On Dec. 15, 2011, a most anticipated law was enacted. Parliament approved a new bill regarding exemption from military service in lieu of payment, which enables men who are 30 years old and older to skip military service in exchange for TL 30,000. According to “The Bill Amending the Law on Military Service,” men who [...]
The streets of Alanya, a seaside resort town in southern Turkey, are devoid of Israeli cruise tourists this year due to continued political tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv. In 2009, 36,164 Israeli tourists came to Alanya on 52 different cruise ships. In 2010 this number sharply dropped to 11,342 on only 18 ships. Since [...]
Apple iPad 2 :Thinner, lighter and more powerful than its predecessor, the mighty iPad easily sustained its reign as the king of tablets this year. Though the competition appears to be heating up with the introduction of a fleet of Android tablets ranging in size, price and features, Apple’s venerable touchscreen wonder still has plenty [...]
This week I have taken the liberty of writing about my own complaints regarding a new procedure that makes life more difficult for nothing. The heading above is inspired by expats’ complaints regarding local regulations, which are already difficult for foreigners to understand. I want to let you know that you are not alone in [...]
Pressure had been building on a number of fronts, but the issue which finally destroyed her was the yet-to-be-born euro. In the last weekend of October 1990, she travelled to a European summit in Rome, where Jacques Delors’ dream of European Monetary Union was high on the agenda. But while Mrs. Thatcher was fighting her [...]
Turkey will host the world amateur team golf championship in 2012, the golf federation announced long time ago and nearly we are there almost ready for World Amateur Team Championship in Belek. The Turkish Golf Federation said that the World Amateur Team Championship would be held in Turkey in 2012 with amazing press release before. Turkey [...]
Monarch, the scheduled airline, announced in June of this year a commitment to transparent and simple pricing. In a move that will put pressure on its rivals to follow its lead, Monarch has eliminated debit card fees and has introduced a fixed fee for all credit card bookings. Customers electing to pay using a debit [...]
There are some signs of pregnancy in the first month but different women may feel different symptoms or it is possible to not have any symptoms at all. Some women go for months without knowing they are pregnant. Women who are trying to get pregnant can be more sensitive to changes going on in her [...]
Turkey will increase its exports to $500 billion by 2023, the country’s prime minister announced Monday at a conference that brought together Turkish trade counselors stationed in 85 countries to discuss boosting the country’s exports. “We will increase our exports by four times, making it $500 billion in 12 years. Turkey’s Assembly of Exporters has [...]
Leading leisure airline Monarch is boosting its services from Bodrum to the UK with the launch of new scheduled flights this summer. Flights are available to book now via www.monarch.co.uk with fares starting from only €84 one way including all taxes and charges. The new flights for summer 2011 include: • Bodrum – Manchester, 2 [...]
I own a flat in İstanbul in an area that is central but still mainly residential. The tapu [land deed] is of the type where we own shares in the whole building rather than separate titles to our flats. Last year the owner of the shop on the ground floor of our building converted it [...]
The killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden continues to dominate columns in the Turkish press, with many debating the way his body was treated by the US, actual developments that led to the metaphoric death of bin Laden before his actual death and a possible change in the US foreign policy discourse. In her [...]
Living in Beyoglu is nice but noisy. It has its own flavor, and not everyone feels happy about the offerings of Beyoglu. I received an email from a reader who is disturbed by the violence from a bar in Beyoglu. The letter reads as follows: “Your columns dealing with legal issues are always helpful. It [...]
A book introducing Turkey’s economy, politics and culture to the world has been prepared by the General Directorate of Press & Information, or BYEGM, and published in 11 languages as of this year. The book, titled “Turkey,” aims to provide an introduction to the country’s constitutional and legal order, political and democratic structure, essential principles, [...]
The Dubai Police have foiled an attempt to smuggle a big shipment of arms from Turkey to Yemen’s northern province of Saada. Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police Lt-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim said that 16,000 pistols were seized from a warehouse on March 9. Six Arab suspects, all of whom residents in Dubai, were arrested during the raid, [...]
