Turkey: Seismic ship to leave for east Med on Friday

Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said a Turkish seismic exploration vessel will depart for the eastern Mediterranean on Friday after Turkey signed a deal with the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state to allow offshore gas exploration.

Tensions in the eastern Mediterranean over energy reserves have escalated after the Greek Cypriot government said this week drilling had begun in a southeastern offshore block. (Reuters)