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Fugitive Hüseyin Korkmaz (L) and his wife after being released in Turkey

FBI Gave $50,000 'Assistance' to Gülenist Who Confessed Role in Op to Overthrow Turkey's Gov't: Court Hearing

Adam Klasfeld, a reporter for Courthouse News said late Tuesday that Gülenist Hüseyin Korkmaz testified in a trial in New York that the Federal Bureau of Investigation gave him $50,000 of "financial assistance" which he said he didn't ask for. Korkmaz has been an important name in the trial and has stood out with his contradictory statements, namely for completely denying while he was in Turkey that "he had anything to do with" the December 17-25 judicial coup attempt perpetrated by Gülenist terror group (FETÖ) to overthrow Turkey's democratically elected government, but later confessing after coming to the U.S. that he was actually the investigator of the case with eight officers working under his command.

December 13, 2017
Published in Businessman
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Turkish drama series “Kara Sevda” (Endless Love) won Best Telenovela at the 45th International Emmy Awards on Nov. 21.

Turkish TV Series Wins International Emmy Award for First Time

By Jimmy Cuneyt Gurkan - The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the winners of the 45th International Emmy® Awards tonight at a Black-Tie Gala event attended by 1,000 television professionals from around the world and hosted by comedian Maz Jobrani at the New York Hilton. The Directorate Award and 11 Emmy statues were presented by the International Academy during the evening.

December 13, 2017
Published in Movie & Theather
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The American Turkish Society’s 16th Annual New York Turkish Film Festival

By Jimmy Cuneyt Gurkan - The 16th New York Turkish Film Festival took place in SVA Theatre in Manhattan from November 30th to December 3rd. The festival is organized by ATS American Turkish Society and sponsored by TAIK (Turkey US Business Council). New York Consulate General Honorable Ertan Yalcin, Chair of Board of Directors of ATS Murat Koprulu, festival director Janset Bayibay, ATS board member Lawrence M Kaye, actors Mehmet Ali Alabora, Alican Yucesoy, Pinar Ogun, Peyman Umay, Director Doğan Özmekik, writer Nilüfer Ozmekik were some of the guests enjoying the festival. I have specially enjoyed the future film “Cold of Kalandar” and the short movie “Exhibit”.

December 13, 2017
Published in Movie & Theather
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New York Turkish Film Festival

Under the leadership of Murat Cetinkaya, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey raised interest rates in order to contain the depreciation of the Turkish lira

Growth in Turkey Hits 11.1 Percent

The Turkish Statistical Institute has announced that its third-quarter GDP figures depict a growth rate of 11.1 percent year-on-year. This makes it the fastest-growing country in the G20 by a considerable margin, with China trailing behind with 6.8 percent growth. The double-digit figure marks a substantial leap from rates seen over the past year, with year-on-year growth coming in at around five percent for the first two quarters of 2017. Notably, it reflects a recovery from the contraction of 1.8 percent that was announced this time last year.

December 13, 2017
Published in World
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Turkish-American Professor Named New Head of Engineering Department at MIT

Turkish-American Prof. Dr. Asu Özdağlar has been named the new head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Özdağlar has served as the interim head of the department since July 1 after former head Acanthi Chandraksan was named dean of the School of Engineering. Özdağlar is best known for her contributions to the areas of optimization theory, economic and social networked systems, and game theory.

December 13, 2017
Published in Academicians
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FILE PHOTO: Turkish gold trader Reza Zarrab is shown in this court room sketch as he appears in Manhattan federal court in New York, U.S., April 24, 2017. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg Reuters

Reza Zarrab Details Money Laundering Scheme for Iran

By Brendan Pierson - NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Turkish-Iranian gold trader described in a U.S. court on Wednesday how he ran a sprawling international money laundering scheme aimed at helping Iran get around U.S. sanctions and spend its oil and gas revenues abroad. Reza Zarrab, who has pleaded guilty and is cooperating with U.S. prosecutors in the criminal trial of a Turkish bank executive, told jurors in federal court in Manhattan that he helped Iran use funds deposited in Turkey's state-owned Halkbank to buy gold, which was smuggled to Dubai and sold for cash. The testimony, given through Turkish interpreters, came on the second day of the trial of Halkbank executive Mehmet Hakan Atilla, who has pleaded not guilty.

November 30, 2017
Published in Politics1
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In this Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 photo, Chobani yogurt cups are displayed in New York. Chobani, the company that helped kick-start the Greek yogurt craze, is shrinking those words from its label as it hints it may expand beyond that food in an increasingly crowded yogurt market.

Chobani Gets New Look and Hints at Going Beyond Yogurt

Chobani, the company that helped kick-start the Greek yogurt craze, is shrinking those words on its label as it may expand beyond that food in an increasingly crowded yogurt market. The new look, which will show up in supermarkets this week, removes "Greek Yogurt" from underneath the Chobani name. The yogurt inside will stay the same. Its packaging will be more muted than the current bright white, use a new font and style, and feature watercolor paintings of fruits rather than photographs of strawberries and peaches.

November 28, 2017
Published in Companies
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Reza Zarrab Will Not Go On Trial: US Judge

By Safvan Allahverdi - AA - WASHINGTON - The judge in the trial of Turkish banker Mehmet Hakan Atilla announced late Monday that a jury of 12, including six alternates, had been selected. Earlier U.S. District Judge Richard Berman said Turkish businessman Riza Sarraf would not face trial. Instead, Atilla, the deputy CEO of Turkey’s Halkbank, will be the only defendant, Berman told jurors in Manhattan. Berman added that opening arguments will begin Tuesday morning for a trial due to last three to four weeks.

November 28, 2017
Published in Politicians
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Turkey Urges US to Drop Case Against Gold Trader Reza Zarrab

A Turkish gold trader charged with conspiring to evade US sanctions against Iran will not go on trial in New York this week. Reza Zarrab dropped out of sight in the two months leading up to his scheduled trial. However, there is widespread speculation that Zarrab has flipped and is now cooperating with the prosecution. He was abruptly released from prison in early November and his whereabouts are publically unknown.

November 28, 2017
Published in Politics1
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Defense, Prosecution Disagree on Key Disputed Issues in Reza Zarrab Case

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Nov. 24 that the defense team and prosecutors failed to agree on a number of disputed issues in the case of Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab and former Halkbank deputy general manager Mehmet Hakan Atilla. The court in New York announced its ruling on a total of 10 issues that should be agreed on regarding the case ahead of the election of the jury on Nov. 27. Judge Richard Berman accepted one of seven demands from the prosecution while denying all three demands from Atilla’s lawyers.

November 24, 2017
Published in Professionals
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US Contacts Turkey on Syria Peace, YPG

United States President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on the phone on Nov. 24 only days after a Russia-Turkey-Iran summit on Syria, with Ankara saying that Washington has pledged not to send weapons to the People’s Protection Units (YPG) any more. “President Trump instructed [his generals] in a very open way that the YPG will no longer be given weapons. He openly said that this absurdity should have ended much earlier,” Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu told reporters after the phone call.

November 24, 2017
Published in Politics1
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Turkish MIT Economist Daron Acemoğlu Receives Science Medal in Istanbul

Leading MIT Professor Daron Acemoğlu has received the “2017 Rahmi M. Koç Medal of Science” for his “distinguished contributions to the economic realm globally,” according to Koç University, which presented him with the award on Nov. 22. Acemoğlu’s name has repeatedly been mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in economics. Recently, he has gained popularity through his book “Why Nations Fail,” co-authored by political scientist James Robinson.

November 24, 2017
Published in Professionals
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Turkish Owned Atlantis Management Group Acquires Food Bag, 50 Convenience-Store Chain

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. -- Atlantis Management Group (AMG) has acquired Food Bag, a convenience-store chain and CITGO-branded petroleum marketer. The transaction includes the purchase of more than 50 fee-simple sites and a transportation company. Kensington, Conn.-based General Equities Inc. operates the Food Bag stores, which have provided convenience-store products and motor fuel to customers in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida for more than 57 years.

November 20, 2017
Published in Professionals
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Sierra Nevada Corporation Announces Successful Test of Dream Chaser Spacecraft

Last week, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced a successful atmospheric free-flight test of its Dream Chaser spacecraft, signaling the program is another achievement closer to orbital operations. The Dream Chaser is a reusable, multi-mission space utility vehicle capable of transportation services to and from low-Earth orbit, where the International Space Station resides, and is the only commercial, lifting-body vehicle capable of a runway landing. “The Dream Chaser flight test demonstrated excellent performance of the spacecraft’s aerodynamic design and the data shows that we are firmly on the path for safe, reliable orbital flight,” said Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC’s Space System business area.

November 20, 2017
Published in Technology
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