Official figures reveal 645 thousand more unemployed in November last year. "Import depended production means capitalism itself is to blame for unemployment" says Prof. Ercan. "A comprehensive struggle is needed to transform government policies."

The Turkish Statistical Institute has announced the data of November 2008. Unemployment has risen among young people, and the total number of unemployed is nearly three million.

Minister of Justice Şahin told parliament that 1,042 people were tried under Article 301 in 2006 and 2007. 11,720 people were tried under the Anti-Terrorism Law; 17,510 more were accused of “membership in an illegal organisation and 6,582 people of leading such organisations.

The tenth anniversary of the arrest of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was marked by demonstrations in several cities in the southeast of Turkey. There were clashes between protesters and police.

Hanife Yıldız stood at Galatasaray Square to demand her son from the state. The Saturday Mothers, relatives of political activists who disappeared, have restarted their protests which began 24 years ago.

Some 40,000 workers rally in Kadıköy, Istanbul, in the weekend to protest against paying the price for global capitalist crisis. There were clashes between members of the right-wing and left-wing metal workrs unions.

UNICEF and deans of faculties of communication sign a joint protocol to include rights of the child in their curricula. Courses will begin in September 2009. bianet's efforts to introduce children's rights-based journalism contributed to the incentive.

Turkey's Union of Journalists initiate strike action as the employer firm Turkuvaz Media fails to negotiate a collective agreement. This is the first strike action in press in 29 years, as media remains nearly union-free to date.

A family in Diyarbakır has finally learnt that three of its members are among the dead bodies found in 2003. They are still missing two other people.

More than 300 signatures have been collected in protest at the comments of Bugün newspaper journalist Aykut Işıklar, for comments he wrote about theatre actor Nedim Saban.

Academic Barkey from Lehigh University has prepared a report on conflict prevention in Kurdistan for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

According to research published by the Prime Ministerial Directorate on the Status of Women, 4 out of 10 women suffer physical or sexual violence from their husbands or partners.

In a written statement, the General Staff denies any involvement with Ergenekon suspect Sahin and criticizes Radikal daily's consecutive articles revealing Sahin's statements to prosecutors where he alleged close ties with top-ranking army officers.

PKK leader Ocalan was confiscated in Nairobi on February 15th, 1999. The state hoped that the PKK would dismantle without Ocalan but the Kurdish movement managed to reform itself, analyst Kalyon said.

Nearly 20 percent of Israel's population is the Arab minority. Fascist Yisrael Beitenu's success in elections leaves us in dismay, Ra'am party's Abed al-Alhim told bianet. "Already facing discrimination, we'll call for a boycott if it enters the new government."

Police officer Ali Mutlu stands accused of “deliberately causing death”; the prosecution is demanding 8-12 years for the death of Feyzullah Ete.

MP Akın Birdal has become DTP’s candidate for mayor of Greater Istanbul in the upcoming local elections. Parties and organisations of the left have announced collaboration and their support for Birdal.

When a male AKP MP opposed the “Gender Equality” name of the planned committee in parliament, it was changed to “Equality of Opportunities”. Women have reacted in protest.

Labour organisations and trade unions have called on workers to take part in a demonstration against unemployment and corruption on Sunday in Kadıköy, Istanbul.

British Council Turkey reveals a recent research on migrants living in Istanbul. The report calls for increased international cooperation. "Migrants should not be deemed as security threats; rather their needs shall be addressed."