Gas leak in major Istanbul hotel poisons 23 people

Around 23 people, mainly tourists, have been hospitalized after a gas leak in the Modern Sultan Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey.

According to the local newspaper, Today's Zaman, the incident happened at the hotel, located in İstanbul's Fatih district, early on Monday. 21 of the people affected are foreign tourists and two are hotel employees.

Four people are apparently in a critical condition and ambulances rushed them to local hospitals. Apparently the patients were described as unconscious, with white foam coming from their mouths.

The tourists were taken to the Haseki Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul University Hospital, and other hospitals in Istanbul, Okmeydani, Taksim and Sisli Etfal.

Firefighters and gas experts are on the scene, investigating the cause.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/340199

Turkish politicians outraged over image of Obama holding bat

The U.S. President was chatting on the phone with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday. He was snapped holding a baseball bat while he talked.

Obama and Erdogan were discussing the ongoing violence in Syria, in which both the U.S. and Turkey are backing the anti-regime opposition forces.

Turkish politicians saw the photo and immediately leveled harsh criticism at Turkey’s head of government. The photo was interpreted as vaguely menacing by some critics, causing a stir in Turkey... read more.

150m Polat Tower skyscraper ablaze in Istanbul (video) Breaking News

In scenes reminiscent of the movie "The Towering Inferno", fire has broken out in the 42-story building in the center of Istanbul, Turkey.

Polat Tower is located Istanbul’s Fulya business district, which is made up of both residential apartments and offices.

So far, there are no reports of casualties. However, local media is reporting that there are people trapped inside the building... read more and watch video.

Syria downed Turkish F-4 jet over territorial waters

It is now official. Syria has confirmed that it did shoot down a Turkish F-4 jet yesterday. Turkey promises to "determinedly take necessary steps" in response.

Digital Journal reported yesterday on the shooting down of a Turkish F-4 Phantom jet by Syrian forces. At that stage, nothing was completely confirmed.

According to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he could not confirm whether the plane had been shot down or had crashed. He also could not confirm reports that Syria had apologized for downing the jet.... read more.

Magnitude-5.8 earthquake shakes southwest Turkey — 6 injured

Southwest Turkey was hit by a 5.8-magnitude earthquake today, which was also felt on the Greek Island of Rhodes and in Northern Cyprus.

According to local media, six people were reportedly injured after jumping from their balconies or windows in panic and are being treated in a local hospital.

Fethiye, a popular resort town in Mugla province, is the closest town to the epicenter of the quake, which was in the Aegean Sea. Tremors were also felt on the Greek Island of Rhodes, with no injuries reported, and the quake was also felt in Northern Cyprus... read more.

Swirling lights missile or UFO over Israel/Lebanon border (video)

Weird spiraling lights were seen over Middle Eastern countries last night. People panicked and called the police, saying they had seen a UFO.

The strange phenomenon was also seen over Armenia, Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and other countries in the region.

Consisting of a shining object, giving off light, swirling around and looking like smoke, thousands of people think that they have now seen a UFO... read more and watch videos.