TURKIYE
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A NEW ECONOMIC PACKET ON WAY

A new economic packet prepared by the Turkish government is waiting for the approval of the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The packet is intended to prevent unemployment, provide loans to small and medium scale businesses, and decrease costs of energy.

IT IS HIGH TIME FOR INVESTMENTS, ERDOGAN

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated in a meeting of the Turkish-Indian Business Council on Friday. Speaking at the meeting, Erdogan said that "it is high time for investments, employment and production. Those who can achieve success in these three areas can turn the global economic crisis into an opportunity".

ZAMAN
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NEW ECONOMIC PACKAGE

Details of a new economic package prepared by the government have become clear. The package of economic measures foresees that Turkish Eximbank would extend an additional loan worth 1 billion U.S. dollars to exporters. Nearly 70 percent of total deposits in banks would be taken under guarantee of the state, the package says.

PM ERDOGAN IN INDIA

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is paying a visit to India with a crowded group of Turkish businessmen. Erdogan had meetings with the president and the prime minister of India on the first day of his visit.

YENI SAFAK
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GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION AGAINST GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS

Turkish government has taken action against global economic crisis. Small and medium scale enterprises will be provided with a loan worth 1.5 billion YTL in 2009. A loan of 2.2 billion euro will be taken from the European Investment Bank in 2009.

SNOW IN THRACE

There will be rainy and cold weather across Turkey. Meteorology officials said that there would be snowfall in Thrace and Marmara region.

VATAN
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KOC HOLDING EARNS PROFIT OF 2.5 BLN NEW TURKISH LIRAS

Turkey's Koc Holding earned profits worth 2.5 billion new Turkish liras in the first nine months of 2008. Compared to the same term in 2007, Koc Holding's profits increased by 61 percent.

RECORD NUMBER OF TURKS APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS

The number of Turkish people who have applied for unemployment funds has increased by 55 percent in the past three months when compared to last year. While the number of Turks who had applied for unemployment funds between August and October 2007 was 56,873, this number climbed to 88,592 in the same period of 2008.

CUMHURIYET
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TURKEY DISCUSSED IN FUTURISTS SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL

Turkey and its economy have been discussed in the Futurists Summit 2008 in Istanbul. Futurist and thinker Jacque Fresco delivered a speech in the summit and said that old systems did not work for the current economic situation and a detailed survey must be conducted in regard to the future of Turkey.

RADIKAL
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TURKEY WILL BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN WORLD, U.S. INTELLIGENCE

An intelligence organization of the United States argued that Turkey will grow stronger with an Islamic-nationalist ideology by the year 2025. With its geographic position, growing middle class and economic achievements, Turkey will be a major player in the world and also be a role model for the Middle East, told the U.S. organization.

WINTER TO ARRIVE ON SUNDAY

Winter will arrive in Turkey on Sunday, told weather service. Snowfall will take place in the Thrace and Black Sea regions of Turkey on Sunday. Temperature in Istanbul will go down by 10 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Snow is expected in Istanbul over the weekend.

HURRIYET
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NO NEED FOR A BANKING PACKET, STATE MINISTER

Turkish State Minister Mehmet Simsek said that the Economic Coordination Board is working on a precautionary measures packet for the Turkish economy. "The Turkish banking sector is in a good position. There is no need for a banking packet in Turkey," Simsek stressed.

AKBANK LAYS OFF 613 EMPLOYEES

Turkey's private bank, Akbank, has laid off 613 employees in the past six weeks. In a previous note sent to the Istanbul Stock Exchange, Akbank had said that three deputy director generals of the bank were terminated from their positions.

MILLIYET
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GOVERNMENT'S PACKAGE AGAINST GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS

A draft package prepared by the government includes several measures to be taken against economic crisis. The package foresees that "Global Crisis Committee" consisting of representatives of public and private sectors would be established and a platform would be formed for solution of problems between banks and real sector. It also says that Turkey and the IMF could sign an agreement including special conditions of crisis period.

BAYKAL SHOULD SOLVE HEADSCARF PROBLEM, CICEK

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said that he supported attitude of Deniz Baykal, chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who made women wearing black chadors and headscarves members of his party. Cicek said Baykal should also deal with problems of women wearing headscarves.

SABAH
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DETAILS OF PACKAGE OF MEASURES AGAINST GLOBAL CRISIS

According to a package of measures which has been made public by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, deposit protection is planned to be risen to 100,000 YTL. Turkish Eximbank would extend a loan of 1 billion U.S. dollars to exporters, the package said.

SNOW COMING

There will be rainy weather and storm in several regions of Turkey as of Saturday. Temperatures will drop across the country around 10 degrees Celsius at the weekend, meteorologists said. Snowfall is expected in Marmara region on Saturday.

AA