Many foreign people apply to Turkey for work premit
Russia tops the list of people who applied to Turkey to have work permit, and it was followed by Ukraine and China. Many people from 127 countries applied to Turkey for work permit in 2011. According to figures of Labor and Social Security Ministry, Turkey gave temporary permits to 11,634 people, permanent permits to 29 people, and extended work permits of 5,073 people from 127 countries last year.

Turkey... Multi-Satellite Roadmap (Launches)
Over the next five years, satellite contracts could amount to $2 billion, according to a space industry expert based in Turkey. The Turkish government has devised an ambitious road map for the country?s multiple satellite programs through 2020. According to the road map, a total of 17 Turkish satellites will come into orbit from 2012 to 2020. A space industry expert based in Turkey said the next five years? satellite contracts would amount to $2 billion. ?This is a niche market with strong prospects due to Turkey?s genuine ambitions in space technology,? he said.

Turkey, Germany cooperate in solar energy
The two companies have equal shares in the joint firm they established under the name Gehrlicher Merk Solar Energy Corp. Turkish Merk Solar Energy will make cooperation with German Gehrlicher Solar company in solar energy market.

Turkey, Macedonia sign free zone agreement
Turkey and Macedonia signed on Thursday a memorandum of understanding including free zone agreement. The two countries signed the agreement during Turkey-Macedonia Trade and Investment Forum in the northwestern province of Bursa. Turkey's economy minister said on Thursday that whoever invested in Macedonia would gain.

World Economic Forum to host summit in Istanbul
WEF's Istanbul summit will bring together more than 1,000 people from the political, business, civil society and media sectors. Turkish Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said Saturday that the World Economic Forum (WEF) would host a summit on Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia in Istanbul between June 4 and 6.

Turkey's population increases by 1.35 pct to 74.7 mln
Turkey's population increased by 1.35 percent to 74.7 million at the end of 2011 when compared to the previous year. Turkey's population was 74,724,269 at the end of 2011. Turkish Statistical Authority, TurkStat, made public Friday results of the census conducted through the Address-Based Population Registration System which uses the National Address Database to track the number of people living at a specific address.

Turkish first attack helicopter to be delivered in April
"ATAK" is one of the best helicopters in the world with its high technology, Bayar underlined. Undersecretary of Turkey's Defense Industry, Murad Bayar, said Saturday that Turkey's first attack helicopter "ATAK" (T129) would be delivered in April.

Turkey?s first face transplant patient "speaking"
Turkey?s first-ever face transplant patient, 19-year-old Ugur Acar, was removed from intensive care at the Akdeniz University Hospital on Wednesday and uttered his first words on Wednesday afternoon. Acar suffered serious burns to his face during a house fire that occurred when he was just 40 days old. Dr. Omer Ozkan, a professor from the department of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at Antalya University?s Faculty of Medicine, told the press on Wednesday that the young patient was continuing to surprise doctors with the speediness of his progress following the operation, adding that stubble had even begun to emerge on Acar?s face.

Murdoch plans bid to buy Turkish media group
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is considering a bid to buy one of Turkey's biggest media groups, which owns the Sabah daily and popular TV station ATV, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), one of the media outlets owned by News Corporation. The Turkish group is currently owned by Calik Holding, a business conglomerate run by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's son-in-law.

Turkish cities hit the top 10 fastest-growing list
Turkey?s three metropolises of Izmir, Ankara and Istanbul were among the fastest-growing metropolitan economies, according to a report released by the Brookings Institution. Turkey?s western province of Izmir was ranked the fourth among the fastest-growing metropolitan economies, the report titled ?Global MetroMonitor 2011: Volatility, Growth, and Recovery? said. Ankara took sixth place, while Istanbul was ranked seventh. These three metropolises are also the largest among Turkey?s provinces.

Turkey and S Korea to speed up free trade deal
Turkey and South Korea have signed a joint action plan to boost bilateral relations. The two countries agreed to sign a free trade agreement as soon as possible, which would pave the way to balancing trade between the two countries, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said after talks with his South Korean counterpart Jan. 20.

Property prices in Turkey continue upwards
The prices of new properties in Turkey have been increasing steadily over the last 12 months and experts expect them to continue doing so in 2012. According to the latest figures from the REIDIN New Home Price Index prices increased 0.78% in November and are now 9.88% up on November 2010. Trademarked projects in the of European side of Istanbul increased 1.17% month on months while those on the Asian side were up 0.47%.

Museum, ancient site incomes rising
he income earned from museums and ancient sites around Izmir in 2011 increased by 41.64 percent over 2010, according to Izmir Culture and Tourism Directorate data. Earned income was 12.28 million Turkish Liras in 2011. The figure was 8.67 million liras in 2010, according to the data. It shows that 2,792,053 people visited museums and ancient sites around Izmir last year, while 484,943 visited those places free of charge and 414,799 people visited with a Muzekart, a discounted museum card.

Obama names Turkish PM Erdogan among trusted friends
U.S. President Barack Obama named Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan among the five leaders that he has established relations based on confidence, in an interview with Time. In an interview with Fareed Zakaria, the Editor-at-Large of Time magazine, Obama named Turkish PM Erdogan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, and British Prime Minister David Cameron among leaders that he was able to forge "bonds of trust."

Euromonitor International?s Top 100 City Destinations
Euromonitor International is pleased to release its latest Top City Destinations Ranking, covering 100 of the world's leading and most dynamic cities in terms of international tourist arrivals. After recording a decline in 2009, international arrivals to countries regained growth in 2010, positively impacting results for the top 100 cities, which saw arrivals increase by 7%. Star performers in 2010 were emerging city destinations located in Asia Pacific, thanks to a strong economic environment and growing travel and tourism dynamism. Most European cities lagged behind as a result of the weak economic prospects in the Eurozone, which impacted intra-regional travel.