Turkish mobster’s revelations extend to arms shipments to Syria - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Turkish mobster’s revelations extend to arms shipments to Syria Turkish crime boss Sedat Peker speaks out about arms shipment to radical rebels in Syria in his latest barrage of allegations against figures close to the government. More:Turkish mobster’s revelations extend to arms shipments to Syria - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

UPDATE 1-Turkey's lira falls to record lows after Erdogan says rates need to come down | Reuters

Turkey's lira falls to record lows after Erdogan says rates need to come down By Reuters Staff ISTANBUL, June 1 (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said late on Tuesday that Turkey needs to lower interest rates and he had spoken to the central bank governor earlier in the day on the issue, sending the lira plunging to new record lows against the dollar. More:UPDATE 1-Turkey's lira falls to record lows after Erdogan says rates need to come down | Reuters

Greek and Turkish ministers make friends in Athens

Greek and Turkish ministers make friends in Athens By ANDREW RETTMAN BRUSSELS, TODAY, 07:16 Relations improved between Greece and Turkey at a high-level meeting in Athens on Monday (31 May), but the EU remains wary of Ankara. More:Greek and Turkish ministers make friends in Athens

Turkey's Erdogan Under Renewed Pressure Following Mafia Boss Allegations | Voice of America - English

Turkey's Erdogan Under Renewed Pressure Following Mafia Boss Allegations By Dorian Jones May 31, 2021 09:36 AM ISTANBUL - The Turkish government is facing accusations of arming and funding jihadists in Syria. The allegations are just the latest by an exiled mafia boss in a weekly YouTube broadcast that are putting the Turkish president in an increasingly tight spot. More:Turkey's Erdogan Under Renewed Pressure Following Mafia Boss Allegations | Voice of America - English

Turkey to restore house used by Atatürk in Syria's Afrin in 1918 | Daily Sabah

Turkey to restore house used by Atatürk in Syria's Afrin in 1918 BY DAILY SABAH ISTANBUL POLITICS MAY 31, 2021 11:11 AM GMT+3 Agovernor’s office on the Turkey-Syria border is planning to restore a house used by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk during the Battle of Katma (Charge at Haritan) in Syria’s Afrin, an official statement said Monday. More:Turkey to restore house used by Atatürk in Syria's Afrin in 1918 | Daily Sabah

Turkey clamps down on alcohol as Erdogan pushes Islamist agenda - Nikkei Asia

Turkey clamps down on alcohol as Erdogan pushes Islamist agenda COVID-19 ban on liquor sales seen as a ploy to reverse 100-year-old secularism More:Turkey clamps down on alcohol as Erdogan pushes Islamist agenda - Nikkei Asia

The Mafia leader embarrassed Erdogan .. Why is Ankara turning a blind eye? - Asume Tech

The Mafia leader embarrassed Erdogan .. Why is Ankara turning a blind eye? By Editorial Team May 28, 2021 The consequences of the videos, in those of the Turkish mafia leader Sedat Bekir in Turkey performed last until now, having performed in 7 Videos, die He began publishing on YouTube weeks ago, high-ranking government officials such as the current Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu, as well as the former, his son, the son of the former prime minister and others involved in the killing of Kurdish journalists and opponents in the 1990s as well as drug trafficking and smuggling, abuse of power and rape More:The Mafia leader embarrassed Erdogan .. Why is Ankara turning a blind eye? - Asume Tech

The EU balancing act over Turkey is reaching a tipping point | Ahval

The EU balancing act over Turkey is reaching a tipping point Robert Ellis May 27 2021 12:44 Gmt+3 Last Updated On: May 27 2021 11:49 Gmt+3 In early April, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paid a well-intentioned visit to Ankara to give EU-Turkey relations new momentum. But in what is now known as ‘Sofagate’ the visit fell flat. More:The EU balancing act over Turkey is reaching a tipping point | Ahval

Court ruling, gang leader shine spotlight on murky killings in Turkey | Reuters

Court ruling, gang leader shine spotlight on murky killings in Turkey Ali KucukgocmenDaren Butler Nearly 30 years after Kurdish lawyer Yusuf Ekinci was gunned down and his body dumped by a highway, his lawyer son is still seeking justice in one of hundreds of cases of extrajudicial killings. More:Court ruling, gang leader shine spotlight on murky killings in Turkey | Reuters

Why women are calling for Turkey's only female cabinet member to resign - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Why women are calling for Turkey's only female cabinet member to resign The Turkish minister of family and social affairs' description of a domestic violence uptick as “tolerable” is seen as emblematic of government efforts to underestimate gender-based violence and femicides in the country. More:Why women are calling for Turkey's only female cabinet member to resign - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Masks may be gone with COVID-19 normalization in Turkey | Daily Sabah

Masks may be gone with COVID-19 normalization in Turkey BY DAILY SABAH ISTANBUL TURKEY MAY 27, 2021 1:51 PM GMT+3 People wearing protective masks walk on a street in Giresun, northern Turkey, May 26, 2021. (İHA PHOTO) Turkey is counting down to June 1 for a planned normalization process that follows the tight restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Media reports on Thursday claimed that the mandatory mask rule might be eased next week as part of the process. According to the Hürriyet newspaper, authorities are considering ending the rule with a few preconditions. In open-air public spaces like parks, masks will not be mandatory as long as people maintain the 2-meter social distancing rule. More:Masks may be gone with COVID-19 normalization in Turkey | Daily Sabah

Mafia Boss Claims Venezuela-Turkey Cocaine Connection - InSight Crime

Mafia Boss Claims Venezuela-Turkey Cocaine Connection 26 MAY 2021 BY VENEZUELA INVESTIGATIVE UNIT A Turkish mafia boss, who has been making a number of extraordinary claims about his country’s elites and organized crime, has alleged that a plan was set in motion to traffic cocaine from Venezuela to Turkey, opening up a new supply route. More:Mafia Boss Claims Venezuela-Turkey Cocaine Connection - InSight Crime

Turkish capacity utilisation falls to 75.3% in May | Reuters

Turkish capacity utilisation falls to 75.3% in May Reuters Turkey's capacity utilisation rate fell to 75.3% in May from 75.9% a month earlier, data from the central bank showed on Tuesday. More:Turkish capacity utilisation falls to 75.3% in May | Reuters

Sedat Peker: Mafia Boss Triggers A Mexican Standoff At The Heart Of The Turkish Establishment

Sedat Peker: Mafia Boss Triggers A Mexican Standoff At The Heart Of The Turkish Establishment In a viral series of videos released on YouTube, a Turkish mafia boss, Sedat Peker, with deep links to the security services, civilian bureaucracy, and political elite, unleashed allegations of dirt against multiple Turkish government figures and "deep state" actors. More:Sedat Peker: Mafia Boss Triggers A Mexican Standoff At The Heart Of The Turkish Establishment

Top Turkish minister fights corruption allegations from exiled mafia boss - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Top Turkish minister fights corruption allegations from exiled mafia boss Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said he would not resign and defended his record against allegations by an exiled mafia boss whose wide-spanning YouTube confessions have gripped Turkish politics. More:Top Turkish minister fights corruption allegations from exiled mafia boss - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

A Mob Boss’s YouTube Channel Is Causing Political Havoc in Turkey

A Mob Boss’s YouTube Channel Is Causing Political Havoc in Turkey Turkish mob boss Sedat Peker is posting YouTube videos accusing officials of everything from covering murders to tipping off criminals. More:A Mob Boss’s YouTube Channel Is Causing Political Havoc in Turkey

Erdogan in hot spot as Turks question 'mafiazation' of politics - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Erdogan in hot spot as Turks question 'mafiazation' of politics  Erdogan risks a major political setback unless he manages to contain an unprecedented scandal sparked by a mobster claiming close links with government figures. More:Erdogan in hot spot as Turks question 'mafiazation' of politics  - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Poland to acquire 24 Turkish-made combat drones :: WRAL.com

Poland to acquire 24 Turkish-made combat drones Posted May 24, 2021 2:00 p.m. EDT ANKARA, TURKEY — Turkey and Poland have signed a deal for the sale of Turkish-made combat drones, making Poland the first NATO and European Union member country to purchase Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday. More:Poland to acquire 24 Turkish-made combat drones :: WRAL.com

Turkey’s 'wicked messenger' has gone viral. Here's why | The National

Turkey’s 'wicked messenger' has gone viral. Here's why Sedat Peker, pictured in Istanbul in 2014, is exiled from Turkey, his whereabouts unknown. Getty Images “My dear brothers, my dear friends,” the Turkish mafioso, grinning ear to ear, says to open his latest YouTube video, which drew five million views in less than 24 hours. “Here we are again.” More:Turkey’s 'wicked messenger' has gone viral. Here's why | The National

The Battle For Africa: Why Turkish Airlines Is Winning - Simple Flying

The Battle For Africa: Why Turkish Airlines Is Winning by James Pearson Turkish Airlines serves 53 passenger destinations across Africa from Istanbul Airport this year, up by one over 2019. It has more destinations in Africa than in Asia (41). Cairo is the leading route, and Egypt is the top country. Narrowbodies are utterly vital to its African effort, with over two-thirds of 2,000-mile-plus destinations flown by single-aisle aircraft. More:The Battle For Africa: Why Turkish Airlines Is Winning - Simple Flying

bne IntelliNews - ISTANBUL BLOG: Deathly silence from Erdogan as Turkey’s YouTuber gangster scandal snowballs

ISTANBUL BLOG: Deathly silence from Erdogan as Turkey’s YouTuber gangster scandal snowballs Beware an ageing mobster with a camera and a tripod and a taste for the limelight. By Akin Nazli May 22, 2021 Previously on “Sedat”, the Botox Chief: Our May 14 curtain-raiser told how millions in Turkey have become enthralled by YouTube videos released by Sedat Peker, a mafia boss known as “The Botox Chief” or “The Botox”, alleging corruption among top officials. More:bne IntelliNews - ISTANBUL BLOG: Deathly silence from Erdogan as Turkey’s YouTuber gangster scandal snowballs

Turkey marks 10 years of coexistence with Syrian refugees - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Turkey marks 10 years of coexistence with Syrian refugees ISTANBUL, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Muhammad Youssef came to Turkey seven years ago from Syria with his wife and two children, and a third child is on the way and will be granted Turkish citizenship. More:Turkey marks 10 years of coexistence with Syrian refugees - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Turkish Airlines begins trial use of digital health wallet

Turkish Airlines begins trial use of digital health wallet IATA Travel Pass to help travelers store, manage verified certifications for COVID-19 tests or vaccinations More:Turkish Airlines begins trial use of digital health wallet

Turkish mafia scandal threatens Erdogan government | Europe| News and current affairs from around the continent | DW | 21.05.2021

Turkish mafia scandal threatens Erdogan government A Turkish mafia leader claims the government is in cahoots with the criminal underworld. President Erdogan and Interior Minister Soylu are finding themselves in hot water. More:Turkish mafia scandal threatens Erdogan government | Europe| News and current affairs from around the continent | DW | 21.05.2021

Turkey says WhatsApp will drop data collection update after probe | Reuters

Turkey says WhatsApp will drop data collection update after probe By Reuters Staff ISTANBUL, May 21 (Reuters) - Turkey’s Competition Board said on Friday it had been informed by WhatsApp that it would not implement a messaging app update in Turkey allowing it and owner Facebook Inc to collect certain user data, after the board launched an investigation. In January, WhatsApp updated its terms of service, allowing Facebook and its subsidiaries to collect user data such as phone numbers and locations, triggering a backlash in Turkey and a probe by the Competition Board. More:Turkey says WhatsApp will drop data collection update after probe | Reuters

Will Turkey’s Grey Wolves land on EU terror list - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Will Turkey’s Grey Wolves land on EU terror list The European Parliament’s annual report on Turkey suggests placing Turkey’s far-right Grey Wolves on the EU terrorist list. More:Will Turkey’s Grey Wolves land on EU terror list - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Pfizer-BioNTech to send 60 million doses to Turkey

Pfizer-BioNTech to send 60 million doses to Turkey Pfizer-BioNTech on Thursday announced a deal to deliver an additional 60 million doses of its vaccine to Turkey that could revive the tourism-dependent country's stalled innoculation drive. More:Pfizer-BioNTech to send 60 million doses to Turkey

Turkish packaging boss calls for China-like zero waste import policy - REB Market Intelligence

Turkish packaging boss calls for China-like zero waste import policy By Paul Sanderson -May 19, 2021030 The President of Turkey’s Packaging Manufacturers’ Association (ASD) has said that his country should reduce imports of waste to zero in three to four years. More:Turkish packaging boss calls for China-like zero waste import policy - REB Market Intelligence

How an exiled mafia boss became the center of Turkish politics - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

How an exiled mafia boss became the center of Turkish politics An ultranationalist mafia boss, Sedat Peker, who had connections with the ruling elite for decades, now wages war against top officials with his camera and tripod from abroad. More:How an exiled mafia boss became the center of Turkish politics - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Erdogan determined to keep the ‘Soros of Turkey’ behind bars | World | The Times

Erdogan determined to keep the ‘Soros of Turkey’ behind bars A new court date looms for Osman Kavala but he knows all too well that political considerations will again outweigh any evidence, writes Hannah Lucinda Smith in Istanbul More:Erdogan determined to keep the ‘Soros of Turkey’ behind bars | World | The Times

Istanbul Man Turns Passion For Ship Spotting Into Beneficial Hobby : NPR

Istanbul Man Turns Passion For Ship Spotting Into Beneficial Hobby One man in Turkey has made a following for himself by tracking one of the world's busiest and most scenic waterways. Istanbul is bisected by the Bosporus Strait. More:Istanbul Man Turns Passion For Ship Spotting Into Beneficial Hobby : NPR

Erdogan says Turkey's COVID-19 infection "under control to great extent" - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Erdogan says Turkey's COVID-19 infection "under control to great extent" ANKARA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkey again brought COVID-19 infection "under control to a great extent" after lockdowns and restrictions during the holy month of Ramadan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday. "We are speeding up vaccination activities as much as the supply program allows. I hope that such comprehensive measures will not be needed from now on," he said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting. More:Erdogan says Turkey's COVID-19 infection "under control to great extent" - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Main opposition dissident Muharrem İnce establishes new party | Ahval

Main opposition dissident Muharrem İnce establishes new party May 17 2021 06:11 Gmt+3 Last Updated On: May 17 2021 06:12 Gmt+3 Former presidential candidate from Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Muharrem İnce on Monday submitted an application for the establishment of his new party, Duvar news site reported. More:Main opposition dissident Muharrem İnce establishes new party | Ahval

Turkey eases COVID-19 restrictions but keeps many curfews - ThinkPol

Turkey eases COVID-19 restrictions but keeps many curfews May 16, 2021 ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s interior ministry on Sunday lifted a full lockdown that had ordered people to stay home to fight COVID-19 infections, shifting to a less-restrictive program that still involved curfews on weeknights and weekends. More:Turkey eases COVID-19 restrictions but keeps many curfews - ThinkPol

Turkish tourism video sparks outcry, unequal treatment claim

Turkish tourism video sparks outcry, unequal treatment claim By ZEYNEP BILGINSOY ISTANBUL (AP) — A video promoting tourism in Turkey amid the pandemic has caused an uproar on social media for showing tourism employees wearing masks that read “Enjoy, I’m vaccinated.” More:Turkish tourism video sparks outcry, unequal treatment claim

Turkey’s religious agency grows even richer, more powerful - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Turkey’s religious agency grows even richer, more powerful Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate has acquired unprecedented influence and budget means under Erdogan, spending more than the Foreign and other ministries. More:Turkey’s religious agency grows even richer, more powerful - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Erdogan’s midnight decrees give Turkey nightmares - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Erdogan’s midnight decrees give Turkey nightmares The overnight decrees increasingly governing Turkey have become a source of livid satire and agony for millions of Turks. More:Erdogan’s midnight decrees give Turkey nightmares - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Turkish lira nears record lows as emerging markets struggle - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Turkish lira nears record lows as emerging markets struggle Turkish stocks slid and the lira hit a six-month low against major currencies Thursday as higher-than-expected US inflation data weighed on emerging markets. More:Turkish lira nears record lows as emerging markets struggle - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Pandemic tourism in Turkey | The Economist

Pandemic tourism in Turkey Turks are stuck indoors. Foreigners have the country to themselves Tourists in turkey are already spoiled. The food is excellent, the locals welcoming and the range of holiday options, from mountain hikes on the Black Sea coast to boat cruises on the Aegean and hot-air balloon rides over Cappadocia, are enough to last several summers. A prolonged currency crisis has seen the dollar strengthen against the lira by nearly 60% in just over two years, meaning that vacations in Turkey come cheap. A room in a luxury hotel can easily cost less than a cramped offering from Airbnb in a European capital. If they can only resist tweeting their thoughts about Recep Tayyip Erdogan (at least 36,000 people have been investigated for insulting Turkey’s thin-skinned president in a single year), foreigners will be in for a treat. More:Pandemic tourism in Turkey | The Economist

Lockdown stems virus surge in Turkey but slow vaccination raises concern - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Lockdown stems virus surge in Turkey but slow vaccination raises concern Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday a nationwide lockdown would be gradually lifted as planned on May 17, though health experts urged caution amid a vaccination campaign slowed by supply hurdles. More:Lockdown stems virus surge in Turkey but slow vaccination raises concern - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Has Turkey’s Erdogan finally overplayed his hand? – World Tribune: U.S. Politics and Culture, Geopolitics, East Asia Intelligence, China, Geostrategy, Military, National security, Corporate Watch, Media Watch, North Korea, Iran, Columnists: Dennis Prager, Michelle Malkin, John Metzler, Jeffrey Kuhner, John McNabb, Joe Schaeffer, Bill Juneau, Alexander Maistrovoy, Donald Kirk

Has Turkey’s Erdogan finally overplayed his hand? By World Tribune on May 11, 2021 Special to WorldTribune, May 11, 2021 Analysis by Eric Clary An entire century has passed since the Armenian genocide began, yet the Biden administration has suddenly felt compelled to officially recognize it. More:Has Turkey’s Erdogan finally overplayed his hand? – World Tribune: U.S. Politics and Culture, Geopolitics, East Asia Intelligence, China, Geostrategy, Military, National security, Corporate Watch, Media Watch, North Korea, Iran, Columnists: Dennis Prager, Michelle Malkin, John Metzler, Jeffrey Kuhner, John McNabb, Joe Schaeffer, Bill Juneau, Alexander Maistrovoy, Donald Kirk

Tourists exempt from Turkey′s coronavirus lockdown | DW News - latest news and breaking stories | DW | 10.05.2021

Tourists exempt from Turkey's coronavirus lockdown Turkey is currently under a full nationwide lockdown to curb a dangerous surge in coronavirus infections and deaths. Residents have been ordered to stay at home until May 17. But foreign tourists are exempt from the curfew, as DW's Julia Hahn reports. More:Tourists exempt from Turkey′s coronavirus lockdown | DW News - latest news and breaking stories | DW | 10.05.2021

Turkey Tourism Faces Prospect of Another Covid Troubled Year - Bloomberg

Turkish Tourism Faces Prospect of Another Troubled Year By Taylan Bilgic May 10, 2021, 6:50 AM EDT A recent drop in coronavirus cases may not be enough to lure tourists back to Turkey’s shores, darkening prospects for the nation’s current-account balance and the battered lira. More:Turkey Tourism Faces Prospect of Another Covid Troubled Year - Bloomberg

Social media in Turkey: Recep Tayyip Erdogan's monitoring of the digital realm - Qantara.de

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's monitoring of the digital realm Having taken control of the traditional media, Turkish President Erdogan is now extending his reach to the social networks. A new law has been passed to rein in major digital players Twitter and Google. But the government's attempt to dominate public opinion is producing some bizarre outgrowths, reports Ronald Meinardus from Istanbul More:Social media in Turkey: Recep Tayyip Erdogan's monitoring of the digital realm - Qantara.de

Turkish Central Bank keeps interest rates high as inflation weighs on economy - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Turkish Central Bank keeps interest rates high as inflation weighs on economy Cornered by rising inflation and a weakening currency, Turkey’s Central Bank kept its benchmark interest rate steady at 19% on May 6 as policymakers await positive signals. More:Turkish Central Bank keeps interest rates high as inflation weighs on economy - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Turkish Food Products Will Be Marketed To The USA From Digital

Turkish Food Products Will Be Marketed To The USA From Digital Turkish food exporters will achieve their goals by concentrating on digital marketing in the United States market, where they aim to export $ 1,5 billion. More:Turkish Food Products Will Be Marketed To The USA From Digital

Turkey welcomes foreign tourists while locking down locals | Reuters

Turkey welcomes foreign tourists while locking down locals Daren Butler "Turkey Unlimited. Now available without Turks," reads a mock tourism advert on social media, poking fun at the sight of foreign tourists roaming quiet streets while most Turks are confined to home by a coronavirus lockdown. More:Turkey welcomes foreign tourists while locking down locals | Reuters

Erdogan's nationalist ally prepares draft Turkish constitution | Reuters

Erdogan's nationalist ally prepares draft Turkish constitution Reuters President Tayyip Erdogan's nationalist ally said on Tuesday that his party had drafted a new constitution for Turkey that envisages an overhaul of the judiciary, and that it would soon be presented to Erdogan's ruling AK Party (AKP) for discussion. More:Erdogan's nationalist ally prepares draft Turkish constitution | Reuters

′Islamic State′ military leader arrested in Turkey | News | DW | 02.05.2021

'Islamic State' military leader arrested in Turkey An Afghan national, codenamed Basim and who allegedly led the terrorist group's military structure, has been detained in Istanbul. More:′Islamic State′ military leader arrested in Turkey | News | DW | 02.05.2021

Turkey says it will receive 1 million doses of BioNTech vaccines in May | Reuters

Turkey says it will receive 1 million doses of BioNTech vaccines in May By Reuters Staff ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey will receive a further 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech in May, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Friday, adding that there were no issues with an option to procure another 30 million in June. More:Turkey says it will receive 1 million doses of BioNTech vaccines in May | Reuters

Turkish scientist acquitted after exposing cancer risk

Turkish scientist acquitted after exposing cancer risk Sik was initially sentenced to 15 months in prison [Getty] Date of publication: 30 April, 2021 The scientist was convicted after revealing the results of a health ministry study linking cancer risks to toxic pollution.Tags:Turkey, cancer, environment, pollution A Turkish scientist has been acquitted by an appeals court after he was convicted for disclosing classified information after exposing cancer risks from toxic pollution, a legal document seen by AFP on Friday showed. Bulent Sik in 2018 revealed the results of a study undertaken for the health ministry in 2011-15 linking the toxicity in soil, water and food to high rates of cancer in several western provinces of Turkey. More:Turkish scientist acquitted after exposing cancer risk

Full lockdown takes effect in Turkey, people leave cities | National | eastoregonian.com

Full lockdown takes effect in Turkey, people leave cities People have stocked up on groceries, shoppers have filled markets and many others left cities for their hometowns or the southern coast as Turkey’s strictest COVID-19 lockdown yet comes into effect More:Full lockdown takes effect in Turkey, people leave cities | National | eastoregonian.com

Turks see Erdogan's pious hand behind alcohol sales ban during lockdown | Reuters

Turks see Erdogan's pious hand behind alcohol sales ban during lockdown By Reuters Staff ISTANBUL, April 29 (Reuters) - The Turkish government’s decision to ban alcohol sales during a 17-day COVID-19 lockdown that starts on Thursday has angered some secular Turks who see it as President Tayyip Erdogan’s latest imposition of a religious lifestyle on all of society. More:Turks see Erdogan's pious hand behind alcohol sales ban during lockdown | Reuters

Covid: Turkey enters first full lockdown - BBC News

Covid: Turkey enters first full lockdown By Mahmut Hamsici BBC Turkish, Istanbul The streets were crowded, the shopping centres busy and the traffic heavy. Some flocked to the main bus terminal to get out of Istanbul, while others tried to stockpile alcohol amid news of a "booze ban". This was the mood in the hours before Turkey went into its first full pandemic lockdown, to curb a surge in infections and deaths. More:Covid: Turkey enters first full lockdown - BBC News

Turkish schoolbooks under scrutiny | Blitz

Turkish schoolbooks under scrutiny ByDesk BlitzPublished on April 30, 2021SHARETWEETCOMMENT In a sign of the times, Turkish schoolbooks have replaced Saudi texts as the focus of criticism of supremacist and intolerant curricula in the Muslim world. Writes Dr. James M. Dorsey More:Turkish schoolbooks under scrutiny | Blitz

Turkish President Erdogan's Kanal Istanbul Project Draws Domestic and International Uproar

Erdogan Is Digging a Hole He Can’t Escape Plans to build a new channel through Istanbul will come with serious domestic, international, and environmental costs. More:Turkish President Erdogan's Kanal Istanbul Project Draws Domestic and International Uproar

Turkish inflation to top 17% in April, stay lofty all year: Reuters poll | Reuters

Turkish inflation to top 17% in April, stay lofty all year: Reuters poll By Reuters Staff ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey’s annual inflation rate is expected to rise to 17.3% in April due to a slide in the lira and only dip to 14% by year end, a Reuters poll showed on Wednesday, keeping up pressure for tight monetary policy as real yields continue to narrow. More:Turkish inflation to top 17% in April, stay lofty all year: Reuters poll | Reuters

Turkey's poverty rate rose above 12% last year - World Bank | Reuters

Turkey's poverty rate rose above 12% last year - World Bank By Reuters Staff ANKARA (Reuters) - The World Bank on Tuesday estimated that Turkey’s poverty rate rose to 12.2% last year, from 10.2% in 2019, and said returning to pre-pandemic levels would be a challenge. More:Turkey's poverty rate rose above 12% last year - World Bank | Reuters

Exclusive: Turkey’s banks shy away from Erdogan’s ‘crazy’ canal – sources | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County

Exclusive: Turkey’s banks shy away from Erdogan’s ‘crazy’ canal – sources By Syndicated Content Apr 27, 2021 1:02 AM By Ebru Tuncay and Can Sezer ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Some of Turkey’s biggest banks are reluctant to finance President Tayyip Erdogan’s planned Istanbul canal due to environmental concerns and the investment risks hanging over the massive construction project, four senior bankers told Reuters. More:Exclusive: Turkey’s banks shy away from Erdogan’s ‘crazy’ canal – sources | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County

Covid-19: Turkey bans alcohol sales in stores during lockdown, causing backlash | Middle East Eye

Covid-19: Turkey bans alcohol sales in stores during lockdown, causing backlash Turkish officials say the decision is based on science, but many online criticised the move as religiously motivated More:Covid-19: Turkey bans alcohol sales in stores during lockdown, causing backlash | Middle East Eye

The EU Helped Create the Erdogan of Today. Why the Shock and Awe over Sofagate?

The EU Helped Create the Erdogan of Today. Why the Shock and Awe over Sofagate? Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan frequently makes global news headlines. That is only to be expected from the leader of a G-20 country and a major regional power. Unfortunately, though, many of the headlines in question appear to be over highly questionable and regrettable comments, statements, or situations on part of or involving the ever more ambitious Turkish leader. More:The EU Helped Create the Erdogan of Today. Why the Shock and Awe over Sofagate?

Turkey announces 'full closure' from April 29 to May 17 - Turkey News

Turkey announces 'full closure' from April 29 to May 17 ANKARA Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on April 26 announced a full closure starting from April 29 evening, to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. More:Turkey announces 'full closure' from April 29 to May 17 - Turkey News

Turkey to produce Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine - statement | Reuters

Turkey to produce Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine - statement By Reuters Staff MOSCOW (Reuters) - Turkish pharmaceutical firm Viscoran İlaç will produce Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine at its plants, with production to launch in upcoming months, the company said in a joint statement with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on Monday. More:Turkey to produce Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine - statement | Reuters

The Fall Of Turkey, The Rise Of Bitcoin | Investing.com

The Fall Of Turkey, The Rise Of Bitcoin By Tom LuongoMarket Overview19 hours ago (Apr 25, 2021 03:39AM ET) It never ceases to amaze me how tone deaf those with power are. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in serious trouble for the first time in his political career. He’s a man staring at a massive electoral problem coming this fall. More:The Fall Of Turkey, The Rise Of Bitcoin | Investing.com

Turkish lira nears record low after cenbank comment, U.S. 'genocide' move | Reuters

Turkish lira nears record low after cenbank comment, U.S. 'genocide' move By Ece Toksabay, Jonathan Spicer ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey’s lira edged lower in early trading on Monday, adding to a recent slide and nearing an all-time low as a chill settled on relations with the United States and after the new central bank chief signalled that rate hikes would harm the economy. More:Turkish lira nears record low after cenbank comment, U.S. 'genocide' move | Reuters

What is controversial about Joe Biden saying “Armenian genocide”? | The Economist

What is controversial about Joe Biden saying “Armenian genocide”? The events of a century ago still make many in Turkey bristle More:What is controversial about Joe Biden saying “Armenian genocide”? | The Economist

Biden recognizing the Armenian genocide shows how far Turkey and Erdogan have fallen

Biden recognizing the Armenian genocide shows how far Turkey and Erdogan have fallen For the first time in many years, Turkey's president needs the U.S. more than Washington needs him. Biden is seizing this opportunity. More:Biden recognizing the Armenian genocide shows how far Turkey and Erdogan have fallen

Turkey's EU candidacy must be suspended if no change, EU lawmakers say

Turkey's EU candidacy must be suspended if no change, EU lawmakers say Robin Emmott Fri, April 23, 2021, 10:01 AM·2 min read By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS, April 23 (Reuters) - Turkey's membership negotiations to join the European Union should be formally suspended if Ankara continues on its autocratic track, EU lawmakers said on Friday, saying a decision was urgent as basic freedoms in the country are curtailed. More:Turkey's EU candidacy must be suspended if no change, EU lawmakers say

US-Turkey relations to be tested by possible Armenian genocide recognition - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

US-Turkey relations to be tested by possible Armenian genocide recognition US President Joe Biden is reportedly preparing to recognize the 1915 mass killings of Armenians as genocide Saturday in a move that could further strain troubled US-Turkey relations. More:US-Turkey relations to be tested by possible Armenian genocide recognition - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Biden's watershed moment in U.S.-Turkey relations | Ahval

Biden's watershed moment in U.S.-Turkey relations Robert Ellis Apr 22 2021 12:05 Gmt+3 Last Updated On: Apr 22 2021 02:39 Gmt+3 A year ago, Joe Biden threw down the gauntlet in Foreign Affairs magazine. In his view, democracy is under more pressure than at any time since the 1930s, and NATO, an alliance of values, is the bulwark of the liberal democratic ideal. More:Biden's watershed moment in U.S.-Turkey relations | Ahval

Erdogan replaces Turkish trade minister, more cabinet moves expected | Reuters

Erdogan replaces Turkish trade minister, more cabinet moves expected President Tayyip Erdogan named a prominent member of Turkey's ruling AK Party, Mehmet Mus, as trade minister on Wednesday and split another ministry into two, in what officials said was the first move in an expected broader cabinet shuffle. More:Erdogan replaces Turkish trade minister, more cabinet moves expected | Reuters

Erdoğan is feeling the heat – Democracy and society | IPS Journal

Erdoğan is feeling the heat Growing economic pains and a more united opposition threaten the Turkish President's grip on power. His regime resorts to ever more state repression More:Erdoğan is feeling the heat – Democracy and society | IPS Journal

Dozens of Turks sneak into Europe in passport scam: report

Dozens of Turks sneak into Europe in passport scam: report Dozens of Turks snuck into Europe [Getty] Date of publication: 20 April, 2021 Turkey has expanded an investigation that dozens of people have used special passports to enter Europe.Tags:Turkey, EU, passports, European Union The Turkish government on Monday widened an investigation into claims dozens of people had used special passports to enter Europe legally and never returned. The scandal has dominated local headlines since it emerged last week that 43 people with grey service passports entered Germany last November to attend an environmental workshop and never returned to Turkey. More:Dozens of Turks sneak into Europe in passport scam: report

Turkey’s ruling Islamists dogged by mounting corruption claims - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Turkey’s ruling Islamists dogged by mounting corruption claims Allegations of government corruption are adding to public anger as the economy continues to decline. More:Turkey’s ruling Islamists dogged by mounting corruption claims - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

The long struggle of Turkish women to survive | OpenGlobalRights

The long struggle of Turkish women to survive In the late Ottoman Empire, women organized protests and fought for equality. Now they are fighting to survive in Turkey. More:The long struggle of Turkish women to survive | OpenGlobalRights

Feature: COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates prices in import-reliant Turkey - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Feature: COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates prices in import-reliant Turkey Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-19 20:25:38|Editor: huaxia ISTANBUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Hayriye Ustun strolled around her neighborhood marketplace looking for the best prices as she suffered from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has sent food prices through the roof. More:Feature: COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates prices in import-reliant Turkey - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Turkey's handle on soft power: Hit TV series from Turkey conquer the Arab world - Qantara.de

Turkey's handle on soft power Hit TV series from Turkey conquer the Arab world Televised Turkish dramas are all the rage in the Middle East. A young Ottoman TV Empire has been expanding its soft power by harnessing regional dialects, Arabic names and viewers' desire for racy-yet-traditional plots. By Jennifer Holleis More:Turkey's handle on soft power: Hit TV series from Turkey conquer the Arab world - Qantara.de

Turkey and northern Syria: Recep Tayyip Erdogan's deadly serious colonial project - Qantara.de

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's deadly serious colonial project The neo-Ottomanism propagated by Erdogan has long been more than rhetoric and symbolic politics. This can be seen from recent developments in parts of northern Syria, where Turkey is in the process of permanently securing its sphere of influence. Joseph Croitoru reports More:Turkey and northern Syria: Recep Tayyip Erdogan's deadly serious colonial project - Qantara.de

Turkey frees journalist Altan after European rights court ruling - France 24

Turkey frees journalist Altan after European rights court ruling A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered the release of journalist and novelist Ahmet Altan after more than four years in prison on charges of involvement in a failed 2016 coup attempt that he had always denied. More:Turkey frees journalist Altan after European rights court ruling - France 24

Diplomatic double whammy as EU overtures rebuffed by Turkey, Russia – EURACTIV.com

Diplomatic double whammy as EU overtures rebuffed by Turkey, Russia DISCLAIMER: All opinions in this column reflect the views of the author(s), not of EURACTIV Media network. By Robert Ellis 10:36 The EU's hopes of rapprochements with Turkey and Russia have been rebuffed. But these diplomatic defeats have been years in the making, writes Robert Ellis. More:Diplomatic double whammy as EU overtures rebuffed by Turkey, Russia – EURACTIV.com

Show us the money: Erdogan pressed over $128 billion used to support lira | Reuters

Show us the money: Erdogan pressed over $128 billion used to support lira By Ali Kucukgocmen, Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - “Where is the $128 billion?” asked posters on billboards around Istanbul intended by Turkey’s main opposition to embarrass and annoy President Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling AK Party (AKP). More:Show us the money: Erdogan pressed over $128 billion used to support lira | Reuters

Turkish 'kingmaker' edges Erdogan further right - France 24

Turkish 'kingmaker' edges Erdogan further right Some call him Turkey's ultranationalist kingmaker, others see him pulling the strings of the state's security policy. Yet for a man whose far-right MHP party won only 11 percent in a 2018 election, Devlet Bahceli's influence over the government stretches far wider than his vote share. More:Turkish 'kingmaker' edges Erdogan further right - France 24

Turkey declares partial lockdown during Ramadan - Turkey News

Turkey declares partial lockdown during Ramadan ANKARA Turkey on April 13 announced a two-week partial lockdown to help curb a recent rise in the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country. Speaking to reporters following a cabinet meeting that lasted three hours, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the new measures against the virus would go into effect on Wednesday evening and continue for the first two weeks of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. More:Turkey declares partial lockdown during Ramadan - Turkey News

Ottawa cancels 29 military export permits for Turkey after finding Canadian-made gear diverted to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - The Globe and Mail

Ottawa cancels 29 military export permits for Turkey after finding Canadian-made gear diverted to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict The federal government is cancelling 29 permits for exports of military goods to Turkey, saying an investigation revealed that made-in-Canada airstrike-targeting gear shipped to the Eurasian country was illegally diverted to the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. More:Ottawa cancels 29 military export permits for Turkey after finding Canadian-made gear diverted to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - The Globe and Mail

Turkey, US in rare position of unity over Ukraine - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Turkey, US in rare position of unity over Ukraine Russia’s Turkey policy to "drive a wedge between Turkey and its NATO allies" will not likely bear fruit when it comes to Ukraine. More:Turkey, US in rare position of unity over Ukraine - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

China looms large in Turkey’s controversial waterway project - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

China looms large in Turkey’s controversial waterway project Turkey is reportedly gearing up to partner with China in the construction of an artificial waterway parallel to the Bosporus, a project with likely implications for Russia and the United States in the Black Sea. More:China looms large in Turkey’s controversial waterway project - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Crackdown on dissent highlights Turkey's drift from democracy - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Crackdown on dissent highlights Turkey's drift from democracy A recent decision to nullify a parliamentary vote and ongoing targeting of opposition lawmakers are further evidence of Turkey’s slide away from a democratic system. More:Crackdown on dissent highlights Turkey's drift from democracy - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Making Sense of Turkey’s Contradictory Behavior: Part 2

Making Sense of Turkey’s Contradictory Behavior: Part 2 Emily Hawthorne Middle East and North Africa Analyst, Stratfor Ahead of 2023 elections, Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will embrace policies that appease its Islamist base by further entrenching religion into the country’s culture and economy. The AKP will also ramp up efforts to rig the country’s electoral system in its favor, pulling Turkey toward authoritarianism. More:Making Sense of Turkey’s Contradictory Behavior: Part 2

Turkish graduates in Europe: Turkey's best and brightest flee in brain drain - Qantara.de

Turkish graduates in Europe Turkey's best and brightest flee in brain drain As Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues his crackdown on dissent, increasing numbers of Turkish graduates and young professionals are seeking new lives and better prospects abroad. Germany is their No.1 destination. By Sinem Ozdemir and Daniel Derya Bellut More:Turkish graduates in Europe: Turkey's best and brightest flee in brain drain - Qantara.de

Turkey's Talk Show Nationalists - War on the Rocks

TURKEY’S TALK SHOW NATIONALISTS RYAN GINGERASAPRIL 8, 2021 COMMENTARY Turn on Turkish television on any given night, and it is likely you will meet eyes with a former general or admiral. At first blush, their steady presence as commentators on talk shows, as well as on social media, appears unremarkable. With the Turkish armed forces deployed on a variety of fronts both at home and abroad, events appear to demand the interpretative aid of those with military experience. Watch enough programming and you discover, however, that the generals and admirals of Turkish television are by no means passive actors. Former military officers have emerged as a potent constituency in Turkey’s fragmented partisan landscape. Via television and social media, many have sought to shape the tenor, and perhaps even the direction, of Turkish foreign policy. More:Turkey's Talk Show Nationalists - War on the Rocks

Turkey’s talk of pulling out of the Montreux Convention part diversion, part 'Ataturk envy' - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Turkey’s talk of pulling out of the Montreux Convention part diversion, part 'Ataturk envy' While it's unclear if the Turkish president's threat to pull out of a 1936 maritime treaty will be followed by any action, it should not be taken too lightly given his track record of doing everything he says he will. More:Turkey’s talk of pulling out of the Montreux Convention part diversion, part 'Ataturk envy' - Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East

Houthis warn Turkey against Yemen intervention – Middle East Monitor

Houthis warn Turkey against Yemen intervention April 8, 2021 at 2:38 pm | Published in: Europe & Russia, Middle East, News, Turkey, Yemen A member of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen, the executive body of the Houthi-led government based in Sanaa, has warned Turkey against any intervention in the country. Should it do so, said Abdul Wahab Al-Mahbashi, it will fare no better than Saudi Arabia, which has been leading a US-supported war in the country since 2015. More:Houthis warn Turkey against Yemen intervention – Middle East Monitor

How Erdogan Got His Groove Back in Domestic Politics

How Erdogan Got His Groove Back It’s been a difficult and dizzying few months for Turkey—which is just the way the president likes it. BY STEVEN A. COOK | APRIL 8, 2021, 7:49 AM While everyone was puzzling through the who, what, and how of the coup-non-coup family drama in Jordan, it was yet another wild week in Turkish politics. On April 3, around the same time as Prince Hamzah was allegedly plotting against his half-brother King Abdullah II in Amman, 104 retired Turkish admirals released a letter expressing concern that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government apparent proposal to pull Turkey out of the Montreux Convention, which grants Turkey the right to regulate access to the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits. The letter also raised alarms over what the naval officers regard as the Islamization of the armed forces. More:How Erdogan Got His Groove Back in Domestic Politics

Turkey's daily COVID-19 cases hit all time high | Reuters

Turkey's daily COVID-19 cases hit all time high By Reuters Staff ANKARA, April 7 (Reuters) - Turkey recorded 54,740 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, health ministry data showed on Wednesday, the highest daily level since the start of the pandemic. More:Turkey's daily COVID-19 cases hit all time high | Reuters

EU to Turkey: Human rights issues are nonnegotiable | News | DW | 06.04.2021

EU to Turkey: Human rights issues are nonnegotiable European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says Ankara must respect basic human rights norms if Turkey wants to have a stronger relationship with the EU. More:EU to Turkey: Human rights issues are nonnegotiable | News | DW | 06.04.2021

Opinion: Erdogan puts Turkey into confrontation with EU | Opinion | DW | 06.04.2021

Opinion: Erdogan puts Turkey into confrontation with EU Relations between the European Union and Turkey are increasingly testy. EU leaders see a chance for diplomacy after their visit to Ankara. They should act on it, DW's Bernd Riegert writes. More:Opinion: Erdogan puts Turkey into confrontation with EU | Opinion | DW | 06.04.2021

Turkish inflation accelerates for sixth consecutive month | Financial Times

Turkish inflation accelerates for sixth consecutive month Rising prices add to pressure on central bank to keep interest rates high More:Turkish inflation accelerates for sixth consecutive month | Financial Times

Libya: The Turkish Problem

Libya: The Turkish Problem April 5, 2021: It’s been two months since the two rival Libyan governments agreed on a merger and Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh was selected by the GNA (UN created Government of National Accord) and HoR (the last elected government that disagreed with the formation of the GNA) factions to head (as prime minister) the unified GNU (Government of National Unity). Dbeibeh is from Misrata, where he was born in 1959, and was educated in Canadian universities before returning to become a successful businessman in the 1980s. During the 2011 revolution Dbeibeh favored the Moslem Brotherhood but was perceived as doing so mainly to protect his family and business interests. He is known to have used corrupt behavior to keep his businesses going during the decade of fighting but is trusted enough to form the temporary government and attempt to organize the December elec More:Libya: The Turkish Problem

Turkey detains 10 retired admirals over open letter

Turkey detains 10 retired admirals over open letter PUBLISHED : 5 APR 2021 AT 17:45 ANKARA: Turkey on Monday detained 10 retired admirals after they openly criticised a canal project dear to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a country where the hint of military insubordination raises the spectre of past coups. More:Turkey detains 10 retired admirals over open letter

Opinion: Erdogan’s disreputable coup against women | World News,The Indian Express

Opinion: Erdogan’s disreputable coup against women In terms of misogyny, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has overtaken the Catholic rulers in Hungary and Poland, who have certainly not been stingy when it came to attacking women in the recent past. More:Opinion: Erdogan’s disreputable coup against women | World News,The Indian Express