Ankara

The State Meteorological Service and the Istanbul Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) had warned of an impending snowfall in the Istanbul area, which began in the night hours on Feb. 9. Istanbul Governer Vasip ?ahin has announced on his official Twitter account that schools will not be closed on Feb. 10, since they do not expect heavy snowfall.

Turkey and Switzerland have never been best pals in the years preceding the 2000s. During the Justice and Development Party?s (AKP) rule, the relationship started having an inconsistent course with ups and downs. The Swiss parliament?s decision in 2003 to recognize the World War I Armenian tragedy as genocide despite government opposition was not appreciated by Turkey.

The Turkish capital?s municipality-administrated football club - modestly called Ankaraspor FC until it was renamed ?Osmanl?spor FC? (Ottomansport FC) last summer - may not be the most successful football team in the country, but at least now it will now be well-armed to conquer its rivals.

The Sabanc? Foundation?s Turkey?s Changemakers Program continues in its 6th season to share the unique stories of extraordinary people who contribute to social development. The 8th Changemaker of the 6th season is Mustafa Bekta?.

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos came under fire over the weekend from Ankara, which accused him of having a ?provocative attitude? toward Turkey. ?We invite the Greek government to display common sense and to take these irresponsible actions under control as soon as possible,? the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Feb. 6 described his country's apology to Turkey as an "enormous mistake," in reference to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to express "regret" in 2013 for a deadly incident in 2010 in which ten Turks were killed by Israeli commandos.

During a public rally in the northwestern city of Bursa on Feb. 6, President Tayyip Erdo?an demanded 400 seats in the 550-seat Turkish Parliament in the June 7 elections, saying this target was necessary in order to secure a strong presidential system, a solution to the Kurdish problem, a new constitution, and a ?New Turkey.? 

The Turkish High Election Board (YSK) has fine-tuned the number of lawmakers to be elected from each province at the June 7 polls in accordance with updated population data, increasing the number of Istanbul deputies to be elected by Istanbul residents.

Hundreds of thousands of books, many paintings and photographs that had been abandoned to their fate in the storage of the National Library in Ankara came to light in 2013 with the order of Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik.

Disregarding opposition criticism of his direct involvement in politics, President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an once again appealed for votes for his former Justice and Development Party (AKP) without explicitly giving the party?s name, declaring that ?400 lawmakers? are needed for a ?new Turkey.?