News Scan for Turkey, July 17th 2016
Aydın Doğan calls Turkey coup attempt a “heinous attack on democracy”
Doğan Holding Honorary Chairman Aydın Doğan has issued a message condemning the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey. Doğan said:
“On the night of July 15, our country survived a possible disaster with the solidarity of the state, the nation, politics and the media. The Turkish judiciary will surely give the necessary penalty to those who conducted this flagrant attack against the state, the nation and democracy. There is no doubt that the Turkish judiciary will sentence this heinous attack on the state, the nation and democracy in a best manner.
What we should do now is to stick to our democracy and come together as a nation, leaving all political differences aside. Our citizens from all political views who hit the streets against the coup plotters, the leaders of political parties who united against the coup attempt and our both ruling and opposition party deputies who gathered in parliament under bombs have spread fresh hopes for our democracy.”
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/
Turkey labor minister hints at improved ties with Egypt
Turkey’s labor and social security minister met his Egyptian counterpart earlier this week in Beijing, Egypt’s Manpower Ministry said Friday. In a statement, the ministry said that Egyptian Manpower Minister Mohamed Safan had met Turkish Labor and Social Security Minister Suleyman Soylu in the Chinese capital, where the two were participating in a meeting of G20 labor ministers.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Soylu stressed the need to improve Turkey-Egypt relations with a view to confronting the challenges currently facing the Middle East region, according to the Egyptian ministry statement. Safan, the statement went on, said Egypt would welcome Turkish investment and had vowed to provide adequate human resources for future Turkish projects in his country.
http://aa.com.tr/en/economy/turkey-labor-minister-hints-at-improved-ties-with-egypt/608231
Turkish Airlines named best airline in Europe for sixth year in a row
Turkish Airlines has been named the “Best Airline in Europe” for the sixth year in a row by Skytrax, which is recognized by the aviation industry for its global ranking system which tracks customer satisfaction of airline services and performance around the world. In a gala ceremony held at the Farnborough Airshow in London, Skytrax presented the 2016 World Airline Awards on July 12. The leaders and top management from over 40 airlines from across the globe attended the event.
Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted gave the award to Turkish Airlines Chairman İlker Aycı during the event, where Emirates was named the “Best Airline in the World.” Turkish Airlines was also selected as the “Best Airline in Southern Europe” for the eighth consecutive year.
The carrier also received the distinction of having the “World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge” and the “World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining.”
http://www.turkishweekly.net/2016/07/12/news/turkish-airlines-named-best-airline-in-europe-for-sixth-year-in-a-row/
Turkey opens huge tender to import 100,000 heads of cattle
rkey has opened a tender to import 100,000 heads of cattle, the biggest tender of its kind for the country, within the scope of a program to buy 400,000 units from abroad in a bid to maintain meat prices and meet the livestock demand across the country.
Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Faruk Çelik said the collection of the bids to import 100,000 heads of cattle had started as of July 4 in a meeting.
According to a cabinet decision in May, customs-free quotas have been defined to import 150,000 heads of animals for breeding, 20,000 heads of small cattle and 400,000 heads of other livestock for the use of the General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises (TİGEM) and the Meat and Milk Board (ESK).
http://www.turkishweekly.net/2016/07/12/news/turkey-opens-huge-tender-to-import-100-000-heads-of-cattle/
Restoration begins on Istanbul’s historic Grand Bazaar
After years of delay, Istanbul’s historic Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets with an area of 45,000 square meters, 3,125 shops and 25,000 employees is finally undergoing restoration. The work started with a ceremony organized by the Fatih municipality, where the bazaar is located. The restoration will overhaul the centuries-old, labyrinthine complex, which draws nearly 100 million visitors every year. It will cost about $55 million and may take as long as 10 years.
The first section to be renovated is the roof of the complex, where broken tiles lie under a messy mass of air conditioners, antennae and water tanks. Locals have voiced concerns for the state of the roof, featured prominently in several Hollywood films, such as the 2012 James Bond film “Skyfall,” where the titular spy engages in a high-speed motorcycle chase on the scenic rooftop of the bazaar.
The Grand Bazaar is located on Istanbul’s touristy historic peninsula, and is the country’s most famous market. The bazaar was built some 554 years ago after Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror conquered Constantinople.
http://www.dailysabah.com/istanbul/2016/07/15/restoration-begins-on-istanbuls-historic-grand-bazaar
E-signature becomes mandatory at hospitals in Turkey
The use of electronic signatures in public and private hospitals in Turkey will become mandatory as of October.
Orhan Kılıç, the chairman of E-imzatr, said in a statement that all medics without an e-signature will not be able to issue prescriptions while patients without an e-signature will not be able to receive medicine from pharmacies as of Oct. 1. Kılıç said 90 percent of electronic prescriptions are currently issued with electronic signatures in Turkey, according to investigations by the Social Security Institution (SSK).
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/e-signature-becomes-mandatory-at-hospitals-in-turkey.aspx?pageID=238&nID=101547&NewsCatID=373
This is a news-scan from major Turkish papers and internet sites. However, we do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
17.07.2016
compiled by Editor BTT
