August 20, 2024
It took the Turkish company PTT 15 months to deliver the package to the addressee
The theatre artist Joshk n Cheinalp, founder of the Ordu Ekin Theatre, received a newspaper sent from Istanbul via PTT on 5 May 2023. He received it only on 17 August 2024, i.e. 15 months after the shipment. Receiving a theatrical newspaper after 15 months, Josh Cheinalp, with humor commented on the situation:"If you look at it from the point of view of logic, that everything unread is new. So it doesn t matter that I got the paper in 15 months. I congratulate PTT, which delivered my newspaper".
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August 20, 2024
Municipality of Alanya will take 40 million lire to solve current issues in the city
The Financial Services Office of the municipality from 09.08.2024 and E.4689 No., it was decided to take a non-cash loan of 40,000,000 lire (excluding interest) from İller Bankası A.Ş. for use in current and investment expenses in fiscal year 2024. Payments of principal, interest, audit expenses, commissions, taxes, duties, fees etc., arising from the loan shall be paid out of the revenues of the municipality of Alanya, which will be taken as collateral by İller Bankası A.Ş. and legal shares.
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August 19, 2024
Turkish citizens are outraged by the difference in prices for hotels for foreigners and locals
This year, the prices for a holiday in Turkey did not resent only lazy. Turks complain not only about the high cost of holidays, but also about the difference in prices for hotel reservations for locals and foreigners. Two journalists of the TV channel Ekol TV decided to book a hotel in Belek as local residents and foreigners as an experiment, and compare the difference in price. The price of a room for two on the system "all inclusive" for 5 days to the local resident was announced in the amount of 141,500 lire subject to 30% prepayment. For the foreigner, the same number was quoted at 119,418 liras without any advance payment. The difference in price was thus more than 22,000 liras. In the comments to the news, Turkish citizens are speaking out against hoteliers booking rooms for local prices. The Ministry of Tourism is aware of the situation and has repeatedly promised to put an end to the practice of overcharging domestic tourists, but still there.
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August 16, 2024
The Turkish Minister of Internal Affairs has stated that foreigners who enter the country without a visa will not be issued with a residence permit
Minister of Interior Ali Erlikaya said that those who enter Turkey as tourists, residence permit will not be issued: "You can come to Turkey from 95 countries without a visa and travel through the country 6 months. However, this does not entitle you to receive a RSVP. If you decide to work after this period, you will have to return to your country and apply for a work permit. We will accept and evaluate your application and give you a response. After obtaining the authorization, you can enter Turkey on a work visa".
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August 16, 2024
Ministry of Health made official statement on mpox virus situation
Following the announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) of a "emergency" in connection with the spread of the monkey pox virus (mpox), the Ministry of Health of Turkey issued a statement on this issue. The following statements were made: "In 2024 there was not one mpox case in Turkey. In our country there is no need for any restrictions or additional measures. The necessary research is conducted by our ministry, taking into account the opinion of the scientific council. Previously, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhan Gebreyesus announced that the WHO Emergency Committee had accepted a recommendation that the monkey pox virus was an extreme public health hazard of international concern. The Gebreiesus stated that the virus has the potential to spread in Africa and other regions. This year, the number of reported cases exceeded 14,000, and the mortality from this disease was 524 people, which is significantly higher than last year s figure. The virus is transmitted to humans from rodents, such as mice and proteins, or from infected humans. Contact with the virus-induced bodily discharge, use of clothing, sheets, towels and similar items contaminated by these discharges, as well as contact with body fluids are some of the most common causes of virus transmission. The first symptoms may appear 5-21 days after infection. The virus usually causes high temperature, head, back and muscle pain, swelling of the lymph nodes, fatigue, chills and blisters on the skin similar to chicken pox.
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August 16, 2024
Passport of the UAE ranked 9th in the TOP-10 most attractive passports of the world, and the passport of Turkey ranked 45th
The Henley Passport Index is an international ranking of countries by the level of freedom of movement they provide to their citizens. The index analyzes the visa rules of more than 200 countries and territories and ranks them by number of countries with no visa entry. The country s ranking is determined by the number of countries in the world to which its citizens can enter without a visa (without a visa or with a visa on arrival). According to the 2024 report, the UAE passport was ranked in the top 10 most influential passports in the world, ranking 9th. Passport holders of the UAE can visit without visa 185 countries. Turkey also showed progress. Turkish passport took the ranking 45 place, rising by 7 places. Turkish passport holders can visit 118 countries without visa. The most attractive passport in the world was the passport of Singapore. Its holders can visit without visa 195 countries.
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August 15, 2024
The quota for places at Alanyi State University is 98.06%
Along with the announcement of the results of the entrance examination YKS-2024, the number of students enrolled at Alaaddin Kekubat State University (ALKÜ) in Alanya was also known. According to the data, out of a quota of 3,508 seats, 3,440 seats were filled. Thus, the filling rate was 98.06%. With this figure, ALKÜ has become one of the most preferred universities, surpassing Turkey s average by 96%. Faculties with 100% occupancy: - Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Gazipasa, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture and Faculty of Tourism are 100% filled.
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August 15, 2024
In 2025, the registration fee for IMEI in Turkey will be 45,953 liras
In 2025, a significant increase is expected for the registration fee of IMEI foreign phones brought to Turkey from abroad. Tax experts estimate that the registration fee for IMEI, which is currently 31,692 lire ($944), will increase by 45% by 2024 to about 45,953 lire ($1370). 2022 - 2,732 lire2023 - 6,091 lira2023 - 20,000 lire2024 - 31,692 lire Please note that you can now use a phone imported from abroad without paying registration fee for up to 180 days: 120 days + two extensions of 30 days each via e-devlet.
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August 15, 2024
Sales statistics for Turkey in July 2024: real estate sales increased by 16%
The TÜİK Turkish Institute of Statistics has published real estate sales data for July. According to the report, 127,088 properties were sold in July, which is 16% more than in July 2023. Primary real estate sales increased by 28.9% and accounted for 32.1% (40,784 units) of total sales, secondary real estate sales rose by 10.8% and accounted for 67.9% (36,304 units) of total sales. The share of mortgage sales decreased by 20.9% and in total sales amounted to 9.0% (2,786 units) TOP 5 cities for real estate sales in July: Istanbul - 19,047 objectsAnkara - 11,364 objectsAntalya - 6,659 objects Izmir - 6,479 objectsMersin - 4.386 objects Sales to foreigners decreased by 16.1% and amounted to 1.8% of the total sales (2,350 units). Highest selling provinces are steel:
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August 15, 2024
The quotas for places in public universities of Turkey are filled by 98.8%
This was the statement made by Erol Ozvar, president of the Higher Education Council. Thus, there are almost no vacancies in the faculties of public universities. President of ÖSYM prof. Dr Bayram Ali Ersa: "Dear candidates, the results of the YKS-Awards have been announced. You can read them on the ÖSYM website https://sonuc.osym.gov.tr. University registration will be held from 19 to 23 August, and electronic registration will be held from 19 to 21 August. Follow the explanations about registration processes. I congratulate all students who have become students. You are our future".
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August 15, 2024
"Year of the Pensioners" in Turkey
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced another good news. The "Year of Pensioners" program will provide free umbrellas and sunbeds on public beaches for retirees. The ministry also signed a protocol with the Cinema Investors' Association to grant pensioners 30% discount on all screenings in cinemas. In addition, pensioners over 65 years old can visit municipal swimming pools free of charge. These benefits can be granted to foreign pensioners if they have a WFA and a pension certificate translated into Turkish.
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August 14, 2024
Foreigners will be fingerprinted when entering Turkey, as in the US and the UK
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Erlikai has reported that foreigners entering Turkey will now be fingerprinted, as they already do in the US and Great Britain. The Minister also described a number of measures to be taken with regard to Syrian citizens: - The identity cards of those who have temporary protection status (usually Syrian citizens) will now be digital to avoid the possibility of forgery.- Social support and public services will be suspended for those Syrian citizens who do not confirm their addresses in the e-devlet system. The total number of Syrians who must confirm their address is 396,738. Citizens who have not registered within 14 days will be suspended from providing social services and state support. They will be given a final deadline of 60 days to confirm the address of residence, after which, if they do not meet the requirements, they will be officially recognized as illegal. Turkey has 4 million 437 thousand 329 foreigners registered. Of these, 3 million 103 thousand are Syrians. 1 million 109 thousand Syrians have a residence permit, and 224 thousand are under international protection. The annual government expenditure per person is 1,000 euros. In the past year, 132,288 Syrians have voluntarily returned to their country, and in the last five years, the number of voluntary returnees has been 687,706.
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