Tag: Turkish

Turkish Lira at New Lows After Erdogan Fires Bank Officials

ANKARA, Turkey—The Turkish lira hit record lows against the dollar Thursday after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fired senior central bank officials, heightening concerns over the Turkish leader’s interference in the bank’s activities. Erdogan dismissed deputy central bank governors Semih Tumen and Ugur Namik Kucuk as well as Abdullah Yavas, a member of the bank’s monetary…


You Can Be German Even If Your Name Is Not ‘Klaus’ or ‘Erika’: Merkel

BERLIN—Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday immigrants who settle in Germany are German even if they have foreign-sounding names, making a subtle dig at a widespread habit among white Germans of asking Turks born on German soil where they come from. “Integration cannot be a seven-generation endeavor that never ends just because one isn’t called…


Mystery Metal Monolith Turns out to Be Turkish Government Gimmick

ANKARA, Turkey—A metal monolith that mysteriously appeared and disappeared on a field in southeast Turkey turned out to be a publicity gimmick before a government event Tuesday during which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a space program for the country. The three-meter-high (about 10-foot-high) metal slab bearing an ancient Turkic script, was found Friday…