Author: Musa Cem

The redevelopment of Faliro Bay is roughly in the same place it was when Attica’s Regional Governor Giorgos Patoulis assumed office in 2019. The first phase of the works is still not completed, the second phase has not yet been tendered and the bay remains a construction site. In a statement issued by the regional authority on Wednesday, on the occasion of the submission of the file to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for funding, there was no further information on the continuation of the projects. In the meantime, as it turns out, the piers envisaged in the design…

The deputy editor-in-chief of a now-closed newspaper in Turkey has been detained in the western province of İzmir on charges of attempting to destroy the constitutional order due to his alleged role in a failed coup in 2016, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Mehmet Kamış, who also used to write columns for the Zaman daily, was detained in the Çeşme district of İzmir by teams from Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization and the organized crime unit of the İzmir Police Department. The Zaman daily, which was Turkey’s best-selling newspaper, was closed down by the Turkish government following the coup attempt…

The Evangelistria Monastery on the Greek island of Skiathos holds the story of Modern Greece in the walls, hallways and courtyards. This historical monastery was first founded in 1794 by a group of monks from Mount Athos and played a crucial role in the 1821 revolution which brought independence to Greece. Since the monks from Mount Athos did not accept the traditional rites when they founded the monastery, later in 1807 some of the most important leaders of the revolution, including Theodoros Kolokotronis and Andreas Miaoulis took what is referred to as the “Oath of Freedom,” on a newly designed…

Two members of a group affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have been killed in a Turkish drone strike in northwestern Iraq, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Iraqi Kurdish authorities on Tuesday. The pair, who were killed late Monday, were members of the Sinjar Resistance Units, a group founded among the district’s Yazidi community in response to a brutal occupation by militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) nearly a decade ago. There was no immediate word from the Turkish military, which has conducted a deadly air campaign against PKK targets in Iraq and neighboring…

A Turkish court on Friday released a reporter who was controversially ordered to return to prison by text message three months ago, Agence France-Presse reported. Barış Pehlivan from the Cumhuriyet newspaper has been jailed on various charges five times in the past three years. The 40-year-old’s lawyer said Pehlivan walked out of İstanbul’s Marmara Prison after the latest case against him was dropped. Pehlivan was charged with insulting a public official over a book in which he accused former interior minister Süleyman Soylu of links to organized crime. He was ordered to return to jail by text message in August…

Cyprus’ banks have reluctantly agreed to extend the freeze on main residence foreclosures up to 350,000 euros, but tensions have arisen over proposed legislative changes. In a heated debate, credit buying firms holding nonperforming loans of €22 billion vehemently opposed the financial commissioner’s expanded powers and a law incorporating the Central Bank’s mechanism for bad loans. While banks, dealing with nonperforming loans of €2 billion, support the commissioner’s bill with modifications, they reject the Central Bank’s proposed mechanism. The Ministry of Finance has joined the fray, urging focus on the commissioner’s bill. As the debate intensified in Parliament, credit companies…

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ decision to start his match with Rooney at the ATP Finals in Turin despite a back problem and to retire after 17 minutes in the 3rd game continues to cause backlash.The Italian spectators booed Tsitsipas, he was accused of playing for the money ($75,000 for three games) and now the CEO of Lacoste attacked him. After the departure of the Greek, Novak Djokovic was in danger of being left out of the top four, and because Lacoste is one of his main sponsors, Thierry Guibert was quick to accuse him of “unfair behaviour.” “Hats off to @janniksin for…

Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan on Wednesday will host a summit in Istanbul with the spouses of leaders to support the embattled people of Palestine. Erdogan, who has repeatedly stressed the need to reduce the loss of innocent civilian lives in Gaza and bring peace to the region, will host a summit with the participation of spouses of state leaders. The spouses will convey a message from Istanbul to the world under the auspices of the Turkish first lady at the meeting to be held at the Dolmabahce Office. Spouses and special representatives of state leaders from many countries, including…

In a remarkable debut, Turkish fashion house Vakko gracefully steps into the world of hospitality, introducing a new dimension to Istanbul’s vibrant hotel scene. LLM contributor Benjamin Russell checks in to find out more about how this newcomer exudes style and comfort in equal measure. Hotel As you pull up to Vakko Hotel and Residence, the style and luxury that run through the place is immediately apparent. Top-hatted doormen greet you at the kerb and as you pass through the stylish marble façade and into the lobby, it’s clear you are entering a temple to couture. Perhaps no surprise for…

A fire broke out in a warehouse containing chemical substances in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district. The single-story storage facility, located in Osmangazi Neighborhood, reportedly housed various chemicals, including brake spray. The cause of the fire, which led to small-scale explosions due to the stored chemicals, is yet to be determined. The incident prompted the immediate response of firefighting, health, and police teams upon receiving the alert. Firefighters, supported by reinforcements from several districts with additional teams and water tanks, worked to contain the blaze. Simultaneously, police forces secured the surrounding area. While firefighters managed to bring the fire under control in…