Turkey says no pullback in Mosul… 400,000 Syrians working unregistered in Turkey…

Turkey halts transfer of forces to Mosul, but no pullback: Foreign Ministry Turkey has halted the transfer of additional forces to the Bashiqa region of Mosul, but there has been no withdrawal, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said Dec. 8 In numbers: Turkey’s Syrian border security The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has shared information about its border … Read more

Banditry in town. Columnist Ahmet Hakan injured in ‘organized assault’

Hürriyet columnist Ahmet Hakan injured in ‘organized assault’ Hürriyet columnist Ahmet Hakan, who has been targeted with politically-motivated threats, has been injured after an assault in front of his home. ‘We are not afraid. We will continue walking on the path that we know as right,’ said Hakan, who was hospitalized with broken bones in his … Read more

Now it is Pope’s turn: “Erdoğan warns Pope Francis not to repeat ‘mistake’ about Armenian claims…

Erdoğan warns Pope Francis not to repeat ‘mistake’ about Armenian claims Turkish President Erdoğan has condemned Pope Francis, warning him to not repeat the ‘mistake’ of describing the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians as ‘genocide.’ European Parliament set to vote on ‘genocide’ claims The European Parliament is set to discuss and vote on a resolution April 15 … Read more

Curious state of intel chief, Hakan Fidan as Erdoğan “unhappy” about his resignation…

Turkish President Erdoğan: I asked intel chief to stay, but he left President Erdoğan reiterates his criticism of intel chief Hakan Fidan for resigning to run for office, saying he advised him to stay in the critical post Turkish President Erdoğan says he has ‘final say’ on Fidan’s successor Intel chief joint candidate for ruling AKP, PKK and … Read more

Not surprisingly, Transparency package postponed after Erdoğan’s intervention…

Turkish government postpones transparency package after Erdoğan’s intervention The ruling AKP has postponed the passage of a new transparency package until after the coming election, following an intervention from President Erdoğan Öcalan: HDP Can Pass Election Threshold  Bianet :: English Meeting with the Kurdish delegation in Imrali Prison, PKK leader Öcalan said that Peoples’ Democratic Party could … Read more

Erdoğan likens himself to Britain’s Queen as Turkish government suspends metal workers’ strike in the name of NATIONAL SECURITY

Turkish President Erdoğan says UK is semi-presidency dominated by Queen In a bid to justify his support for a change to the political system in Turkey, President Erdoğan has suggested that the United Kingdom is run as a semi-presidential system in which the will of the Queen is dominant. Turkey’s Erdogan says he’s no sultan — but … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Majority of educated women victim of violence in Turkey…Hrant Dink murder case deepens…

Majority of educated women victim of violence in Turkey, survey reveals A large majority of Turkish women who work in white-collar jobs and have a university degrees say they have been exposed to violence at least once in their life Hrant Dink murder case deepens with new testimonies The list of suspects in the murder case of … Read more

Erdoğan’s palace to be protected by commandos… Open Source Analysis of The IS Attack on Kobane… “NATO calls on Turkey to join EU sanctions against Russia as Putin visits Ankara…

The IS Attack on Kobane: Open Source Analysis turkeywonk.wordpress.com – aaronstein1 – Nov 30, 6:55 AM – Yesterday, the Islamic State detonated four suicide car bombs in the embattled town of Kobane. One VBIED detonated just inside the Mursitpinar border gate. After the explosion, clashes broke out between the YPG and the Islamic state in … Read more

Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate slams social media while “Turkish Foreign Ministry declares itself ‘global leader’ in Twitter followers

Turkish Foreign Ministry declares itself ‘global leader’ in Twitter followers Hurriyet Daily News The declaration comes months after Turkey banned Twitter Istanbul’s Friday sermon focuses on lies, gossip via technological devices The Religious Affairs Directorate regrets the appearance of ‘a lie and gossip sector’

Dispatches from Turkey. Davutoğlu threatens: “Normalization not possible after Gaza offensive…

Calls grow for boycott of Israeli goods in Turkey A number of professional associations have urged consumers to refrain from buying goods from a list of companies Normalization not possible after Gaza offensive, senior Turkish diplomat tells Israeli counterpart The Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu is also set to hold talks in Washington where he will … Read more