Taraf
-- Nationalists attack students in Eskişehir
A group of nationalists attacked the students who went to Eskişehir to observe the trial of the cop who shot their friend in Muğla; the daily Taraf reported on Thursday. University student Şerzan Kurt was shot and killed by police officer Gültekin Şahin last year. He is put to trial under arrest at Eskişehir 1st Court of Serious Crimes. A group of friends of Kurt went to Eskişehir to onserve the trial and they were attacked by three men with sticks. The attack happened while the students were entering a store on Sarper Street approximately 200 meters away from the courthouse. The attackers were making “the grey wolf sign” with their hands, the trademark of Turkish nationalists, very similar to the “horned hand sign of heavy metal fans; and chanting slogans. Police intervened to the fight and two of the attackers run away. Aydın Günay, 41, failed to escape and apprehended by the police. Ahmet Dündar, 24, was hurt by the sticks of the assailants and was transferred to Eskişehir State Hospital. During that, friends of the attacked students came to the scene and attacked both the police and the detained Günay, who was still making the grey wolf sign. The police had Günay into safety at a nearby store and disassembled the crowd with tear gas.
Milliyet
-- Movie changes gender roles in Malatya
A movie called “Shalwar Case,” which depicts non-traditional male and female relationships, has had such an effect on an eastern Turkish village that local men now typically contribute to housework and babysitting children, daily Milliyet reported Thursday. The slow triumph of women in the Malatya village of İsa started when 75-year-old Hüsniye Karaslan watched the movie “Shalwar Case,” starring Müjde Ar and Şener Şen, nearly a decade ago. Influenced by the movie’s handling of male and female relationships, Karaslan began to raise awareness with her advice during house visits to newlywed brides and teenage girls. “Do everything together with your husbands. If they don’t do whatever you say, don’t cook, punish them,” said Karaslan, during the days when village men did not help with the agricultural and animal husbandry work and sat idly in the village’s traditional coffeehouses. After awhile, the advice of Karaslan worked and men started to share in the work and give women more credit. Today, women have farmed out half of the work to be done to men. “Previously, our mothers were oppressed so much. But it’s not like that now. We made our men get accustomed. Now, we feed our animals together,” said the wife of the village head.
Zaman
-- Lighter fluid sales banned for minors
The purchase of lighter fluid by minors has been banned, daily Zaman reported Thursday. Lighter fluid cans, which are used to refuel cigarette lighters, will no longer be available for purchase by people under 18 years of age. The Health Ministry took the precaution to protect young people from sniffing lighter fluid as six minors died last year due to the fluid. The canisters are no longer to be displayed in the open, either at stores or in street vendors’ displays. They must also feature a warning label noting that the canister cannot be sold to minors. The ministry’s science commission took the matter under investigation two months ago and investigated the process of lighter fluid from production to be put on sale on shelves. After finishing the investigation, the commission sent a circular letter to all governors’ offices in the country announcing the ban on Dec. 31, 2010. Violation of the ban will be a misdemeanor offense and will carry a fine of 143 Turkish Liras. The sale of volatile substances to people under 18 years of age is a punishable act according to a directive dated Aug. 5, 2010, in the scope of a law regarding the protection of human health from volatile substances. The ministry will change the directory to include lighter fluid among these substances.
Sabah
-- Çağlayan Square half completed
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbaş toured the Çağlayan Square urban transformation project in Istanbul’s Çağlayan district and said 53 percent of the construction was now complete, daily Sabah reported Thursday. The urban transformation project, which will cost 80 million Turkish Liras, will extend the size of Çağlayan Square. So far, 36 shanty houses and offices have been destroyed, the mayor said. The construction will be completed by April. Topbaş also touched upon the pedestrianization works which are set to start in Taksim Square this year. He said they would concentrate on three projects out of five concerning Taksim Square and a significant step would be taken to create a pedestrian-friendly city through the pedestrianization works at Istanbul. “Urban transformation projects are also being considered for Beşiktaş Square [in Istanbul’s central Beşiktaş district]. There will be a square from which people can walk from the market area to the port. It won’t be easy to implement this project during heavy traffic, but a square contributing to city life will come out in the end,” said Topbaş. Similar projects will be carried out in Istanbul’s Aksaray and Üsküdar districts, said Topbaş. He said their first target was to not have traffic in Taksim Square. “People should be able to go to AKM [Atatürk Culture Center] via walking.”
From Anatolia News Agency:
HÜRRİYET
-- NIGHT SUMMIT WITH NASRALLAH
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu began mediation talks in Beirut where he visited to solve the political crisis in Lebanon. Davutoğlu met with Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, in an address which was kept hidden. Davutoğlu and Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor al-Thani secretly left the hotel they were staying early in the morning to hold a tete-a-tete meeting with Shiite leader Nasrallah. Hezbollah released a statement and photos to the press about the meeting. Turkish Foreign Ministry also confirmed the meeting, which lasted for three hours. Nasrallah owns the largest armed force in Lebanon, and it withdrew its 11 ministers and collapsed the Lebanese government. Nasrallah is in hiding as he is an open target of Israel.
-- U.S. AMBASSADOR TO BE IN ANKARA TODAY
The new Ambassador of the United States to Turkey Francis Ricciardone will begin his term in office in Ankara today. The appointment of Ricciardone was kept waiting in the U.S. Senate for five months.
MİLLİYET
-- DIPLOMACY IN SHELTER
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu became part of the activities to resolve the government crisis in Lebanon and met with Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, considered as terrorist by the United States, at a secret place.
Davutoğlu and Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor al-Thani met with Hezbollah leader Nasrallah for three hours in Lebanon. The place of the meeting, which took place early in the morning, was hidden like a secret as Hezbollah was considered as terrorist by the United States and Israel.
The Hezbollah leader has been in hiding himself for years. He addresses people through video.
-- WEARING HEADSCARF IN EXAMINATIONS IS REJECTED
Council of State made a decision preventing wearing of headscarf in examinations carried out by Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). The ruling Justice and Development (AK) party strongly reacted.
Council of State assessed an objection regarding Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Exam (ALES) made on December 19. Chamber 8 of the Council of State unanimously decided for stay of execution regarding the article on dressing paving ways for headscarf. The decision made references to the decisions of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and Constitutional Court that headscarf is against secularism.
It was stated that headscarf weakened security of the exam. The examination will not be cancelled but the decision may be an example to other exams.
SABAH
-- AK PARTY: 46.4 PERCENT, CHP: 24.3 PERCENT
According to GENAR's survey, the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party will double the votes of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) if a general election is held today. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan came in as the most favorite leader with 48.1 percent. CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was the second most favorite leader with 23.2 percent and Devlet Bahçeli, the chairman of the other opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), got only 12 percent support in the favorite leaders survey. 53.4 percent of Turkish nation supports a new constitution, and Sabah media group topped the mostly-read newspapers.
-- SCHENGEN PLUNDER
Embassies and consulates of European Union (EU) member states have made Schengen visa a source of income. Countries that consider Turkish people's tourist visits to other countries raised visa fees to 400-600 Turkish liras. The visa fee, thus, is equal to the money spent on a two-three day trip.
-- THOUSANDS WALK FOR HRANT
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was commemorated in a ceremony in front of Agos newspaper's office in Istanbul on the fourth anniversary of his assassination. Thousands of people gathered together at the spot where Dink was killed, and chanted slogans, "we are all Hrant, justice for Hrant, and there is no justice for four years." Those who attended the ceremony later walked to Taksim Square.
VATAN
-- INVESTIGATION ON BOARD MEMBERS OF GALATASARAY
Prosecutor's office launched an investigation regarding the protest against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the inauguration of Galatasaray soccer club's new stadium Turk Telekom Arena. Police are examining the video recordings. Board members of Galatasaray were also included in the investigation, and their addresses and telephone numbers were asked from the club. Members had 13,000 tickets, and police will find who were invited to the inauguration with these tickets.
-- LAWSUIT FILED IN COUNCIL OF STATE REGARDING BAN ON ALCOHOL
Ankara Bar filed a lawsuit in Council of State and asked for the cancellation of the new regulation on alcoholic beverages. The bar claimed in the lawsuit petition that the aim of the regulation is to force a single-type life standard. It said, "the duty of the state is to protect youth against alcohol addiction, not against alcohol."
-- FOR HRANT, FOR JUSTICE
Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was commemorated on the fourth year of his assassination in front of the Agos newspaper building. His wife Rakel Dink left a bouquet of flowers on the pavement Dink was shot. Thousands of people, who gathered in front of Agos, carried banners as "Hrant is not here for four years."
CUMHURİYET
-- LET US NOT LIVE WITH SHAME
Journalist Hrant Dink who was killed in an armed attack four years ago at a time when he was followed by the security forces and suicide reports were made, was commemorated at a ceremony held in front of Agos newspaper.
Nükhet İpekçi, daughter of journalist Abdi İpekçi, made an address at the ceremony in front of placards reading, "Hrant is not here for four years," "there is no justice for four years." İpekçi said, "let us not allow next generations to experience such a shame."
-- UNEXPECTED VISIT TO HABERAL'S ROOM
An unexpected visit was made for the second time to room of suspect Prof. Mehmet Haberal of the Ergenekon case who is under treatment in Istanbul University Cardiology Institute.
Around 30 policemen carried out a search in room of Haberal and data processing unit. Prosecutors, Justice Ministry inspectors and lawyer of Haberal also attended the search.
RADİKAL
-- EITHER BALLOT BOX OR POSITION
Surprising news for representatives of business world who think of running for MP in the general elections due on June 12: The head of any business organization who cannot be elected in the general elections cannot return back to his office after the elections.
-- NEITHER OF US ARE UNSOLVED
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was commemorated at the time of his death and at the spot of his assassination on the fourth anniversary of his demise. Nükhet İpekçi, the daughter of journalist Abdi İpekçi, who was murdered in 1979, spoke in the commemoration ceremony and said, "we have got rid of unsolved, we now have a name. However, we do not know who will illuminate these murders? Where are you?"
-- ACCORDING TO PROSECUTOR, SLEDGEHAMMER HIT
According to two documents seized in Gölcük, Balyoz (Sledgehammer) action plan did not remain as a seminar but was put into implementation. The document dated December 25, 2002, resembles the speech retired general Çetin Doğan made at the seminar.
In another document dated March 3, 2003, Doğan receives information about the implementation of the Balyoz action plan. Prosecutors think Doğan himself monitored the plan.
TÜRKİYE
-- NOBODY SHOULD FEEL DESTITUTE
President Abdullah Gül gave a message to 81 governors he received at the Çankaya Presidential Residence. Gül said, "None of our citizens should feel destitute or gloomy in their motherland. Embrace everybody without making discrimination, and be fair."
-- CHECK IS A PAIN
"Bad checks" sunk bosses who were hit by economic crisis. Industrialists and tradesmen could not pay their debts due to the economic crisis in 2001, and got debts from money lenders. They healed their wounds in time, however, thousands of people were sentenced to imprisonment on charges of "giving bad checks". 167,000 people were tried, 30,000 of them are in prison.
ZAMAN
-- WE WILL SAY WAR GAME IF WE ARE CAUGHT
Nine sacks of documents found in Gölcük Fleet Command revealed that junta concluded all its preparations. The documents which were included in the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) case, said Asparuk, Air Forces Commander of the time, would be arrested and retired. It was also told in the documents that in case preparations were learned, the commander would be told that this was a war game.
-- MILITARY VEHICLE OVERTURNS: 2 DEAD, 16 INJURED
A military vehicle overturned in southeastern province of Adıyaman killing two privates Özgur Güven and İsmail Saygılı. It was stated that there was only one month before discharge for Saygılı and Güven.
YENİ ŞAFAK
-- NYT: US DESPERATE, TURKEY SUPER POWER
New York Times wrote that the United States was watching the crises in Lebanon, Tunisia and Iraq desperately. The article said that Turkey was rising as a regional power, adding that Turkey, with the new initiatives it launched, neutralized Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United States.
-- LAST LION ZAPATA
Galatasaray (Lion) soccer club signed a contract with Colombian goalkeeper of Steaua Bucuresti, Robinso
n Zapata Montano. 32-year old Zapata is expected to sign his contract with the club today.
-- HABERAL RAID IN HOSPITAL
Police made a search in Cardiology Institute where Prof. Mehmet Haberal, suspect under arrest of Ergenekon case, had been under treatment. The search continued till late hours of the night under the supervision of the prosecutor. Some documents in Haberal's room and data processing department were confiscated.
No comments:
Post a Comment