Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Polish tourist Maciej Pol Ogrodnik and his wife Izabela pose after an interview, in Antalya, southern Turkey, Saturday, June 19, 2021. Hotels in Turkey's Antalya region, a destination beloved by holidaymakers, are preparing to finally resume operations as they expect the return of international tourists after months of setbacks caused by the pandemic that halted travel. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Turkey welcomes back tourists, hopes to recoup losses

By Mehmet Guzel And Zeynep Bilginsoy Jun. 24, 2021 02:27 AM EDT

A motorcycle delivery driver is inoculated with China's Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine at a drive-thru vaccination center in Manila, Philippines, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The Philippine president has threatened to order the arrest of Filipinos who refuse COVID-19 vaccination and told them to leave the country for hard-hit countries like India and the United States if they would not cooperate with massive efforts to end the pandemic. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
The Latest: Guam launching COVID-19 vaccine tourism program

By The Associated Press Jun. 22, 2021 02:43 AM EDT

An Islamic cleric leads relatives in prayer during the burial of a man in the special section of Jombang Public Cemetery reserved for those who died of COVID-19, in Tangerang on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, June 21, 2021. Indonesia saw significant spikes in confirmed COVID-19 cases recently, an increase blamed on travel during last month's Eid al-Fitr holiday as well as the arrival of new virus variants, such as the the Delta version first found in India. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
The Latest: NKorea tells WHO it has detected no virus cases

By The Associated Press Jun. 21, 2021 02:14 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2016, file photo, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, poses for photographers with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, prior to their meeting at Yildiz Mabeyn Palace in Istanbul. Biden and Turkish counterpart Erdogan have known each other for years, but their meeting Monday, June 14, 2021, will be their first as heads of state. And it comes at a particularly tense moment for relations between their two countries. (Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool via AP, File)
Erdogan and Biden meet at a tense moment for Turkish-US ties

By Suzan Fraser Jun. 13, 2021 10:56 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 28, 2021 file photo, travelers wait for their luggage at a baggage carousel at Miami International Airport in Miami. The airline industry’s recovery from the pandemic passed a milestone as more than 2 million people streamed through U.S. airport security checkpoints on Friday for the first time since early March 2020. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
The Latest: Brazil president fined for not wearing mask

By The Associated Press Jun. 12, 2021 07:53 AM EDT

Italy's Nicola Barella, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Czech Republic in Bologna, Italy, Friday, June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A year late, Italy and Turkey play opening game at Euro 2020

By Andrew Dampf Jun. 10, 2021 04:52 AM EDT

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden step off Air Force One at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
In UK for first foreign trip, Biden to announce vaccine plan

By Jonathan Lemire And Aamer Madhani Jun. 09, 2021 12:04 AM EDT

A tablet on the breakfast table of Alparslan Atas and his wife Gulistan at their home in Istanbul, shows the latest video of Sedat Peker, a Turkish fugitive crime boss, Sunday, June 6, 2021. Sunday is the day the 49-year-old convicted crime ringleader posts the latest installation of his hour-long tell-all videos from his stated base in Dubai that have captivated Turkey and turned the mobster into an unlikely social media phenomenon. The convicted crime ringleader has been dishing the dirt on members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party. The allegations range from drug trafficking and a murder cover-up to weapons transfers to Islamic militants. (AP Photo/Mehmet Guzel)
Turkish mafia boss dishes dirt, becomes YouTube phenomenon

By Suzan Fraser Jun. 07, 2021 02:35 AM EDT

US envoy heads to Turkey seeking to ensure aid to Syrians

By Edith M. Lederer Jun. 01, 2021 07:56 PM EDT
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.S ambassador to the United Nations headed to Turkey late Tuesday seeking to ensure that humanitarian aid can be delivered to Syria...

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, right, and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu talk to the media during a press conference after their meeting in Athens, Monday, May 31, 2021. The two foreign ministers are to make statements to the press after their meeting. It will be the first time the two have spoken together in public since the two held a joint press conference Ankara in April which descending into a trading of barbs and accusations as the two listed their respective country's differences with the other. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Greek, Turkish leaders to meet in June in bid to mend ties

By Elena Becatoros May. 31, 2021 07:51 AM EDT

A health worker conducts a COVID-19 swab test on a resident as they monitor cases at a village in Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, May 31, 2021. The president of the Philippines recently warned he will jail village leaders and police officers who don't enforce pandemic lockdown restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
The Latest: Australia court upholds ban on pandemic travel

By The Associated Press May. 31, 2021 01:13 AM EDT

Erdogan dismisses mob head's claims as 'plot' against Turkey

By Suzan Fraser May. 26, 2021 08:37 AM EDT
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said a series of severe allegations made against members of his entourage by a...

A sign requiring masks is displayed as travelers move about at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
The Latest: Philippines officials warned to enforce lockdown

By The Associated Press May. 26, 2021 03:17 AM EDT

People walk in Eminonu market, an area usually packed with shop goers, but currently nearly deserted due to the strict lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Istanbul, Saturday, May 8, 2021. The "full lockdown," which began in late April and will last until May 17 came amid a huge surge in infections. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Turkish tourism video sparks outcry, unequal treatment claim

By Zeynep Bilginsoy May. 14, 2021 06:33 AM EDT

An Israeli soldier stands guard next to an Iron Dome air defense system as smoke rises from an oil tank on fire after it was hit by a rocket fire from Gaza Strip, near the town of Ashkelon, Israel,, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
The Latest: Netanyahu raps 'anarchy' of Jewish-Arab fighting

By The Associated Press May. 12, 2021 06:40 AM EDT

Members of a civil society group burn representations of Israeli, U.S. and Indian flags during a demonstration in support of Palestinians during the latest round of violence in Jerusalem, in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
The Latest: Israeli aircraft strike another building in Gaza

May. 11, 2021 09:22 AM EDT

Police inspect passengers in vehicles on the July 15 Martyrs' Bridge, formerly known as the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Friday, April 30, 2021, on the first day of a tight lockdown to help protect from the spread of the coronavirus. Turkish security forces on Friday patrolled main streets and set up checkpoints at entry and exits points of cities, to enforce Turkey’s strictest COVID-19 lockdown to date. Still, many people were on the move as the government, desperate not to shut down the economy completely, kept some sectors exempt from the restrictions. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Despite 3-week lockdown, many remain on the move in Turkey

By Suzan Fraser Apr. 30, 2021 06:32 AM EDT

People dance at a park in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, a day before the latest lockdown to help protect from the spread of the coronavirus. As cases and deaths soar, Turkey is going into a full lockdown Thursday and last until May 17. Residents will be required to stay home except for grocery shopping and other essential needs, while intercity travel only will be allowed with permission. Restaurants are allowed to deliver food.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
Turkish lockdown to slow virus before Champions League final

Apr. 29, 2021 08:48 AM EDT

People shop at the local market in Istanbul, Thursday, April 29, 2021, a few hours before the start of the latest lockdown to help protect from the spread of the coronavirus. People stocked up on groceries, shoppers filled markets and many left cities for their hometowns or the southern coast as Turkey's strictest COVID-19 lockdown yet came into effect late Thursday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan imposed a "full lockdown" until May 17 amid soaring COVID-19 infections and deaths. Turkey now ranks among the world's worst-hit countries and it's the first time that it is imposing a nearly three-week lockdown for the whole of the country. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Full lockdown takes effect in Turkey, people leave cities

By Suzan Fraser Apr. 29, 2021 07:12 AM EDT

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama waves to his supporters during a rally in Tirana, Albania, Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Albania's left-wing Socialist Party has secured a third consecutive mandate in a parliamentary election, winning a majority of seats in parliament, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albania's Socialists win election, gain 3rd straight mandate

By Llazar Semini Apr. 27, 2021 01:51 PM EDT