Human Rights Watch 2017 report unsurprisingly criticizes Turkish authorities…

World Report 2017: Turkey Human Rights Watch – Jan 12, 6:35 AM On July 15, 2016, elements of the military attempted to carry out a coup d’état against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. The attempted coup left at least 241 citizens and government Human Rights Watch criticizes Turkish authorities … Read more

Fistfight, violent brawl accompanies debate on constitutional reform in the parliament, but President Erdoğan already declared: ‘That referendum will take place’

CHP’s Fatma Kaplan: To Hell with Your Presidential System, to Hell with Your Ambition  Bianet :: English   Beaten while warning AKP MPs who weren’t complying with voting procedures during discussions on 3rd Article of constitutional amendment talks, CHP MP Fatma Hürriyet Kaplan has protested the incident on parliamentary rostrum. ‘That referendum will take place,’ vows President … Read more

In the mean time, Cyprus peace talks: “all you need to know”

Cyprus peace talks – all you need to know World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor Rival leaders of the Mediterranean island, which has been split since 1974, are meeting in Geneva for a summit The purpose of the Geneva talks is to end the partition of the island between the predominantly Turkish … Read more

It seems that (paranoid) conspiracy theories increasingly shape US-Turkey relations…

Accusations about US in Turkish media must stop, State Department’s Kirby says   U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby has warned the Turkish media about making false accusations about the United States. In Turkey’s Unrest, Some See an Extreme Version of Post-9/11 America NYT > Turkey by By TIM ARANGO and RICK GLADSTONE   Turkey’s president and … Read more

Meanwhile #istanbul now suffering a heavy snow storm… not seen for some years…

Bosphorus closed, flights cancelled, schools closed, traffic density %90 last evening… Fresh snowfall paralyzes Istanbul traffic, density at 90 percent  Forecast snowfall and cold weather have badly affected Istanbul’s rush-hour traffic, increasing the traffic density to up to 90 percent. Number of foreign tourists visiting Istanbul plunges for first time in 16 years Hurriyet Daily News The … Read more

Anything goes… Turkey extends state of emergency for the third time…

  Turkey extends state of emergency   Turkey’s state of emergency will be extended for another three months, the government said on Jan. 3. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş made the announcement following a cabinet meeting Journalist Ahmet Şık Back in Silivri After 5 Months Bianet :: English   Journalist Ahmet Şık was sent to Silivri Prison … Read more

Isis claimed #ReinaMassacre, the Tragedy Transcends Borders as many foreign nationals are among the victims….

Foreign nationals named among victims of Istanbul attack World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Jon Henley Seven Saudis, four Iraqis, two Indians, two Tunisians and one each from France, Syria, Israel and Belgium reportedly killed Istanbul: First Darkness, Then Terror NYT > Turkey by By KAYA GENC   The New Year attack reinforces a sense that this … Read more

Many journalists in Turkey entered 2017 in jail and some of their colleagues did not forget them….

Turkish Authorities Detain Wall Street Journal Staff Reporter Dion Nissenbaum for 2½ Days Wall Street Journal – Gordon Fairclough – Dec 31, 5:32 AM Turkish authorities detained a Wall Street Journal staff reporter for 2 ½ days this past week, without permitting him contact with his family or attorneys before releasing him. The reporter, Dion … Read more

#Eurosphere – Romania President rejects Muslim Sevil Shhaideh as PM, Romanian left proposes new PM candidate…

Romania President rejects Muslim Sevil Shhaideh as PM  BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Romania’s president rejects a candidate who would have been the country’s first female, Muslim PM. [Ticker] Romanian left proposes new PM candidate EUobserver.com – Headline News   Romania’s social democrats have nominated former telecommunications minister Sorin Grindeanu for prime minister, a … Read more

Turkish justice at work: Journalist Ahmet Şık Taken Into Custody- GOOD NEWS Necmiye Alpay, Aslı Erdoğan, Zana Kaya Released

Journalist Ahmet Şık Taken Into Custody Bianet :: English   Journalist Ahmet Şık was taken into custody in his apartment by police this morning. ÖZGÜR GÜNDEM CASE: Necmiye Alpay, Aslı Erdoğan, Zana Kaya Released Bianet :: English   Tried in Özgür Gündem case, Aslı Erdoğan, Necmiye Alpay and Zana Kaya have been released. Erdoğan was arrested since … Read more

Russian investigation team has arrived but pro-gov’t Turkish dailies claim to have found the culprit in Karlov assassination…

  All of Erdoganist papers blame “FETO” a.k.a Gulen Gr behind the Russian Amb assassination -font page. Just like that. Case is solved. Next? https://t.co/ggC2XH3E2g — ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) December 20, 2016 Pro-AKP talking heads think it was either US, CIA or NATO behind assasination of Russian Amb in Ankara. All jealous of improved TR-RU … Read more

Turkish justice: “Police who shot dead Gezi protester fined $2,800”

Police who shot dead Gezi protester fined $2,800  Hurriyet Daily News   A court in Istanbul has fined a police officer who shot dead a protester during the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Turkey’s high court receives 60,000 applications since July 15 coup attempt: Top Judge  Hurriyet Daily News   Some 60,000 individual applications have been made to … Read more

A chart on Terror attacks in Turkey and A map that shows which HDP offices attacked after the Kayseri bombing

Terror attacks in Turkey..The chart speaks for itself.. pic.twitter.com/QlBH9ZtS5o — METIN GURCAN (@Metin4020) December 18, 2016 NEWS ANALYSIS: PKK striking to drag Turkey into civil war  Hurriyet Daily News   Exactly a week after a suicide bomb attack in Beşiktaş that killed 46 people and wounded 166 on Dec. 10, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) … Read more

This time sad news come from #Kayseri -Turkey PM blames PKK for car bomb that killed 13 soldiers… HDP office attacked afterwards….

Turkey PM blames PKK for car bomb that killed 13 soldiers on bus World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Nicola Slawson   Blast near university in Kayseri targets public bus, wounding 55 other soldiers and civilians Car bomb kills soldiers on public bus in Turkey – video World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk   A car bomb in … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Polish protesters block parliament over press freedom…

Polish protesters block parliament over press freedom  BBC News | Europe | World Editio   Crowds blockade the Polish parliament in Warsaw in a protest over press freedom. Italy: President names Paolo Gentilo new prime minister  AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)   Following Matteo Renzi’s resignation over referendum defeat, foreign minister is tasked with forming a new … Read more