Hürriyet Daily News

A sailor died during a fire on board a Russian aircraft carrier in the southeast Mediterranean, Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday, quoting a Russian Defense Ministry source.

Israel's Bnei Hasharon refused to return to the court in a basketball game against Turk Telekom in Ankara late Tuesday after Turkish fans protested Israel over the Gaza operations. Hasharon left Turkey early on Wednesday.

Israel will halt bombing the Hamas-run Gaza Strip for three hours every day beginning on Wednesday, an army spokeswoman told AFP. (UPDATED)

Turkish police conducts search at the home of the country's former chief prosecutor, Sabih Kanadoglu, as around 30 people detained in the latest wave of the controversial Ergenekon case (UPDATED)

Russia's gas export monopoly Gazprom had cut off all natural gas shipments to Europe through the pipelines crossing Ukraine on Wednesday, officials said.

As we reported yesterday, the Turkish-Israeli relationship is deep and has withstood many a disagreement. It is a relationship informed by many elements.

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on Jan. 7, 2009. Hurriyet Daily News Online does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

ANKARA - The escalating rhetoric of the Prime Minister's criticism of Israel's military offensive in Gaza is drowning out the reaction of some Arab leaders, while threatening Turkey’s stance as mediator, not least in the eyes of Israel.

ANKARA - The new unit is supposed to assume strategic not operational tasks and carry out research, analysis and assessments as part of Turkey’s counter terrorism efforts. The new unit will work with a limited number of personnel, specialized in their professions, says minister

ISTANBUL - While Europe is shaken by the recent energy crisis initiated by a Russian-Ukrainian row, Turkey says the flow of Russian natural gas through a pipeline via the Balkans has stopped entirely. Ankara seeks other alternatives including Iran

İZMİR - 120 municipal employees in İzmir’s Güzelbahçe and Değirmendere regions, including their mayors, were detained yesterday in an anti-corruption operation initiated by the local prosecutor.

ANKARA - Despite their condemnation of Israel's Gaza strikes that match Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's tone, opposition members rebuffed the Prime Minister’s efforts to broker a cease-fire as insincere and hollow, during speeches in Parliament yesterday.

ISTANBUL - Busy trying to land new players, Fenerbahçe returns to football with a Fortis Cup group stage clash tonight. Spanish coach Luis Aragones' Yellow Canaries welcome Bursaspor, who will play its first game with under the helm of coach Ertuğrul Sağlam

Turkey's defense minister denied on Tuesday reports that an arms deal was signed with Israel ahead of the Gaza operation.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to New York Tuesday for consultations with officials, including the Turkish foreign minister, at the United Nations to "further efforts" on a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, a U.S. official said. (UPDATED)

LOS ANGELES - Director Gabriele Muccino and writer Grant Nieporte jump all over the place in time, trying to keep us on our toes. With its many twists and revelations, 'Seven Pounds' does make you work, which is vaguely refreshing when so much is so mindless

An Israeli strike killed at least 45 people who had taken refuge inside a UN school in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, in the third such attack in a day, medics said. UN called for an investigation over the school attack. (UPDATED)

Arif Beki, Prime Ministry spokesman and advisor to the Turkish prime minister, resigned from his post on Tuesday.

Following are comments from European customers affected by the cut-off in gas supplies by Russia's gas export monopoly Gazprom to its neighbor Ukraine over a pricing dispute: (UPDATED)

Details to follow...