Today's Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news :: All News

Top South Korean model found dead at Paris apartment

AP — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A top South Korean model who was a fixture at fashion week in Paris and London was found dead at her apartment in Paris, an official said on Friday.

Eagles, Canaries battle for points and position

OKAN UDO BASSEY — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Turkcell Super League action returns this evening after a one-week hiatus as the Beşiktaş Black Eagles host the Fenerbahçe Canaries at İstanbul’s BJK İnönü Stadium in derby with much at stake for the two teams.

Oprah Winfrey to end talk show in September 2011

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Oprah Winfrey, one of the most influential and highly paid women on television, announced yesterday she is ending her popular daytime talk show in 2011.

‘Twilight Saga New Moon’: What’s the deal with sucking blood?

EMİNE YILDIRIM — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

If you haven’t seen the first installment of the Twilight series, it’s rather pointless that you watch this second one: This isn’t a film, this is just a chapter within a book designed to make sense only when the text is read as a whole.

[Silent Turkey-4] Conservatives by EKREM DUMANLI

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

There is one truth we need to underline even though it may come as strange to some: The most suppressed group in Turkey is the conservatives, even though they are the biggest group of people.

Press Roundup

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A demonstration was held in Mersin yesterday on the occasion of Nov. 20 Universal Children’s Day. Youngsters carried banners that read “Don’t buy things from children working on the streets.”

[BBC News] UN marks 20 years of Convention on Rights of the Child

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Ceremonies took place around the world to mark the 20th anniversary of a landmark agreement protecting children.

‘TL apprecation not sole sign of economic well being’

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The appreciation of the Turkish lira should not be regarded as a cure for all problems persisting in the economy even though it is an important variable, Turkish Central Bank Governor Durmuş Yılmaz said on Friday, emphasizing the necessity of focusing on micro and macro structural problems instead.

[Diary of an Expat Bride] ‘The honeymoon is over’

ELLE LOFTIS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

This popular cliché has been used by everyone from critics of the Obama administration to my own mother as I was growing up. It means the end of the head-over-heels in love stage or the end of a good time. In my case, it couldn’t have been more literally true.

Doğan Yayın to sell 29 pct stake to Axel Springer

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Facing a TL 4.8 billion fine for tax fraud, Turkey’s largest media company, Doğan Yayın, is attempting to sell a 29 percent stake in the company.

[Silent Turkey-4] Conservatives

EKREM DUMANLI e.dumanli@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

There is one truth we need to underline even though it may come as strange to some: The most suppressed group in Turkey is the conservatives, even though they are the biggest group of people. Suppression did not happen as a result of pressure imposed by police force.

Junta had more munitions to carry out Cage action plan

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

An anti-democratic formation within the Naval Forces Command had large caches of munitions to put into operation a plan aimed at discrediting the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party) by assassinating prominent non-Muslims in Turkey and blaming the party for the killings.

İstanbul enchanted by classical music this week

ALEXANDRA IVANOFF — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

On Tuesday Nov.17, Yuri Bashmet and his chamber ensemble, Moscow Soloists performed for İş Sanat’s second concert of the season, and there, the viola had its 15 minutes of fame.

Teen idol Zac Efron stars in Orson Welles tale

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

UD actor Zac Efron takes another step away from the world of high school musicals that made him famous with a part in “Me and Orson Welles,” which also features British newcomer Christian McKay in the title role. The movie hits British theaters on Dec. 4.

French minister: FIFA should allow replays for fraud

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

World soccer’s governing body FIFA should order replays of matches where “cheating” affects the outcome, a senior French government minister said on Friday.

[Movie Guide]

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

İSTANBUL: Ataşehir 11:00 13:30 17:15 18:30 21:00 22:30 Beykoz Acarkent Coliseum Site 11:30 14:00 16:30 19:00 21:30 Caddebostan AFM Budak 10:30 11:55 13:20 14:45 16:15 17:40 19:10 20:40 22:10 Kadıköy Cinebonus Nautilus 11:00 13:45 15:15 16:30 18:00 19:15 20:45 22:00 Beyoğlu Yeni Rüya 11:30 14:00 16:30 19:00 21:30

This week in theaters

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’

Aspiring inventor Flint Lockwood is the socially awkward genius behind some of the most bizarre contraptions ever conceived.

This does not suit us

ZAMAN BEJAN MATUR — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

My column that began with the sentence “My father read the Cumhuriyet newspaper for 40 years and voted for the Republican People’s Party [CHP] his whole life” had the headline “This does not suit us.”

[The Guardian] Belgian and Briton to lead EU

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Europe’s eight-year quest to establish a simpler and more democratic regime came to a dramatic climax on Thursday night when the Belgian prime minister, Herman Van Rompuy, and British peer Cathy Ashton were appointed as the two top officials embodying the new system.

CB slashes interest rates to 6.50 pct

ERCAN BAYSAL — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

In an effort to shore up the economy, the Turkish Central Bank again lowered its borrowing rate on Thursday evening by an additional 25 basis points, bringing borrowing rates down to a record low of 6.50 percent and lending rates to 9 percent, despite the lobbying of several private banks against any further cut in rates.

Iran: a new phase in the nuclear crisis

BERİL DEDEOĞLU b.dedeoglu@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

We are on the threshold of a new phase in the Iranian nuclear crisis. Iran recently declined the international community’s proposal to stock 75 percent of its enriched uranium outside Iran to prevent the country from controlling enough uranium to make a bomb.

8 soldiers testify in Poyrazköy probe

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A group of eight soldiers gave testimony at the Beşiktaş courthouse in İstanbul on Friday as part of a probe into munitions unearthed in İstanbul’s Poyrazköy district in April.

Taraf faces complaint over ‘Cage Operation’ report

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Maj. Gen. Ferit Güler has announced that a criminal complaint was filed against the liberal Taraf daily due to a report it published on Thursday over an action plan devised by an anti-democratic formation within the Naval Forces Command to assassinate several prominent non-Muslim figures and put the blame for the murders on the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

MHP’s nationalism and the Kurdish issue by MÜMTAZER TÜRKÖNE

MÜMTAZER TÜRKÖNE — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Nationalism is the party doctrine of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). In other words, nationalist ideology is the raison d’être of this party. This doctrine implies that all characteristics of the party are directly based on nationalism, giving the MHP a basic direction in all areas.

Susan Boyle album sets pre-order record on Amazon

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The upcoming debut album by British singing sensation Susan Boyle has become the largest global CD pre-order in the history of Amazon.com, the online retailer said on Thursday.

Williams leads Dolphins to victory

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Ricky Williams scored three touchdowns to lead the Miami Dolphins to a 24-17 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.

[TV Guide]

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

E2
08:00 The Rachael Ray Show
10:00 The Martha Stewart Show
12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show
14:00 The Jay Leno Show
16:00 Desperate Housewives
18:00 Gossip Girl
20:00 Later With Jools Holland
21:00 Breaking Bad
22:00 Mad Men
23:00 Hung
24:00 Breaking Bad
01:00 Eastbound & Down
01:30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
02:00 Breaking Bad

Werner Herzog to head Berlin film festival jury

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

German director Werner Herzog will head the jury at the 2010 Berlin film festival, organizers said on Thursday.

Don’t be a soldier, be a lawyer!

STAR AHMET KEKEÇ — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

I can’t lie: I really liked the sign reading “Coup-loving lawyers, welcome to Taksim” that was hung from a hotel window during the “cübbeli” (a reference to the robes worn by lawyers and judges) protest that took place there the other day.

Bank Asya renews Turkey’s first prepaid debit card, DIT

SERKAN ŞAHIN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Leading participation bank Bank Asya is bringing in more advantages and further functions to its DIT card, a prepaid multi-application chip and PIN card combining the power of MasterCard EMV OneSmart features with an integrated municipal toll and transit application.

Finish the executions before Atatürk arrives

ABDULHAMİT BİLİCİ a.bilici@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

When Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur Öymen, who has a background in diplomacy, defended the tragic massacre in Dersim (now Tunceli) as he was listing his objections to the democratic initiative, this inevitably led to the re-opening of a dark page in Turkey’s recent history.

‘Shady groups within TSK challenging the state’

EMRE SONCAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A plot devised by a group of members of the Naval Forces Command to intimidate the country's non-Muslim population by assassinating some of their prominent figures and undermining the power of the ruling party has drawn considerable public ire, with various circles raising their voices against illegal and anti-democratic formations within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

Prime Minister Erdoğan slams CHP's Öymen over anti-Alevi remarks

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday lashed out at Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur Öymen over his remarks two weeks ago that equated a past Alevi revolt with a terrorist campaign.

US election, iPhone among decade’s top 10 Internet moments

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The launch of Wikipedia, emergence of the iPhone and the election of US President Barack Obama were among the 10 most influential moments on the Internet in the past decade, according to the annual Webby awards.

Failure to acquire Barry haunts Liverpool manager

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will get a close-up of the missing piece of his jigsaw puzzle today when Gareth Barry runs out for Manchester City at Anfield for a match with huge implications for both clubs.

[Radio Guide]

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

TRT Tourism Radio
00:00 Identification and Programming
00:25 Music
07:25 Identification and
Programming
07:30 Music
08:30 News (English,
French, German)
08:40 Live Broadcast
(English, German, Russian)
10:30 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian)
10:45 Live Broadcast
(English, German, Russian)
12:30 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian)
12.45 Live Broadcast
(English, German, Russian)
15:00 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian)
15:15 Live Broadcast
(English, German, Russian)
18:30 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian)
18:45 Live Broadcast
(English, French)
21:30 News (English, French, German, Greek, Russian)
21:45 Live Broadcast
(English, Greek)
23:58 Identification

What has changed in our foreign policy?

RADİKAL ORAL ÇALIŞLAR — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Let us simply accept that there has rarely been a society which has been taught its own history so incorrectly. Just think for a moment: Even the children and grandchildren of the families who were the victims of the massacre in Dersim are just starting to learn their own history.

Russia’s Putin wants New Year without gas ‘shocks’

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that existing gas deals with Ukraine were a guarantee of stable energy supplies to Europe and he hoped for a New Year without any gas “shocks”.

Auto output 33.4 pct down in first 10 months

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Turkish automotive output declined by 33.4 percent in the first 10 months of this year compared to the same period of last year, falling to 699,141 units.

‘On the Way to School,’ ‘Bornova’ to hit the road for Festival on Wheels

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

“İki Dil Bir Bavul” (On the Way to School) and “Bornova Bornova,” two triumphs from last month’s Altın Portakal (Golden Orange) International Film Festival, are set to hit the road for this year’s Festival on Wheels traveling film festival, the event’s organizers announced Thursday.

‘Government plans to concentrate on Makhmour,' says Minister Atalay

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Interior Minister Beşir Atalay has said the government plans to intensify its efforts to bring more than half of those in the Makhmour refugee camp, located in northern Iraq and where most of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) members are located, back to Turkey as part of the government's democratic initiative to settle the Kurdish issue.

Man who claimed disability spotted on television show

AP — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

California tax officials say an interior designer’s false disability claim was uncovered when he was spotted on a home improvement television show.

Lincecum wins NL Cy Young 2nd year in a row

AP — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum won the National League Cy Young Award on Thursday for the second consecutive season to become the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson seven years ago.

Everyday is special - 21 November 2009

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Today is World Hello Day. World Hello Day was instituted in response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel in the fall of 1973.

The miserable state of the CHP…

YENİ ŞAFAK ALİ BAYRAMOĞLU — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The CHP keeps losing because it no longer represents the society or the spirit of the era in which we live. And it becomes a more and more wretched party because it shoulders the role of being flag bearer for a political model which is completely bankrupt. How has it done this?

Traces of Ottoman Turks

CHARLOTTE MCPHERSON c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

When landing at the international airport in Budapest I was impressed with the efficiency and the music. Joseph Haydn fans were listening to his music everywhere as Hungarians marked the 200th anniversary of the celebrated composer’s death. Only learning about the special concerts upon my arrival, I was disappointed that no tickets could be found.

New firms grow by 24.4 pct in October

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

As another sign of economic recovery, the number of newly established companies and cooperatives in Turkey increased by 24.4 percent in October compared to the same month of 2008.

Buffini’s Dinner to be staged at ENKA

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

British author Moira Buffini’s Dinner (Şölen, in Turkish), telling the story of a dinner invitation by a couple in which the meal and surroundings get comic and surreal, will be staged as part of the 21st ENKA culture and art winter program on Nov. 24 at 8:30 p.m. at ENKA İbrahim Betil Auditorium.

Plan for bloody attack on Koç Museum was part of Cage action plan

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

An Ergenekon-linked plot to launch a bloody attack on students visiting the Rahmi M. Koç Museum in İstanbul was part of the Cage Action Plan [Kafes], documents found attached to the action plan suggest.

Egypt recalls Algiers envoy after soccer loss

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Cairo recalled its envoy to Algiers and Egyptians burned the Algerian flag on Thursday after Egypt’s soccer team lost to Algeria in a playoff to reach the World Cup finals, accusing its fans of post-match thuggery.

Turkish-Greek business association founded

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Aegean Turkish-Greek Industrialists and Businessmen Association has been established in İzmir in a bid to boost trade between the two countries.

It wasn’t a slip of the tongue for Öymen

MEHMET KAMIŞ m.kamis@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

It has become clear that the statements Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur Öymen made about the Dersim massacre were not a slip of the tongue but a revelation of his thoughts. As everyone knows, Öymen’s real business is diplomacy. In other words, he comes from a tradition of weighing his sentences several times before he utters them and hiding his messages in between the lines.

Works of Uzbek miniature artists on view

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The works of Uzbek miniature artist Jahongir Ashurov are on display in an exhibition at Yıldız Sarayı in İstanbul.

MHP’s nationalism and the Kurdish issue

MÜMTAZER TÜRKÖNE m.turkone@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

US expert links Obama's success to role of Turkey

ABDULLAH BOZKURT — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The success of US President Barack Obama's foreign policy hinges on Turkey's role, said Walter Russell Mead, a senior fellow at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), during a seminar held at the US Embassy residence in Ankara on Thursday.

Hornets score straight win under coach Bower

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Peja Stojakovic had 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead the New Orleans Hornets to a 110-103 upset win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

South Korean envoy calls for investment in Turkey

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Bae Jae-Hyun, South Korea’s ambassador to Turkey, speaking at a time when talks on trade agreements are taking place between officials from the two countries, has said more businessmen from South Korea should invest in Turkey.

Century-old story of Turkish painting on view

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The story of a century of Turkish painting is being showcased in an exhibition which opened on Wednesday at Rezan Has Musum in İstanbul’s Cibali quarter and will run through April 30, 2010.

Donovan named MLS player of year

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

United States and LA Galaxy striker Landon Donovan has been named Most Valuable Player in Major League Soccer, the league said on Thursday.

Restoring the Ankara axis in Turkish foreign policy

ABDULLAH BOZKURT a.bozkurt@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu does not seem to be distracted or shaken a bit by articles and news stories that have appeared in the US and European press, claiming that Turkey has changed its orientation from West to East.

Indian dancer Behera at Bahçeşehir

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Indian dancer Rajashree Behera, one of the leading artists of Odissi Indian classical dance, and her dance group will take the stage today at 6 p.m. at the Bahçeşehir University Fazıl Say Hall as part of her world tour.

Davutoğlu presses for solution in Iran nuke deadlock

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu was in Iran’s northwestern city of Tabriz where he had talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday amidst mixed signals from world powers and an apparent new deadlock in efforts to allay Western concerns over Tehran’s nuclear program.

German authorities arrest 17 in match-fixing probe

AP — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

German prosecutors investigating corruption in football say 15 people in Germany and two in Switzerland have been arrested and that about 200 games in Europe -- including Champions League ties -- are involved in what an UEFA official called the biggest match-fixing scandal in Europe.

MLB says some clubs lost money

AP — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Some Major League Baseball teams lost money in 2009, league commissioner Bud Selig said after the final owners meeting of the year on Thursday.

Hunting for peace in the Middle East

GÜRKAN ZENGİN g.zengin@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Turkey’s performance in the last seven years of its foreign policy has been a success story. Not stopping at addressing problematic relations with its immediate neighbors, the country has transferred its vision of regional peace from the Western Balkans to Afghanistan’s east, from the northern Black Sea region to southern Africa.

Button takes pay cut to join McLaren

AP — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Formula One champion Jenson Button admits he took a pay cut to join last year’s winner Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, but adds he left Brawn for a new challenge.

Karzai and Obama; Guantanamo; Thierry -- what about the new EU president?

KLAUS JURGENS klaus.jurgens@gmail.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

One would have thought that Brussels occupied most, if not all European TV station’s prime spots last night; having chosen to watch the BBC -- famous for its honest news brokerage -- I expected nothing less. I had already heard that a special summit of EU leaders had decided on whom to elect for both president and a new foreign policy chief, but no news coverage so far. Perhaps breaking news a few minutes later? Far from it; only a few words in the news ticker!

Eminağaoğlu to remain influential in YARSAV as spokesman

METIN ARSLAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The former head of the Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV), Ömer Faruk Eminağaoğlu, a jurist who is best known by the public for his remarks against the trial of Ergenekon members charged with plotting to overthrow the government and who was not re-elected to office in elections held on Sunday, is likely to retain his influence in the association as the associations spokesperson, the new YARSAV head has announced.

Turkish figures rank high on list of world’s most influential Muslims

ROBERTA DAVENPORT — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Names like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Fethullah Gülen, Abdullah Gül and Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu are ranked near the top of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims, according to a report published by the Amman-based Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.

Williams sells stake to Austrian investor

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Founders Frank Williams and Patrick Head have sold a minority interest in their Williams Formula One team to an investment company led by Austrian Toto Wolff, the former champions said in a statement on Friday.

Turkey-skeptic, low-profile Van Rompuy becomes EU’s first president

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Contrary to his position on Turkey’s accession to the European Union back in December 2004, the first remarks on the issue by Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, after being appointed the first president of the EU, had an agreeable ring to them.

Disconnecting the video games

KATHY HAMILTON k.hamilton@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

If you listen to my son, there are times when he is positive that I am the meanest, cruelest mother to ever walk the earth. This attitude rears its ugly head when he wants to spend time playing video games.

Ahtisaari tells EU leaders to respect membership promise to Turkey

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Recalling that full membership is the eventual goal of ongoing accession negotiations between Turkey and the European Union, former Finnish President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari, now the chairman of the Independent Commission on Turkey, warned EU-member countries on Friday to remain committed to this goal.

‘Our banner was stolen by pro-coup members of the bar’

EMINE DOLMACI — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A group from the Young Civilians, a civil society organization known for its creative demonstrations supporting democracy and anti-militarism, has claimed that a banner it hung on a hotel in İstanbul’s Taksim Square to express its criticism of the İstanbul Bar Association, which held a demonstration in Taksim on Wednesday, was stolen by members of the bar.

Military plots seem to have no end

FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK f.zibak@todayszaman.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A new document uncovered by the Taraf daily on Thursday revealed yet another series of sinister military plans to destroy the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) through the assassination of prominent non-Muslim figures in Turkey and then putting the blame for the killings on the government.

Retired colonel’s suicide found to be ‘suspicious’

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A retired colonel committed suicide yesterday by jumping off the balcony of his apartment in İstanbul’s Kadıköy district while his wife and mother were at home.

Armenia says no further talks with Turkey unless protocols ratified

TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Armenia and Turkey will hold no further major negotiations unless the national parliaments of the two countries ratify two protocols on normalization of bilateral relations, an Armenian Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying yesterday.

Iraq election impasse continues, veto contested

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Iraqi lawmakers failed on Thursday to resolve differences over an election law, dampening hopes of holding a vote on time in January and throwing into doubt a partial US troop withdrawal later next year.

Swine flu death toll at 93, ministry announces

TODAY’S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Health Ministry announced on Thursday that the number of deaths caused by the H1N1 virus, which is widely known as swine flu, has increased and now stands at 93 nationwide.

Poll shows eastern Alevis want CHP’s Öymen to resign

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A new poll shows that more than 80 percent of Alevi respondents residing in the east of the country would like to see Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur Öymen resign over his recent remarks, which angered Turkey’s Alevi community.

French teacher insists Turkish student accept genocide

ALI İHSAN AYDIN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A news piece published in Today’s Zaman this week has reverberated in France as the drama continues to unfold around the case of a student in France suspended from school for refusing to deign to his teacher’s insistence he recognize an alleged genocide against Armenians.

IAEA boss Mohamed ElBaradei urges Iran to agree on fuel deal by end of year

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The UN nuclear watchdog chief urged Iran on Friday to accept an offer to process its enriched uranium abroad by the end of 2009 and advised Western powers not to impose further sanctions on Tehran.

Rescue teams find one missing child alive in snow

TODAY’S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Five-year-old Sebahi Tosun, one of a group of youtg people who were lost on Wednesday morning in Ankara’s Bala district, was found alive yesterday.

Some papers fail to cover action plan against non-Muslims

TODAY’S ZAMAN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Several newspapers yesterday failed to cover a report published by the Taraf daily on Thursday about a military plot to damage the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) by assassinating prominent non-Muslim figures in Turkey and putting the blame for the killings on the party.

Polanski will not agree to extradition, lawyer Herve Temime says in interview

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Roman Polanski will not agree voluntarily to being extradited to the United States over a 1970s child molestation case, the film director’s lawyer said in an interview with French daily Le Figaro published on Friday.

One dead after shootout in Esenyurt

TODAY’S ZAMAN WITH WIRES — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

One person died and one police officer was injured after an altercation between two people and police officers on Friday in İstanbul’s Esenyurt district.

Swine flu vaccine not causing deaths, WHO says

AP — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The World Health Organization (WHO) has ruled out swine flu vaccine as the cause of death in 41 people who had received the flu shot.

China vows to punish H1N1 death cover-ups

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

China has promised severe punishment for officials caught concealing deaths from H1N1 flu after a medical expert said suspect cases may have been held back by local governments.

Britain hit by floods after record rainfall; bobby missing

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Lifeboats and military helicopters rescued hundreds of people overnight in northern England as torrential rain flooded homes and washed away bridges.

UN war crimes court appoints lawyer for Serb leader Karadzic

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A London-based barrister has been named to represent former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic at his trial for war crimes and genocide, the UN criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia said on Friday.

The triumph of the powerless

MICHAEL MEYER* — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK -- It was early June 1989. Vaclav Havel had been released from jail only days before, yet he was full of what now seems an almost prophetic certainty.

Presidential poll in Romania could solve crisis

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Romania will hold a closely-fought presidential election on Sunday that could put an end to a government crisis delaying aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and revive momentum for political and economic reforms.

N. Korea, Myanmar accused of violations

REUTERS/AP — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A special committee of the UN General Assembly condemned North Korea and Myanmar on Thursday for what it said were widespread human rights violations in the two Asian countries.

UN climate chief seeks $10 billion

REUTERS/AP — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The UN environmental chief called on rich nations on Thursday to pledge $10 billion a year for three years at next month’s Copenhagen summit to help poor states begin to tackle the impact of climate change.

Kosovo ruling party: Coalition will stay

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s party said on Friday it would not part ways with its junior coalition partner after all, despite a quarrel stemming from this week’s local elections.

Suicide bomber kills 17 in Afghanistan

REUTERS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A suicide bomber on a motorcycle detonated his explosives in a crowded area in southwest Afghanistan on Friday, killing 17 people, including a senior police official, a provincial governor said.