Author: Galip Duman

Udayana Kirindigoda, Member of Parliament, was appointed as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka – Italy Parliamentary Friendship Association recently (11). The meeting to elect the office bearers of the Sri Lanka – Italy Parliamentary Friendship Association for the Ninth Parliament was held at the Parliament under the chairmanship of the Speaker Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana. Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mr. Damiano Francovigh participated as the chief guest in the meeting while Ministers, State Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera were present at the occasion. State Minister Arvind Kumar, Members of Parliament Velu…

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund completed the first review of the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement for Sri Lanka. On March 20th 2023, the IMF Executive Board approved a 48-month Extended Fund Facility of about 3 billion U.S. dollars to support Sri Lanka’s economic policies and reforms. Sri Lanka immediately received an initial disbursement of about $330 from the EFF arrangement, which was expected to catalyze new external financial including from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. In October 2023, the IMF team reached a staff-level agreement with the Sri Lankan authorities on the…

recent U.S. intelligence assessment has revealed that nearly half of the air-to-ground munitions used by Israel in its ongoing war in Gaza since Oct. 7 have been unguided, or “dumb bombs.” The assessment, compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, estimates that about 40-45% of the 29,000 air-to-ground munitions used by Israel have been unguided, with the remainder being precision-guided munitions, reported CNN. Unguided munitions, due to their lack of precision, pose a significant threat to civilians, especially in densely populated areas like Gaza. The high rate of usage of these “dumb bombs” by Israel may be…

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has advocated for a two-state solution as the only viable resolution to the longstanding conflict on the divided island of Cyprus. “From now on, the only and definitive solution is based on the fact that there are two separate states and two separate peoples on the island, as the international public opinion has begun to express clearly,” Güler said in an address during a parliamentary session late on Dec. 13. Ankara considers finding a swift resolution to the dispute over the eastern Mediterranean island a top priority, according to Güler. The solution must respect the rights and security of Turkish Cypriots,…

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially inaugurated 369 State Hydraulic Works (DSI) facilities across 66 provinces, representing a collective investment of TL 53 billion ($1.83 billion) Monday. These encompass various projects such as dams, drinking water initiatives, irrigation systems, consolidation efforts, wastewater treatment and flood protection projects. During a mass inauguration ceremony organized by the state water and sewerage body in Ankara on Dec. 11, Erdoğan dispelled the notion of water as an infinite resource, emphasizing that Türkiye cannot afford to waste a single drop. The facilities built consist of 20 dams, 52 ponds, 16 underground dams, 71 irrigation, nine drinking…

The terrorist group PKK, which claimed thousands of lives in Türkiye over the past four decades, is known to reap the benefits of drug smuggling to finance its activities. Its far-reaching smuggling network stretches from Türkiye’s east, where security forces are cracking down on the drug trade fueled by the terrorist group, to Europe, including the United Kingdom. Using gangs in its profitable drug trade across the U.K., the PKK is especially active in the capital London, according to a former member of north London’s notorious Tottenham Boys group. The gang of around 400 men has the monopoly on distributing Class A and B…

In an event hosted at the Ministry of National Education in Ankara Tuesday, high school students across Türkiye were recognized for their exceptional literary talent at the Jinnah Young Writers Awards, held in partnership with the Turkish National Education Ministry and the Pakistani Embassy. Mustafa Mert Tokgoz, hailing from Istanbul, clinched the top spot with his essay, “Iqbal and Independence,” based on the theme “Muhammad Iqbal and Mehmet Akif Ersoy – Two great poets of the 20th century.” Expressing his delight in meeting representatives from Pakistan, Türkiye’s National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin highlighted the ministry’s crucial role in imparting sentiments…

Two scientists from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University (RTEÜ) Rize have been granted support for their projects submitted to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK). They are now in the final stages of preparing to embark on the 8th National Antarctic Science Expedition under the Presidency’s auspices in January 2024. Professor Ertuğrul Ağırbaş and associate professor Ulgen Aytan’s research aims to explore potential ecosystem risks, climate change and microplastic pollution on the Antarctic Peninsula’s Horseshoe Island. Ağırbaş will analyze changes in the marine environment to understand climate change’s impact on the continent through the project “Determination of Phytoplankton…

First lady Emine Erdoğan emphasized the significant global momentum behind the “Zero Waste Goodwill Declaration,” an initiative supported by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. She highlighted the growing international participation in this movement, originating from the ancient teachings of Anatolia, as a vital aspect of preserving cultural richness. Attending the 10th International Turkish Folk Culture Congress organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism at the Presidential National Library Tuesday, Erdoğan addressed over 230 national and international experts, researchers and scientists focused on Turkish folk culture. The congress aimed to explore Türkiye’s cultural legacy and ensure its transmission to future…

Christmas preparations have begun in the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in the southeastern province of Hatay, which was slightly damaged during the Feb. 6 catastrophic earthquakes and reopened for worship after renovation. Preparations have begun for the 2023 Christmas celebration. Young people from the congregation, together with small children, set up a Christmas tree inside the church and in the church hall and made decorations. Yusuf Nicholas Papasoğlu, Father of Iskenderun Orthodox Churches, said that they are preparing for the choir concert, saying: “Although our main church, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, was destroyed in the earthquake, we are…