Thursday, December 29, 2022
Turkey's Erdogan drops retirement age requirement for millions | Reuters
Turkey's Erdogan drops retirement age requirement for millions
Reuters
ANKARA, Dec 28 (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan eliminated a retirement age requirement on Wednesday in a move that allows more than 2 million Turkish workers to retire immediately, less than six months before an election.
More:Turkey's Erdogan drops retirement age requirement for millions | Reuters
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Turkey’s Rise in the Security Sphere: Can Turkey Sustain it or will She Fade in the Shadows? - Indian Defence Review
Turkey’s Rise in the Security Sphere: Can Turkey Sustain it or will She Fade in the Shadows?ByDanvir SinghDate : 27 Dec , 2022
Turkey’s geo-strategic location in Europe gives it a unique bridging ability between Russia and the West. Turkey’s geo-political influence expands across continents, from states on its periphery, particularly the Caucasus and continues into the Central Asian states where a Turkic ethno-linguistic zone extends Eastwards right up to the Chinese border. Turkey’s influence stabilises the Black Sea region as it controls the Straits of Dardanelles and the Bosphorus connecting it to the Mediterranean. This makes Turkey vital to the interests of the West making it the South-Eastern anchor for NATO. Hence, it majorly influences the Middle-East and balances Russia in the entire South-Eastern zone, which includes the Caucasus.
More:Turkey’s Rise in the Security Sphere: Can Turkey Sustain it or will She Fade in the Shadows? - Indian Defence Review
Friday, December 23, 2022
Head of Turkish medical group stands trial on terror charges
Head of Turkish medical group stands trial on terror charges
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS ISTANBUL
PUBLISHED 9:02 AM ET DEC. 23, 2022
ISTANBUL (AP) — The president of the Turkish Medical Association denied in court on Friday accusations that she disseminated “terrorist propaganda” by calling for an investigation into allegations that the Turkish military used chemical weapons against Kurdish militants.
More:Head of Turkish medical group stands trial on terror charges
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Turkey’s Struggle to Define Itself - Geopolitical Futures
Turkey’s Struggle to Define Itself
Ankara’s shifting priorities have blocked its ability to establish a national identity.
By Hilal Khashan -December 22, 2022
In June 2023, the Turkish people will head to the polls to choose their next president. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) will face stiff competition from a coalition of six opposition parties, led by the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
More:Turkey’s Struggle to Define Itself - Geopolitical Futures
Turkey: AKP under scrutiny for ties to ultraconservative Islamic community - Qantara.de
AKP under scrutiny for ties to ultraconservative Islamic community
The ultraconservative Ismail Aga community has close links to Turkey's ruling AKP. Some are now questioning the community's influence after news reports of the forced marriage of a six-year-old girl within the group. By Burak Ünveren
More:Turkey: AKP under scrutiny for ties to ultraconservative Islamic community - Qantara.de
Sunday, December 18, 2022
The Observer view on why Recep Tayyip Erdoğan does not deserve another term in office | Observer editorial | The Guardian
The Observer view on why Recep Tayyip Erdoğan does not deserve another term in office
Observer editorial
Voters suffering from the president’s terrible economic policies might have finally had enough
Courts in Turkey generally bow to the wishes of the country’s authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This is unsurprising, given his purges of judges and prosecutors during his two decades in power. So last week’s court verdict sentencing Istanbul’s popular opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, to more than two years in jail and banning him from public life followed a familiar pattern.
More:The Observer view on why Recep Tayyip Erdoğan does not deserve another term in office | Observer editorial | The Guardian
Friday, December 16, 2022
Home prices, rents skyrocket in Turkey amid economic turmoil | AP News
Home prices, rents skyrocket in Turkey amid economic turmoil
By AYSE WIETING and SUZAN FRASER
ISTANBUL (AP) — Hatice Erdal has been given a week to vacate her rental house that is due to be knocked down. The cleaner and her husband both earn minimum wage, and even with their combined salaries, they cannot find anything within their budget in Istanbul’s exorbitant housing market.
More:Home prices, rents skyrocket in Turkey amid economic turmoil | AP News
Turkey's AKP under scrutiny for ties to religious radicals – DW – 12/15/2022
Turkey's AKP under scrutiny for ties to religious radicals
Burak Ünveren
13 hours ago13 hours ago
The ultraconservative Ismail Aga community is closely linked to Turkey's ruling AKP party. Some are now questioning that influence after news of the forced marriage of a 6-year-old girl within the group.
More:Turkey's AKP under scrutiny for ties to religious radicals – DW – 12/15/2022
Thursday, December 15, 2022
Thousands protest against conviction of Istanbul mayor | Al Mayadeen English
Thousands protest against conviction of Istanbul mayor
By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net & Agengies
Today 00:27
Thousands in Turkey protest the conviction and political ban of the city's mayor Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
Supporters of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu rally in Istanbul to oppose his conviction and political ban.
Thousands of Turks gathered in a square in the center of Istanbul on Thursday to protest the political ban against the opposition mayor of the city, Ekrem İmamoğlu, before next year's presidential elections.
More:Thousands protest against conviction of Istanbul mayor | Al Mayadeen English
The Ottoman empire fell a century ago. Or did it? | The Economist
The Ottoman empire fell a century ago. Or did it?
Ryan Gingeras reflects on the events in his new history
Dec 15th 2022
As it turned out, more than six centuries of Ottoman rule ended with a whimper rather than a bang, though there had been a racket in the preceding years. The old regime was abolished on November 1st 1922 by Turkey’s Grand National Assembly, representing the nationalist forces that had triumphed in the war with Greece—reversing the humiliations that followed the first world war. The last sultan was soon spirited away on a British warship; he lived on in Italian penury.
More:The Ottoman empire fell a century ago. Or did it? | The Economist
A clampdown too far? ‘Bizarre’ prison sentence may give Erdogan’s rival a boost | The Independent
A clampdown too far? ‘Bizarre’ prison sentence may give Erdogan’s rival a boost
Inside the Turkish government’s decision to push Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu out of politics
Borzou Daragahi
International Correspondent
It did not take long for online sleuths to find evidence of potential political bias in the prosecution of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
More:A clampdown too far? ‘Bizarre’ prison sentence may give Erdogan’s rival a boost | The Independent
Turkey's cenbank to stand pat after fulfilling Erdogan's call for single digits | Reuters
Turkey's cenbank to stand pat after fulfilling Erdogan's call for single digits
Reuters
ISTANBUL, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Turkey's central bank is expected to keep its policy rate unchanged next week, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday, having decided to end the cycle after cutting it to 9% in line with President Tayyip Erdogan's call for single-digit rates.
Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen, Ezgi Erkoyun and Milounee Purohit; Editing by Daren Butler
More:Turkey's cenbank to stand pat after fulfilling Erdogan's call for single digits | Reuters
Analysis: Turkish court raises stakes in search for a challenger to Erdogan | Reuters
Analysis: Turkish court raises stakes in search for a challenger to Erdogan
By Birsen Altayli, Ece Toksabay and Orhan Coskun
Opposition has not yet discussed joint candidate, sources say
Sentence raises Imamoglu profile but may rule him out
CHP leader Kilicdaroglu wants to stand against Erdogan
IYI Party wants Istanbul or Ankara mayor to run - sources
ANKARA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Six months from an election in which Turkey's opposition has its best shot at unseating President Tayyip Erdogan in 20 years, a jail sentence against one of its brightest hopes has raised the stakes in the struggle to agree a presidential challenger.
More:Analysis: Turkish court raises stakes in search for a challenger to Erdogan | Reuters
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Turkey Prints Highest-Value Lira Banknote at Record Rate Amid Runaway Inflation - Bloomberg
Turkey Prints its Highest-Value Banknote at Record Rate Amid Runaway Inflation
The number of 200 lira notes in circulation almost doubled year on year in November.Photographer: Kerem Uzel/Bloomberg
ByAsli Kandemir and Beril Akman
December 13, 2022 at 5:24 AM EST
Turkey is printing its highest-denominated banknote at the fastest rate on record, flooding the country with cash as inflation of over 80% forces consumers and businesses to pay more for less.
More:Turkey Prints Highest-Value Lira Banknote at Record Rate Amid Runaway Inflation - Bloomberg
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Türkiye's middle class struggles amidst inflation, stagnant wages-Xinhua
Türkiye's middle class struggles amidst inflation, stagnant wages
A man shops at a supermarket in Ankara, Türkiye, on Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)
Low-income families in Türkiye have not been the only ones to suffer from continuous price hikes for essential goods and the national currency's sharp depreciation; the middle class with more handsome salaries also is turning to belt-tightening decisions.
More:Türkiye's middle class struggles amidst inflation, stagnant wages-Xinhua
Thursday, December 08, 2022
Turkey's weak lira affects the tourism industry – DW – 12/08/2022
Turkey's weak lira affects the tourism industry
Sarah Hucal
Tourism in Turkey made a comeback in 2022. The low value of the Turkish lira has attracted tourists, yet citizens are struggling due to inflation.
More:Turkey's weak lira affects the tourism industry – DW – 12/08/2022
Wednesday, December 07, 2022
Turkey's Erdogan Seeks to Ban Same-Sex Marriage, Legalize Headscarves - Bloomberg
Erdogan Plays Conservatism Card Ahead of Upcoming Elections
The amendment won’t actually change the existing order
Erdogan plans to consolidate his base with controversial vote
More:Turkey's Erdogan Seeks to Ban Same-Sex Marriage, Legalize Headscarves - Bloomberg
Monday, December 05, 2022
Senior Turkish retail executive forced out after criticizing government economic policy - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East
Senior Turkish retail executive forced out after criticizing government economic policy
The chief operator of Turkey’s largest discount chain resigned from a retail association post after threats from Erdogan's ally Nationalist Movement Party.
More:Senior Turkish retail executive forced out after criticizing government economic policy - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East
Istanbul's migrant culture: Turkey's megacity is no melting pot - Qantara.de
Istanbul's migrant culture
Turkey's megacity is no melting pot
Istanbulites take pride in being the world’s melting pot and its natural outcome: having a bustling abundance of international cuisine. Visiting restaurants opened by recent migrants is often, however, a step too far. Ayse Karabat reports
More:Istanbul's migrant culture: Turkey's megacity is no melting pot - Qantara.de
Sunday, December 04, 2022
Reuters: Assad rejected a proposal to meet Erdogan - Globe Echo
Reuters: Assad Rejected A Proposal To Meet Erdogan
POLITICS
By David Sadler Last Updated Dec 4, 2022
Reuters reported that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rejected a proposal to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, quoting sources who also said that Damascus “just postponed the matter” and that the meeting might take place.
More:Reuters: Assad rejected a proposal to meet Erdogan - Globe Echo
Thursday, December 01, 2022
Turkey Solar Panel Demand Booms as Companies Avoid Rising Power Costs - Bloomberg
Turkish Companies Go Solar at Record Pace to Cut Energy Costs
Electricity bills have soared in Turkey as the lira has collapsed, spurring a rush for renewables.
More:Turkey Solar Panel Demand Booms as Companies Avoid Rising Power Costs - Bloomberg
Turkey Toward 2023, Erdogan’s Turning Point?
Turkey Toward 2023, Erdogan’s Turning Point?
Valeria Talbot
01 Dicembre 2022
Turkey is heading for crucial presidential and parliamentary elections in a pivotal year for its history. Indeed, October 2023 will mark the centenary of the founding of the Republic. Before that date, in June, Turkey will go to the polls, which will either consolidate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s longstanding power or mark a seismic shift, after two decades of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule. Eight months ahead of the vote, election outcome is still far from being decided. President Erdoğan will certainly play all his cards to maintain his leadership, despite the number of challenges he is facing.
More:Turkey Toward 2023, Erdogan’s Turning Point?