Turkish Press Review

ISTANBUL

Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Thursday's dailies devoted their front pages to a liquefied natural gas agreement between Turkey and Qatar.

"Natural gas agreement," was MILLIYET's headline, reporting that a deal was signed between the two countries during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Qatar.

Turkey's Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) and Qatar's national oil company signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding for long-term liquified natural gas (LNG) provision.

"Qatari wind," is the front-page headline in YENI SAFAK.

The newspaper said that 16 bilateral deals were signed in the Qatari capital of Doha including visa-free agreement.

SABAH covered the story with the headline "Turkey and Qatar share destiny" while HABERTURK ran with the headline "Qatari natural gas against Russia".

The newspaper claimed that Turkey took its first anti-Russian measure by diversifying its gas imports as it signed an agreement with Qatar over natural gas after a Russian jet was shot down on Nov 24.

In 2014, 54 percent of gas imports came from Russia, the paper notes in a graph.

Following the downing of a Russian warplane on Nov. 24, Moscow announced sanctions against Turkey and President Vladimir Putin has alleged Turkish involvement in oil purchases from Daesh.

The Turkish dailies covered the U.S. rejection of Russia's allegations that Turkey was facilitating Daesh oil sales.

"Nonsense," was VATAN's headline.

According to the daily, Pentagon spokesman Steve Warren described Russia's claims as "preposterous" and "ridiculous".

"Kremlin theatre," STAR wrote.

According to the daily, the Russian Defense Ministry disclosed satellite images allegedly showing trucks delivering oil from Syria at Turkey's Habur Border Gate.

HURRIYET's headline read: "Response from the US over Russian allegation".

"We absolutely flatly reject that notion," the newspaper cited Warren as saying.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had challenged Putin and said he would step down if Russian claims that Turkey buys oil from Daesh are proved. He called on Putin to do the same if they are not.

In other news, Turkish newspapers also covered the mass shooting in California.

HURRIYET's headline read "Terror in US".

According to the daily, at least 14 people were killed and 17 others wounded when three assailants opened fire at a social services facility.

STAR ran with the headline "Bloody raid in America".

The daily said three assailants with long guns opened fire at a facility for disabled persons in the city of San Bernardino.