According to the UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees), 1,200 migrants lost their lives in the Mediterranean (Turkey) since the beginning of the year. Six migrants, including two babies, died at sea after being pushed back by Greece into Turkish waters in the Aegean Sea, the Turkish Coast Guard said on Tuesday. On Tuesday morning, Turkish authorities also rescued 73 other migrants off the southwestern province of Mugla, the coast guard said. According to them, the deportees were on board four boats. Their nationality was not immediately mentioned, but they would have embarked from the Lebanese port of Tripoli on Saturday to try to reach Italy, they said, citing the…

A Turkish court has ordered the lifting of house arrest for pop star Gulsen, who was targeted by authorities in his country for joking about religious schools, his lawyer said on Monday. The 46-year-old singer was briefly jailed last month in Istanbul for inciting hatred before being placed under house arrest four days later. Her arrest followed the publication of a video on August 25 in Turkish pro-government media showing her making a joke about the religious upbringing of one of her musicians (“He is perverse because he attended a religious high school”) at a concert in April. This incarceration had aroused the indignation of the opposition, which sees it…

Turkey ‘s rapprochement with Egypt remains on the back foot, although the two countries have started to take the first steps towards diplomatic cooperation. While Turkey continues to openly praise Egypt ‘s role in the region, the Arab country does not show the same enthusiasm when it comes to dealing with Turkey. For Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the talks between Egypt and Turkey are still “at a low point”, even if Erdogan believes that “there are no obstacles to mutual understanding”. In this regard, Erdogan complains that he does not see the same “eagerness and enthusiasm” on the part of Egypt to continue to bring positions closer, which undermines…

What are the entry formalities to travel to Turkey ? This country is making a strong comeback in French holiday plans. The Echo takes stock of the entry formalities. Turkey is making a good comeback in the recent Orchestra barometer for L’Echo touristique. The destination is in fifth place in offline and online agency sales in May 2022, when it stalled during the health crisis. The lifting of sanitary entry conditions will support demand this summer. What are the conditions related to Covid?Since June 1, 2022, unvaccinated travelers no longer need to provide a negative Covid test result. The obligation to present a test, a vaccination or cure certificate to…

The western Turkish city of Kuşadası was hit by a 5.0 magnitude earthquake that was felt in neighboring provinces and on a Greek island, while an expert warned of potentially larger earthquakes in the region in the future. The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announced that the epicenter of the earthquake which occurred at 6:24 a.m. local time was in the Gulf of Kuşadası in the Aegean Sea. Tremors sent people running through the streets and were felt in neighboring provinces. It was preceded by a 3.8 magnitude earthquake five minutes earlier. No casualties or damage were reported. The Geodynamic Institute in Athens, the Greek capital, reported that a…

Turkey “never asks permission” from anyone before launching a military operation in Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned Thursday. “We can exchange ideas, but we have never asked and we will never ask for authorization for our military operations against terrorism” Mevlut Cavusoglu hammered, warning: “It can happen overnight, suddenly”. Russia and Iran warn TurkeyDuring a tripartite summit with Iran and Russia on Tuesday in Tehran, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been threatening a Turkish military operation in Syria since May, said he was counting on the “support of Russia and the ‘Iran in the fight against terrorism’. But his two counterparts had clearly warned against any…

Morocco has created a post of military attaché in Turkey, a country that has become a major supplier to the FAR over the past few years. This post is intended to better prospect the fake military industry, according to Mohamed Chakir, expert in defense issues, who discusses the prospects for the development of military cooperation between Rabat and Ankara. At the end of the Council of Ministers, chaired on Wednesday by the Sovereign, it was announced the creation of two military attaché posts in India and Turkey. Two countries with which the Kingdom has strengthened its cooperation in recent years. The Kingdom’s embassy in Ankara will now have an officer…

The three Heads of State (Russia, Turkey and Iran) will notably discuss Syria. But Ukraine, where Turkey wants to have a mediating role, should also be on the agenda.The presidents of Russia, Turkey and Iran will meet on July 19 in Tehran for a summit on Syria and bilateral talks, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday. This will be Vladimir Putin’s second trip abroad since the launch of his offensive in Ukraine at the end of February. President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Tehran on July 19 “is being prepared,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian leader Ebrahim Raisi will participate in “a…

HES code in Turkey: where to get it and how does it work? The HES code in Turkey is an application from the Turkish Ministry of Health. It is used to trace contacts within Turkey. Presenting the code is currently required for access to an airport, some sights and for public transport. Issuing an HES code is very easy for travelers. It is automatically issued with the currently required online form for entry into Turkey. Here I explain everything in detail. How do I get an HES code in Turkey? Travelers automatically receive the HES code with the currently required entry registration for Turkey. To do this, fill out the…

Can we consider Turkey as a Safe country ? Turkey is not getting out of the headlines. ISIS, attempted coup, state of emergency, terror: How safe is it in Turkey? Thousands of readers inform themselves monthly about this in my contribution “Travel warning Turkey – Is my vacation in Turkey safe?”. I get emails every day with questions like “Is Turkey safe from ISIS, the PKK, the civil war in Syria?  What about the state of emergency? As of all the news, I have decided to write  detailed answers to these questions. Is it possible to give binding answers on the security situation in Turkey? So far, nothing has happened…