HURRIYET
--ERDOGAN VISITS MOSCOW, TBILISIÂ
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan held talks in the Russian capital, Moscow on Wednesday and will hold meetings in Tbilisi, Georgia on Thursday. Erdogan had dinner with Russian authorities; President Dmitriy Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Russian authorities gave the green light to Turkey's proposal for a Caucasus alliance.
--30,000 PEOPLE WELCOME HURRIYET'S FREEDOM TRAIN
Hurriyet's Human Rights Train, which set off to voice equality, freedom and what should be done against domestic violence, was welcomed by 30,000 people in the central province of Kirikkale. Mayor Cavit Caglayan said, "Hurriyet came to our province with an important project. I would like to thank the people for their contribution to this project."
MILLIYET
--SUMMIT AT CASTLE
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit amid significant developments in the Caucasus. He was hosted by the Russian political power at the highest level. Erdogan first met Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev. Later, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia joined them over dinner at the Mein Dorf Castle. Erdogan told reporters that Moscow extended its support to a Caucasus stability pact.
--STATEMENT FROM IRAN
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded to questions asking why he would not visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during his visit to Turkey. He said that it was a business trip. He added that since Turkish authorities spent the summer in Istanbul, he would visit this city instead of the capital, Ankara.
--AN INTERESTING RESIGNATION
Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbas, director of the Transplant Center at Akdeniz University, which became one of the world's most revered organ transplantation centers, has resigned from his post in an interesting way. Prof. Dr. Demirbas asked Prof. Dr. Israfil Kurtcephe, who was appointed as rector of the university by President Abdullah Gul, whether or not he wanted to work with him. Prof. Dr. Kurtcephe wanted Prof. Dr. Demirbas' resignation.
SABAH
--DEATH PILL FOR $2.5
A terrifying picture has emerged in Turkey recently regarding substance abuse. When the price of Ecstasy dropped from 30 YTL ($25) to 3 YTL ($2.50), the number of addicted people rose dramatically. Narcotics officials said that even children aged 9-10 have become Ecstasy addicts. Narcotics teams seized 1,500 pills in Istanbul in 1999. In 2007, the number of seized pills exceeded 1 million.
--TALKING ABOUT PEACE WITH PUTIN
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan cut short his vacation and paid a visit to Russia to meet with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in an effort to stop the war between Georgia and Russia. During the meeting, Erdogan proposed Georgian and Russian parties sign a "Caucasian Stability Pact". Erdogan will proceed to Tbilisi later in the day to meet with President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia.
VATAN
--ERDOGAN'S TOUR OF RUSSIA AND GEORGIA BEGINS
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan cut short his vacation in the popular resort town of Bodrum and paid a visit to Russia. He first met with Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev. Later, Erdogan had a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Erdogan will proceed to Tbilisi later in the day to meet with President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is accompanying the prime minister.
--NEW CONSTITUTION ENTAILS COMPROMISE WITH CHP
Prof. Zafer Uskul, one of architects of the draft constitution of the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP), said that a new constitution was required, but that such a prospect was getting weaker by the day.
"We can make significant changes for our democratization process. On the other hand, I think that it is quite hard to make a new constitution without a compromise with the main opposition party, Republican People's Party (CHP)," he added.
CUMHURIYET
--HOPES FOR SECOND MATCH
Our teams, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, saddened us with the results of last night's European Champions League third qualifying round first leg matches. Fenerbahce drew 2-2 with Serbian soccer club Partizan in Belgrade and Galatasaray also drew 2-2 with Steaua Bucharest of Romania in Istanbul.
--GRAVE SITUATION IN WORK ACCIDENTS
According to the figures of the Social Insurance Institute, 79,027 work accidents took place and 1,600 workers died in those accidents in Turkey in 2006.
RADIKAL
--TUITION TO BE RAISED BY 10 PERCENT
Turkey’s Higher Board of Education conveyed to the government its proposal that tuition fees should be raised by 10 percent in the 2008-2009 academic year. If the board's proposal is approved, tuition fees will range from 266 YTL ($223.5) to 550 YTL ($462.1).
--EARTHQUAKE ALARM FROM KANDILLI
Prof. Dr. Gulay Altay, director of Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory in Istanbul, said that an earthquake would probably take place within next 30 years. Altay said there is a 60 percent probability it would occur in the Marmara region.
YENI SAFAK
--SHIPYARDS TO BE CLOSED DOWN
The prosecutor's office has launched a full investigation into Monday's fatal accident at a Tuzla shipyard. Three workers were killed and 12 others were injured when a lifeboat that employees were on broke free from a ship under repair and plunged into the sea.
Meanwhile, Labor Minister Faruk Celik said that the latest incident was totally irrational. "It became evident that the punishments were not at all adequate. The most influential measure is to close down shipyards," he said.
--200 TURKISH TOURISTS STUCK IN ADRIATIC
Two hundred passengers have set sail from the western province of Izmir to the Adriatic by a cruiser hired from a foreign firm. When captain and crew of the vessel went on strike, passengers were stuck in off Croatia.
--THY FLIES
Turkish Airlines has become the leader of Europe, in terms of the passenger numbers after joining the Star Alliance. Temel Kotil, director-general of the THY, said that one out of every 100 passengers prefers flying with THY.
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