|
|
 |
|
| English |
Last updated 17:49 |
|
|
Poll results: Turks worn out by EU leader statements
With just a few weeks to go before the start of EU accession talks for Turkey, conflicting messages from EU authorities have resulted in a 10 point drop in Turkish public support for the EU venture. According to reseach carried out by the Washington DC based Marshall Fund, public support in Turkey for the EU project has dropped from 73% to 63% in the past year. Poll results also show that while 29% of the EU members find Turkish membership a bad idea, 42% have not made up their mind on the matter. |
|
|
|
Yuksekova turned into 'war zone' by PKK supporters
Following a press conference by DEHAP yesterday in support of former PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, Hakkari's province of Yuksekova was turned into a war zone when 5 thousand marched to show sympathy with DEHAP and Ocalan's cause. When police warned crowds to disperse following the DEHAP press conference, they were countered by angered protesters carrying sticks and stones. |
|
|
|
Turkish National Security Council
changing before our eyes
The second step on the road to changing the Turkish National Security Council (MGK) within the framework provided by the EU's Copehagen Criteria has occured. To this end, 3 civilians, two of whom are women, have been placed as department heads at the MGK, positions which up until now had been occupied by military generals. |
|
|
| |
|
|
The Orient Express arrives in Istanbul
The historic Orient Express arrived in Istanbul yesterday with 100 passengers, each of whom had paid $3,250 for the 5 day trip here from Paris. The Orient Express, which began running in 1883, was at that time the most important mode of transportation between the east and the west. As the subject of both an Agatha Christie novel and a James Bond movie, the Orient Express came to an end with its last run in 1976. |
|
|
|
Fitch upgrades Turkey's Is Bankasi
Leading financial rating agency Fitch upgraded Turkey's Is Bankasi rating on Wednesday. In a statement issued by Fitch Is Bankasi's long-term currency rating has been upgraded to 'BB' from 'BB-' (BB minus). At the same time, the agency has upgraded Is Bankasi's individual rating to 'C' from 'C/D' and its national long-term rating to 'A+' from 'A'. |
|
|
|
Yasser Arafat's cousin gunned down
Moussa Arafat, former security chief and cousin of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was killed on Wednesday, when a Palestinian group raided his house. The group of masked gunmen attacked the house of Moussa Arafat with a rocket and took him outside, where they shot him in front of his family. His body was left in the street following the attack. Moussa Arafat was removed from his post earlier this year on corruption charges. |
|
|
|
Ambiguity surrounds Arafat's cause of death
Medical reports released in the wake of last year's death of Palestinian leader Yasar Arafat have failed to list any specific reason for cause of death. The New York Times has reported that the final blow to Arafat, according to the medical reports, was a stroke, but that there is no clear indication of what led to the general decline in the Palestinian leader's health. |
|
|
|
Istanbul Police Chief speaks about radical religious groups: We catch them, they let them free
İstanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah has issued a sharp reply to Deputy PM Mehmet Ali Sahin's criticism of the reaction of the police force in Istanbul to radical religious group Hizb-ut Tahrir. Hizb-ut Tahrir used the courtyard of the Fatih Mosque last Friday to make a public call for the return of the Caliphate, warning that no one could stop their ascendency. Sahin criticized the Istanbul police for standing by and watching Hizb-ut Tahrir insult Ataturk, and for not arresting them. Cerrah responded to this criticism in an interview with Hurriyet, saying "These people have had similar protests in the past. At those times, we arrested and brought them in. They were set free the same day." |
|
|
|
Hizb-ut Tahrir: We will plant the flag of the Caliphate in Istanbul
Yilmaz Celik, leader of the radical religious group Hizb-ut Tahrir, disappeared after his speech last Friday in the courtyard of the Fatih Mosque, in which he declared that the Caliphate would rise again in Istanbul. A fax sent in the last few days to newspapers from Celik however makes it clear that the leader is not relinquishing his stance on the Caliphate matter: |
|
|
|
The Judicial debate continues
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the beginning of the judicial year, Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Osman Arslan slammed the Constitutional Court saying that there had been so many changes made to the constitution of late that it had turned it into a "wreck". Arslan called for a new constitution and a restructuring of the Constitutional Court. Arslan also called for the transfer of power from the Constitutional Court to the Supreme Court for the closing down or penalizing of political parties. |
|
|
|
European Committee to observe Orhan Pamuk's case
A committee is to be set up by the European Parliament to observe the trial of the renowned Turkish writer, Orhan Pamuk. The proposal was made by MPs, who are members of the European wing of the Joint Parliamentary Commission, the consultative organ between the European Parliament and the Turkish parliament. The committee to be formed by European MPs will observe Pamuk's trial and put forward its views to the European Parliament in a report. |
|
|
|
France wields Cyprus as an issue; stance towards Turkey hardens further
The French official line towards Turkey has once again hardened in the weeks preceding the start of the October 3 accession talks. France, which has been pushing for months to bring about an official recognition of Cyprus by Turkey, has insisted on an official timetable from Turkey on when it will do so. |
|
|
|
Gul: Turkey is intensively preparing for EU talks
As Turkey prepares for EU accession talks to begin, Ankara is getting ready stated Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul while speaking to the press at an exhibition in Ankara on Wednesday. "Ankara is intensively getting prepared for October 3rd," he said, adding that, "The important thing for both Turkey and EU is to carefully run the last 100 meters of the marathon." |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Markets |
|
|
ISE |
36148 |
-54 |
 |
|
Dollar |
1,5590 |
1,5610 |
|
|
Euro |
1,9860 |
1,9870 |
|
|
Gold |
31,10 |
31,16 |
|
|
Refreshed in every 5min. | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
NEWS