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Turkey’s military has deactivated a mine that had drifted in from the Black Sea, setting off a loud explosion in the process, days after Russia warned several of them had washed away from Ukrainian ports. On Saturday, defence minister Hulusi Akar described the object, first discovered by fishermen in the upper Bosphorus strait, as an old type of mine and said he was in touch with both Russian and Ukrainian authorities about it. Maritime traffic has safely been opened after coordination with the Turkish coastguard and naval forces, the minister added. Earlier on Saturday, the coastguard said two-way ship traffic...

Istanbul: Le pont du Bosphore est bloqué par l'armée. Déploiement inhabituel. Ambiance de coup d'Etat.

A group of scientists and archeologists from Canakkale (Dardanelles) University have found traces of a lost city, older than famed Troy, now buried under the waters of Dardanelles strait. Led by associate professor Rustem Aslan, the archeology team made a surface survey in the vicinity of Erenkoy, Canakkale on the shore. The team has found ceramics and pottery, what led them to ponder a mound could be nearby. A research on the found pottery showed that the items belonged to an 7000 years old ancient city. The team has intensified the research and discovered first signs of the lost city...

Turkey will close the Bosphorus for Russian ships, if there is violence against the Crimean Tatars, said Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan. In a phone conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin, quoted by a diplomatic source, Erdogan also said that Turkey will not recognize the referendum in Crimea in which 97% of the voters cast their ballots in favour of joining the Russian Federation. “Turkey wants Ukraine to keep its territorial integrity,” Erdogan said. “If NATO takes a decision on the matter, we will certainly stick with it.” Earlier Erdogan had a phone conversation with the leader of the Crimean...

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Moscow about the possible consequences of the conflict with Ukraine and any harassment of Crimean Tatars in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Turkish media reported. “If self-proclaimed Crimean authorities or so-called self-defense fighters commit violence against Crimean Tatars living in the peninsula, Turkey will be forced to close the Bosphorus for passage of Russian ships,” the prime minister of Turkey said in a television program. …

"The threat to close the Bosphorus to Russia comes from a report by Hvylya, citing a Turkish diplomatic source. According to the source, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan yesterday spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone and warned of the consequences for conflict with Ukraine. The Hvylya source was also reported on by UNIAN."

Treasure dig threatens Bosphorus rail link By Sarah Rainsford BBC News, Istanbul The port has been uncovered at the site designated for a railway hub It's been called the project of the century: a mission to connect two continents with a $2.6bn rail-tunnel running deep beneath the Bosphorus Straits. The idea of linking the two sides of Istanbul underwater was first dreamt of by Sultan Abdul Mecit 150 years ago. See how the tunnel will cross the Bosphorus Now that Ottoman dream is finally being realised. But the modern version of that vision has hit a historical stumbling block. Istanbul...