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An important change has occurred in the customs duties applied to vehicles imported from China. The 40% customs duty previously applied only to electric vehicles now applies to all types of vehicles from China. The decision is published in the "Official Gazette" of Turkey and will enter into force on 7 July 2024. Thus, the total tax rate applied to cars of Chinese origin increased to 50 per cent. The rationale for the tax increase is to stimulate domestic production and reduce the foreign trade deficit. However, representatives of the automobile sector are concerned that this decision may lead to another increase in car prices, which will affect consumers, and lead to a decline in the share of Chinese brands in the Turkish market. By the way, last month the US also raised tariffs on Chinese electric cars and solar panels, which led to comments that this decision could be part of a global trade war.

According to the results of the 2025 World University Rankings, compiled by the rating agency Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), five Turkish universities were able to enter the TOP 500 best universities in the world. This year, an estimated 5,663 leading universities of the world, and the list included 1,503 universities. Universities included in the TOP 500 list: Middle East Technical University: 285th placeIstanbul Technical University: 326th placeKoch University: 401st placeBogazji University: 418th placeBilkent University: 477th place METU Middle Eastern Technical University was ranked first among Turkish universities. In addition, in the last 3 years, the METU rating on the criterion of "recognition of employers" has risen to 153 positions and took 101 place in the world, and the rating on the criterion of "academic recognition" has risen to 47 positions and took 286 place, reaching the highest success in all years. Turkish universities in the top 1,200 in the world: Sabanji University, Istanbul University, Hacettepe University, Ankara University, Yildiz Technical University, Gazi University, Ege University, Gebze Technical University, Marmara University. The top three universities in the world included the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Imperial College London and Oxford University.

Turkey experienced hot dry weather and, as a result, increased fire risks. Fires have already been recorded in Manavgat, Antalya (Konyaalty), which, fortunately, managed to contain and extinguish. In response to the situation, many provinces have issued bans on campfires and barbecues in forests and picnic areas. In Antelje, in the picnic and recreation areas from June to the end of October, it is forbidden to ignite barbecues and bonfires. Picnic areas are prohibited from 9 pm to 8.30 am. Entrance to the forest, except for permitted areas for picnics and recreation in the city, is prohibited from June 7 to October 31. The same order was issued by the municipality of Istanbul. The entrance to the forest of STambula is prohibited until October 15.

The Turkish Institute of Statistics TÜİK published data on the number of foreign brides and brides for 2023. The number of foreign brides was 31,029 (5.5% of the total number of brides) and the number of brides was 6,345 (1.1% of the total number of grooms). The nationalities of the bride are as follows: Uzbekistan - 12.0 per cent Syria - 11.3 per cent Azerbaijan - 9.1 per cent Russia - 7.5%Germany - 7.2 per cent Morocco - 6.9 per centTurkmenistan - 5.9 per centKyrgyzstan - 3.7 per centUkraine - 3.5 per centOthers - 32.9 per cent The distribution of grooms by nationality is as follows: Germany - 21.9 per centSyria - 19.2 per centAustria - 5.1 per centAfghanistan - 5 per centAzerbaijan - 4 per centIran - 3.5USA - 3.1Iran - 2.8Bulgaria - 2.5Others - 32.9 per cent

Dubai authorities have launched a major initiative to issue "gaming" visas to Dubai Gaming Visa. This program will provide long-term visas for talented creators and innovators in the field of electronic games. The new initiative aims to place Dubai in the world s top 10 gaming cities by 2033 and increase its contribution to the emirate s GDP to $1 billion. Dubai Gaming Visa will provide a platform to support professionals in the gaming industry, giving them access to investment and the opportunity to develop their skills and competencies. The program will make Dubai more attractive to entrepreneurs, investors, web developers, designers and programmers. Dubai aims to become a global cultural hub, a creative incubation and a thriving hub for talented professionals. By 2033, it is planned to create 30,000 new jobs in the electronic gaming segment. In addition, Dubai attracts leading gaming professionals through various events and exhibitions that showcase the sector s rapid growth and development. You can apply for a gaming visa on the Dubai Culture Authority website or on the official Dubai Gaming Visa website.

According to a report by the Boston Consultancy Group, two cities in the UAE were ranked among the best cities to operate. Dubai ranked third, Abu Dhabi fourth. In total, 150,000 people were interviewed. The high quality of jobs offered, high incomes, low taxes and a high quality of life were cited as reasons why respondents chose the UAE. An important factor in the choice of the UAE was that the time to obtain visas reduced from 30 to 5 days, and the number of documents from 16 to 5. The top 10 best cities to operate is as follows: 1. London2. Amsterdam3. Dubai4. Abu Dhabi 5. New York6. Berlin7. Singapore8. Barcelona9. Tokyo10. Sydney

On June 8 at 17:00 in Obe there will be opening of the network cafe "Ehli b rek". The network is known for its budget prices for Turkish pies (b rek) and sweets (baklava), starting from 199 lire and 299 lire per kg, respectively. The Turks love these cafes located in Ankara and Eskişehir. And now the cafe "Ehli b rek" also opens in Alanya. Location: Oba Mahallesi 18. Sokak, H.G r Apartman (36A)

Turkey began the countdown to the second space flight in its history. Tuva Jihangir Atasever will go into space on June 8 from the cosmodrome in New Mexico, USA, on the spacecraft VSS Unity company Virgin Galactic. Atanorth will conduct seven experiments in space: "Our goal in space flight is to conduct research in space to improve life on Earth. We are trying to find new solutions and develop new technologies to overcome the various health and technological challenges that people face, both in our country and around the world. The realization that there is an opportunity to contribute to the development of both my country and the world gives me great spiritual satisfaction".

FTI, the third tour operator in Europe, declared bankruptcy. It is important that the company drew more tourists (mainly from Germany) to rest in Antalya and Alanya, so local hoteliers are very concerned about the fact of bankruptcy of the tour operator. It is reported that the debt of FTI to the hotels of Antalya is not less than 30 million. Euros and before the hotels of Alanya - at least 150-200 million. Euros. Tourist trips booked for 4 June and later were cancelled. The mayor of Alanya expressed the opinion that the region had previously faced the problem of bankruptcy of tour operators and coped with such situations with dignity.

In Istanbul, Atat rk Airport will launch the 6th Festival of Ethnorphic Culture, which will be attended by representatives of 30 countries. The festival will last 4 days until June 9. Visitors will be free to participate in various interesting events. The festival program includes traditional sports and games, traditional arts, gastronomy, performing arts. Guests will be able to try their hand in archery and riding under the guidance of a professional, and master classes on the territory of the festival will allow you to join the traditional arts. Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Confederation of Ethnospores: "We organized our first festival in Istanbul in K czekmedze district in 2016 and saw that the citizens liked it very much, so we decided to hold it on a permanent basis. Our festival takes place in Istanbul, and Istanbul is a meeting place for people from all over the world. It is one of the most accessible cities. I also wanted to note that this time the festival will be attended by children from Palestine. They will present their traditional arts. By this, we want to show that children in Gaza should not lose their childhood and have a right".

And a couple more lines about the LGS exam in Turkey. In Chanlyurf, the student misanswered absolutely all the questions of the LGS Test (there is one) - 90 of 90 and received a quarter of the gold coin as a reward. This does not mean that the student is stupid. Just the opposite. The fact is, the director of the training course Muhammad Tahir Kurt promised to give a quarter of a gold coin ( eyrek altın -1.75 gr. gold) to someone who will answer all questions correctly or incorrectly. I mean, to win the prize, you had to answer all 90 questions correctly or incorrectly, which the student did. The news sparked a lot of discussion on social media, so the school s management came forward to explain the situation. M.T.Kurt: "This exam was a trial and was held a week before the final LGS exam. To motivate the students, we awarded a prize (quarter gold coin). Understand, the probability of a person answering 90 wrong questions is one in six trillion! The only person who can do this is a person who has solved all the questions correctly and specifically marked the wrong answer. Our student, who is the best on the course, did so. We are very proud of her results!"

Pursuant to a decision published in the "Official Gazette", the Constitutional Court ruled on a request to repeal Decree-Law 703 of 2018, "On Amending Certain Laws and Decree Laws to Ensure Conformity with the Amendments to the Constitution". The Constitutional Court (AYM) revoked President Erdoğan s power to replace the head of the Central Bank of Turkey before the end of his term, and ruled that such changes made without the permission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly were unconstitutional. The Court ruled that article 151 (h) and (j) of Decree-Law 703 were unconstitutional. The court also annulled the decree and the provision of the law allowing the President to appoint rectors of universities:The Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the provision on the appointment of rectors by the President of the Republic contained in Decree-Law 703. The decision will take effect in 12 months.