TOP JUDGES AT WORK, NATION AWAITS VERDICT
The fate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will be decided within days, as the top court began deliberating yesterday about whether to close down the party on charges of being a focal point of anti-secular activity. The closed-door session of 11 judges started at 09:35 at the Constitutional Court, where heavy security measures were taken after the deadly blast in Istanbul that killed 17 people late Sunday. It is uncertain when the court will conclude deliberations and announce the verdict, for which Turkish politicians, the European Union, and foreign and local investors are waiting. /Turkish Daily News/
ISTANBUL TWIN BOMB ATTACKS CLAIM 17 LIVES
The death toll in Istanbul late on Sunday evening has risen to 17, including five children, while more than 150 were wounded in the attack, which occurred ahead of court delibrerations over the banning of Turkey's governing party. A funeral was held for 10 of the 17 killed in a double-bombing Sunday night in Istanbul at Fatih Mosque in Gungoren, the district in which the terrorist attacks occurred. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Deputy Prime Ministers Hayati Yazici, Cemil Cicek and Nazim Ekren, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler and thousands of citizens were present. /Today's Zaman/
BABACAN TO ATTEND NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT SUMMIT
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will go to Iran today to attend the Non-aligned Movement Summit, following his intensive contacts in New York as part of Turkey's bid to secure a seat on the UN Security Council. 118 member cuontries will be represented at the summit in Tehran. Babaqcan will go back to Ankara tomorrow. /Star/
CUBUKCU REPLIES TO A PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION
In a reply to Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Vahap Secer's parliamentary question, State Minister Nimet Cubukcu stated that more than 8,000 young people staying at dormitories attached to the Social Services and Child Protection Agency (SHCEK) were employed by public institutions. Cubukcu said that each year nearly 600,000 young people leave these dormitories after they are of full legal age and that only last year 1,451 young people were employed by public institutions. /Turkiye/
GOLDMAN SACHS HOPEFUL ABOUT TURKEY
The Goldman Sachs, leading global investment banking, estimates that Turkey's national income will surpass 6 trillion American dollars in 2050. According to Goldman Sachs' report on the world's economic projection, if Turkey continues to implement right policies, the income per capita will reach 20-25,000 American dollars in 2024 and it will take its share in the new balance of power in global economy. /Turkiye/