Turkish Digest

Didim on the way to become a British city

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:39:00 +0000

"Didim on the way to become a British city
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Didim is a permanent home to over 10,00 British citizens, who sometimes have problems to adapt the life in Turkey. As they equally benefit from the services we present to our citizens, foreigners do not need to feel different, says the town’s mayor Mümin Kamacı"

More:Didim on the way to become a British city - Turkish Daily News Aug 20, 2008

Arnavutköy emerges as new center of attraction in Istanbul

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:37:00 +0000

"Arnavutköy emerges as new center of attraction in Istanbul
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The historic Arnavutköy neighborhood is emerging as a new center of attraction in Istanbul, as prices of lands have nearly doubled in the last year. Turkey's Mass Housing Administration, or TOKİ, and the KİPTAŞ company, an affiliate of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, have seen the potential in the region and have launched 2,000 housing projects, weekly Ekonomist reported. TOKİ has launched 1,350 housing projects, while KİPTAŞ has created 625. In addition, a variety of villa projects have been taking place in the region during the last couple of years."

More:Arnavutköy emerges as new center of attraction in Istanbul - Turkish Daily News Aug 20, 2008

US in talks with Turkey for Straits passage of its naval vessels

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:36:00 +0000

"US in talks with Turkey for Straits passage of its naval vessels
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Lawmaker and analyst blasts Turkey for 'not allowing a Georgia mission of U.S. hospital ships,' whose passage into Black Sea would violate the straits convention. If Russia gains control of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, it will be a blow on world energy markets, McCain warns"

Morer:US in talks with Turkey for Straits passage of its naval vessels - Turkish Daily News Aug 20, 2008

Future prospects for Turkey’s economy | EU - European Information on Enlargement & Neighbours

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:35:00 +0000

"Future prospects for Turkey’s economy
Published: Wednesday 20 August 2008
Rauf Gönenç, Senior Officer for Turkey, OECD

Confidence in Turkey’s long-term economic prospects is growing but further labour market reforms, increased spending on education, better transparency of public finances and a more credible monetary policy are required if the country is to maintain its recent impressive growth, according to Rauf Gönenç, the senior officer responsible for Turkey at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), writing for EurActiv Turkey."

More:EurActiv.com - Future prospects for Turkey’s economy | EU - European Information on Enlargement & Neighbours

Turkey expands flight scope

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:34:00 +0000

"Turkey expands flight scope
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, or SHGM, has started an initiative to expand Turkey's flight network, an economic publication reported in its latest issue."

More:Turkey expands flight scope - Turkish Daily News Aug 20, 2008

Turkey urges Sudan to end Darfur suffering - Los Angeles Times

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:32:00 +0000

"Turkey urges Sudan to end Darfur suffering
Visiting Istanbul, Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir is told that his government should work to end the violence.
From the Associated Press, From the Associated Press
August 20, 2008
ISTANBUL, TURKEY -- Turkey's president said Tuesday that he had urged Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir to act responsibly and end the suffering in the devastated Darfur region."

More:Turkey urges Sudan to end Darfur suffering - Los Angeles Times

Ethiopian Turks make their way to the final

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:31:00 +0000

"Ethiopian Turks make their way to the final
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Elvan Abeylegesse and Almitu Bekele Degfa, Ethiopia-born athletes competing for Turkey, advance to the 5000m final in the Olympic Games in Beijing. The runners are the last medal hopes of Turkey in the athletics"

More:Ethiopian Turks make their way to the final - Turkish Daily News Aug 20, 2008

New Turkish radio station launched

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:30:00 +0000

"New Turkish radio station launched

8:00am Wednesday 20th August 2008

A NEW Turkish radio station has been launched in north London.

Broadcasting via the internet and the Turksat satellite, which reaches in excess of 100 million users across 33 countries, DEM Radio is aiming to become the ‘new voice of British Turkish speakers’."

More:New Turkish radio station launched (From Enfield Independent)

Number of foreigners marrying Turks falls in 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:27:00 +0000

"Number of foreigners marrying Turks falls in 2008
The number of marriages between Turks and foreigners dropped significantly in the first half of the year, Turkish Daily News (TDN) reported on Wednesday."

More:Number of foreigners marrying Turks falls in 2008

Turkish observers speculate Bush to attack Iran before leaving office

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:26:00 +0000

"Turkish observers speculate Bush to attack Iran before leaving office
Turkish analysts and commentators say the likelihood of a U.S. attack on Iran before President George W. Bush leaves office has increased as the issue continues to top the country's agenda with the Iranian leader's visit last week."

More:Turkish observers speculate Bush to attack Iran before leaving office

UK sales of Turkish currency soar

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:26:00 +0000

"UK sales of Turkish currency soar
18 August 2008

As the popularity of destinations outside the Eurozone grows among British tourists, Turkey has emerged as a holiday hotspot for 2008. Foreign currency expert M&S Money has seen a 53% year-on-year increase in sales of Turkish Lira. The Turkish Lira is the second most popular ‘exotic currency’* in 2008, only being beaten to the top spot by the Australian Dollar."

More:UK sales of Turkish currency soar

Israel Need Not Fear Turkey's Islamist Government - Middle East Times

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:24:00 +0000

"Israel Need Not Fear Turkey's Islamist Government

Analysts are concerned that recent Islamist trends in Ankara could threaten the long-standing amicable relations between Israel and Turkey. These fears were highlighted by legislation passed in Turkey on Feb. 9, which rescinded a law in the constitution banning the wearing of a traditional Islamic headscarf. However, in June Turkey's high court overturned this ruling, claiming it violated separation of religion and state."

More:Israel Need Not Fear Turkey's Islamist Government - Middle East Times

The merit of Ahmadinejad's visit - Turkish Daily News Aug 19, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:17:00 +0000

"The merit of Ahmadinejad's visit
Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Barçin YİNANÇ

"When you talk to Iranians you should avoid ambiguity and be direct to them; otherwise they will interpret the messages the way it suits them the best," a Turkish expert familiar with the mentality of Iranians told me. The visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Amnadinejad to Turkey ran the risk of giving the wrong signal to Tehran in need of solidarity in the nuclear row. "

More:The merit of Ahmadinejad's visit - Turkish Daily News Aug 19, 2008

Darfur Prime Topic at Turkey-Africa Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:18:00 +0000

"Darfur Prime Topic at Turkey-Africa Summit
By Dorian Jones
Istanbul
19 August 2008

The Turkish city of Istanbul has hosted Turkey's first African cooperation summit. The meeting is aimed at developing greater political and economic ties between Turkey and Africa. Among those attending was the President of Sudan, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. As Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, Turkey's president used the occasion to urge his Sudanese counterpart to end the suffering in Sudan's troubled Darfur region."

More:VOA News - Darfur Prime Topic at Turkey-Africa Summit

27th Istanbul International Film Festival | KINO-GermanFilm

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:15:00 +0000

"27th Istanbul International Film Festival

By Ron Holloway | August 19, 2008

Ask festival director Azize Tan why she was using every opportunity available to celebrate the current revival of Turkish cinema at the 27th Istanbul International Film Festival (5-20 April 2008), and she would tick off any number of reasons. Last year, for instance, Orhan Pamuk, the 2006 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature, served on the international jury at Cannes. Further, the Palm for Best Screenplay was awarded to Turkey-born, Germany-based Fatih Akin’s Auf der anderen Seite (The Edge of Heaven), a German-Turkish coproduction. Also, before this year’s IIFF even began, the city was alive with the rumor that Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Üç maymun (Three Monkeys) was likely headed for the Cannes competition – as, indeed, it was."

More:27th Istanbul International Film Festival | KINO-GermanFilm

Abkhazia, Ossetia, Georgia, Russia, Europe, USA, Turkey, and the Yet Untold Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:05:00 +0000

"Abkhazia, Ossetia, Georgia, Russia, Europe, USA, Turkey, and the Yet Untold Truth

Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
August 19, 2008
Open a Microsoft Word document; try to write the name of a country, the name of a recently, widely mentioned land: Ossetia. Try eventually to write the name of the indigenous nation, a very ancient people, the Ossetians. You will immediately notice that both names are red underlined, which means that you probably wrote a mistake, eventually misspelling the ethnographic terms. Do not try it with one s; this would be the real orthographic error. What happens then? "

More:American Chronicle | Abkhazia, Ossetia, Georgia, Russia, Europe, USA, Turkey, and the Yet Untold Truth

Turkish Energy Minister to Visit Iran

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:04:00 +0000

"Turkish Energy Minister to Visit Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkey's energy minister on Monday announced plans to visit Tehran to discuss investment in gas fields and a pipeline project in a rebuff to the United States, which opposes energy deals with Iran."

More:Fars News Agency :: Turkish Energy Minister to Visit Iran

Study "Islam goes Internet" - Cyber Islam and Online Fatwas

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:01:00 +0000

"Study 'Islam goes Internet'
Cyber Islam and Online Fatwas

Islamic associations are increasingly joining others in taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the World Wide Web. In her study 'Islam goes Internet. Websites of Islamic Organizations on the World Wide Web,' Dr. Alev Inan traces the development of Islamic websites. Götz Nordbruch spoke with her about the study"

More:Qantara.de - Study "Islam goes Internet" - Cyber Islam and Online Fatwas

Turkey calls for unity in Pakistan after Musharraf quits

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:49:00 +0000

"Turkey calls for unity in Pakistan after Musharraf quits
Ankara, Aug 19: Turkey today said it hoped Pakistan would maintain unity and stability after the resignation of Pervez Musharraf as president and offered to help its close ally in bolstering democracy."

More:Zee News - Pakistan Turkey

Turkey’s top court suspends privatization of roads and bridges

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:38:00 +0000

"Turkey’s top court suspends privatization of roads and bridges
Turkey's top administrative court has suspended the privatization of nine highways and two Bosphorus bridges, the state-run Anatolian Agency said on Tuesday."

More:Turkey’s top court suspends privatization of roads and bridges

The Associated Press: Turkey's Gul urges Sudan leader to end suffering

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:37:00 +0000

"Turkey's Gul urges Sudan leader to end suffering

By C. ONUR ANT – 2 hours ago

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's president urged Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir during talks Tuesday to act responsibly and to end the suffering in the devasted Darfur region.

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court accuse al-Bashir of genocide by unleashing militias on ethnic African groups in Darfur that rebelled against his government. Some 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million displaced since 2003."

More:The Associated Press: Turkey's Gul urges Sudan leader to end suffering

Turkish car bomb attack kills one, injures nine | World | Reuters

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:36:00 +0000

"Turkish car bomb attack kills one, injures nine
Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:18pm IST

By Daren Butler

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A suspected suicide bomber detonated explosives in his car in Turkey's southern Mersin province on Tuesday, killing himself and injuring nine police officers, the local governor said."

More:Turkish car bomb attack kills one, injures nine | World | Reuters

Ahmadi Nejad Visit Leaves Turks Confused

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:35:00 +0000

"Ahmadi Nejad Visit Leaves Turks Confused

By Adam Gonn

The resent visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad to Turkey left many locals both wondering why he came and offended by some breaches of protocol.

Turkey maintains a unique position both geographically and politically with its strategic location between Europe and the Middle East. The country is both an ally of Washington through its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership, and a friend of Tehran based on energy cooperation and mutual concerns about Kurdish nationalism."

More:Ahmadi Nejad Visit Leaves Turks Confused

Elephant Talk to Enter Turkish Market

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:33:00 +0000

"Elephant Talk to Enter Turkish Market

By Anil Sharma
TMCnet Contributing Editor

Elephant Talk Communications, an international telecom and multimedia content distributor, is set to expand its international telecom network and converged services for information and communication technologies (ICTs) by entering into Turkey."

More:Elephant Talk to Enter Turkish Market

7thSpace - Neonatal tetanus in Turkey; what has changed in the last decade?

noreply@blogger.com (Grassroots) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:29:00 +0000

"Neonatal tetanus in Turkey; what has changed in the last decade?

Neonatal tetanus (NT)is still considered as one of the major causes of neonatal death in many developing countries. The aim of the present study was to assess the characteristics of sixty-seven infants with the diagnosis of neonatal tetanus followed-up in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Ward of Dicle University Hospital, Diyarbakir, between 1991 and 2006, and to draw to factors that may contribute (or may have contributed) to the elimination of the disease in Diyarbakir."

More:7thSpace - Neonatal tetanus in Turkey; what has changed in the last decade?