Waiting for snow- which might be a heavy one… İstanbul news roundup…

Istanbul braces for snowfall ahead of New Year’s Eve Hurriyet Daily News The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) is bracing for a rapid drop in temperatures with the expectation of snow, as the municipality takes Christmas Mass continues in İstanbul, despite it all Today’s Zaman Earlier this week a Christmas tree that had been put up … Read more

Arab League denounces Turkish troop deployment in Iraq, Turkish PM vows to continue military presence in Iraq until “Mosul’s liberation”

Turkish PM vows to continue military presence in Iraq until Mosul’s liberation Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has reiterated his government’s resolve to maintain a military presence in northern Iraq until Mosul is “liberated” Arab League denounces Turkish troop deployment in Iraq The foreign ministers of the Arab League condemned on Dec. 24 a Turkish military deployment … Read more

Cyberculture agenda: “A Victory for Privacy and Transparency: HRW v. DEA… “Facebook, Twitter and Google pledge to increase hate speech moderation efforts in Germany…

A Victory for Privacy and Transparency: HRW v. DEA EFF.org Updates by Mark Rumold In a victory for millions of people in the U.S. who have placed telephone calls to locations overseas, EFF and Human Rights Watch have confirmed that the Drug Enforcement Administration’s practice of collecting those records in bulk has stopped and that the … Read more

EU Progress report likely to be in November as Turkey continues terror-related probes against journalists…

Progress report likely to be released in November A progress report on Turkey by the European Commission, which was postponed for the first time ever, is likely to be published in November, EU sources have told Hürriyet Daily News. Kurds Need More Than Arms NYT > Turkey by By CALE SALIH and MARIA FANTAPPIE Treating Syria’s Kurds … Read more

Erdoğan blackmailing EU: “Act in Syria [that is fight against Asad], or get ready to accept more refugees… Eurosphere agenda…

Erdogan tells EU: Act in Syria, or get ready to accept more refugees EurActiv.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday (5 October) urged the EU to train rebels, and to consider a no-fly zone and safe haven area in Syria, during talks to address Europe’s growing migrant crisis. US, NATO condemn Russia’s violations of Turkish airspace  EurActiv.com … Read more

Kurdish news agency #DİHA in Diyarbakır raided by Turkish security forces, 10s detained; Turkey recruits more militias against Kurdish guerillas…

A video from the scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qi4B5Wk3ok A list of detained DIHA employees: DIHA agency website currently blocked in Turkey: http://www.diclehaber.com/en   Ongoing censorship blocks Kurdish, critical, data-based media … Today’s Zaman–Aug 16, 2015 The majority of sites that have been blocked are Kurdish media outlets, including ANF, ANHA, the Dicle News Agency (DİHA), Rojnews and … Almost … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Ireland same sex marriage win… The Riga Summit…

The Riga Summit: Enter, pursued by a bear  by Centre for European Reform The Eastern Partnership summit in Riga on May 21st-22nd will be a gloomy affair. Russia’s aggressive behaviour has put EU member-states on the defensive. Enthusiasm for further integration between the EU and its Eastern neighbours is on the wane. But Europe should be … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: biggest-ever Eurovision…”Juncker greets Orbán with ‘Hello dictator!”…

Stage set for biggest-ever Eurovision  BBC News | Europe | World Edition Sweden, Russia and Italy are among the favourites to win the 60th annual Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place in Vienna later. Juncker greets Orbán with ‘Hello dictator!”  EurActiv.com European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker teased Hungarian Premier Viktor Orbán over his strongman reputation Friday, jokingly … Read more

Turkey second at government requests from Facebook… Arbitrary justice: “3 Different Case Procedures For “Hitler-Seeming” Erdoğan Banner

Redhack members acquitted in terror case An Ankara criminal court ruled on March 15 for the acquittal of ten Redhack members charged with supporting left-separatist terror organizations. 3 Different Case Procedures For “Hitler-Seeming” Erdoğan Banner  Bianet :: English A banner depicting Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a Hitler-like mustache resulted in 3 insult cases across Turkey with different … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Anti-corruption parties shake Spain… “Germany ends teacher headscarf ban….

Why we occupy: Dutch universities at the crossroads open Democracy News Analysis – by Enzo Rossi, Johan Hartle, Robin Celikates and Nicholas Vrousalis The Netherlands, a mere 10 years behind the UK, seems eager to catch up. Twin pressures of authoritarianism from above and neoliberalism from below make it necessary to develop the democratic alternative put … Read more

As waiting for Greek election results, read “7 experts on Europe’s biggest media innovators… Eurosphere agenda.

7 experts on Europe’s biggest media innovators  EurActiv.com The media’s search for new business models and the potential of new and social media has brought about a wave of enterprises and entrepreneurs across EU member states. What are Europe’s most innovative news applications and initiatives? EurActiv asked the experts. On election day, young Greeks will be voting for SYRIZA open Democracy … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Grexit debate…

Grexit divides politicians in Athens  EurActiv.com Eurozone membership is “irrevocable”, the European Commission said today (5 December), after media reports about Greece leaving the single currency that triggered strong reactions in Athens. EurActiv Greece reports.   MAIN FOCUS: EU Commission joins Grexit debate | 06/01/2015 euro|topics The EU Commission stressed on Monday that according to the EU treaties a … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: [Not in Turkey but] Confidence in the EU on the rise…Greek political crisis

Confidence in the EU on the rise  EurActiv.com Citizens’ confidence in the European Union has grown since the European elections in May 2014. The uncertain economic situation and immigration are among the main issues still causing concern for the electorate. EurActiv France reports.   Greek political crisis: Huge amount at stake BBC News | Europe | World … Read more

Turkish economy grows at slowest pace in three years as “Turkish Deputy PM partially acknowledges nepotism in gov’t…

Turkey’s Distressing Dance with Capital Flows Report (TEPAV) N° 201407, November 2014 The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey Fatih Özatay * In the aftermath of the 2001 crisis Turkey took important steps towards achieving macroeconomic and financial stability. Together with favorable international financial conditions, this helped to achieve a rather high per-capita GDP growth. The … Read more

After Cameron (@David_Cameron) and Mogherini (@FedericaMog) break, Turkey can go back to its course of religious authoritarianism…

Britain’s Cameron to travel to Turkey to discuss ISIL foreign fighter problem PM Cameron will travel to Turkey on Dec. 9 to meet President Erdoğan to discuss how to stop Britons crossing into Syria and Iraq to join up with ISIL fighters Cameron says UK and Turkey working hand in glove to stop Isis fighters  World news: … Read more