on July 13 -- saying Thursday that he did not envisage sanctions "for now". But Washington did respond by kicking Turkey out of its F-35 fighter jet programme - a loss of billions of dollars for Turkish defence contractors. The US says Russia could glean technical secrets about the new fighter jet if it is operated alongside the S-400. Watch Video: "Trump does not want to impose sanctions on Turkey," said Cavusoglu in an interview with TV station TGRT Haber. "When Trump promises something, he does his best to stick to it, but there are different points of view in the United States." It is up to US lawmakers to decide on further punishing Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which prescribes penalties for countries that deal with Russia's defence sector. But Cavusoglu said he expected Trump to waive any potential sanctions imposed by the US Congress. "That is our expectation," he told TGRT Haber. He also said exclusion from the F-35 programme could force Turkey to look elsewhere for new fighter jets. "If the United States doesn't give us the F-35, while we are waiting to build our own planes... we will have to get them from another country, and no one can say anything about that," he said. "We have the right to look at the options," he added, while insisting that Turkey would never leave the NATO alliance.

If US doesn't give F-35 planes, will get it from another country: Turkey foreign minister Cavusoglu

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/for-turkey-xinjiang-visit-amounts-to-a-risky-gamble-234168">Turkey</a> on Thursday slammed the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-weekly-jobless-claims-fall-to-three-month-low-235066">United States</a>` decision to remove it from the F-35 program, highlighting that the move would "irreparably" damage relations.

"Turkey calls on the US to correct the mistake to remove the country from F-35 program which will irreparably damage relations," Anadolu Agency quoted the Turkish Foreign Ministry as saying.

Both the USA and Turkey are NATO allies. Turkey currently makes numerous components of the fighter jet for the US, which are sold internationally."US unilateral move to remove Turkey from F-35 program neither complies with alliance spirit nor based on legitimate grounds," the ministry added.

The United States booted Turkey out of its F-35 programme on Wednesday, days after Ankara received the first parts of the S-400 air defence system from Russia a move which was strongly rejected by the US.

"The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence-collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities," a statement released by the White House read.

However, the United States added it still values the strategic relationship shared between the two countries.

"As NATO Allies, our relationship is multi-layered, and not solely focused on the F-35. Our military-to-military relationship is strong, and we will continue to cooperate with Turkey extensively, mindful of constraints due to the presence of the S-400 system in Turkey," the statement continued.

Turkey on Thursday slammed the United States` decision to remove it from the F-35 program, highlighting that the move would "irreparably" damage relations. "Turkey calls on the US to correct the mistake to remove the country from F-35 program which will irreparably damage relations," Anadolu Agency quoted the Turkish Foreign Ministry as saying.

Turkey on Thursday slammed the United States` decision to remove it from the F-35 program, highlighting that the move would "irreparably" damage relations. "Turkey calls on the US to correct the mistake to remove the country from F-35 program which will irreparably damage relations," Anadolu Agency quoted the Turkish Foreign Ministry as saying. Both the USA and Turkey are NATO allies. Turkey currently makes numerous components of the fighter jet for the US, which are sold internationally."US unilateral move to remove Turkey from F-35 program neither complies with alliance spirit nor based on legitimate grounds," the ministry added. The United States booted Turkey out of its F-35 programme on Wednesday, days after Ankara received the first parts of the S-400 air defence system from Russia a move which was strongly rejected by the US. "The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence-collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities," a statement released by the White House read. However, the United States added it still values the strategic relationship shared between the two countries. "As NATO Allies, our relationship is multi-layered, and not solely focused on the F-35. Our military-to-military relationship is strong, and we will continue to cooperate with Turkey extensively, mindful of constraints due to the presence of the S-400 system in Turkey," the statement continued.

Turkey slams USA's decision to remove it from F-35 program

The United States has removed Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program, this comes a day after Turkey received first delivery of S-400 missile defense system from Russian. Watch this video to know more.

US: Turkey can't have both S-400 and F-35

Seventeen people were killed and 50 wounded after a minibus carrying migrants overturned in eastern Turkey on Thursday, the private news agency DHA reported.

Five children were among the dead in the accident in Van province near the Iranian border, DHA reported quoting Van governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez.

The agency said the migrants had entered Turkey illegally but the nationalities of the victims was not immediately known.

The governor said there were 67 people on board the minibus which he said had a capacity of 17 to 18 people. Bilmez was quoted by DHA earlier saying the death toll was 15.

Sixteen of the victims were migrants and another was the minibus driver, DHA said.

Images in Turkish media showed the damaged minibus in a field with several rescue workers tending to the injured in Ozalp district close to the border with Iran.

The agency reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle but there were no immediate details on the cause of the accident which took place at 0900 GMT.

Seventeen people were killed and 50 wounded after a minibus carrying migrants overturned in eastern Turkey on Thursday, the private news agency DHA reported. Five children were among the dead in the accident in Van province near the Iranian border, DHA reported quoting Van governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez.

Seventeen people were killed and 50 wounded after a minibus carrying migrants overturned in eastern Turkey on Thursday, the private news agency DHA reported. Five children were among the dead in the accident in Van province near the Iranian border, DHA reported quoting Van governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez. The agency said the migrants had entered Turkey illegally but the nationalities of the victims was not immediately known. The governor said there were 67 people on board the minibus which he said had a capacity of 17 to 18 people. Bilmez was quoted by DHA earlier saying the death toll was 15. Sixteen of the victims were migrants and another was the minibus driver, DHA said. Images in Turkish media showed the damaged minibus in a field with several rescue workers tending to the injured in Ozalp district close to the border with Iran. The agency reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle but there were no immediate details on the cause of the accident which took place at 0900 GMT.

Minibus with migrants overturns in Turkey killing 17

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - July 18th, 2019

Turkey on Wednesday lambasted an "unfair" US move to exclude the country from the<a href="http://cms.wionews.com/world/us-removing-turkey-from-f-35-programme-after-its-russian-missile-defence-purchase-236770"> F-35 stealth fighter jet</a> programme over Ankara's controversial purchase of a Russian missile defence system.

"This one-sided step neither complies with the spirit of alliance nor is it based on legitimate reasons," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;

"It is unfair to remove Turkey, one of the partners in the F-35 programme," the ministry said, as it dismissed claims the Russian S-400 system would be a danger to the F-35s.

Watch Video:

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Turkey has ordered more than 100 of the F-35 fighter jets, while its defence industry has invested significant sums into the production of the warplanes.

"We invite the US to take back this error which will pave the way to irreparable damage to our strategic relations," the Turkish ministry added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the United States confirmed Turkey's exclusion from the programme after repeated warnings.

The US-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter "cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

Turkish F-35 technicians and pilots training in the US would also be sent back by the end of this month.

The first delivery of the S-400 system from Russia began last week and further equipment has since been arriving every day by plane to an airbase in Ankara.

Relations between the NATO allies have deteriorated since Ankara's purchase from Russia but there have been strains over multiple issues including US support to a Syrian Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Turkey.

The Turkish ministry called on the US to show the importance of the Ankara-Washington relationship "not just through words but through action and especially in the fight against terrorist organisations." 
&nbsp;

Turkey on Wednesday lambasted an "unfair" US move to exclude the country from the F-35 stealth fighter jet programme over Ankara's controversial purchase of a Russian missile defence system.

Turkey on Wednesday lambasted an "unfair" US move to exclude the country from the F-35 stealth fighter jet programme over Ankara's controversial purchase of a Russian missile defence system. "This one-sided step neither complies with the spirit of alliance nor is it based on legitimate reasons," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. "It is unfair to remove Turkey, one of the partners in the F-35 programme," the ministry said, as it dismissed claims the Russian S-400 system would be a danger to the F-35s. Watch Video: Turkey has ordered more than 100 of the F-35 fighter jets, while its defence industry has invested significant sums into the production of the warplanes. "We invite the US to take back this error which will pave the way to irreparable damage to our strategic relations," the Turkish ministry added. Earlier on Wednesday, the United States confirmed Turkey's exclusion from the programme after repeated warnings. The US-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter "cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said. Turkish F-35 technicians and pilots training in the US would also be sent back by the end of this month. The first delivery of the S-400 system from Russia began last week and further equipment has since been arriving every day by plane to an airbase in Ankara. Relations between the NATO allies have deteriorated since Ankara's purchase from Russia but there have been strains over multiple issues including US support to a Syrian Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Turkey. The Turkish ministry called on the US to show the importance of the Ankara-Washington relationship "not just through words but through action and especially in the fight against terrorist organisations."

Unfair to remove one of the partners in F-35 programme: Turkey to US

Fifteen people were killed and 28 wounded after a minibus carrying migrants overturned in eastern Turkey on Thursday, the private news agency DHA reported.

Women and children figured among the victims and their nationalities were not known.

Police and ambulance services were rushed to the scene in Van province near the Iranian border, DHA reported, adding that they had entered Turkey illegally.

The death toll was initially reported to be 14 but Van governor Emin Bilmez was quoted by DHA later saying the death toll had risen to 15.

Images in Turkish media showed the damaged minibus in a field with several rescue workers tending to the injured in Ozalp district close to the border with Iran.

The agency reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle but there were no immediate details on the cause of the accident which took place at 0900 GMT. 
&nbsp;

Fifteen people were killed and 28 wounded after a minibus carrying migrants overturned in eastern Turkey on Thursday, the private news agency DHA reported. Women and children figured among the victims and their nationalities were not known.

Fifteen people were killed and 28 wounded after a minibus carrying migrants overturned in eastern Turkey on Thursday, the private news agency DHA reported. Women and children figured among the victims and their nationalities were not known. Police and ambulance services were rushed to the scene in Van province near the Iranian border, DHA reported, adding that they had entered Turkey illegally. The death toll was initially reported to be 14 but Van governor Emin Bilmez was quoted by DHA later saying the death toll had risen to 15. Images in Turkish media showed the damaged minibus in a field with several rescue workers tending to the injured in Ozalp district close to the border with Iran. The agency reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle but there were no immediate details on the cause of the accident which took place at 0900 GMT.

15 migrants killed in Turkey after minibus overturns; nationality unknown

President Donald Trump declined Tuesday to criticize <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan-says-trump-can-waive-sanctions-on-turkey-report-236013">Turkey's</a> acquisition of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-hails-s-400-deal-as-turkey-marks-2016-coup-bid-anniversary-236260">Russian missile system</a> assailed by the Pentagon and NATO, making no mention of sanctions Washington had threatened over the purchase.

In his first comments since Turkey began taking delivery of the S-400 system last Friday, Trump said Turkey was forced into the move by his predecessor Barack Obama, and that he understood why they opted to buy the Russian missiles.

"I've had a good relationship with President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan," Trump told journalists.

"It's a very tough situation that they're in and it's a very tough situation that we've been placed in.... With all of that being said, we're working through it — we'll see what happens."

Trump called it a "complex situation," noting that the Pentagon has suspended Turkey from participating in the NATO F-35 fighter jet production program and from buying a planned 100 F-35s.

"Because they have a system of missiles that's made in Russia, they're now prohibited from buying over 100 planes. I would say that Lockheed isn't exactly happy. That's a lot of jobs," Trump said, referring to the F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Congress urges sanctions

Trump's comments appeared to put him at odds with Congress and the Pentagon's view, that placing the S-400 system alongside the F-35 was a threat to the US and NATO air systems.

"Turkey has been a long-standing and very capable NATO ally, but their decision on the S-400 is the wrong one and it's disappointing," Mark Esper, Trump's nominee as secretary of defence, told the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier Tuesday.

"Acquisition of the S-400 fundamentally undermines the capability of the F-35 and our ability to maintain that overmatch in the skies," Esper said.

Esper said he had already told Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar that his policy is, "You can either have the S-400 or the F-35. You cannot have both."

On Friday senior Republican and Democratic senators of the armed services and foreign relations committees urged Trump to implement new sanctions on Turkey and directly "terminate" Turkey's participation in the F-35 program.

"By accepting delivery of the S-400 from Russia, President Erdogan has chosen a perilous partnership with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin at the expense of Turkey's security, economic prosperity and the integrity of the NATO alliance," they said in a statement.

State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Tuesday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump are reviewing Congressional legislation passed in 2017 that mandates sanctions for any "significant" purchases of weapons from Russia.

Asked if there could be a waiver, Ortagus said: "I think that the secretary and the president will make a decision based off what they are required to do according to US law," without specifying a timeline for the decision.

'Not a fair situation'

But Trump took a softer line as other officials of his administration who had, in the past, expressed strong opposition to the S-400 deal remained silent.

"We have a situation where Turkey is very good with us, very good," Trump said, noting Ankara's release last October of a US Christian pastor held for two years by the government.

"And we are now telling Turkey that because you have really been forced to buy another missile system, we're not going to sell you the F-35 fighter jets.

"And because of the fact he bought a Russian missile, we're not allowed to sell him billions of dollars worth of aircraft. It's not a fair situation," Trump said.

Turkey initially sought in 2009 to buy the US Patriot missile defence system, and a $7.8 billion deal was tentatively approved by the Obama administration.

But Washington balked when Ankara, seeking to boost its technology base, insisted on Turkey producing some of the system components itself as part of the deal.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump declined Tuesday to criticize Turkey's acquisition of a Russian missile system assailed by the Pentagon and NATO, making no mention of sanctions Washington had threatened over the purchase.

President Donald Trump declined Tuesday to criticize Turkey's acquisition of a Russian missile system assailed by the Pentagon and NATO, making no mention of sanctions Washington had threatened over the purchase. In his first comments since Turkey began taking delivery of the S-400 system last Friday, Trump said Turkey was forced into the move by his predecessor Barack Obama, and that he understood why they opted to buy the Russian missiles. "I've had a good relationship with President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan," Trump told journalists. "It's a very tough situation that they're in and it's a very tough situation that we've been placed in.... With all of that being said, we're working through it — we'll see what happens." Trump called it a "complex situation," noting that the Pentagon has suspended Turkey from participating in the NATO F-35 fighter jet production program and from buying a planned 100 F-35s. "Because they have a system of missiles that's made in Russia, they're now prohibited from buying over 100 planes. I would say that Lockheed isn't exactly happy. That's a lot of jobs," Trump said, referring to the F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Congress urges sanctions Trump's comments appeared to put him at odds with Congress and the Pentagon's view, that placing the S-400 system alongside the F-35 was a threat to the US and NATO air systems. "Turkey has been a long-standing and very capable NATO ally, but their decision on the S-400 is the wrong one and it's disappointing," Mark Esper, Trump's nominee as secretary of defence, told the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier Tuesday. "Acquisition of the S-400 fundamentally undermines the capability of the F-35 and our ability to maintain that overmatch in the skies," Esper said. Esper said he had already told Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar that his policy is, "You can either have the S-400 or the F-35. You cannot have both." On Friday senior Republican and Democratic senators of the armed services and foreign relations committees urged Trump to implement new sanctions on Turkey and directly "terminate" Turkey's participation in the F-35 program. "By accepting delivery of the S-400 from Russia, President Erdogan has chosen a perilous partnership with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin at the expense of Turkey's security, economic prosperity and the integrity of the NATO alliance," they said in a statement. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Tuesday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump are reviewing Congressional legislation passed in 2017 that mandates sanctions for any "significant" purchases of weapons from Russia. Asked if there could be a waiver, Ortagus said: "I think that the secretary and the president will make a decision based off what they are required to do according to US law," without specifying a timeline for the decision. 'Not a fair situation' But Trump took a softer line as other officials of his administration who had, in the past, expressed strong opposition to the S-400 deal remained silent. "We have a situation where Turkey is very good with us, very good," Trump said, noting Ankara's release last October of a US Christian pastor held for two years by the government. "And we are now telling Turkey that because you have really been forced to buy another missile system, we're not going to sell you the F-35 fighter jets. "And because of the fact he bought a Russian missile, we're not allowed to sell him billions of dollars worth of aircraft. It's not a fair situation," Trump said. Turkey initially sought in 2009 to buy the US Patriot missile defence system, and a $7.8 billion deal was tentatively approved by the Obama administration. But Washington balked when Ankara, seeking to boost its technology base, insisted on Turkey producing some of the system components itself as part of the deal.

Trump cites 'good relationship' with Turkey despite Russian missile purchase

President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Defense Department called Turkey's acquisition of a Russian missile defense system "disappointing" Tuesday, in the administration's first comment since the first S-400 missile parts were delivered last week.

"It's certainly disappointing," Defense Secretary nominee Mark Esper told his Senate confirmation hearing.

"Turkey has been a long-standing and very capable NATO ally, but their decision on the S-400 is the wrong one and it's disappointing," he said.

Esper said he would abide by the decision last year to drop Turkey from NATO's F-35 fighter jet development program due to Ankara’s decision to buy the S-400 system, the delivery of which began on Friday.

Esper said he had already told Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar that his policy is, "You can either have the S-400 or the F-35. You cannot have both."

"Acquisition of the S-400 fundamentally undermines the capability of the F-35 and our ability to maintain that overmatch in the skies going forward," Esper told the Senate panel.

Despite warning Ankara multiple times over the past two years that it could face sanctions and other retaliatory action for acquiring the Russian system, Washington officials have been silent since the deliveries began Friday.

It was not clear if new sanctions, demanded by the US Congress, would be enacted.

But in May the Pentagon said it was preparing to cut Turkey out of the network of manufacturers supplying parts to the F-35.

A number of Turkish manufacturers are making parts and equipment for the F-35, including internally carried Stand-off Missiles, airframe assemblies and wiring, leaving the NATO program partially dependent on them.

On Monday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the delivery of the first S-400 equipment and said the next step was to jointly produce the system.

"We have begun to receive our S-400s. Some said, 'they cannot buy them'... God willing the final part of this (delivery) will be in April 2020," Erdogan told a crowd of several thousand in Ankara.

President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Defense Department called Turkey's acquisition of a Russian missile defense system "disappointing" Tuesday, in the administration's first comment since the first S-400 missile parts were delivered last week.

President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Defense Department called Turkey's acquisition of a Russian missile defense system "disappointing" Tuesday, in the administration's first comment since the first S-400 missile parts were delivered last week. "It's certainly disappointing," Defense Secretary nominee Mark Esper told his Senate confirmation hearing. "Turkey has been a long-standing and very capable NATO ally, but their decision on the S-400 is the wrong one and it's disappointing," he said. Esper said he would abide by the decision last year to drop Turkey from NATO's F-35 fighter jet development program due to Ankara’s decision to buy the S-400 system, the delivery of which began on Friday. Esper said he had already told Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar that his policy is, "You can either have the S-400 or the F-35. You cannot have both." "Acquisition of the S-400 fundamentally undermines the capability of the F-35 and our ability to maintain that overmatch in the skies going forward," Esper told the Senate panel. Despite warning Ankara multiple times over the past two years that it could face sanctions and other retaliatory action for acquiring the Russian system, Washington officials have been silent since the deliveries began Friday. It was not clear if new sanctions, demanded by the US Congress, would be enacted. But in May the Pentagon said it was preparing to cut Turkey out of the network of manufacturers supplying parts to the F-35. A number of Turkish manufacturers are making parts and equipment for the F-35, including internally carried Stand-off Missiles, airframe assemblies and wiring, leaving the NATO program partially dependent on them. On Monday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the delivery of the first S-400 equipment and said the next step was to jointly produce the system. "We have begun to receive our S-400s. Some said, 'they cannot buy them'... God willing the final part of this (delivery) will be in April 2020," Erdogan told a crowd of several thousand in Ankara.

Turkey's Russian missile buy 'disappointing': Pentagon nominee

First parts of S-400 missile system land in Turkey. S-400 among most advanced missile defence system. U.S condemns Turkey's use of Russian military tech. Watch this video to know more.

U.S: Will talk to Turkey on S-400 deal

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Turkey ignored US warnings as it continued Saturday to take delivery of Russia's S-400 missile defence system near Ankara, news agency AFP reported quoting a defence minstry statement.

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Turkey ignores US warnings as it continues to take delivery of Russia's S-400 Turkey ignored US warnings as it continued Saturday to take delivery of Russia's S-400 missile defence system near Ankara, news agency AFP reported quoting a defence minstry statement.

Turkey ignores US warnings as it continues to take delivery of Russia's S-400 Turkey ignored US warnings as it continued Saturday to take delivery of Russia's S-400 missile defence system near Ankara, news agency AFP reported quoting a defence minstry statement. UK police warning to media over diplomat's leaked memos stirs anger Senior British politicians, including both contenders to be the next prime minister, joined journalists on Saturday in criticising police for warning media not to publish leaked government documents, saying it was a "dangerous road to tread". New Orleans residents huddle at home, and in bars, ahead of hurricane Tropical Storm Barry, poised to make landfall as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019, churned ever closer to Louisiana's shore early on Saturday as most New Orleans residents huddled at home, or in bars, bracing for the threat of severe flooding. Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission: Why the interest in moon? India's ambitious Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission to the moon is all set for launch on July 15 at 2:51am. This will be India's first attempt to land on the moon and the rover will go to the moon's south pole where no country has gone before. 'It feels like it's their time': Steve Waugh picks England to lift World Cup Former Australian cricketer Steve Waugh believes that England are favourites to win the Cricket World Cup 2019 considering their current momentum. England will face New Zealand in the final battle bidding to win the tournament for the first time. Both the countries have never won the World Cup before and Sunday's winner would create cricketing history.

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