NATO

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

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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

As European Commission urges ‘different type of relations’ with Turkey, “Ankara prosecutors launch probe into ex-French diplomat for ‘inciting’ Erdoğan’s assassination…

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Commission urges ‘different type of relations’ with Turkey EurActiv.com by Georgi Gotev The European Union executive urged EU governments yesterday (24 April) to consider changing its relationship with Turkey after a referendum that handed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sweeping powers put Ankara’s stalled membership talks deeper into cold storage. PACE reopens monitoring process against Turkey The Parliamentary … Read more

#Europe agenda: “EU at 60: celebrations in turbulent times…

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Debate: EU at 60: celebrations in turbulent times euro|topics On March 25, 1957, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the Treaties of Rome – effectively the birth certificate of the European Union. Sixty years on the leaders of 27 EU states will once again convene in Rome and address the question of where … Read more

Turkey is after the happiest country in the world, Norway, after the latter gives Turkish officers asylum… A FP roundup…

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Turkey protests against Norway giving officers asylum  AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) Ambassador to Ankara summoned after Norway grants political asylum to Turkish officers allegedly linked to failed coup. Debate: Berlin refusing to export arms to Turkey  euro|topics The German government has rejected several requests from Ankara for arms exports in recent months. The human rights situation … Read more

#Europe agenda: “EU workplace headscarf ban ‘can be legal’, says ECJ… ” new menace in Western Balkans is Trump-style populist politics…

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Forget Russia, new menace in Western Balkans is Trump-style populist politics EurActiv.com by Denis MacShane A new menace is stalking the Western Balkans: the region’s political leaders themselves. Many are now retreating from serious engagement with Europe in order to play internal political games, writes Denis MacShane. Black flags from Rome: Mafia and Isis, as before Mafia … Read more

The Guardian piece on Asli Erdogan…

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Turkish author Asli Erdogan on her 136 days in jail  BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Turkish author Asli Erdogan was jailed for 136 days over her links with a pro-Kurdish newspaper. Doorstep demand BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Asli Erdogan could face life in jail after being accused of involvement in … Read more

#Eurosphere agenda: Massive anti-corruption protests in Romania continues…

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Romania leaders under growing pressure amid protests BBC News | Europe | World Edition   A new decree to free officials jailed for corruption has sparked outrage across Romania. Romania protests continue against government ‘thieves’ Aljazeera.com–3 hours ago “I do not want to divide Romania,” a pale and tired-looking Grindeanu said in a televised address, sparking … Read more

#Eurosphere agenda: “Martin Schulz’s rapid rise…

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Martin Schulz’s rapid rise from Brussels man to chancellor candidate EurActiv.com by Albrecht Meier   Martin Schulz is known in Germany mainly as a European politician and an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. But later this year they will face off in the country’s leadership race. Trump will be a gift to Europe’s lost unity EurActiv.com by … Read more

#Eurosphere -An Al Jazeera piece on Israeli diplomats and UK politicians stirs some tension…

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Israelis parliamentary plot against UK politicians  AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)   Al Jazeera reveals discussions of Israel diplomat and British civil servant to ‘take down’ anti-settlement politicians. Deadly icy spell grips much of Europe, including Greek islands  BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Plunging temperatures in Europe claim 20 lives, as even the … Read more

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

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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

Eurosphere agenda: “France burkini highest court suspends ban…

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France burkini highest court suspends ban BBC News | Europe | World Edition France’s highest administrative court suspends a ban on controversial full-body “burkini” swimsuits in a town on the Mediterranean coast. The burkini as a mirror  open Democracy News Analysis – by Adam Seligman Unless we are willing to live with the discomfort of what is … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: A BBC piece: “Lesbos: Microcosm of Europe’s migrant crisis…

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Lesbos: Microcosm of Europe’s migrant crisis  BBC News | Europe | World Edition Volunteers on Lesbos wait for the migrant boats to arrive Drowned toddler becomes first 2016 migrant casualty in the Aegean A drowned two-year-old boy became the first known migrant casualty of the year on Jan. 1 after the crowded dinghy he was travelling in … Read more

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

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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

As war of words continue with Russia and now Iran, NATO warships seen in Sarayburnu, Bosphorus…

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While a Russian warship was passing through Bosphorus, a Russian soldier is allegedly holding a ground to air missile, thus provoking Turks says Milliyet. Today the same daily states that NATO ships are waiting in Bosphorus, this has become a Trending Topic in Twitter, I could not verify and could not get any news in English … Read more

NATO and US gives verbal support, It looks like Turkey will be the proxy in a fight against #Russia…

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Downed Russian jet violated Turkish air space: NATO NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said data from allies showed that Turkish information that a downed Russian jet violated the Turkish air space Putin Slams Turkey, Lavrov Cancels Turkey Trip  Bianet :: English Russian President Putin stating the downed planed wasn’t within the borders of Turkey has said, … Read more