Special Issues - turkofamerica.com

Century-Old Companies Are Going Bankrupt

Despite the economic aid packages offered by Congress and Trump administration considered the current epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic,many well-known companies have been filing bankruptcy postponement applications. After textile retail giants Neiman Marcus, J.Crew, and True religion, another long-established company, JCPenney, requested the bankruptcy postponement. The 118-year-old company has recently had to shut down its 850 stores.

The company first missed the debt payment that was due April 15. Another payment was skipped on May 7. JCPenney's application to the Securities and Exchange Commission stated that the company owes $4 billion in debt, and $17 million worth of interest was paid.

JC Penny CEO Jill Soltau said that they implemented the renewal plan strategy before the start of the pandemic and added, "In this context, we have taken important steps towards rebuilding our company. Our efforts were starting to pay off. However, closing our stores due to the pandemic required us to make a comprehensive move, including the removal of outstanding debt", said Soltau.

List of Companis that have filed for bankruptcy during the coronavirus pandemic:

Stein Mart,Virgin Atlantic,Lord & Taylor,Tailored Brands, Muji U.S.,Brook Brothers, Sur La Table,Hertz,Le Pain Quotidien,US Division,GNC,Neiman Marcus,JC Penny, J. Crew,CEC Entertainment,NPC International.

The economic recession is also expected to be reflected in the data in the real estate market, and despite the record high economic stimulus package, government spending is expected to decline more than ever recorded as local governments transfer their resources to fight the pandemic.

White House Economic Advisor Kudlow: "The U.S. economy is on the right track."

Trump's Economic Advisor Kudlow suggested that the capital gains tax cut that President Trump has recently brought up to question again will help increase the personal incomes and boost overall economic growth.

For the first time in U.S. history, the number of people requesting unemployment benefits increased by 135,000 in the week ending on August 15 compared to the previous week and reached 1,106,000. As the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the labor market, the number of individuals that applied for unemployment pay in the U.S. had risen to 6,867,00 and set a new record on the week ending on March 28.

August 24, 2020

Looting hit a Turkish-owned pharmacy store in the U.S

The protests that were sparked by the death of African American George Floyd at the hand of the Police continue to flare across the USA. The damage in businesses looted by the protesters in the demonstrations that spread to many states is remarkable. The pharmacy store owned by Mehmed Bülend Uğur, the President of the Turkish American Pharmacists Association (TAEB), got its share from the attacks of the protesters in New Jersey hit by the protests. Even prescription drugs in the pharmacy were stolen by the protesters who had been looting all over the city.

ALL OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WERE STOLEN

Mehmed Bülent Uğur, President of the Turkish-American Pharmacists Association (TAEB),spoke with Ali Cinar from Turk of America shared all details about the incident in his pharmacy. Ugur said, "Yesterday evening, unfortunately, they broke into our pharmacy in groups of 5 to 10 people within minutes of each other. As you can see in the videos, they scattered when the Police arrived. But they stole the money in the cash register and even the prescription drugs of our patients. They stole the prescription drugs that were supposed to be delivered to the patients today. These individuals are not from Trenton; they have come here from another town. Four of them have been apprehended by the Police."

SOME OF THE LOOTERS WERE APPREHENDED

Ugur, a graduate of the Istanbul University, Faculty of Pharmacy and a pharmacist in the city of Trenton, NJ for the last 15 years stated; "It is very wrong for the Police to kill someone through brutality, but the response in the form of looting is not the right way. Furthermore, they all know about drugs. While some of them took what they could, others knew exactly which drugs they were going for. And they all scattered when the Police arrived. The weird thing is, our alarm did not go off. We have a deafening alarm system. We got a call from our warehouse, and they warned us, "In case of another attack which is expected in the next 48 hours, take necessary measures!"

June 7, 2020
Published in Uncategorised
Written by Admin TOA

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser unveils large street banner reading 'Black Lives Matter'

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser shared the painting made on 16th Street, which became the center of protests in response to the killing of African American George Floyd while in the custody of the police in Minnesota, on her Twitter account and announced that an intersection near the White House was renamed to Black Lives Matter Plaza.

Each of the 16 bold yellow letters spans the width of the two-lane street, creating a huge visual easily spotted by aerial cameras and virtually anyone within two-three blocks.

Mayor Bowser sent a letter to President Trump, stating that she ended the “state of emergency” situation and the curfews in the city, and requesting that he withdraw the National Guard soldiers in the city.

Per President Trump's request,Pentagon moved 1,600 active-duty troops to the Washington area as the military is playing a critical role in responding to protests in the nation's capital,Washington,DC .

June 7, 2020
Published in Politics1
Written by Admin TOA

Turkish Americans in the 2020 Elections!

In April, Aycha Sirvanci Sawa achieved a stunning election win to become the City Comptroller of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What's Next for Turkish Americans in the 2020 Election Year? The next-go-around for Turkish Americans at the ballot box is this July. Two Turkish American lawyers are running in elections in the states of New Jersey and Louisiana. The outcome of these polls could be historically significant for the Turkish American community.

May 17, 2020
Published in Politicians
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Candan Tamerler, Ph.D. Elected as President of TASSA

Candan Tamerler, Ph.D. was elected as President of the Turkish American Scientists & Scholars Association (TASSA). Dr. Tamerler is a Wesley G. Cramer Professor and Associate Dean of Research at the University of Kansas School of Engineering.

May 17, 2020
Published in Academicians
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Supporting the Hospitable People of Turkey and Refugees Living There

6.8 magnitude earthquake rocks Turkey. Islamic Relief staff in Turkey alerted us to a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the Elazig province just hours ago. Latest reports share that more than 1,000 people have been injured and at least 22 people were killed -- many of them as they were trying to escape collapsing buildings.

January 25, 2020
Published in Case Studies
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

A Global Crisis Means A Global Response

Millions of dollars’ worth of emergency assistance to more than 20 at-risk countries has been released by Islamic Relief (of which Islamic Relief USA is a part of) in a bid to stem the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, help those infected and support vulnerable communities that have been the hardest hit. Thousands of hygiene kits containing essentials like hand sanitizer, surgical masks and thermometers have already been delivered to high-risk communities in places like Syria and Afghanistan where vital health infrastructure has crumbled due to conflict.

April 24, 2020
Published in Health
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Special Ramadan Greeting from Members of Congress

Seventy members of Congress from across the United States have shared video messages and letters of recognition with Islamic Relief USA, expressing their “Ramadan Mubarak!” greetings and commending the Islamic Relief family for its humanitarian and advocacy work. IRUSA thanks them for their engagement with the Muslim community and their recognition of this blessed season.

April 24, 2020
Published in Associations
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Halfway through Ramadan

We've already reached the half-way point of this month where we strive for piety and righteousness! And you have made it a remarkable 15 days. Look at some of what we've achieved together.

TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION

With so many people restricted to working from home and practicing social distancing, IRUSA answered your call and created a whole channel of online events and programs via IRUSA Live, including: Ramadan Reflections - The Prophets Series; 30 for 30 - Fitness Workout with Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady; Digital Kids Camp with Noor Kids, Cooks for a Cause, The Ten, and more.

WORKING GLOBALLY

Islamic Relief donors have provided food aid and hygiene kits containing essentials like hand sanitizer, surgical masks, and thermometers to high-risk communities in places like Syria and Afghanistan where vital health infrastructure has crumbled due to conflict.

And you've done so much more: You've helped those suffering from thirst get water; orphans get support; and widows gain opportunities to create a livelihood for themselves and their families; and on and on.

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Because of your generosity and support, IRUSA is able to implement these programs and many more to help our sisters and brothers in need around the world.

If you have NOT made a donation this Ramadan, it’s not too late! And if you have, then a Ramadan Jummah is a great day to increase your sadaqah.

$50 can provide a family with a Ramadan food package

$100 can provide rice and meal essentials for five families

$500 helps give financial assistance to our vulnerable neighbors affected by COVID-19

May 8, 2020
Published in Associations
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Getty/Melanie Stetson FreemanA DACA recipient and student attends criminology class in October 2017, in Willimantic, Connecticut.

Undocumented Students Generated Up to $132 Million in Relief to Colleges—But They Won’t Receive a Dime From the Stimulus

By Viviann Anguiano - Maya is an undocumented student activist enrolled at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) as a sociology and labor studies major. Her parents are undocumented and have lost their jobs due to shutdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. While Maya’s family’s unexpected struggles resemble many families’ across the country right now, her family is not eligible to receive the stimulus checks that the U.S. government is disbursing as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Maya recently paid her family’s rent with the money she received from a private $1,000 scholarship.

May 9, 2020
Published in Case Studies
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

More...

We Need Your Help, Spreading Awareness for Aylin Acikalin, Democrat for Judge of New Orleans, First City Court!

Turkish American women saw one political success story so far this year with the election of Aycha Sawa as City Comptroller of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last month. Aycha is the 12th Turkish American elected to public office, and the first Turkish American woman elected as the chief financial officer for a major American city. She is also the second woman elected as a city official in Milwaukee.

May 9, 2020
Published in Politics1
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Professor Ivet Bahar became a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

The highly successful molecular biology professor, Ivet Bahar, has been elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the world’s most prestigious science academy, for her scientific research.

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences, whose headquarters are located in Washington, honored 120 scientists in the USA and 26 scientists outside the USA by electing them as members this year.

Following the announcement made, as of April 27, those elected bring the total number of active members to 2,403 and the total number of international members to 501. Professor Bahar continues her research as the Founding President and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Computational and Systems Biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Bahar is known for her theoretical and computational models, which she developed to explain the functional dynamics of biological systems on a molecular scale, signal transmission, and regulation among neurons, their alignment, and functions in proteins.

May 1, 2020
Published in Science
Written by Admin TOA

TCA's Chairman and Founder Dr. Yalcin Ayasli Receives 2020 Ataturk Distinguished Humanitarian Award

TCA's Chairman and Founder, Dr. Yalcin Ayasli, was a keynote speaker and recipient of the 2020 Ataturk Society of America Ataturk Distinguished Humanitarian Award at the 100th Anniversary of National Sovereignty & Children's Day and the inauguration of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

May 1, 2020
Published in Professionals
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

Chobani Repurposes SoHo Cafe Into Food Pantry Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

By Beth Dedman - amNewYork - Chobani has redirected the focus of their Chobani Café in SoHo into a temporary food pantry, where employees are giving away free Chobani products beginning April 28. The café will open twice a week for the foreseeable future to give free products and support families and food bank workers. The Café food pantry is staffed by Chobani Café employees and volunteers from the #BeAShepherd initiative. Chobani is the Turkish word for “shepherd” and inspired the “giving back” values Chobani wants to embody at this time.

April 29, 2020
Published in Companies
Written by Admin TOA

Tagged under

More...

Videos