More than half a million people fled Syria's civil war last year, and the UN says that number could double by the end of 2013.

By vilifying young protesters as extremists, looters and terrorists and seeking to crush their challenge to his 10-year rule, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is gambling with his political future and his country's relations with Europe.

Thousands of protesters march through the streets of major cities of a European nation. They complain about the apparently autocratic style of their democratically elected leader who ignores what they claim are their concerns.

With her red cotton dress, white shoulder bag and flowing black hair, she has become the colour-coded emblem of Turkey's new people-power movement.

Brash and stubborn, Turkey's leader doesn't shrink from a scrap. His voice booms when he gets on a podium and his folksy zingers enthral supporters as much as they repulse opponents. That trademark combativeness, though, is fuelling protests against his G

Editorial: For 90 years, the modern secular state forged by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire has, by and large, served Turkey well.

Liz Light enjoys life in the slow lane on a Turkish island.

Television weatherman Tamati Coffey's round the world trip took an unexpected bad turn when he was tear-gassed during a violent street riot in Turkey.

Ewan McDonald rambles on about a group of Aucklanders taking a walking holiday with a few differences.

Plans to hold a kick-boxing tournament at Gallipoli on the eve of Anzac Day have been slammed as "totally inappropriate" by the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association.

Istanbul is one of those cities that leaves everyone who’s been there hankering to go back. But if you’re about to make your first appearance, here are five things you won’t want to miss.

Here are some of the world's key doomsday destinations and other places marked by fear and fascination.

Gliding over Turkey, Phoebe Falconer resists reaching out to the intriguing rocks sweeping by.

Syria's neighbours are increasingly being drawn into the country's civil war in a variety of ways, whether militarily or due to an exodus of Syrians fleeing the fighting at home.

Former NZ diplomat Warren Searell called Damascus home until the Arab spring made life far too dangerous. This is his story.

Phoebe Falconer gives her spin on a traditional religious dance ceremony.

A group of Romanians have been prevented from entering New Zealand amid suspicions they were planning a crime spree down Auckland's Queen St.