Instagram account reported as belonging to Turkish astronaut revealed to be fake
An instagram account thought to belong to Alper Gezeravcı, a Turkish astronaut who last week became the country’s first citizen to reach outer space, has been revealed to be a fake account belonging to a fan. Since Gezeravcı entered the International Space Station last Friday (January 19), an Instagram account with the handle alpergezeravci had been sharing posts related to life […]
First Turkish astronaut quotes country’s founder Atatürk in first words from orbit
Turkey’s first astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı, reached outer space in a spacecraft belonging to SpaceX early last Friday (January 19). In Gezeravcı’s first words from the spacecraft, the astronaut opened with a quote commonly attributed to Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, saying, “The future is in the skies.” Following a lift-off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center […]
Controversial Turkish TV series cancelled following multiple fines
The airing of the third episode of Kızıl Goncalar (Scarlett Carnations), a controversial Turkish TV series, has been cancelled following multiple fines from Turkey’s Radio and Television High Council (RTÜK). The series focuses on differences between secular and conservative lifestyles, and had already made headlines in late December for a double-fine it received from RTÜK […]
AKP announces İstanbul mayoral candidate for upcoming local elections
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) has announced its candidate for İstanbul mayor. Turkey’s local elections are scheduled to take place on March 31, when Turkish voters will go to the polls to choose their mayors in provinces across the country. In opposition hands since Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s victory in 2019, Turkey’s […]
Major trial starts for 26 children slain in collapsed hotel in 2023 Turkey earthquakes
This week saw the start of a high-profile trial of 11 defendants related to the collapse of a hotel in Adıyaman province that occurred during last February’s devastating earthquake in southeastern Turkey. The hotel collapse killed 72 victims including 26 children, 4 teachers and 5 parents in town for a volleyball tournament. While the defendants […]
Controversy regarding joint declaration following deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers in Northern Iraq
12 Turkish soldiers have been killed in clashes with militants associated with the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in Northern Iraq, according to press releases from Turkey’s Defense Ministry released last Friday and Saturday (December 22-23). Following the deaths of the soldiers, Turkey’s domestic political realm has erupted with controversy regarding a joint declaration signed in […]
Earthquake survivors discover that their properties were seized four months ago
The Turkish government is currently seizing properties in the earthquake-ravaged Samandağ district of Hatay province to incorporate into a reserve zone, following a similar land grab in Antakya and Defne districts. According to a directive issued for various districts in September, the ownership of certain plots has been transferred to the Treasury. A number of […]
Wife of courier killed by Somali President’s son alleges cover-up by authorities
In a recent interview with Medyascope, widow Öznur Göçer and attorney Iyaz Çimen spoke on the tragic death of Yunus Emre Göçer, a motorcycle courier who lost his life in a collision with a vehicle driven by Muhammed Hassan Şeyh Mohamud, the son of Somali President Hasan Şeyh Mohamud. Göçer, now left alone to fend […]
Killer of Turkish-Armenian journalist freed from prison after 16 years
Ogün Samast, who killed famed Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink outside the İstanbul offices of his Agos newspaper in January 2007, has been released following 16 years of incarceration. Samast, who was only 17 years old at the time he murdered Dink, was subjected to a reduced sentence of 22 years and 10 months in prison […]
European Parliament rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor visits Osman Kavala in İstanbul prison
European Parliament member Nacho Sanchez Amor visited imprisoned businessman Osman Kavala, who is currently serving an aggravated life sentence, in İstanbul’s Silivri prison on Wednesday (December 6). Kavala has been imprisoned since 2017 for his alleged role in 2013’s Gezi Park Protests. Kavala’s imprisonment has been a source of friction between Turkey and its European allies, with […]
Assassin of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink to be retried in March
Ogün Samast, a far-right nationalist who assassinated famed Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in İstanbul in January 2007, is set to be retried in March 2024. Samast was released last month following 16 years of imprisonment. Samast received a conditional release in November reportedly due to good behavior in prison. Samast was only 17 years old when he […]
Turkey: Former chief partner of main opposition party rejects collaboration effort
The main opposition party, CHP, and its chief coalition partner in this year’s general election, İYİ Party, voted on an offer to collaborate in the upcoming local elections during their General Administrative Board meeting. Once a crucial part of CHP’s coalition against the Erdoğan government, İYİ Party rejected the electoral coalition offer through a majority […]
