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Web to be watched 24/7 in Turkey to prevent more sex tape scandals

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

The Turkish government has announced that it will monitor the Internet around the clock to prevent any further online releases of sex tapes featuring politicians ahead of the June 12 general election.

The Prime Ministry’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority, or BTK, made its announcement amid a furor over ongoing waves of tape scandals that have snared members of the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP.

The BTK said its new 24-hour system would monitor the web continuously in order to prevent additional privacy-invading images from reaching the homes of Turkish people. By operating around the clock, the BTK aims to catch the illegal surveillance of politicians early on and immediately take the necessary legal steps to have access to such footage blocked.

The BTK’s administrative, technical and legal units will all be involved in the operation.

Sex tapes have already hit two of the country’s main opposition parties, forcing former Republican People’s Party, or CHP, leader Deniz Baykal and various senior members of the MHP to resign.

via Web to be watched 24/7 in Turkey to prevent more sex tape scandals – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review.

May 12, 2011
Wind energy Vestas receives order for 72 MW in Turkey

Vestas has received a wind power order for delivery of 36 x 2 MW wind turbines for a wind farm in Turkey.

Wind energy Vestas receives order for 72 MW in Turkey

With reference to Vestas Wind Systems A/S’ company announcement No. 20/2011 of 11 May 2011, Vestas has received through Aksu Temiz Enerji Elektrik Üretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim ªirketi an order from Ayen Energy for delivery of 36 units of the 2 MW platform turbines for the Aksu wind power plant to be installed in the city of Kayseri, Turkey.

The order comprises supply, installation on-site and commissioning of the turbines, a VestasOnline® Business SCADA system, as well as a seven-year service agreement including the Active Output Management package ‘AOM 4000’. The AOM 4000 is a full-scope service contract, consisting of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and consumables, which offers solid risk management for customers, who want an availability guarantee measured against an agreed threshold. This type of contract offers customers assured performance avoiding unforeseen operational costs of any kind.

Delivery of the turbines is scheduled to start in Q2 2011 and the project is expected to be completed in Q4 2011.

The order has been placed by Aksu Temiz Enerji Elektrik Üretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim ªirketi, a subsidiary of Ayen Energy, which has installed hydroelectric power plants and a natural gas plant. In addition, Ayen Energy has already built one wind power plant, and is currently in the process of constructing two others; the three of them represent a total wind capacity of more than 80 MW.

Fahrettin Amir Arman, Board Member states: “We consider that Vestas has the proven technology able to meet the requirements of the Aksu project and that they are the wind turbine supplier and service provider which best can meet our needs. We are currently diversifying the energy portfolio of our company, and we see wind energy as a competitive, sustainable and complementary energy source. This 72 MW project, which will be the largest wind power plant we have installed so far, is an important step towards the diversification of our energy investments. We look forward to working together with Vestas, the global wind technology leader, on this project.”

“We are extremely pleased that Ayen Energy has selected Vestas as preferred supplier for their largest wind investment, the Aksu project. Having been selected on the grounds of our solid experience, global track record and technological leadership, we hope that this project will lay the foundations for a long-lasting collaboration between the two companies,” expresses Ali Neyzi, Vice President of Vestas Türkiye.

“The Aksu project directly supports Vestas’ vision: ‘Wind, Oil and Gas’. Ayen Energy’s investment in wind power is a good example of how energy companies around the world are diversifying their energy portfolio. Moreover, it shows the important role that wind can play going forward in Turkey and other parts of the world, as an energy source on a par with more traditional energy sources,” concludes Juan Araluce, President of Vestas Mediterranean.

The Aksu wind power plant has an estimated annual production of 205,000 MWh per year, which corresponds to an annual emission saving of around 98,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Furthermore, it will provide enough electricity to cover the residential electricity consumption of almost 415,000 people in Turkey.

Vestas Mediterranean is one of the seven Sales Business Units in the Vestas Group and it manages all sales, construction and service operations in the countries of the Mediterranean region, Middle East, Latin America, Caribbean as well as approximately 70 per cent of the African continent. As of 31 December 2010, this sales business unit delivered cumulative capacity close to 10 GW, representing 22.5 per cent of Vestas’ global capacity and had a workforce of 3,000 highly skilled and fully committed employees in the Mediterranean area. In the past three years, Vestas Mediterranean has accounted for approximately 35 per cent of the global sales in the Vestas Group.

Vestas has been operating in Turkey since 1984 when it installed its first turbine. In January 2008, Vestas established an office in Istanbul, Vestas Türkiye, which is responsible for all sales, construction, service and maintenance operations in Turkey and the Middle East. All Vestas Türkiye’s activities have been certified by ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 – the international standards for the quality, environment and occupational health and safety. As of 31 December 2010, Vestas has delivered 375.91 MW in Turkey.

via REVE – Regulación Eólica con Vehículos Eléctricos -.

May 12, 2011
TACC Condemns Act of Vandalism Against US Flag

UPDATE: TACC Condemns Act of Vandalism Against US Flag; Manalapan PD to Hold Investigation

The board of directors of the Turkish American Community Center released a statement indicating concern about a possible hate crime and being targeted in an attack.

By Katrina Rossos

The Turkish-American Community Center released a statement Tuesday afternoon regarding the vandalism that occurred on their property on Monday, May 9, where a damaged American flag was raised upside down in front of the center, located at 229 Rt. 33 in Manalapan Township.

“We the Turkish American Community Center condemn the act of vandalism on our building and insulting our US flag by someone replacing our well maintained and displayed US flag with a tattered one in front of our community center,” the press release stated. “Any act of vandalism is deplorable. But vandalism against a cultural center and places of learning, are particularly cowardly and hateful.”

The press release went on to say that the center does not believe the crime was random, but isolated, and that the center is working with the local police to find the perpetrators of the crime.

“We have been in our community for over 25 year as an integral part of our community and we have never hung our American flag that was being flown upside down or tattered in front of our community center building. The Turkish American community is a minority among minorities, but with pride second to none in our deep love and loyalty to these great United States of America our new home.” the press release said.

“Our beliefs in country, liberty, fairness, charity, democracy, are not merely words or passing thoughts,” the release continued. “They are tangible rocks of granite, permanent and unshakeable, as clear to us as the ground we walk upon, serving ultimately to define us. We offer our labors in maintaining the fundamental principles of American and Turkish freedom and democracy which are firmly entrenched, and remain undiminished in our hearts.”

If anyone has any information on the crime, the Turkish-American Community Center is asking its neighbors to please report it to the police.

The Turkish-American Community Center board of directors concluded the press release saying that “all forms of racism, bigotry, and vandalism are unacceptable and completely contrary to our American fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.”

Manalapan Police Captain Christopher Marsala verified that the police were called to the Turkish American Community Center at 10:58 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10. No police report was filed Tuesday morning.

“At that time, we were not made aware that the flag had been stolen and replaced with a tattered one,” Capt. Marsala said. “I have since spoken with the TACC and confirmed that their US flag was stolen and we are now making this a theft investigation.”

via UPDATE: TACC Condemns Act of Vandalism Against US Flag; Manalapan PD to Hold Investigation – Manalapan, NJ Patch.

May 12, 2011
Bank warns of weaker growth in UK

Bank of England governor Mervyn King has slashed growth forecasts for the UK

The Bank of England has braced the country for weaker growth as rocketing energy bills and tough Government cuts continue to squeeze household spending.

In its quarterly inflation report, the Bank cut growth forecasts for the next two years and warned inflation will fall back later than previously expected in 2013.

The Bank warned energy bills could surge as much as 15% this year, far ahead of its previous expectations, piling pressure on the cost of living and dampening growth.

Despite the uncertain outlook, economists said the report suggested interest rates will increase from 0.5% to 1% by the end of the year.

Bank governor Mervyn King said the soft patch in growth will be temporary but the recovery will hinge on business investment and exports. He warned the squeeze on household budgets may have further to go.

It is the fourth time the Bank has downgraded its growth forecast in the year since the coalition Government was formed.

The report reopened the debate over the severity of Chancellor George Osborne’s austerity measures and the ability of the economy to withstand the cuts, with Shadow Treasury chief secretary Angela Eagle saying: “Cutting too deep and too fast, as this Conservative-led Government is doing, is a vicious circle.”

The Bank downgraded its expectations for gross domestic product in 2011 to around 1.7%, from about 2% in its February report. In 2012, GDP is expected to be around 2.2%, from just under 3%.

The rate of inflation, currently at 4%, is now expected to hit 5% this year and remain above the Government’s 2% target throughout 2012 before falling back – but only if interest rates rise in line with market expectations from the third quarter of 2011.

The gloomier outlook reflected the impact of surging energy prices – such as crude oil in the wake of political unrest in Libya – and the impact disappointing real wages will have on spending.

London Evening Standart

May 11, 2011
CIA bilgi verdi, iki kişi yakalandı

CIA, 7 Mayıs tarihli istihbarat notunda PKK’nın hedefinin uçaklar olduğunu bildirdi.

CIA bilgi verdi, iki kişi yakalandı

Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü İstihbarat Dairesi Başkanlığı’nın PKK’nın F-16 pilotlarına yönelik eylem hazırlığıyla ilgili raporuna benzer bir raporun CIA tarafından da hazırlandığı ortaya çıktı. Raporda, PKK’nın mıknatıslı plastik patlayıcı düzeneklerini pilotların araçlarının altına yapıştırarak Irak kamplarının bombalanmasına misilleme yapmayı amaçladığı belirtiliyor. CIA’in istihbarat paylaşımı doğrultusunda Cizre’de bir kişi yurtdışından kaçak yollarla getirdiği mıknatısla araç altına yapışma ve telefon düzeneği özellikli yaklaşık 1 kilo ağırlığında A-4 tipi plastik patlayıcıyla yakalandı.

Kaçakçılar kullanılacak

İstihbarat Daire Başkanlığı’nın bu yöndeki raporuna benzer bir raporu CIA’in de hazırladığı ortaya çıktı. PKK konusunda Türkiye’yle stratejik işbirliği yürüten CIA’den 7 Mayıs 2011 tarihinde gelen istihbarat bilgilerinde, Hava Kuvvetleri’ne ait Diyarbakır Ana Jet Üssü’nde görev yapan pilotların kullandığı araçların örgütün yeni hedefleri arasında olduğu yazıyor. PKK’nın mıknatıslı plastik patlayıcı düzeneklerini pilotların araçlarının altına yapıştırarak Irak kamplarının bombalanmasına misilleme yapmayı amaçladığı belirtiliyor. Raporda ayrıca PKK’nın bu patlayıcıların güvenlik güçlerince tespitini zorlaştırmak için de bölgedeki kaçakçıları kullanmayı planladığı belirtilerek, “Türkiye’ye kaçakçıların kontrolünde girişi yapılan bombalar ise içerde başka bir kurye aracılığıyla eylem yapılacak yere ulaştırılacak” deniliyor.

İki kişi gözaltında

Bu istihbarat bilgileri doğrultusunda önceki gün güvenlik güçleri Şırnak’ın ilçesi Cizre’de kaçakçı C.İ’yi yurtdışından kaçak yollarla getirdiği mıknatısla araç altına yapışma ve telefon düzeneği özellikli yaklaşık 1 kilo ağırlığında A-4 tipi plastik patlayıcıyla yakaladı. C.İ’nin sorgusu sonucunda patlayıcıyı ondan teslim alıp Diyarbakır’da F-16 pilotlarına eylem yapacağı iddia edilen L.Y.’ye ulaşıldı. L.Y de gözaltına alındı.

‘İstihbarat raporunu ilk Radikal yazdı’

Radikal, geçen cumartesi günü PKK’nın F-16 pilotlarına eylem planladığı yönündeki istihbaratı haberleştirmiş ve İstihbarat Daire Başkanlığı’nın raporundaki, “(…) militanlar araçların altına kolayca yerleştirilebilen mıknatıslı bombalarla polis ekipleri ve savaş uçağı pilotlarının özel araçlarını patlatmayı tasarladıkları yönünde duyumlar alınmıştır” ifadelerine yer vermişti.

PKK, seçim konvoylarını Anfo tipi bombayla vuracak

PKK’nın 12 Haziran’da yapılacak seçimler için düzenlenecek mitingler ve seçim konvoylarını vurma hazırlığı yaptığını belirleyen Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü, örgütün hayalet bomba olarak adlandırılan ‘Anfo’ tipi bomba kullanacağı bilgisine ulaştı. İstihbarat Daire Başkanlığı’nın 81 il emniyet müdürlüğüne gönderdiği raporda PKK’nın dedektörlerin belirleyemediği Anfo bombaları frekans bozucu cihazlardan etkilenmediği için tercih ettiği belirtiliyor. Raporda PKK’nın mitinglerle seçim konvoylarının güzergâhlarına Anfo tipi bomba yerleştireceği yazıyor. Anfo tipi bomba, ‘hayalet bomba’ olarak biliniyor. Amonyumnitrat ve fuel oil karışıklı patlayıcıyı köpekler fark edemiyor. Bomba düzenekleri frekans karıştırıcı cihazlardan etkilenmediği için patlatmak için lazerli uzaktan kumanda kullanılıyor. İSTANBUL/RADİKAL

via CIA bilgi verdi, iki kişi yakalandı / Türkiye / Radikal İnternet.

May 11, 2011
Turkish Airlines supports Culture and Arts in Istanbul

Published by Ozgur Tore

Tuesday, 10 May 2011 21:13

The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts Official Airline will be Turkish Airlines (THY) for three years as from 2011.

The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts which through its festivals and events has been taking and important role in Istanbul’s culture and art life for thirty nine years and Turkish Airlines, one of the most important airline companies worldwide, signed an important collaboration. Becoming the Official Airline of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, Turkish Airlines will contribute to making IKSV’s events reach a wider audience and be promoted more effectively at home and abroad for three years.

In order to announce the detail of the collaboration between the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and Turkish Airlines, two leading institutions in their own fields, a press conference was organized on Tuesday, May 10, at the X Restaurant on the top floor of IKSV. IKSV Chairman Bülent Eczacıbaşı and THY General Manager Temel Kotil participated as speakers in the press conference.

In the speech he made in the press conference, IKSV Chairman Bülent Eczacıbaşı emphasized that providing continuous and permanent interaction between national and international values through culture and arts is one of the main targets of IKSV and stated: “For this reason we organize festivals, biennials and events with international content and emphasize in our endeavours both in Istanbul and abroad that culture and arts know no boundaries. We are very glad to have Turkish Airlines which removes the boundaries between countries in a different sense among our official sponsors. As from 2011, Turkish Airlines will be the Official Airline of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts for three years. As two institutions targeting to turn Istanbul into a regional centre in their own branches, I believe that we will take important steps through our mutual support and our collaboration will bear positive and efficient results in both local and international levels.”

As for THY General Manager Temel Kotil, he remarked in his speech at the press conference: “Our support to IKSV carries a special meaning for us. It is a source of pride for us to become a sponsor of IKSV which has a great place in the development of culture and arts in Turkey and the worldwide promotion of Turkey.”

Following the speeches, IKSV Chairman Bülent Eczacıbaşı and THY General Manager Temel Kotil realized the beginning of the collaboration between IKSV and THY through the symbolic signing ceremony.

Through this important collaboration between the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and THY, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, which endeavours to promote Turkey’s cultural and artistic production abroad and collaborates with international art institutions while organizing festivals in Turkey, will realize its projects abroad and at home in the upcoming period with the support of THY, now respected as a world brand.

THY will make a great contribution to the realization of festivals by providing certain conveniences in Europe and remote flight lines for the transport of guests of Istanbul Festivals.

Through special promotions at home and abroad, THY guests will have the opportunity to win tickets for festivals organized by IKSV. Also through special promotions and draws abroad, THY will fly the winners to Istanbul and host them at Istanbul Festivals.

Furthermore, THY will support the promotion abroad of Turkey’s variety in the musical field through jazz and classical music concerts planned to be realized in CIP lounges with the participation of Turkish musicians through the collaboration with IKSV:

THY will also make a very special collaboration with the Istanbul Biennial which, as the biggest contemporary art event of Turkey, positions Istanbul at the centre of international contemporary art agenda. By showing their Business Class Boarding Passes, THY passengers will be able to attend the 12th Istanbul Biennial to be realized between September 17 and November 13 this year free of charge.

Furthermore, through THY kiosks to be built at the suitable corners in Istanbul Festival venues, THY will constitute check-in and call-centres for the use of the festival’s local and foreign guests along with the festival audience.

By preparing special publicity films concerning Istanbul Festivals broadcasting them on the in-cabin screens, THY will inform its guests about Istanbul Festivals. Thereby, guests travelling by THY will be able to reach privileged and detailed information about IKSV events. SKYLIFE, the indispensable magazine for those travelling by THY for 27 years, will contribute to the promotion of IKSV events at home and abroad by giving place to special news concerning all the events of IKSV, interviews with the guests, and event calendars.

Moreover, it is planned to include in the THY in-flight entertainment system a selection of films shown in festivals after taking their copyrights along with a Turkish cinema selection. In this context, an important step will be taken for making the Turkish cinema reach international audience.

focus on travel

May 11, 2011