Public sphere

Some 200 participants from 41 countries will gather for the Istanbul Public Private Partnership (PPP) Week event between Jan 16 and 19.

This will be the eighth edition of PPP Week. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu is also expected to attend the Istanbul PPP week.

NFL star Tom Brady and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen announced on Oct. 28 they were divorcing after 13 years of marriage.

Brady and Bündchen posted similar statements on Instagram saying they had reached an amicable agreement over the terms of their divorce.

The caretaker government approved changes to the Public Procurement Law, which provide for the abolition of in-house procedures in public procurement. This was announced by acting Finance Minister Rositsa Velkova at a briefing in the Council of Ministers.

“With a name like mine, getting into the fragrance business was inevitable — why did I even fight it for so long!?”

The era of social media has considerably affected the mindsets of the new generation, as many now dream of becoming influencers and vloggers on popular social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok to make quick money, say experts.

"A new COVID wave is certainly beginning". This was stated by the pulmonologist and deputy from "Democratic Bulgaria" Dr. Alexander Simidchiev on Nova TV.

"The rate of increase in new cases on a weekly basis is 50% from last week, and on a two-week basis it is 140% from two weeks ago," he said.

Turkey has scrapped a mandate for wearing face masks on public transport, though people will still be required to have them on in hospitals, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has announced.

Turkey will lift the indoor face mask mandate fully within 10 days, an expert from the Health Ministry's Science Board has said.

"Daily infections decrease day by day, and this is a great achievement [against the coronavirus]," Nurettin Yiyit told İhlas News Agency.

Ljubljana – As the advisory task force for Covid-19 will again discuss on Monday mandatory wearing of protective masks in enclosed spaces, Health Minister Janez Poklukar announced the possibility of the mandate being lifted this week, with the exception of healthcare institutions and care homes.

Turkish officials are considering scrapping obligations to wear protective face masks and social distancing starting March as they expect the pandemic situation to improve by then.

If plans go ahead, people will not be required to have their masks on or observe the social distancing rules in parks and streets. The new regulation will also apply to restaurants' outdoor dining spaces.