News archive of November 2014

Turkey hopes to renew the bilateral gas deal with Russia upon a new principle of price setting rather than asking for a gas discount upon the existing principles, says Russian Energy Minister Novak Turkey wants to renew the bilateral gas agreement with Russia rather than requesting a discount in the existing deals, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has said.

Pope Francis’ visit to Turkey is not only historic, but also timely, as global terrorism is on the rise with terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) every day killing hundreds of innocent people in the name of Islam.

A "drug-use map" is set to be drawn up by the Turkish government, as part of its strategy to combat drugs, with "narco-teams" apparently set to play a significant role in this action plan.

You must have heard of the famous “Pottery Barn Rule.” It states that in a retail store you are responsible for any damage you cause to the goods on display. In other words: Once you break it, you own it.

The provincial education director of the Mediterranean city of Antalya, speaking at the Antalya Chamber of School Shuttles, said the following: "Girls will not sit in the front seat of shuttles; they will take the back seats. The ones taking the front seats will absolutely be boys."

This is the first time I have disclosed it. It was in the 1990s, it was a bayram (holiday) morning. I had been expelled from Antalya by my boss, Aydın Doğan, in the presence of my wife.

When I learned that the editors-in-chief of dailies Star, Akşam and Güneş were recently removed, I remembered this incident. I'll tell you why.

Dear Pope Francis,

As I as writing these lines, your plane was about to land in Ankara. As an ordinary Turk, and a Muslim, I just wanted to wish you welcome, and share some thoughts about Turkey, Islam, and, if you don't mind, even about your mission.

Here are two presidential addresses to consider from November 2014: President Barack Obama talked about net neutrality, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan talked about gender equality (or lack thereof). Obama’s address was direct and very practical. It was progressive in its underpinnings, but the thrust was in policy.

Continuing from last week, my last set of questions to my Armenian acquaintances was "Are you thinking of leaving? What makes you stay? What do you want this place to be like?"

Following the fall of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Church was both protected and restricted by the decrees of Fatih Sultan Mehmed The Feast of St. Andrew, one of the apostles of Christ and the founder of the Church in Byzantium in the 1st century, will be celebrated on Nov. 30. This year's celebration has special significance as Pope Francis will be attending.