At least 40 people have been taken under custody in Istanbul during Kurds traditional Newroz festivities, which marks the beginning of spring. While people on the streets demand an end to violence, clashes between the police and demonstrators continued.

A thousand women marched through the busiest avenue in Istanbul to voice their reaction and objection to the male-dominated society and their solidarity with all women, exploited or subjected to violence. March 8 celebrations continue.

Thousands of women took to the streets this weekend to voice their demands as celebrations for March 8, Womens Day begin. From honor killings, sexual harassment and violence to gender discrimination at work, women chanted for another world.

Four organizations gathering doctors, dentists, health services workers and pharmacists together have begun a series of street protests to condemn governments policies to further commercialize the system. Protests will continue throughout March.

University administrations collaborate with public prosecutors to oppress dissident students by constant inquisitions and disciplinary penalties, says Eliaçık from the new Students Union Initiative. Recently,33 students sentenced to 3,9 years in Edirne.

As Turkey witnesses one of the hottest winters in calculable history and water shortages come on the public agenda, we went on to interrogate what people know and think of global warming: While all heard of the phenomenon, many think its only natural.

DISK-affiliated Student Union Initiative is formally becoming a union under the name GENCSEN. Initiative spokesperson Eliacik says union to work on variety of fronts from university exams to social rights and students used as cheap labor.

EC Progress Report on Turkey referring to the lack of journalists employement rights prompts journalist associations and unions. TGC, TGS and CGD list problems as monopolization, fear of being sacked and lack of protective laws.

AMARCs Diasio says political alliances needed for independent media and defends that alternative is not the same as independent and free. Acik Radios Madra says radio experience one of increasing independence with no institutional ties.

Education for Communication panel hears Ferguson from University of London stressing importance of how to open issues to debate when giving radical messages to society. Gazi Universitys Cankaya says we are not training technicians for the sector.

IPS Foundations Mater opens International Independent Media Forum: Independent media is a must to make apparent the invisible, to voice the un-voiced. IPS Europes Jaura: Journalists shouldnt consider global-national realities as if those were isolated.

Union reacts to THY contract allowing unilateral layoffs in case of cabin crew pregnancy. Hava Is Deputy Chair Ates says discriminating agreement is an attack against the labor of women.

First Turkish feminist online magazine launched this week with hopes of bridging feminist theory and feminist activism. Feminist Approaches in Culture and Politics focuses on problems of women and problems that effect women directly.

29-year-old man claims he was kidnapped and tortured by a group of civil policemen two weeks after being mistreated for a day in formal police custody and released with a threat that they would be back.

Prior to the upcoming International Independent Media Forum we asked journalists what kind of a media and journalism they wanted. They expressed the same difficulties and requests. Radikal; Milliyet, Vatan and Cumhuriyets reporters are talking...

According to applications made to the Istanbul Bar Association Womens Rights Enforcement Center, 95 out of every 100 women applying for legal assistance in 2005 have been subjected to violence. Over half of applicants are housewives.

Political parties, rights activists, artists and NGOs sahraply react against the Diyarbakir bombing. Regardless of where it comes from, for whatever aim, violence cannot be approved. The Kurdish problem cannot be solved through violence they say.

As Turkish MPs meet tomorrow to debate a government ruling to send troops to Lebanon, peace activists opposing the move will take to the streets in a major rally.. DISK calls for mass participation to prevent coffins coming back from Lebanon.

29 leading intellectuals sign open letter saying government should only send humanitarian aid to the Middle East. Baydar: Cease-Fire declared for countries to send soldiers while the function of the peace corps is to suppress Palestine and Lebanon.

Despite protests and appeals, PM Erdogan is expected to lead a groundbreaking ceremony in the Southeast, launching the construction of the controversial Ilisu Dam at cost of immersing the town of Hasankeyf, the heart of ancient Mesopotamia, under water.