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  • Seoul (AFP) - 12/24/2017 - 05:12

    N. Korea slams new UN sanctions as an "act of war": state media

  • Davao (Philippines) (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 23:25

    37 feared dead in Philippine mall blaze: vice mayor

  • Manila (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 18:50

    Philippines storm death toll climbs to 182: police

  • Harare (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 13:15

    Zimbabwe's ex-army chief named ruling party VP: official

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 12:33

    Moscow warns US decision to arm Ukraine could cause 'new bloodshed'

  • Manila (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 09:29

    Storm death toll in Philippines climbs to 133: govt

  • Manila (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 07:11

    Philippines storm death toll rises to 74, many missing: govt

  • Mexico City (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 06:10

    2017 Mexico's most violent year in two decades: officials

  • Manila (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 02:55

    Philippines tropical storm toll climbs to 30: officials

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 22:03

    'World wants Peace, not Death,' Trump says as UN sanctions N.Korea

  • Tegucigalpa (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 19:50

    Honduras opposition candidate admits defeat in disputed poll

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 19:27

    UN Security Council unanimously backs new sanctions on N.Korea

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 17:22

    Trump signs sweeping tax overhaul, sealing major victory

  • Brasília (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 16:45

    Brazil intends to maintain control over Embraer: Temer

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 15:39

    Russia's partial Syria withdrawal 'carried out': defence minister

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 15:28

    2nd Palestinian dead in Israel-Gaza border clashes: ministry

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 15:28

    US congratulates Hernandez on 'victory' in disputed Honduras vote

  • Madrid (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 14:32

    Spain PM rejects ousted Catalan leader's call to meet

  • Kampala (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 14:12

    Ugandan army says it attacked rebel camps in eastern DR Congo

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:41

    Russia must be 'absolute leader' in building new military: Putin

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:30

    Putin slams 'aggressive' new US defence strategy

  • Astana (Kazakhstan) (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:24

    Syria congress to take place in Sochi Jan 29-30: statement

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:23

    Gazan killed by Israeli fire in clash on border: health ministry

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:13

    Ousted Catalan leader demands 'to be heard' by EU

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 12:36

    Ousted Catalan leader offers to meet PM outside Spain

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 11:26

    Russia ready for 'dialogue' with Britain on equal terms: Lavrov

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 11:25

    US has 'marginalised itself' in Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Macron

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 11:18

    Abbas says Palestinians won't accept any US peace plan

  • Athens (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 08:20

    Bomb explodes outside Greek court, no casualties: police

  • Seoul (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 08:02

    Founder of S. Korea's Lotte Group given 4 years jail for embezzlement

  • Lima (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 05:47

    Peru Congress falls short in vote to impeach president

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 01:27

    US Congress approves short-term budget to avoid shutdown

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 00:17

    Puigdemont says 'no one can dispute' Catalan separatists won vote

  • San Francisco (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 23:33

    Eric Schmidt stepping down as chair of Alphabet board

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 23:05

    US House votes to avert looming government shutdown

  • Barcelona (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 22:52

    Catalan separatists could win absolute parliamentary majority: partial official count

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 22:35

    UN Security Council will vote Friday on N.Korea sanctions: diplomats

  • Kabul (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 22:30

    US vice president makes unannounced Afghanistan visit

  • New York (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 20:49

    Boeing, Embraer confirm merger talks ongoing; deal not guaranteed

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 19:12

    Palestinian envoy: UN Jerusalem vote 'massive setback' for US

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 19:10

    Netanyahu says he's satisfied after UN vote on Jerusalem

  • Barcelona (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 19:01

    Catalan vote turnout at 1700 GMT sees strong rise on 2015: officials

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  • Seoul (AFP) - 12/24/2017 - 05:12

    N. Korea slams new UN sanctions as an "act of war": state media

  • Davao (Philippines) (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 23:25

    37 feared dead in Philippine mall blaze: vice mayor

  • Manila (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 18:50

    Philippines storm death toll climbs to 182: police

  • Harare (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 13:15

    Zimbabwe's ex-army chief named ruling party VP: official

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 12:33

    Moscow warns US decision to arm Ukraine could cause 'new bloodshed'

  • Manila (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 09:29

    Storm death toll in Philippines climbs to 133: govt

  • Manila (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 07:11

    Philippines storm death toll rises to 74, many missing: govt

  • Mexico City (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 06:10

    2017 Mexico's most violent year in two decades: officials

  • Manila (AFP) - 12/23/2017 - 02:55

    Philippines tropical storm toll climbs to 30: officials

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 22:03

    'World wants Peace, not Death,' Trump says as UN sanctions N.Korea

  • Tegucigalpa (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 19:50

    Honduras opposition candidate admits defeat in disputed poll

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 19:27

    UN Security Council unanimously backs new sanctions on N.Korea

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 17:22

    Trump signs sweeping tax overhaul, sealing major victory

  • Brasília (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 16:45

    Brazil intends to maintain control over Embraer: Temer

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 15:39

    Russia's partial Syria withdrawal 'carried out': defence minister

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 15:28

    2nd Palestinian dead in Israel-Gaza border clashes: ministry

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 15:28

    US congratulates Hernandez on 'victory' in disputed Honduras vote

  • Madrid (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 14:32

    Spain PM rejects ousted Catalan leader's call to meet

  • Kampala (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 14:12

    Ugandan army says it attacked rebel camps in eastern DR Congo

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:41

    Russia must be 'absolute leader' in building new military: Putin

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:30

    Putin slams 'aggressive' new US defence strategy

  • Astana (Kazakhstan) (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:24

    Syria congress to take place in Sochi Jan 29-30: statement

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:23

    Gazan killed by Israeli fire in clash on border: health ministry

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 13:13

    Ousted Catalan leader demands 'to be heard' by EU

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 12:36

    Ousted Catalan leader offers to meet PM outside Spain

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 11:26

    Russia ready for 'dialogue' with Britain on equal terms: Lavrov

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 11:25

    US has 'marginalised itself' in Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Macron

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 11:18

    Abbas says Palestinians won't accept any US peace plan

  • Athens (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 08:20

    Bomb explodes outside Greek court, no casualties: police

  • Seoul (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 08:02

    Founder of S. Korea's Lotte Group given 4 years jail for embezzlement

  • Lima (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 05:47

    Peru Congress falls short in vote to impeach president

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 01:27

    US Congress approves short-term budget to avoid shutdown

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/22/2017 - 00:17

    Puigdemont says 'no one can dispute' Catalan separatists won vote

  • San Francisco (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 23:33

    Eric Schmidt stepping down as chair of Alphabet board

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 23:05

    US House votes to avert looming government shutdown

  • Barcelona (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 22:52

    Catalan separatists could win absolute parliamentary majority: partial official count

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 22:35

    UN Security Council will vote Friday on N.Korea sanctions: diplomats

  • Kabul (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 22:30

    US vice president makes unannounced Afghanistan visit

  • New York (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 20:49

    Boeing, Embraer confirm merger talks ongoing; deal not guaranteed

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 19:12

    Palestinian envoy: UN Jerusalem vote 'massive setback' for US

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 19:10

    Netanyahu says he's satisfied after UN vote on Jerusalem

  • Barcelona (AFP) - 12/21/2017 - 19:01

    Catalan vote turnout at 1700 GMT sees strong rise on 2015: officials

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News

Turkey dismisses more than 2,700 in latest post-coup purges

AFP/File / ADEM ALTAN Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has led a government crackdown on people, including journalists, lawyers and teachers, who it suspects of belonging to "terror" groups

The Turkish government on Sunday ordered the sacking of more than 2,700 people working in public institutions over alleged links to "terror" groups, in the latest round of purges since last year's failed coup.

In a separate emergency decree, the country's defence procurement agency was ordered to answer to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan instead of the defence ministry, in a move widely viewed as a further expansion of his powers.

Turkey's intelligence service (MIT) also came under Erdogan's control in August.

A total of 2,756 people including academics, soldiers and military personal were removed from different bodies including the interior, foreign and defence ministries, according to the Official Gazette.

All those dismissed were either members of "terror" organisations or had links to structures which were acting against national security, it said.

17 Turkish institutions were also ordered to close, including two newspapers and seven associations.

- 'Virus' of Gulen -

More than 140,000 people including judges, lawyers and academics have been sacked or suspended since a failed coup in July last year, while some 55,000 people have been arrested over suspected links to US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen and the coup attempt.

Turkey claims Gulen and his Hizmet (service) movement, which it calls the "Fethullah Terrorist Organisation", ordered and conducted the attempted coup.

Gulen, who's lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies any links to terrorism and the failed putsch.

Erdogan, who has also accused Gulen and his followers of infiltrating state institutions, has said the sackings were necessary to remove what he called the "virus" of Gulen's influence from state bodies.

Critics accuse the government of using state of emergency legislation to target its opponents, including opposition journalists and pro-Kurdish critics.

The co-leader of the main pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party, Selahattin Demirtas, is among those detained on terrorism charges, something he denies.

- Uniforms for suspects -

The decree on dismissals was published alongside another announcement that men accused of "acting against the constitutional order" would have to wear a single colour uniform, either brown or grey, during court hearings.

The uniform will also apply to those accused of attempting to abolish the Turkish government and will come into force next month.

Erdogan previously said that alleged coup-plotters would wear clothing similar to the notorious orange jumpsuits used at the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay.

The move is in response to a man, accused of plotting to assassinate Erdogan, appearing in court in July wearing a white "Hero" T-shirt.

Erdogan on Sunday said the decision about the uniforms was a wish from "victims, those wronged".

"They won't be able to appear in court with a tie, in an ostentatious way," he said.

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News

Turkey dismisses more than 2,700 in latest post-coup purges

AFP/File / ADEM ALTAN Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has led a government crackdown on people, including journalists, lawyers and teachers, who it suspects of belonging to "terror" groups

The Turkish government on Sunday ordered the sacking of more than 2,700 people working in public institutions over alleged links to "terror" groups, in the latest round of purges since last year's failed coup.

In a separate emergency decree, the country's defence procurement agency was ordered to answer to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan instead of the defence ministry, in a move widely viewed as a further expansion of his powers.

Turkey's intelligence service (MIT) also came under Erdogan's control in August.

A total of 2,756 people including academics, soldiers and military personal were removed from different bodies including the interior, foreign and defence ministries, according to the Official Gazette.

All those dismissed were either members of "terror" organisations or had links to structures which were acting against national security, it said.

17 Turkish institutions were also ordered to close, including two newspapers and seven associations.

- 'Virus' of Gulen -

More than 140,000 people including judges, lawyers and academics have been sacked or suspended since a failed coup in July last year, while some 55,000 people have been arrested over suspected links to US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen and the coup attempt.

Turkey claims Gulen and his Hizmet (service) movement, which it calls the "Fethullah Terrorist Organisation", ordered and conducted the attempted coup.

Gulen, who's lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies any links to terrorism and the failed putsch.

Erdogan, who has also accused Gulen and his followers of infiltrating state institutions, has said the sackings were necessary to remove what he called the "virus" of Gulen's influence from state bodies.

Critics accuse the government of using state of emergency legislation to target its opponents, including opposition journalists and pro-Kurdish critics.

The co-leader of the main pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party, Selahattin Demirtas, is among those detained on terrorism charges, something he denies.

- Uniforms for suspects -

The decree on dismissals was published alongside another announcement that men accused of "acting against the constitutional order" would have to wear a single colour uniform, either brown or grey, during court hearings.

The uniform will also apply to those accused of attempting to abolish the Turkish government and will come into force next month.

Erdogan previously said that alleged coup-plotters would wear clothing similar to the notorious orange jumpsuits used at the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay.

The move is in response to a man, accused of plotting to assassinate Erdogan, appearing in court in July wearing a white "Hero" T-shirt.

Erdogan on Sunday said the decision about the uniforms was a wish from "victims, those wronged".

"They won't be able to appear in court with a tie, in an ostentatious way," he said.

AFP/File / ADEM ALTAN Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has led a government crackdown on people, including journalists, lawyers and teachers, who it suspects of belonging to "terror" groups

The Turkish government on Sunday ordered the sacking of more than 2,700 people working in public institutions over alleged links to "terror" groups, in the latest round of purges since last year's failed coup.

In a separate emergency decree, the country's defence procurement agency was ordered to answer to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan instead of the defence ministry, in a move widely viewed as a further expansion of his powers.

24 Dec 2017

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