Headlines from the centennial! - Fifth sequel

Time flies! It?s already three months since the ?fourth sequel? appeared here, but it?s time for more headlines from the Istanbul press in the year 2023:

?    The revered (and roaming) tomb of Süleyman Shah, an ancient Turkish commander and grandfather of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire, was relocated to an unknown spot after a successful military operation. Since 2015, the tomb has been relocated 39 times in the face of threats from various Islamist groups in Syria and Iraq, and has traveled to more than a dozen countries. 

?    The Turkish Language Association released a new list of words it decided to erase from the Turkish vocabulary on the grounds that these words did not exist in Turkish-Sunni culture. The new list of 329 words include ?thief/thievery,? ?corruption,? ?dictator,? ?murderer,? ?atheist,? ?gay,? ?rape/rapist? and ?terrorism.?

?     Former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, winner of the ?1st Traditional Tragicomic Comments on Turkey? prize in 2015, praised Turkey?s strong commitment to EU reforms and democratic culture. Two years after Turkey withdrew its candidacy and formally applied for membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Ms. Thorning-Schmidt said Turkey?s accession into the EU would improve the European club?s democratic standards.

?     At a private ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry, Turkey silently celebrated the 11th anniversary of Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu?s prophecy that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad?s days in power were numbered to a few weeks. Mr. al-Assad sent a courtesy message to the ceremony and apologized for his absence due to his busy schedule. 

?     After Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Tunisia, Algeria and...