★ According to the British daily Guardian, after the capture of Hama, Syria's second major city, by anti-Assad forces, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his support for the Syrian rebel advance on Friday.

  Speaking to reporters, Erdoğan remarked: "Idlib, Hama, Homs, and now the target is Damascus."

  He added: "I would say we hope this advance will continue without any issues."

  The rebels announced plans to push south along the highway towards Homs, the penultimate major city before Damascus, the capital city of Syria.

  He said that Turkey wanted to start talks with Assad for the past few months, but he refused.

  Erdoğan added that Turkey told Assad that they could determine the future of Syria together.

  Syrian insurgents close in on Homs as advance towards Damascus continues

  Meanwhile, Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign affairs, visited Turkey and met with Hakan Fidan, his Turkish counterpart.

  The Iranian minister accused Turkey of enabling the Syrian rebel offensive.

  Before he visited Turkey, the Iranian minister met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday.

  Observers expected him to deliver a message from Assad to the Turks, but that did not happen.

  According to the people familiar with the talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan rebuked his Iranian counterpart.

  He said that Assad and Iran, which he noted does not share a border with Syria, had failed to participate in peace negotiations for years genuinely.

  On December 6, Reuters reported that the foreign affairs ministers of Turkey, Iran, and Russia will meet in Doha on Saturday to discuss Syria.

  On the same day, Turkey's National Security Council urged the Syrian government to reconcile with the opposition and added that Turkey is committed to Syria's territorial integrity, reports the Turkish online news outlet Bianet.

★ The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe elected former Turkish Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioğlu on Friday as its new secretary general, a Turkish diplomatic source said, filling a position that had been vacant since September.

  According to the Middle East Eye, an online publication, Turkey and Greece, as part of a mutual agreement, jointly advanced former Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu for the post.

  At the same time, Greece nominated Maria Telalian for the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights at the OSCE.

  Notably, Armenia and Cyprus - countries with historically strained relations with Turkey - did not object to the appointment and even lent their support.

  In his career of over 30 years, Sinirlioğlu held many positions, including his recent role as UN special coordinator for Afghanistan.

  According to the organization's web page, The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic, environmental, and human aspects.

  Therefore, it addresses security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism, and economic and environmental activities.

  All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and they decide by consensus on a politically but not legally binding basis.

  The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is a regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization comprising member states in Europe, North America, and Asia. There are 57 member countries with more than 300 parliamentarians.

  Its mandate includes arms control, the promotion of human rights, freedom of the press, and free and fair elections.

★ According to Turkish news outlet Bianet, nine activists involved in a protest against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are still in custody for "insulting the president" and "holding an illegal demonstration." The police arrested them on November 29, when they protested him.

  They were protesting Turkey's continued trade relations with Israel amid the Gaza conflict.

  They sent a message through their lawyer from the prison and indicated they would continue to resist Zionism and its collaborators. One protester said that she is proud to be in jail for the cause of Palestine.

★ According to the Turkish daily Duvar, on December 6, Turkish family physicians and healthcare workers protested in Istanbul on the last day of their five-day strike, criticizing performance-based pay regulations of the Health Ministry.

  Journalists report that many employees are ready to resign over worsening conditions.

  Osman Küçükosmanoğlu, Istanbul Medical Chamber President, and representatives from various civil society organizations participated.

  Küçükosmanoğlu said, "If patients don't visit, they cut your pay; if too many come, they cut your pay.

  "These are neither acceptable changes nor beneficial to public health."

  Küçükosmanoğlu also highlighted the promotion of unscientific practices like "cupping" or "leeching" therapy after work hours.

★ Ali Yerlikaya, Turkish Minister of Interior, announced that, as of November 2024, there were 4.17 million registered foreign residents in Turkey, including 2.4 million Syrians.

  Experts say with the unregistered foreigners, Turkey has the most foreign residents in the world compared to its population.

  Most of the foreigners are refugees.

★ According to the daily Duvar, BBC named Nejla Işık, head of İkizköy village in western Turkey, among the one hundred inspiring women for her five-year fight to protect the Akbelen forest from mining projects.

  Işık, alongside villagers, led protests and legal battles, vowing to continue preserving the forest's legacy despite challenges.

  Işık, alongside villagers, led protests and legal battles, vowing to continue preserving the forest's legacy despite challenges.

  "This recognition is not just for me," Işık said.

  "Behind me stands an entire village, particularly the brave women, who never gave up hope and faced every challenge head-on. I accept this as an award for all women in Turkey who stand for justice and the environment."

★ ECONOMY

★ Turkish Airlines restarted flights to Beirut, Turkey's Anadolu News Agency reports.

★ According to Reuters, Turkey's Halkbank lost the latest bid to avoid U. S prosecution in sanctions case.

 
  Earlier, Halkbank claimed immunity from prosecution but judges rejected it.

★ According to a report by the Fitch ratings, the outlook for Turkish banks for 2025 is neutral.

  Fitch wrote that Turkey's continued commitment to monetary tightening has boosted investor confidence and exchange-rate stability, improving operating conditions and prospects for banks and easing external financing, financial stability, and macroeconomic risks, and drove the neutral outlook.

  >> here <<

★ According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, the annual inflation rate dropped to 47.09% in November from 48.58% in October but fell short of the Central Bank's year-end forecast of 44%.

  ENAG, the inflation research group of independent economists, however, reported an inflation rate of 86.76%.

  Istanbul Chamber of Commerce had its figure for the megacity: 57.99%.

★ HAIN, a new film released December 13, pulls a breathtaking audience into an international espionage story.

  Turkish cinema is hosting a new production that draws rapt attention with its strong script, unique cast, and use of new-generation film technologies.

  Fix360 Entertainment produced the film, and Berke Uzrek wrote and directed it. The cast consists of young and masterful actors such as Haldun Dormen, Mustafa Alabora, Erkan Petekkaya, Yurdaer Okur, Meltem Beydilli, Ali Düşenkalkar, Itr Esen, Zeynep Sarlgil, Engin Benli, Ümit Crak and Elif Bilgetekin.

  A gripping story dealing with the power of Turkish intelligence, it follows the struggles of a top intelligence agent resisting all difficulties in her way.