Â

Activists hold vigil against privatization of idyllic İztuzu beach

The vigil against the privatization of the protected beach of Ä°ztuzu on the Mediterranean will enter its second week beginning on Jan. 6, with activists relying on each other to prevent the transfer of the right to run the recreational facilities at the site to the new holders.

The ‘Oil War’

“Did you know there’s an oil war? And the war has an objective: to destroy Russia,” said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a live television speech last week. “It’s a strategically planned war … also aimed at Venezuela, to try and destroy our revolution and cause an economic collapse.

HDP co-leader calls for election threshold to be ‘torn down’

The co-leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş, has released his most vocal criticism yet against the 10 percent election threshold, calling on voters to “tear down” the measure that has prevented smaller political parties from entering Parliament.

PKK youth branches’ ditches being filled in calmer Cizre town

The municipality of Cizre, the southeastern town in the province of Şırnak that recently witnessed deadly unrest, has begun closing ditches dug by the youth branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The ditches had been dug in a bid to prevent the security forces enter particular neighborhoods.

Motherhood is not a career, famous Turkish writer Elif Şafak says in reaction to health minister

Turkish writer Elif Şafak has taken to Twitter to respond to Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu's controversial recent statements concerning motherhood, stating that “motherhood is not a career.” 

“Motherhood is not a career. Turkish women should decide their own paths in life [not male politicians from above],” Şafak wrote on her official Twitter account on Jan. 1.

Turkish Constitutional Court head complains of ‘pressure’ on members

The head of Turkey’s Constitutional Court, who is set to retire within months, has complained of “intense pressure” being applied to members of his Court, while also stating that a key decision on whether to lift the 10 percent election threshold for legislative representation will be announced soon.

Pages