G-20

The top executives of Swedish companies have voiced their trust in the Turkish economy despite recent political and economic uncertainties, pledging to keep making investments both in the short-term and in the medium-term, according to a recent poll. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently discussed possible supplies of Russian air defense systems to Ankara, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct. 14. 

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek will visit the United States on Oct. 5-9 to attend the International Monetary Fund-World Bank meetings, according to a written statement by the Treasuries on Oct. 5.

Turkey is expecting Germany's parliament to approve the deployment of surveillance aircraft to support an international coalition's fight against jihadists in Syria following the resolution of a months-long crisis between Ankara and Berlin over the latter's request to let its lawmakers visit German troops at İncirlik Air Base.

Turkish shares tumbled 4 percent while bonds and the lira also weakened sharply on Sept. 26 after ratings agency Moody's cut Turkey's sovereign rating to "junk," triggering fears of an outflow of foreign funds.

The day after the G-20 Hangzhou Summit in China, I read an article in the Jakarta Post. "The G-20 needs a kick in the butt" was its title. The author, the veteran Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, was asking G-20 countries to leave their 19th century-esque national trenches, finally arrive in the 21st century and start thinking globally.

Two waterspouts formed in the Gulf of İskenderun in southern Turkey on Sept. 23, after the area was hit by heavy rains. 

A rocket fired from northern Syria hit a bazaar area in Turkey's southern border province of Kilis on Sept. 22.

There are initial reports of injuries.

In its bid to prevent unfair competition, the ministry adopted a new regulation according to which pharmacies will be able to have lights only on the parts of the signboards where the word "pharmacy" is written. As part of its regulation, the ministry has also released a booklet describing the new standards for pharmacies.  

A court in Istanbul remanded in custody Turkish Professor Mehmet Altan on Sept. 22 in connection with a probe into the Gülenist movement.