#Afrin operation roundup: “Turkey’s Worst Day Yet in Syria Offensive: At Least 7 Soldiers Killed…

Turkey’s Worst Day Yet in Syria Offensive: At Least 7 Soldiers Killed NYT > Turkey by By ROD NORDLAND Syrian rebels in the northern city of Afrin also destroyed at least one tank, a day after other rebels shot down a Russian warplane. Turkey has no aim to invade Syria during Afrin operation: Erdoğan Turkey has no aim … Read more

Turkish FP news 1- Germany leaves Incirlik Base… US resolution over Washington brawl….

Germany to Withdraw Forces From Incirlik Base in Turkey NYT > Turkey by By ALISON SMALE The Turkish government refused to guarantee that German lawmakers could visit troops at the facility, deepening a rift between the NATO allies. US resolution over Washington brawl is against spirit of alliance: Turkish Foreign Ministry The Foreign Ministry has said a … Read more

After damaging the Park environment more, “#istanbul municipality shares images of ‘ecological’ footbridge in Gezi Park…

Istanbul municipality shares images of ‘ecological’ footbridge in Gezi Park The Istanbul Municipality on May 17 shared images of a footbridge connecting the Gezi Park in Taksim and the Democracy Park in Maçka, which is planned to be completed by the end of June.| French astronaut shares photo of Istanbulfrom space Hurriyet Daily News French astronaut Thomas … Read more

Turkey, admirer of Trump administration, now furious after the YPG decision…

Turkey’s president raises tensions with criticism of Israel World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Kareem Shaheen in Istanbul Israeli foreign ministry responds to strong remarks about treatment of Palestinians by condemning Turkish human rights record Tensions have resurfaced between Turkey and Israel, with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticising the “racist and discriminatory” treatment of Palestinians, and Israel … Read more

In the last few days, Turkey detained more than 1K police offices, attacked Kurdish positions in Syria and kept bickering with the EU….

Over 1,000 Police Officers Are Detained in Raids in Turkey NYT > Turkey by By PATRICK KINGSLEY In the biggest sweep since the referendum on presidential powers, those arrested were accused of being “secret imams” for the American-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. 9,103 Police Officers Suspended Security General Directorate has announced that 9,103 law enforcement staff members have … Read more

#Referendum2017 Results are marred by substantive allegations….

I was very upset with the November 1, 2015 election results when AKP had a landslide victory. However, that’s what voters chose and in the last analysis I am fine with that. It is part of the democratic system we have to live with that. As long as there are legitimate elections, we can always … 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

English PEN (@englishpen) Campaign: “Release Ahmet Şık”

Turkey: Release Ahmet Şık English PEN – Cat Lucas – Jan 6, 7:46 AM We, the undersigned, call for the immediate release of award-winning investigative journalist and author Ahmet Şık and other writers detained in violation of their right to freedom of expression in Turkey. Following his detention on 29   Turkey in grip of fear … 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

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

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