#Cyberculture agenda: ” use of videos in Digital Diplomacy…”How Twitter’s Feed Algorithm Works…

On the use of videos in Digital Diplomacy Exploring Digital Diplomacy by Ilan Manor Images & Diplomacy Images have traditionally played an important role in diplomacy. For instance, paintings were often used to bare testimony to diplomatic summits and conferences. Such is the case with Gerard ter Borch’s painting of the treaty of Munster. Additionally, political … Read more

Just 2 days to the Turkey #referendum, federalism debates hit AKP leadership hard…

MHP, AKP in 11th-hour debate on federalism The two main supporters of the “Yes” camp have become embroiled in a last-minute row over whether the shift to an executive presidential system constitutional amendments will introduce a “federal state structure,” with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan denying claims that Turkey’s unitary system will be eroded President Erdoğan slams OSCE … 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

Not only the Gülen case, Turkey is also interested in Zarrab case, demanding his release…

  Turkish justice minister asks US Attorney General to release Zarrab A top Turkish government official recently met with Attorney General Loretta Lynch and told her the prosecution of Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab was “based on no evidence,” according to a court filing unsealed on Nov. 15. Turkish President Erdoğan blasts foreign media outlets at TRT World … Read more

Istanbul’s 12 historical second-hand bookstores. Istanbul news roundup…

List of bookstores with photos. The text is in Turkish.  *********** Will Istanbul’s historic restaurant rise from its ashes again? One of Istanbul’s iconic names, the 115-year-old famous Pandeli Restaurant situated in the Spice Bazaar has been closed for the last three months.   Istanbul Photo Awards Istanbul Photo Awards Liu Heung Shing, Photojournalist founder of Shanghai Center … Read more

“International coalition slams Cumhuriyet arrests, media closures”

International coalition slams Cumhuriyet arrests, media closures freemedia.at – Silvia Morales – Nov 2 A coalition of 14 leading international press freedom and freedom of expression organisations today condemned as an “extraordinary attack on press freedom” the jailing of top journalists with Turkey’s Cumhuriyet newspaper and the via Can Turkey’s Democracy Survive President Erdogan? nytimes.com … Read more

Solidarity with Cumhuriyet continues… #TeslimOlmayız

Images From Solidarity Demonstration for Cumhuriyet daily  Bianet :: English Readers of Cumhuriyet daily, its journalists and many others have advocated the “right to information” in a demonstration. US, Europe criticize Turkey over Cumhuriyet raids, detentions The detention of executives and columnists from the critical daily Cumhuriyet newspaper has been criticized by officials from the United States … Read more

Journalism agenda: New PEW research- Younger adults prefer to get their news in text, not video,

Younger adults prefer to get their news in text, not video, according to new data from Pew Research Nieman Journalism Lab by Ricardo Bilton Digital publishers may be pouring time and energy into cranking up their video operations, but for a lot of their potential viewers, text is still the way to go. New data from … Read more

Bashiqa camp crisis. Erdogan, whose soldiers remain in Iraqi soil, rejects moving them and tells Iraq PM to ‘know his limits’

Backed by Putin, Turkey seems to have started a new crisis that will weaken relations with US. I am not sure too much reliance on Russia is a good thing. OR this is just another stunt for the domestic audiences… Erdogan tells Iraq PM to ‘know his limits’, says will not get orders on Bashiqa … Read more

Antiques Festival in Taksim Square (to boost declining Taksim area popularity)- Istanbul news roundup…

Antiques Festival to Begin on Taksim Square Still Under Construction Bianet :: English Beyoğlu Municipality has initiated a series of festivals which will continue for 50 days. The events aim at reviving İstanbul’s Beyoğlu district which has become dull and empty following the bombing and the coup attempt. However, not even the construction of Taksim Square, … Read more

My favorite minister: “Latvian minister to miss Bratislava meeting – to play chess” Eurosphere agenda…

Why the Pirate Party could end up running Iceland Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow With the Icelandic Pirates crushing it in the polls and set to form the next government of a sovereign, carbon-neutral, strategically located nation, it’s worth asking how a party whose two issues — internet freedom and copyright reform — are wonky, minority … 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

After all anti-zionist hubbub, AKP is back to rapprochement with Israel…

Turkish official confirms talks, understanding with Israel Israel and Turkey have reached a preliminary agreement to normalize relations, including the return of ambassadors to both countries, Reuters quoted an Israeli official as saying on Dec 17 ‘Defaming Erdogan’: Criminal complaint filed against Putin in Turkey RT Furthermore, Mahir Akkar, a suspect in the Ergenekon ‘coup plot’ … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “The Rise Of Terrorism Inspired By Religion In France…

The Rise Of Terrorism Inspired By Religion In France  FiveThirtyEight » Features by Carl Bialik The terrorist attacks at six sites in and around Paris on Friday, which French authorities said killed 129 people and injured more than 350, claimed more lives than all other acts of terror combined in the previous quarter century in France, … Read more

“The (Turkish) State has arrived”. Scenes after the curfew in Silvan… An EFD Rights Watch….

12-day curfew in Turkey’s Silvan ends, governor reveals death toll A 12-day curfew in the three neighborhoods of the Silvan town in the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakır was lifted, with soldiers withdrawin Hurriyet Daily News / Silvan: 2015 (Fotoğraf: Sebati Karakurt): VIDEO: Police fire tear gas, water cannon at HDP delegation in Turkey’s southeast … Read more