World Bulletin

US ambassador visits Ak Party HQ

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:18:52 GMT

The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Francis Ricciardone, visited the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party.

US President welcomes Karzai's announcement

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:14:02 GMT

"We do think that ultimately we're going to need to see Afghans talking to Afghans about how they can move forward and end the cycle of violence there so they can start actually building their country," Obama said.

UK regulator to probe BSkyB over sports channel supply

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:59:43 GMT

Britain's telecom regulator said that it would launch an investigation into satellite TV firm BSkyB.

Turkish banks overtake US banks in profit growth

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:55:47 GMT

Turkish banks have surpassed US banks in terms of profit growth in Q1 of 2013.

Deputy PM welcomes 'standing still' protests

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:52:44 GMT

Turkish Deputy Premier Arinc said on Wednesday that 'standing still' in Taksim Square is a peaceful way of protesting

African troops say secure UN base in Somalia after attack

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:44:29 GMT

"AMISOM was at the UNDP compound within minutes and has it currently secured," the force said on its official Twitter account.

China completes Internet, phone monitoring scheme for Tibet

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:39:29 GMT

By the end of last year, all 2.76 million fixed line and mobile telephone users and 1.47 million internet users in the remote region had registered for services under their real identities, Xinhua news agency said.

Swoboda calls on Merkel not to block Turkey EU talks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:38:26 GMT

"The AK Party carried out some reform which we all supported. It is my job to appreciate good steps for Turkey's EU goal and criticize when things go wrong," leader of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament Swodoba said.

Syrian rebels claim killing four men in Lebanon

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:26:55 GMT

In the video, posted by a group calling itself the "Syrian Mujahideen Unit", a fighter says his brigade killed the four men as they were trying to enter Syria.

Indonesian Muslim groups call on police chief over ban on headscarf

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:20:56 GMT

Muslim groups have called on Indonesian National Police chief to revoke a 2005 ban on the 'hijab' for women personnel in the police force.

Turkish MPs examine Turkish families' troubles in Belgium

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:00:03 GMT

The Turkish Parliamentary Human Rights Commission examines Turkish families' situation in Belgium and addresses rising racism in Europe.

Car bomb attack on tribe leader in Iraq

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:55:31 GMT

Bomb attack on former Iraqi parliamentarian and tribe leader: 2 killed, 3 wounded.

Kenya dismisses investor worries over capital gains tax plan

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:43:00 GMT

"We have not even worked out how (the tax) will be implemented, the rates or even which areas will be taxed," Geoffrey Mwau, economic secretary at the Treasury, told reporters.

TURKISH PRESS REVIEW on JUNE 20

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:38:03 GMT

Turkish dailies covered on Wednesday the speech of the Turkish PM at his party's parliamentary group meeting, the "standing still" Gezi Park protests, the G8 Summit and Obama-Putin meeting, the visit of Hamas leaders to meet with Erdogan in Ankara.

Time for threatening Istanbul earthquake approaching

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:36:22 GMT

The southern fault line is just 15 km from the city's historic center and after the 1999 earthquake, the fracture zone reached this fault line. This fault line has been accumulating energy since the 1766 earthquake.

Adventures of a Libyan weapons dealer in Syria

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:35:00 GMT

The first consignment of weapons was smuggled into Syria aboard a Libyan ship delivering aid last year, Haroun says, but now containers of arms are flown "above board" into neighbouring countries on chartered flights.

Syrian opposition leans to cooperation with Kurds

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:13:17 GMT

The former president of the SNC said the Kurds had great importance for the Syrian opposition and added, "If the Kurds come back now, the coalition welcomes them."

Blast heard near Somali capital's airport

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:04:06 GMT

A loud explosion was heard near the Somali capital's international airport.

Loud explosion heard in Syrian port city of Latakia

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:00:45 GMT

Explosions in Latakia, part of President Bashar al-Assad's stronghold on the Mediterranean coast, have been extremely rare during Syria's two-year-old conflict.

One person becomes a refugee every four seconds: UN report

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:56:18 GMT

New figures released by the UN Refugee Agency show that last year, nearly eight million people had to flee their homes.

UN warns against new law in Libya

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:39:01 GMT

U.N. special envoy to Libya, Tarek Mitri, told the U.N. Security Council that while it was "undeniable" the law had significant political support, the implementation of it risked further weakening Libya's already shaky state institutions.

Turkish minister signals measures against UK on spying claims

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:35:52 GMT

Other countries whose diplomats were spied on during the same meeting also reacted angrily.

EU: Israel gas unlikely to reach Europe

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:32:46 GMT

A decision is due to be taken in the coming weeks as the government continues to grapple with divergent views on the issue.

120 killed in India monsoon floods: officials

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:30:49 GMT

Military helicopters carried out emergency food drops Wednesday for thousands of people stranded by flash flooding from early monsoon rains which have killed at least 120 in northern India, officials said.

Journalist who brought down US general is killed in car crash

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:30:35 GMT

A statement from the editor-in-chief of online news outlet BuzzFeed reporting that Hastings, 33, had been killed, gave no details of the accident.

Mali signs ceasefire deal with Tuaregs

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:18:33 GMT

"The signing of this agreement represents a significant step in the stabilisation process in Mali," said U.N. Special Representative to Mali Bert Koenders.

Pemex evacuates headquarters after bomb threat

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:11:29 GMT

"In the face of the threat, we're applying security measures at the Pemex tower in Mexico City," Pemex said in a Tweet.

Turkey to expand shale gas exploration

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:44:13 GMT

The shale gas potential of the provinces of Ankara, Konya and Nevşehir as well as the Thrace region will be explored in the near future, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız has said.

Tokyo's chances for 2020 Olympics increase, says report

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:39:20 GMT

Kyodo reported that a European member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Tokyo's chances of winning the bid are higher due to the protests in İstanbul.

Taliban held secret talks in Norway to broker Doha deal

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:27:08 GMT

Barth Eide would not say how many rounds of such talks took place in Norway, a NATO member, or who the Taliban negotiated with.

Extensive project reveals grandeur of Seljuk Empire

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:24:54 GMT

Five voluminous tomes and a documentary that were prepared as part of the Legacy of the Great Seljuks Project now make it possible to view photographs of some of the most important architectural pieces and a plethora of artworks.

AK Party trains directors to avoid social media conflict

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:21:14 GMT

“Make use of Twitter in an efficient way, but don't get into an argument with anybody; don't insult anybody,” said deputy head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Hüseyin Çelik.

German party co-chair invites Erdogan to hold rally in Germany

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:16:06 GMT

Claudia Roth, co-chair of the German Green Party, has stated that she is merely exercising her freedom of assembly by participating in protests in Turkey and called on Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan to come and hold a rally in Germany.

Syria counts on $1 bln Iran fund to support pound

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:12:19 GMT

Syria's central bank said a $1 billion credit line from Iran will help to prop up the pound, which weakened after the U.S. decided last week to arm rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, Bloomberg reported.

Iran’s incumbent president meets with newly-elected Rowhani

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:11:32 GMT

Besides Ahmadinejad, representative of the Iranian Supreme Leader in the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili attended the meeting.

Japan finds highly toxic strontium in Fukushima groundwater

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:08:04 GMT

The discovery of rising levels of such radioactive material is likely to complicate efforts by the utility, Tokyo Electric Power Co, to get approval to release what it describes as water contaminated with low levels of radiation into the Pacific Ocean.

Musicians sing for Bosnian babies without identity number

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 9:02:19 GMT

Bosnian musicians held a concert on Tuesday to support protests against the failure to give newborns personal identity numbers.

Several people killed in Yemen bombing

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:59:47 GMT

Several people were killed and wounded in Yemen's northern Saada town.

We will support a Syrian gov’t endorsed by all Syrians: British PM

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:59:28 GMT

Following a G-8 summit, British Prime Minister Cameron on Tuesday said they would support a Syrian government that would receive the backing of all Syrians.

France opens the door to Iran attending Syria conference

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:55:52 GMT

"On the presence of Iran, let's wait for the new president to speak and let's see if he can be constructive," Hollande told reporters.

Four US forces killed in Afghanistan

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:43:11 GMT

Four US forces were killed in an attack on Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan,

US, Taliban to hold peace talks this week

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:42:06 GMT

The US and the Taliban will meet this week in Doha to find a political solution to the war in Afghanistan.

Interpol detains Turkish DHKP-C suspect in Spain

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:41:23 GMT

A member of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party–Front in Turkey, sought by Interpol, was arrested in Spain's Cordoba city.

US doctors vote to recognize obesity as a disease

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:29:58 GMT

The AMA noted that obesity rates in the United States have "doubled among adults in the last twenty years and tripled among children in a single generation" and that the World Health Organization, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Internal Revenue Service already recognize the condition as a disease.

EP addresses its "inconsistency" in Turkey negotiations

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:29:16 GMT

Some EP lawmakers say failure to open alignment talks with Turkey on more policies pushed EU to 'inconsistency.'

Turkish expats can vote from abroad in 2014 elections

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:24:10 GMT

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bozdag said Turkish NGOs in Europe must act in coordination.

Obama to announce new reduction in deployed nuclear weapons

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:21:04 GMT

Obama will announce on Tuesday he will pursue a new reduction in deployed nuclear weapons.

Germany, Netherlands block opening more 'chapters' in Turkey's EU talks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:21:03 GMT

Germany and the Netherlands objected to the opening of new policy areas in Turkey's membership negotiations.

Turkish PM meets Palestinian PM, Hamas's Meshal

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:16:53 GMT

Turkish Premier Erdogan received Palestinian Prime Minister Haniyeh and Hamas political bureau chief Meshal in Ankara.

US rights group sues NYPD surveillance policy on Muslims

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 8:11:27 GMT

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the New York Police Department's surveillance policy targeting Muslims.

Syria-related clashes in Lebanon's Sidon

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:38:34 GMT

"A man was killed inside his shop by Assir's men," the security source said on condition of anonymity.

Putin warns the West not to arm Syrian rebels

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:35:32 GMT

Putin warned that arms sent to Syrian rebels however could one day end up being used in Europe.

Taliban says no date set for Afghan peace talks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:09:04 GMT

Taliban official said no date had been agreed for talks in Qatar.

Tunisian court jails Salafists for burning Sufi shrine

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:58:54 GMT

Tunisian court has sentenced six Salafists to five years in prison for burning a Sufi shrine.

NSA chief: Programs prevented over 50 potential attacks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:48:25 GMT

General Keith Alexander said that the NSA's data gathering programs had prevented potential terrorist attacks more than 50 times.

World's slimmest smartphone

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:37:34 GMT

The company says the device, at 6.18 mm thick, is the world's slimmest.

Taliban announces opening of "political office" in Qatar

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:18:19 GMT

Afghan Taliban representative announced opening of "political office" in Qatar.

Turkey to host 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup Finals

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:11:25 GMT

Argentina is the most successful team with six titles, followed by Brazil with five in U-20 tournaments

Kenya to employ drones along its borders: report

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:11:13 GMT

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are needed to help Kenyan security forces on the ground patrol the country's frontiers, said Patrick Ochieng.

Aral Sea stopped shrinking says Russian scientist

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:03:51 GMT

The Aral Sea, which has been shrinking for almost half a century causing an environmental disaster in Central Asia, has finally stopped drying up, a Russian scientist said on Tuesday.

Jewish settlers attack 28 Palestinian cars

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:01:44 GMT

Vandals daubed "Arabs out" graffiti and punctured tyres in an Arab village near Jerusalem on Tuesday, targeting a community widely presented as a showcase for Jewish-Arab coexistence.

Former deputy PM of Kosovo acquitted of corruption

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:48:44 GMT

Bukoshi was charged last year following an investigation led by the EU's police and justice mission in Kosovo,

"National security" censor in British press

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:45:24 GMT

The Guardian claimed Britain's Defense officials issued a confidential D notice to several British media groups including BBC in attempt to censor coverage of surveillance tactics employed by intelligence agencies in UK and US.

Turkey to reduce natural gas imports until 2023, says minister

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:36:47 GMT

"We aim to reduce the imports of natural gas to $12 billion every year until 2023," said Yildiz.

Russia delivering $1 bln arms package to Azerbaijan

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:32:35 GMT

Oil- and gas-producing Azerbaijan, where President Ilham Aliyev faces re-election in October, has boosted arms spending and threatened to reclaim the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

N. Iraq discusses 'fake electors' to vote in next elections

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:13:08 GMT

Strong parties in the regional administration of northern Iraq's Sulaimaniyah claim that the increase in the number of electors in Erbil and Duhok to vote in the elections set for September 21 is corrupted.

Snowden's comments dangerous, says US Republican

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:58:14 GMT

Rogers said Edward Snowden's continued efforts to speak out and release intelligence information pose more risk for the United States.

Merkel's conservatives say Turkey would overburden EU

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:45:14 GMT

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives have rejected Turkish membership in the European Union in their German election programme, saying the country would "overburden" the bloc.

Ethiopia, Egypt tone down talk of war over Nile Dam

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:40:23 GMT

Ethiopia and Egypt cooled talk of war on Tuesday and agreed to more dialogue to resolve a row over a giant dam that the Horn of Africa nation is building on the Nile, on which Egyptians depend.

WHO urges tougher marketing rules to curb child obesity

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:28:59 GMT

The marketing of unhealthy foods to children has proven "disastrously effective", driving obesity by using cheap social media channels to promote fat-, salt- and sugar-laden foods.

Russia says blocks mention of Assad's fate in G8 statement

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:24:21 GMT

Russia blocked any mention of the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a final G8 summit communique.

Cambodian garment workers charged over strike

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:56:55 GMT

Sixteen Cambodian garment workers and union representatives have been charged with inciting violence and damaging property during a strike for higher pay at a factory making clothes for Nike.

Hong Kong Investigates HSBC, other banks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:53:20 GMT

The move is the latest announcement in a series of global investigations going on into benchmark rates following the discovery that some had been rigged, most notably Libor, the London interbank Offered Rate.

Arming rebels may be bad for US in long term, Obama says

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:47:58 GMT

Arming Syrian rebels might prove harmful for long-term US interests, President Barack Obama said in a TV interview aired Monday night.

Iran denies claim of military aid to Syria

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:43:40 GMT

"We definitely reject the claims that Iran would send military troops to Syria" said the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry.

Mali says reaches deal with Tuareg rebels

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:36:09 GMT

Mali has reached a deal with Tuareg rebels paving the way for Malian government troops to return to the northern town of Kidal ahead of planned elections in July, Mali's chief negotiator said on Tuesday.

Afghanistan to send representatives to Qatar to discuss peace with Taliban

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:30:33 GMT

"Afghanistan's High Peace Council will travel to Qatar to discuss peace talks with the Taliban," Karzai said.

Syria peace conference unlikely before August after G8 clash

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:24:25 GMT

An international peace conference aimed at ending the conflict in Syria is unlikely to take place before August after G8 leaders clashed with Russia over the nature of a transitional government.

Turkey doubles financial assistance to needy countries

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:21:03 GMT

Bozdag also said that in the future Turkey intends to increase its financial aid to countries in need, irrespective of their religious or ethnic affiliations.

Top Indian leaders arrested during protests

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:05:03 GMT

Top BJP leaders including Shahnawaz Hussain and Rajiv Pratap Rudy were detained today as BJP tried to implement a day-long Bihar Bandh to protest against what it described the betrayal of trust by JD (U).

Putin, Obama discuss Syria, Iran

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:15 GMT

While making little headway regarding Syria, the Russian and US presidents expressed they share "cautious optimism" about the future of talks on the Iranian nuclear program under Iran's newly elected president.

Pregnant Muslim woman attacked in Paris loses baby

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:59:23 GMT

The 21-year-old Muslim woman, who was four months pregnant, was physically attacked by two men.

Reclining Man protests in Taksim Square (!)

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:50:28 GMT

After the standing man protest, some demonstrators have begun 'Reclining Man' demonstrations on Tuesday.

Afghan national forces take charge of security

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:22:59 GMT

The National security force of Afghanistan formally took over the country's nationwide security from NATO.

Austria may delay withdrawal from Golan

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:20:26 GMT

"We are still going to pull out, but the question of how and when has to be negotiated with the U.N.," Spindelegger told reporters.

Undersecretaries of Turkish, Hungarian MFAs to hold consultation

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:15:02 GMT

The Undersecretaries of the Turkish and Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) will hold political consultations.

Vehicles on roads reach 17.3 million in April

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:53:09 GMT

The number of vehicles registered in traffic in Turkey has increased 12.5 percent in April.

Suicide bomber kills 7 in mosque in Baghdad

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:51:33 GMT

A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a mosque in the Iraqi capital.

UK Muslims share flowers with their non-Muslim neighbors

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:48:51 GMT

“We wanted to provide an environment of harmony between Muslims and non-Muslims and were giving flowers to non-Muslims to show peace, friendship and love,” organizer Mafaz Ali.

Turkish people won’t back lies, deception: PM

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:44:19 GMT

Regarding the protests in Turkey, Prime Minister Erdogan stated, "An unprincipled, immoderate movement that is based on lies and deception cannot receive the backing of the people."

Turkish MFA investigating UK spying claims, says minister

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:35:24 GMT

Turkish Finance Minister Simsek said Turkish Foreign Ministry officials were investigating the claims of the UK spying during the 2009 G20 Summit.

Five soldiers killed in Mozambique assault

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:34:37 GMT

Local newspapers, including the O Pais daily, said guerrillas from the opposition Renamo party were behind the attack. A Renamo spokesman said the party was investigating the incident and did not claim responsibility.

Turkey 2nd in OECD to reduce unemployment rate

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:30:32 GMT

Turkey has reduced the unemployment rate by 2.5 percent between 2010 and 2012.

Iran nuclear programme advances despite sanctions: IAEA chief

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:27:27 GMT

Iran is making steady progress in expanding its nuclear programme despite international sanctions.

Turkey cancels European Parliament appointments

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:22:49 GMT

The effects of the European Parliament’s harsh resolution regarding the Taksim Gezi Park protests are ongoing as the Turkish government has cancelled appointments with them.

Portuguese teachers boycott exams

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:12:19 GMT

Mario Nogueira, the head of 52,000-strong Fenprof teachers' union, said 90 percent of teachers took part in the strike and that some schools had cancelled Monday's exam.

Royal baby to boost UK economy by 240 million pounds

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:01:10 GMT

Analysts estimate the baby fever could boost the economy by 240 million pounds ($380 million).

Yahoo receives 13000 data requests in last six months

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:53:35 GMT

Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp and Facebook Inc have also disclosed the number of data requests they received from U.S. law enforcement authorities

17th Mediterranean Games begin in Turkey

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:41:37 GMT

The 17th Mediterranean Games will kick off in Turkey's southern province of Mersin today.

Hungarian man, 98, charged with WW2 crimes

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:39:35 GMT

"He is charged with the unlawful execution and torturing of people thus committing war crimes partly as a culprit, partly as an accomplice," Bettina Bagoly, a spokeswoman for the Budapest Chief Prosecutor's Office said.