Nothing new: “Erdoğan says women’s equality with men ‘against nature’ Dispatches from Turkey…

Turkish President Erdoğan says women’s equality with men ‘against nature’ Gender equality is against nature: Thus spoke Turkish President Erdoğan President cites Oslo talks to justify exclusion of third-party from Kurdish peace process Time has proven that the involvement of any third party would further complicate Turkey’s Kurdish peace process instead of helping it, President Erdoğan has … Read more

Despite friendly poses with the PM, Biden pointed out in İstanbul concentration of powers is ‘corrosive’…

Biden, in Turkey, calls concentration of powers ‘corrosive’ US Vice President Joe Biden tells Europe it is time to act on improving its energy security, warning of Russia’s ‘track record’ in using energy supplies as a weapon US, Turkey at odds over ISIS, Syria The U.S. and Turkey met on Saturday, but offered no indication of agreement … Read more

As its president compares Ebola with Gülen movement, Turkey plans massive scientific initiative: Mosques in every campus…

80 Turkish universities to have mosques, top religious body head says Turkey is planning to build 50 mosques inside university campuses across the country as of 2015 Turkish President Erdoğan calls on Africa to fight against ‘dangerous structures’ President Erdoğan has called on African states to ‘beware of dangerous organizations operating in their country,’ in clear reference … Read more

New Gezi Park crisis simmering While Turkish intel, security to get exclusive authority on personal data…

Artillery Barracks project in Gezi Park back on municipal agenda Istanbul Municipality has again included a controversial construction project on the site of Gezi Park Turkey to go ahead with Istanbul park plan Aljazeera.com Turkish authorities have said they intend to go ahead with the redevelopment ofIstanbul’s Gezi Park, the same project that spurred deadly nationwide … … Read more

Before Biden’s arrival, US Army clarifies once more: not al-Assad, says US army chief/ Amnesty report reveals desperate plight of Syrian refugees in Turkey

My mission is ISIL, not al-Assad, says US army chief General Dempsey says his duty is defeating the Islamist militants reigning in Iraq and Syria, not toppling al-Assad Amnesty report reveals desperate plight of Syrian refugees in Turkey  World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Constanze Letsch Government-run camps full to bursting and those outside camps battling to … Read more

Forensic reports confirm corruption tapes…. Dispatches from Turkey…

Graft probe tapings consistent with transcribed files A forensic report on a graft probe started last year has said the transcribed documents and tape recordings of the telephone conversations between the high-profile suspects are consistent Pope Francis to visit Virgin Mary’s House in Turkey Residents of the western town of Selçuk enthusiastically await Pope’s visit to Christian … Read more

What do you know? “Erdoğan says America was discovered by Muslims, not Columbus

Erdoğan says America was discovered by Muslims, not Columbus Hurriyet Daily News America was discovered by Muslims in 1178, not by Christopher Columbus in 1492, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has claimed, vowing to build a mosque in Cuba if authorities issue permission. In the same speech, he slammed those who use Islam for political means … Read more

Egypt and Cyprus vs. Turkey while ‘Turkey may suspend customs deal with EU’

  ‘Turkey may suspend customs deal with EU’ Turkey may freeze its customs union deal with the EU if the planned trade deal between the US and EU does not cover all Customs Union members, including Turkey, says the European Union Minister With Egyptian President on his side, Greek Cypriot leader accuses Turkey Greek Cypriot President Nicos … Read more

Well, Biden says he never apologized to Turkey…

US Vice President Joe Biden says he never apologized to Turkey  Hurriyet Daily News US VP Biden has denied having apologized to Turkish President Erdoğan over his alleged accusations that Ankara helped ISIL’s growth, explaining that his phone call amounted instead to a clarification Turkey’s Obstruction of Kobani’s Battle Against ISIS nytimes.com – Meysa Abdo – … Read more

As “Erdogan Uses Conflict to Consolidate Power”, “Iran accuses Turkey of prolonging civil war in Syria” and “Egypt to unilaterally cancel trade agreement with Turkey…

Erdogan Uses Conflict to Consolidate Power  NYT > Turkey by By TIM ARANGO Shifting from the prime minister’s office to the presidency, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has “pulled a Putin,” using conflict at home and with the United States to strengthen his authority. Iran accuses Turkey of prolonging civil war in Syria Iran has accused Turkey of prolonging … Read more

“a 60-year alliance shows signs of crumbling…”Turkey hits bottom in OECD gender equality… Dispatches from Turkey…

For Turkey and U.S., at odds over Syria, a 60-year alliance shows signs of crumbling washingtonpost.com – Oct 29 – The increasingly hostile divergence of views between Turkey and the United States over Syria is testing the durability of their 60-year alliance, to the point where some are starting to question whether the two countries … Read more

Palace of Megalomania unveiled… Dispatches from Turkey…

Turkey’s new presidential palace unveiled – in pictures  World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has unveiled a new presidential palace on the outskirts of Ankara. The immense project has been built at a reported cost of $350m. The building has been denounced by ecologists as an environmental blight and by the opposition as … Read more

Iraq Kurd fighters on Turkey border await to join Kobane; Biden to visit Turkey next month…

  US Vice President Joe Biden to visit Turkey next month US Vice President Joe Biden next month visits Ukraine as well as Turkey, where fighting across the border in the Syrian town of Kobane has sparked tensions with Washington Iraq Kurd fighters leave base for Syria deployment: report More than 150 Kurdish peshmerga fighters left a … Read more

Cartoonists hit back: #ErdoganCaricature Dispatches from Turkey

#ErdoganCaricature: cartoonists hit back at Turkish leader’s clampdown theguardian.com – James Walsh – Oct 23, 7:20 AM – Cartoonist Martin Rowson urges cartoonists to caricature Turkey’s president Erdoğan, to highlight the trial of a Turkish cartoonist who lampooned him The cartoonist and author Martin Rowson has encouraged people around the world to draw… Turkish deputy PM … Read more

US just replied Erdoğan again. Turkey doing Ballet internationally but with the last legal package more authoritarian domestically…

Turkey’s Curious Ballet  NYT > Turkey Turkey is to allow Iraqi Kurds cross into Syria to fight Islamic State. US airdrops to Kobane were not wrong, Washington says after Erdoğan criticism Washington does not think the US airdrop of weapons to the Syrian border town of Kobane was wrong, Marie Harf has said PYD not terrorist under US … Read more