★ Deutsche Welle reported that, during his first official visit to Greece on Thursday, German chancellor Olaf Scholz offered to mediate between Greece and Turkey and urged them to resolve their differences through dialogue and international law.

  For at least 50 years, there have been numerous issues in the relationship between the two countries.

  Among the issues are continental shelf and air space borders in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean and oil and gas exploration rights.

  Turkey also objects to the militarization of Greek islands just a few miles from the Turkish coast. Treaties of the early 20th century stipulated that the islands should be demilitarized.

  In the past, tensions due to these issues brought the two NATO allies to the brink of war three times.

  Greece is ready to "extend a hand of friendship" to neighbor and regional rival Turkey, Greece's prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, while also accusing Turkey's president of whipping up the anti-Greek sentiment at home.

★ According to Dorian Jones of the VOA, Finland and Sweden's aspirations to join NATO are in doubt as Turkey has renewed its objections to their membership bids.

  According to local media reports, Finnish diplomats met with their Turkish counterparts Tuesday in Turkey, which marked the latest diplomatic effort by Finland to persuade Turkey to agree to its bid to join NATO.

  For the Atlantic alliance to expand, all members must agree.

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his administration claimed that both countries give sanctuary to terrorists, meaning Kurds affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party and followers of Fethullah Gülen.

  In the article, experts explain that Mr. Erdoğan's opposition goes beyond concern about terrorists.

  İlhan Uzgel, a professor at the Ankara University International Relations Department, says concessions from Washington are Mr. Erdoğan's main aim.

  Concessions could include a meeting with President Biden, allowing the purchase of F-16 fighter jets, or external support for the 2023 Turkish elections.

  Mr. Erdoğan is languishing in most opinion polls ahead of elections that Turkey will hold in June of 2023.

  Dr. Uzgel added that Mr. Erdoğan would be reluctant to give up leverage over NATO before the elections.

  Analysts say Mr. Erdoğan is also aware that standing up to NATO and the United States plays well among his religious and nationalist base.

  Read more >> here <<

★ Burak Ünveren, a Deutsche Welle correspondent, penned an article titled "Five Reasons Why the West Needs Turkey."

  Since Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, Europeans have begun to discuss their dependencies on countries that do not necessarily share their values, Ünveren writes.

  Increasingly aggressive and nationalistic rhetoric towards its Western partners accompanies Turkey's aspirations for a greater role on the global stage.

  Turkey, a candidate for accession to the European Union, is not what the West exactly wants it to be, but still an important player in global politics.

  Here are several reasons why Western capitals are dependent on Turkey.

  1- The mediator for Moscow and Kyiv

  2 - The NATO ally whose green light is necessary

  Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952. The fact that it has the second largest army of the alliance after the United States and is on the southeastern flank makes Turkey a significant security provider to the transatlantic alliance.

  3 - The manufacturer of affordable security

  The growing importance of Turkey's defense industry has made it an important player that directly affects Western interests.

  4 - The key actor in Europe's migration vulnerability

  Turkey borders many countries to the South and the East, giving Turkey leverage with the defense of the European Union and keeping migrants out. In the past, Mr. Erdoğan has not hesitated to threaten Belgium, Germany, and other European countries multiple times with "opening the doors," which would technically mean that refugees have open access to Europe.

  Turkey's threats have objectively been successful and paid off: A 2016 refugee deal between the European Union and Turkey included $6 billion to Turkey to keep the refugees on its territory.

  5 - Germany's Turkish diaspora

  The Turkish community in Germany identifies or sympathizes with the Turkish state. Over 60% of Turks in Germany voted for Mr. Erdoğan in the 2018 Turkish general elections.

  German domestic security is also an issue: According to German officials, multiple radical ideologies threaten the German constitution. In addition to the Islamist groups, the Turkish ultranationalist Grey Wolves, the sympathizers of the Kurdistan Workers Party, as well as Turkish left-wing extremists are under German state surveillance.

  The developments in Turkey impact the dynamics between these groups. In some cases, the Turkish state influences groups such as the Grey Wolves.

  Read more >> here <<

★ According to Deutsche Welle, Nadia Hardman, a Human Rights Watch official, says, in violation of international law, Turkey forcefully deported hundreds of Syrians between February and July 2022

  Hardman added the European Union should cut the aid to Turkey for the migration detention centers until forced repatriations end.

  The centers are for reducing the flow of migrants to Europe.

  Read more >> here <<

★ Turkish defense company Baykar is constructing a plant to manufacture drones in Ukraine.

  According to Reuters, Baykar's CEO announced that the plant would be operational in two years.

  The Baykar drones were effective in fending off Russian forces.

  Baykar and Ukraine signed an agreement for the plant just before the Russian invasion.

  Ukraine already supplies some components for the Turkish drones.

★ According to Deutsche Welle, Turkey's defense and aerospace exports to Africa grew more than fivefold, to $460.6 million, in 2021, up from $82.9 million in 2020.

  Turkey's share of Africa's arms market is still tiny at 0.5%. However, the rapid growth of defense sales is "striking," according to a 2022 study on Turkey's security diplomacy in Africa by SWP, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

  Abel Abate Demissie, associate fellow at the British think tank Chatham House and located in Ethiopia, says Turkish arms are relatively cheap, have shorter delivery times, and come free of "bureaucratic hurdles" such as political or human rights conditions.

  The media aide to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari praised Turkish defense technology in a statement in late 2021, saying it would accelerate efforts to rid the country "of pockets of terrorists and the menace of kidnappers and bandits."

  African nations are most interested in buying Turkish-manufactured armored vehicles, naval equipment, infantry weapons, and drones, according to the SWP study.

  Somalia, Togo, Niger, Nigeria, and Ethiopia are among the nations that bought Turkish drones. Analysts say Turkey's drones are cheap compared to the U. S. or Israeli versions and easy to operate.

★ On October 28, Orhan Turan, the chair of TÜSİAD, the leading business association in Turkey, said that access to credit is getting difficult because of financial regulations and that the inflation rate is not at the targeted levels yet, reports the daily Duvar.

  "The rapid decline in our share of the global economy since 2013 should make us all think. While ten years ago, the share of our economy in the world was 1.2 percent, today this share has dropped to 0.8," Turan added.

  The daily Duvar adds that President Erdoğan has prioritized exports, production, and investment as part of a program that aims to lower inflation by flipping Turkey's chronic current account deficits to a surplus.

  That target is unattainable this year due to the surge in energy prices and a global economic slowdown that is likely to hit Turkish exports.

  The government does not expect to see a surplus in the next three years.

★ According to the Turkish daily Duvar, on October 27, Turkey's Central Bank increased its inflation forecast for the end of 2022 to 65.2 percent from 60.4, Governor Şahap Kavcıoğlu announced.

  According to the Turkish government, the annual inflation rate in September was 83.45%. However, ENAG, an independent group of economists, put the figure at 186%.

  Central bank Governor Kavcıoğlu conceded that they were not very successful in curbing inflation.

  The central bank is supposed to be independent in Turkey. However, Turkish President Mr. Erdoğan has been calling the shots for some years now. He says that low-interest rates will bring lower inflation, contrary to what all economists say is the opposite.

★ A report prepared by Turkey's Confederation of Government Employees' Unions wrote that inflation for staple foods reached 177.5 percent compared to October last year.

  According to the report, food prices surged by 230%, and dairy products and eggs climbed up 150%.

  The prices were from the markets in the Turkish capital Ankara.

★ With Russia curtailing natural gas supplies, the European Union is scrambling to find alternative sources. The European Union is looking to gas providers like Azerbaijan to help fill the gap. Meanwhile, Turkey is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in keeping the lights on and furnaces working in Europe this winter, reports VOA reporter Dorian Jones.

  Azerbaijan has already increased its supply to Europe by about a third. The Tanap pipeline, crossing Turkey to Greece, linking up with Europe's pipeline network, delivers the gas.

  The importance of Turkey as a transit is to grow. Turkmenistan and Iraq may start pumping gas through the Turkish pipeline.

  As Europe weans from dependency on Russian gas, it will become reliant on Turkey as a transit country for its energy. Some observers warn that it could create challenges, given the European Union's recent strained ties with Turkey.

★ Katie Nadworny wrote in the Atlantic magazine that Turkey's honey apocalypse is a warning to the world.

  Wildfires that occurred in the past few years have devastated the country's precious pine honey. Heat and drought could soon bring the same fate to other beekeepers.

  Just in the Muğla province alone, 14,000 acres of pine forest burned.

  Pine honey is unusual. It tastes resinous and zingy, and unlike honey produced by bees feeding on flowers, pine honey relies on three distinct species: the red pine tree, the honeybee, and the marchalina bug (Marchalina hellenica). The bugs feed on mature red pine trees, secreting a sticky, sap-like substance, sometimes called "honeydew," and a cottony white residue; the bees feed on the honeydew and use it to make their honey. Without the red pine, without the marchalina, there is no pine honey.

  Almost all of the world's pine honey comes from Turkey's from Muğla province, in the country's southwest.

  Read more >> here <<

★ Today, around the world and in Turkey, Turks have celebrated the 99th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic.

  In Turkey's largest city Istanbul, Iranian conductor Alexander Rahbari led the orchestra at the CRR concert hall. The concert was dubbed "The National Forces and the Republic." It featured young violinist talent Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev.

  The orchestra performed Turkish composer Ferit Tüzün's "Breeze," Fazıl Say's violin Concerto "1001 Nights in the Harem," and Nikolay Rimski Korsakov's "Sheherazade."

  Ganiyev is a solo concert violinist with a broad and diverse repertoire who is currently pursuing his Konzertexamen degree at Folkwang Universität der Künste in Essen with Prof. Aleksey Semenenko.

★ In the Turkish capital Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan led a ceremony at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Republic of Turkey's founder and first president. Numerous state and military officials attended the ceremony.

  The Presidential Symphony Orchestra had a concert on the 28th and then on the 29th for the occasion. The performance featured works by Turkish composers Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Nevit Kodallı, and Ahmet Adnan Saygun.

  In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said:

  "The relationship between Turkey and the United States is vital and grounded in the deep cultural and commercial ties between our two countries, as well as our work together as NATO Allies in furtherance of regional and global peace, security, and prosperity. We appreciate Turkey's steadfast commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity amid Russia's ongoing aggression.

  "On this special day, we join with our Turkish friends in celebration and are grateful for our longstanding and close ties."

  The Greek and Israeli foreign affairs ministries also extended greetings to the people and the government of Turkey in messages posted on Twitter.

★ According to the Turkish-British magazine, authorities put Turkish artist Gülsün Erbil's mosaic work under protection as a historical heritage in England.

  The work, which is approximately 1000 sq.ft., is on the facade of a 1980s building in London.

  The mosaic panel is called "Equality-Harmony." Ms. Erbil produced the work between 1986-87 on the exterior of Tangmere House.

  The demolishers will remove the building, but the mosaic panel will remain an independent structure with the support of the Broadwater Farm Residents Association.

  Erbil used a Byzantine mosaic technique to create the mural, involving irregularly shaped and hand-cut glass tesserae.

  Gülsün Erbil, born in 1948 in Izmir, is a Turkish artist known for her abstract works that take inspiration from the Sufi mystic Rumi. Erbil has worked with various media, including oil paint, textiles, ceramics, mosaics, and stained glass.

  Erbil studied painting at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts (now the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University) between 1966-1971.

  She completed a master's degree in ceramics at Goldsmith's College in 1983-1984, studying under Ken Bright and David Garbett, returning to Goldsmith's in 1993-1994 for a master's degree in textiles.

  In 1998 she founded Gallery X in Harlem, New York, and returned to Istanbul in 2002, starting a gallery of the same name in the city's Beyoğlu district.

★ Launching into a brand-new term, Yunus Emre Institute London is increasing the number of courses and workshops they offer both online and face-to-face

  This year, course options include Oud, Ney, Tezhip (Art of Illumination), Ebru (Paper Marbling), Hüsn-i Hat (Calligraphy), Iznik Ceramic, Ottoman Turkish, and Turkish language classes which will be available on both weekdays and weekends.

  See Ms. Erbil introducing herself Read more >> here <<

★ Archaeologists found mill stones at the ancient site of Göbeklitepe in southeastern Turkey.

  Dr. Necmi Karul, the head of the excavations, says that they are now determining that the site was not only a communal and religious place but also had dwellings.

  Dr. Karul also points out that there is evidence that organized advanced labor existed in the community that occupied the site.

  He added that the World Neolithic Convention would take place at Göbeklitepe next year.

  Archaeologists estimate that the site dates back to 11,500 years ago.

★ Read more >> here <<

  Archaeologists are working on a late Roman - early Byzantine structure featuring exquisite mosaic flooring.

  The structure is in the İncesu district of Turkey's central Anatolian province of Kayseri.

  Experts think the colossal site indicates that the structure belonged to an important person.

  The mosaics cover an area of 3000 sq.ft., and the structure has ten rooms.

  On the mosaics, ancients wrote the following in Latin:

  "On the occasion of the 30th anniversary and praying to reach the 40th anniversary. This building was erected under the leadership of Hyacinthos. You, building, now you reached a magnificent stage."

  Another part of the mosaics says in Greek: "Enter If You are Healthy."

  Archaeologists estimate that the structure dates back to the fourth century C.E.

★ The Bosporus Film Festival just ended. Ogün Şanlıer, the head of the festival organization, said that attendance increased and the screening halls were 80% full this year.

  Semih Kaplanoğlu, a Turkish director, screenwriter, and producer, led the jury.

  Here are the recipients of the awards:

  Hungarian scriptwriter and director Ildiko Enyedi received the honorary guest award.

  In the National Film Category, the Grand Golden Dolphin award went to "Snow and Bear" by Selcen Ergun. The film's crew and actors received many other awards: Çiçek Kahraman, Best Fiction. Florent Herry Best image Director, Selcen Ergun and Yeşim Aslan Best Scenario and Merve Dizdar Best Women Actor.

  The Best Male Actor in The National Film category went to Berkay Ateş for his role in the movie "Dark Night." The same film also got the Best Director award for Özcan Alper.

  The film "Fault" got the Best Film Award for Ümran Safter.

  The Best National Documentary Film award went to Mahmut Fazıl Coşkun's "Crossroads." Gülben Arıcı's film "The Birth of Kennedy" received the special jury award in the National Documentary category.

  In the short films, as part of the best national fiction film category, the young talent award went to Kasım Ördek's "Together, Alone." In the International Category, the Best Fiction Film Award went to Anna Fernandez De Paco's "I Didn't Make It to Love Her." The Best National Short Film Award went to Barış Kefeli ve Nükhet Taneri's "I Alone You Altogether."

  "Ice Merchants" by Joao Gonzalez received the Joao Gonzalez Short Film Award.

  In the International Film Awards:

  The Best Film Award: "Ashkal" by Youssef Chebbi.

  The Best Male Actor: John Dicks in the film "Love Dog."

  The Best Women Award: Katalin Roman in the film "Six Weeks."

  The Best Director: "A Long Break" by Davit Pirtskhalavat.

  Jury Special Award: the film "Victim."

★ Alejandro Parente, a renowned Argentinian dancer, is in Turkey's Aegean city of Izmir to train Turkish artists.

  Parente is considered one of the best dancers and choreographers in the world. The Izmir State Opera and Ballet is hosting him.

  The one-week training program for the Izmir State Opera and ballet dancers will use Don Quixote ballet based on Spanish writer Cervantes' novel.

  It is the first time Parente has been in Turkey. He said he found good dancers in Turkey, but an expanded repertoire may be warranted.

★ A Turkish film shot by only two people and with less than a $100-budget won three awards in six international film festivals.

  The 93-minute film is titled "The Last Five Days of My Life," and it features a cat named Mamud as one of the actors.

  The two people who made the film are Mahmut Baldemir and Hüseyin Uc. Baldemir is also the leading actor.

  The film tells the last five days of a person who would like to kill himself.

  The producers had the film dubbed into five languages.

  It won the Best Film award in Russia, the Best Experimental Film award in Hungry, and the Best Male Actor award in Canada.

★ Saffron Festival took place last week in Turkey's Safranbolu district.

  The district's name means "The City of Saffron." As you can imagine, they grow a lot of saffron there.

  The festival took place at a citizen's saffron field.

  The guests at the festival received drinks and food made with saffron.

  American Christina Meier was there, also. She said it was the first time she was in a saffron festival, although she has been living in Turkey for the past two years. Kenyan Mbula Ratzlaff was also there. He said it was exciting to see the festival and will come back to Safranbolu in the future.

★ The 74h Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. Fifteen Turkish publishers were at the fair.

  Turkeys Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce were the sponsors of the Turkish booth.

  There were publishers from 85 countries.

  Turkish publishers made contact with foreign publishers and discussed copyright issues.

★ Turkey's Tatvan district hosts Nemrut Geopark, an area full of natural wonders.

  The nearby Bitlis Eren University just formed a scientific commission to campaign for including the Nemrut Geopark in UNESCO's network of other geoparks.

  Nemrut Geopark features cold and hot lakes, an ice cave, a steam outlet, remnants of lava rocks, vast types of plants, and unusual biological diversity.

Ankara, in central Turkey        : 64/39 Partly Cloudy
Antalya, on the Mediterranean    : 81/64 Mostly Sunny
Erzurum, in Eastern Turkey       : 59/27 Partly Cloudy
Istanbul, in northwestern Turkey : 68/52 Mostly Sunny
Izmir, on the Aegean             : 75/54 Mostly Sunny
Trabzon, on the Black Sea        : 64/54 Mostly Cloudy

Antalya         -      Istanbul          2 - 1
Ümrani̇ye       -      K.gümrük          1 - 3
Trabzon         -      Sivas             1 - 0
Fenerbahçe      -      Başakşehir        1 - 0
Adana           -      Konya             1 - 1
Kasımpaşa       -      Kayseri           0 - 1
G. Saray        -      Alanya        2 - 2
Giresun         -      Ankaragücü        1 - 1
Hatay           -      Beşiktaş          2 - 1

K.gümrük        -      G. Saray       0 - 2
Konya           -      Kasımpaşa      1 - 1
Alanya      -      G. Antep       2 - 0
Beşiktaş        -      Ümrani̇ye      -
Ankaragücü      -      Hatay          -
Kayseri         -      Adana          -
Istanbul        -      Fenerbahçe     -
Başakşehir      -      Giresun        -
Sivas           -      Antalya        -

 1 - Fenerbahçe      23
 2 - Adana           22
 3 - Trabzon         21
 4 - Başakşehir      20
 5 - Beşiktaş        19
 6 - Konya           19
 7 - Kayseri         19
 8 - G. Saray        18
 9 - G. Antep        15
10 - Alanya      13
11 - Kasımpaşa       13
12 - K.gümrük        12
13 - Sivas           10
14 - Antalya         10
15 - Hatay           10
16 - Giresun          9
17 - Ankaragücü       8
18 - Istanbul         8
19 - Ümrani̇ye        3

★ 29 October Republic day races took place in the Turkish capital Ankara's racetracks.

  In the Arab horses category, jockey Ayhan Kursun won with his horse Final Dance. In the English horses category, jockey Mustafa Çiçek won with his horse Kıyıcı .

★ The 2022 Republic Cup organized by Golf Federation of Turkey took place in Silivri district of Istanbul province.

  In the women's category, went to Beyhan Goldman Benardeti.

  In the men's category, Mehmet Kazan won the cup.

  Benardeti and Kazan competed. Benardeti won.

★ On October 29, the Istanbul stage of the Third Presidential International yet Competitions took place in Bosporus straight.

  There were 600 sailors from 28 countries are participating.

  On October 30, Istanbul's Asian neighborhood of Moda and the Prince Islands will see the start of the next stage.

  In the evening, the winners will receive their awards at the Shipyard, an events venue converted from an old shipyard.