News / News Bulletin

Erdogan: Turkey won't change anti-terror laws

Sunday, 08 May 2016 5:23 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 08 May 2016 5:20 AM ]

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gestures during his speech with mukhtars or local village and town leaders at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, on May 4, 2016. (AFP)

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

Iran’s deputy foreign minister slams terrorists and the so-called moderate armed groups in Syria after they seized the strategic village of Khan Tuman in Aleppo suburbs. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned that anti-Damascus groups are taking advantage of a ceasefire in the country.
US riot police in San Francisco have clashed with protesters calling for the dismissal of the city's police chief. They want Greg Suhr to step down over brutality and unjust killings by officers. At least 25 protesters were arrested following the confrontation inside the City Hall.
Canada says a monster wildfire raging in Alberta’s main oil sands city of Fort McMurray has now doubled in size. Officials say the raging inferno, that has spread to an area bigger than London, remains out of control. The fire has already forced the evacuation of the entire city of Fort McMurray.
The US has reportedly dispatched some 200 Marines to Yemen’s southern port city of Mukalla under the pretext of battling al-Qaeda militants. On Friday, the US acknowledged for the first time its troop deployment to the war-hit country. Yemenis have slammed the move as a cover-up to disintegrate the nation.
Representatives of former Yemeni regime have pulled out of direct talks with Ansarullah movement officials citing lack of progress in negotiations. The Saudi-backed delegation has repeatedly withdrawn from the negotiating table since the start of the UN-brokered talks in Kuwait on April 21.
Gunmen in Egypt have attacked a vehicle of security forces in the city of Helwan, killing at least eight police officers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Egypt has witnessed a surge in clashes between security forces and armed militants over the past few years.
President Rejeb Tayyib Erdogan has accused the EU of pressuring Turkey into making changes to Ankara’s anti-terror laws. That’s one of the requirements the bloc has asked Ankara to meet in order to gain visa-free travel for Turkish citizens within the Schengen area. Erdogan has rejected the idea.
Rival protests have taken place in the German capital Berlin where police forces were deployed to quell possible clashes between opponents and proponents of refugees. Police arrested a number of demonstrators from the pro-refugee camp. Far right protesters demanded that Chancellor Angela Merkel step down.