Istanbul news roundup: “Istanbul’s housing prices decline amid oversupply

Murder in Istanbul BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Twelve men from the countries of the former USSR have been assassinated in Turkey, and there’s evidence that some of the hitmen were from Russia. Istanbul’s housing prices decline amid oversupply Hurriyet Daily News   Property prices have dropped up to 20 percent in several parts … 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

For the record, “Turkish economy shrinks for first time since 2009

  Turkish economy shrinks for first time since 2009  Hurriyet Daily News   Turkey’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by a bigger than expected 1.8 percent in the third quarter of 2016 on weak consumer spending and exports, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) showed on Dec. 12 Charter amendment draft submitted to Turkey’s parliament  Hurriyet … Read more

Domestically Ashamed in the Mavi Marmara case, Uneasy to challenge Russians, Turkey zeroes in on Iran…

Iranian-Turkish tug-of-war over Kurds al-monitor.com – Dec 13, 1:50 AM Author: Pinar Tremblay December 13, 2016 A few weeks before the devastating Dec. 10 twin bombings in Istanbul — for which Kurdish militants claimed responsibility — Al-Monitor spoke with several sources well-connected with Ankara Turkey drops case against Israeli officers in Gaza flotilla killings BBC News … Read more

In the mean time, “European judiciary network votes to suspend observer status of Turkey’s HSYK…

European judiciary network votes to suspend observer status of Turkey’s HSYK The European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) on Dec. 8 decided to suspend the observer status of the Turkish High Council for Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), citing concerns that the body is no longer sufficiently independent from the state’s executive and legislature branches. … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Banks fined £413m over euro rate rigging…

Banks fined £413m over euro rate rigging  BBC News | Europe | World Edition HSBC, JPMorgan and Credit Agricole fined €485m (£413m) for rigging a key interest rate between 2005 and 2008. Four EU states among world’s worst tax havens  EUobserver.com – Headline News Cyprus, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are among the 15 worst centres for … Read more

Cyberculture agenda: PEW report on Information Overload… Mr. Robot Killing the Hollywood Hacker….

  Information Overload  Pew Internet Rss Feed: Reports Since the 1970s, the term “information overload” has captured society’s anxiety about the growth in the production of information having potentially bad consequences for people as they struggle to cope with seemingly constant streams of messages and images. The advent of the internet, it was thought, would only … Read more

Diyanet, Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, claimed gathering intelligence on suspected Gülenists via imams in 38 countries…

  One-year halt in Turkey, Russia ties ‘over’: Turkish PM A year-long hiatus in relations between Russia and Turkey is over, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said Dec. 6 in his first visit to Moscow as prime minister Diyanet gathers intelligence on suspected Gülenists via imams in 38 countries Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has gathered … Read more

Turkish government refers to the ‘The Following’ TV series to understand “FETÖ”

Devlet Bahçeli gazing at photos of HDP deputies in jail… ************ ‘The Following‘ TV series suggested to understand FETÖ, Turkey … Daily Sabah–Dec 6, 2016 “The Following,’ an American television drama series, might be a good example to understand the structure of the FETÖ” the booklet said…   Turkish man gives away free tombstones to anyone … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “UK and six other nations face legal action over Volkswagen emissions…

  Volkswagen emissions: UK and six other nations face legal action  BBC News | Europe | World Edition The EU is taking legal action against the UK and six other nations for failing to take – or consider taking – action against Volkswagen. [Ticker] EU slaps €485m fine on ‘cartel’ banks  EUobserver.com – Headline News The EU … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Austria elections disrupts the global right-wing tide, While Italy referendum vote leads to Renzi’s resignation…

Austria election: Van der Bellen promises to be “pro-European” president BBC News | Europe | World Edition Newly-elected Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen promises to be “pro-European” and open-minded. [Analysis] Austrian far-right beaten but not defeated EUobserver.com – Headline News Far-right candidate Norbert Hofer’s loss to Green-backed Alexander Van der Bellen sent relief across Europe, but … Read more

Cyberculture agenda: It seems Only Twitter among 9 tech companies declares to Refuse to Help Build Muslim Registry for Trump

Of 9 Tech Companies, Only Twitter Says It Would Refuse to Help Build Muslim Registry for Trump The Intercept by Sam Biddle Every American corporation, from the largest conglomerate to the smallest firm, should ask itself right now: Will we do business with the Trump administration to further its most extreme, draconian goals? Or will we … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Pirate Party asked to try to form government in Iceland…

Iceland election: Pirate Party asked to try to form government BBC News | Europe | World Edition Iceland’s Pirate Party is asked by the president to try to form a new government, after snap elections. France presidency: Francois Hollande decides not to run again  BBC News | Europe | World Edition In a surprise move Francois Hollande … Read more

In just one day, Erdoğan changed his explanation for why Turkey is in Syria…

Erdoğan’s Target was Assad Yesterday, Just Organizations Today Bianet :: English Explaining that purpose of Turkey’s military offensive into Syria is to “put an end to Assad’s governing” two days ago, Erdoğan today said that their target is not a country or a person. Dutch Ask E.U. to Pressure Turkey Over Crackdown NYT > Turkey by By … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Europe’s pupils bad at maths debated… Belgian beer culture added to UNESCO’s heritage list…

Belgian beer culture added to UNESCO’s heritage list EurActiv.com by Georgi Gotev Beer culture in Belgium was inscribed yesterday (30 November) on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Debate: Why are Europe’s pupils bad at maths? euro|topics Ever four years the Timss Study tests the mathematics skills of grade four pupils around the … Read more