Ankara elektrik arza

SINGAPORE: For many shopaholics, this year of the pandemic has also been the year of online shopping. Just think back to those long circuit breaker days, where the monotony of working from home was broken mostly by scrolling websites and apps and adding items to one’s shopping cart. More often than not, clicking “buy” became the logical next step, whether out of boredom or simply so something new will eventually show up at your door. As someone who has always preferred the idyllic joy of browsing in a brick-and-mortar store where I can touch and try the merchandise before making a decision, I never thought I would become this hooked to online shopping. But of course, 2020 made the unimaginable happen. I am not ashamed to admit my place among the legions of people who have contributed to this boom in e-commerce. READ: Held online amid the COVID-19 pandemic, how did the Great Singapore Sale fare this year? READ: Commentary: Has COVID-19 made e-commerce and online … [Read more...] about Commentary: Every day feels like 11.11 since COVID-19

NICOSIA (AFP) - Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot leaders are to meet on Tuesday to relaunch talks on ending the island's four-decade division after a nearly two-year break, UN mediators announced. "Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu will meet in the United Nations Protected Area of Nicosia at the Good Offices Mission on Tuesday," a statement said on Saturday. The two leaders will unveil a roadmap for the renewed talks, which was finally agreed on Friday after protracted haggling over the text delayed a relaunch originally earmarked for November. The last round of talks was suspended in 2012 when Cyprus assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union. A resumption was further delayed by the eurozone debt crisis, which forced the Greek Cypriot government to secure a bailout from international creditors last March, plunging the island into deep recession. But on Thursday, Mr Anastasiades, who is also the president of the island's … [Read more...] about Cyprus rivals to meet Tuesday for peace talks relaunch: UN

ANKARA: Abdullah Metseydi, a Uighur in Turkey, was readying for bed last month when he heard a commotion, then pounding on the door. “Police! Open the door!” A dozen or more officers poured in, many bearing guns and wearing the camouflage of Turkey’s anti-terror force. They asked if Metseydi had participated in any movements against China and threatened to deport him and his wife. They took him to a deportation facility, where he now sits at the centre of a brewing political controversy. Opposition legislators in Turkey are accusing Ankara’s leaders of secretly selling out Uighurs to China in exchange for coronavirus vaccines. Tens of millions of vials of promised Chinese vaccines have not yet been delivered. Meanwhile, in recent months, Turkish police have raided and detained around 50 Uighurs in deportation centres, lawyers say - a sharp uptick from last year. READ: US 'deeply disturbed' by reports of systematic rape of Muslims in China camps Although no hard evidence … [Read more...] about Turkey Uighurs fear sellout to China in exchange for vaccine

ANKARA: Turkey will begin a gradual return to normal life on a province-by-province basis from March, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, adding that nationwide weekend COVID-19 lockdowns would be lifted in some provinces based on infection rates. Turkey imposed curfews, weekend lockdowns and other curbs in December in the face of rising cases. It plans to reopen schools nationwide on Mar 1, and its vaccination programme has so far administered shots to nearly 5.7 million people using shots developed by China's Sinovac Biotech. Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said a plan on re-opening cafes and restaurants, which have been shut down for months, would be announced in coming days, and urged citizens to continue abiding by the measures. "We will categorise our provinces as low, medium, high, and very high risk based on infection and vaccination rates. As of March, we are beginning the gradual normalisation period," he said. "We are gradually lifting … [Read more...] about Erdogan says Turkey to start gradual COVID-19 normalisation in March

A US intelligence report found Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman approved the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The report released Friday comes the day after US President Joe Biden's first call with Saudi King Salman. "The Crown Prince viewed Khashoggi as a threat to the Kingdom and broadly supported using violent measures if necessary to silence him," the report said. The document cites Salman's power over Saudi intelligence and security forces since 2017. Washington Post journalist Khashoggi — a critic of the prince's apparent authoritarian consolidation of power — was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October, 2018. Saudi Arabia sentenced five people to 20 years each in prison over the murder. The release of the report could prove a test for normally close relations between Washington and Riyadh. What did the report reveal? The intelligence document concluded that a Saudi delegation arrived in Istanbul in October 2018 , that … [Read more...] about US intelligence blames Saudi prince for Khashoggi murder