Government

The business world has urged Turkey’s new president to end the deepened polarization and escalated institutional disharmony present in the country, according to a statement by the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD) on Aug. 11.

The fact that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan won an outright victory with almost 52 percent in the first round of the presidential election, according to unofficial results, may be a game changer in near-future scenarios for the post-Erdoğan era.

Bulgaria's agriculture minister said food producers in the EU are entitled to compensation for Moscow's ban on the import of meat, fish, dairy products, vegetables, fruits and nuts.

Russia's retaliation comes in the wake of the EU and US sanctions imposed on the Kremlin for its perceived role in the conflict between government and pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

Turkey now has two presidents, at least on Twitter.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was elected as president in the first round of elections on Aug. 10, has updated his Twitter bio to describe himself as “President of the Republic of Turkey,” and also tweeted to thank “the beloved nation” for electing him.

Erdogan wins Turkish presidential election

ANKARA -- Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday won the Turkish presidential elections with about 52 percent of the vote, ahead of Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu with 38 percent.

The United States is looking forward to working with Turkey’s president-elect, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during his five-year term, the White House said Aug. 10.
      

"25 ambassadors, consuls to be appointed"

BELGRADE -- Serbia currently has some 25 unfilled ambassadorial and consular positions abroad, but plans to appoint heads of these offices by the end of the year.

Four wounded Palestinians from the Gaza Strip arrived in the Turkish capital early on Aug. 11 after being flown in for medical treatment, with more expected, in a move announced by prime minister and president-elect Tayyip Erdogan.
   

A Romanian appeal court on Friday jailed the businessman and politician Dan Voiculescu for ten years for involvement in the fraudulent sale of a state institution, money laundering and influence peddling.

Serbia's Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, said that Serbia is about to appoint 20 new ambassadors, including to US and China, in the next four months.

The initial plan was to appoint ten new ambassadors to posts in July. However, Dacic told the daily newspaper Danas on August 8 that there had been a delay after the ministry realised the number needed to be doubled.