Tuesday, 16 June 2009These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on June 16, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
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I SAW CEM IN MONTERREY
Unal Matsu, a Turkish retired gendarmerie officer who is working as a
security guard in Monterrey town of northern California, USA, said that he talked to Cem Garipoglu, the suspect of the killing of Munevver Karabulut. Matsu said that, although he had heard about the murder before, he couldn't recognize Garipoglu while they were having a conversation.
"When I saw the guy I had talked to, in the morning on TV, I was shocked. His English was better than mine. He told me that he had been travelling around the world. He said he had travelled to Moscow, Prague, Thailand, Bangkok, Burma, Laos and finally Los Angeles," Matsu said.
CREDIT CARD DEBTS TO BE PAID IN INSTALLMENTS
State Minister Ali Babacan said that new regulations would be adopted for citizens who are having problems with banks due to their credit card debts.
Accordingly, consumers who are in default as of May 31st will be able to pay their credit card debts in installments. Owners of credit cards with limits up to 3,500 TL will pay a user's fee of 35 TL and minimum payment rates will be decreased to %10 percent.
MILLIYET
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GOOD NEWS FOR CREDIT CARD DEBTORS
The government has prepared a new pay plan for credit card debtors who failed to meet financial obligations and pursued by banks. Accordingly, a credit card debtor will be able to pay his/her debt in instalments up to 36 months and with low interest rate.
State Minister Ali Babacan said such a pay plan would be implemented for only one time.
He also warned people: "credit card is the most expensive loan if you do not repay in time."
"LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION PUNISHMENT IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN A FINE"
Aslihan Limon, the only judge in Arac town of the northern province of
Kastamonu, still receives congratulations from across Turkey after she sentenced a man to distribute leaflets that read, "I apologize to my wife and all the residents of Arac for beating my wife."
The 28-year-old judge Limon says she protected the honor of women.
"I think this punishment is more effective than a fine," she said.
SABAH
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WE WILL WATCH CLOSELY, GENERAL STAFF
A Turkish newspaper wrote several days ago that the General Staff prepared an action plan against fundamentalists in Turkey. Upon such news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his government would file a lawsuit against those responsible for the action plan. The General Staff announced that they were watching closely the developments regarding the "action plan".
REDUCED TAX RATES TO CONTINUE
June 15 was the last day of reduced Special Consumption Taxes (OTV) and Value Added Taxes (KDV) in Turkey. However, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and four ministers in charge of the economy decided that reduced tax rates should continue. The government's decision to lower tax rates was designed to help the economy deal with the ongoing global economic crisis. Sales of many goods in Turkey increased after tax rates were cut.
VATAN
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EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with General Staff Chief Gen. Ilker Basbug in Ankara. Erdogan's meeting with Gen. Basbug comes after speculations that an action plan was prepared by the General Staff against fundamentalists in Turkey. Erdogan's regular meeting with Gen. Basbug normally takes place on Thursdays but after allegations that the General Staff prepared an "action plan against fundamentalists in Turkey" the meeting between the two leaders will take place today.
GREAT PARDON FOR CREDIT CARD HOLDERS
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said that for those
credit card debts overdue as of May 31, 2009, a new payment plan would be made. According to Babacan, a new arrangement would be made so that credit card debts owed could be paid back under more convenient payment terms. Around 874,657 Turkish citizens will make use of the new payment plans.
CUMHURIYET
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GOOD NEWS FOR CREDIT CARD HOLDERS
The government has decided to take a step that will help nearly two million credit card holders who failed to pay their debts. 1.3 million citizens with credit card debts and 874,657 credit card holders, who are in default as of May 31st, will be given the opportunity to pay their debts either in advance or in installments.
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED INCREASE BY 1.2 MILLION IN A YEAR
Although unemployment figures dropped in March 2009 compared to February, the number of unemployed people increased by 1.2 million since the same period of last year. Unemployment rate reached 15.8 percent in March 2009 with a 4.8 percent increase compared to last year's figures.
RADIKAL
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BUDGET DEFICIT ON RISE
Economic crisis continues to cause negative impact on the budget. Turkey's budget deficit increased by 903.9 percent year-on-year from 2,060 million TL to 20,683 million TL in the first five months of 2009. Budget expenses grew 24.3 percent and budget incomes increased by 2.7 percent between January and May 2009.
Budget deficit became 610 million TL in May 2009. In May 2008, the budget yielded a surplus of 3.3 billion TL.
ILISU DAM TO BE COMPLETED
Environment and Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu is resolute on completion of Ilisu Dam in the southeastern Anatolia. Eroglu criticized those who are against construction of Ilisu Dam for ancient city of Hasankeyf. Eroglu said construction of Ilisu Dam would not be stopped. The people in Hasankeyf which will be flooded by the dam water will move to another place. The groundbreaking for 'New Hasankeyf' will take place on July 30.
TURKIYE
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FALL IN JOBLESS RATE
Turkey's unemployment rate declined after it hit a record high 16.1 percent in February. Jobless rate for March fell to 15.8 percent as markets began to revive.
1-BILLION-DOLLAR ZONE
Oil and natural gas-rich Turkmenistan wants to be in the spotlight with its tourism. Turkmenistan government established a tourist zone on the Caspian coast of the country. In order to turn it into a tourist spot just like the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, Turkish firms constructed five luxury hotels worth 1 billion USD.
ZAMAN
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TURKISH ENTREPRENUERS WILLING TO TURN CASPIAN SEA INTO ANTALYA
Turkmenistan, which has large oil and natural gas reserves in Central Asia, is seeing Turkey as a role model to improve its tourism sector. The Turkmen administration prepared a 7 billion USD of investment plan to promote the country's Awaza region. Turkish businessmen are also willing to take part in the investments to be carried out in Turkmenistan. Turkish entrepreneurs say that they will turn the Caspian Sea region of Turkmenistan into Turkey's Antalya province.
UNEMPLOYMENT IN DECLINE IN MARCH
Unemployment rate, which rose up to the highest figure of all times with 16.1 percent in February 2009, decreased to 15.8 percent in March. The decline in unemployment rate is expected to continue in summer due to the increase in the number of employees in agriculture and tourism sectors. However, Turkish Board of Statistics (TUIK) said that 3.7 million people were still unemployed in Turkey.
YENI SAFAK
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CAPKIN TO BE POLICE CHIEF OF ISTANBUL
Police chiefs of 20 provinces including Istanbul, Bursa, Tekirdag, Canakkale and Corum will be replaced. Izmir Police Chief Huseyin Capkin will be appointed as the chief Istanbul Police Department.
HARVARD IN ISTANBUL
Leading universities of the world will be established in Istanbul.
Universities such as Cambridge and Harvard will open in Istanbul under a model of Dubai Academic City which is a base for schools, colleges and universities.
Turkish youth will receive education at the world's best universities in Turkey. |
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
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