Turkey

With the school year winding down, Tufts University administrators met recently with students planning to study abroad, outlining what they should do before they leave and what to expect when they arrive. Above all, they stressed the risks - and ways to minimize them. But with an audience of young adults eager to see the world and seize adventure, it was hard to know whether the warnings truly hit home. "I think the message gets through," said Sheila Bayne, who directs the university's study-abroad program.

Turkey on Friday called on major international oil and gas companies seeking a license to search for gas deposits off of Cyprus to withdraw their bids, saying it will not allow exploration to go ahead and threatening to ban them from Turkish energy projects. Companies such as Russia's Novatec, Italy's ENI, France's Total and Malaysia's Petronas are among 15 firms and consortiums seeking a license to carry out exploratory drilling off southern Cyprus despite Turkey's strong objections.

November is a great time of year to visit Greece and Turkey. It is after the high season and tourists have retreated, along with the scorching summer sun. Instead, you can expect temperatures to range from the mid-60s to low 50s (a bit warmer and much drier than Boston that time of year). Regardless of the weather outside, you'll be able to witness Sema, the mystical Sufi ceremony dating to the 13th century, during which members of the Mevlevi Order (also known as the Whirling Dervishes)

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is tracking turkey families. The department is seeking the public's help in conducting a survey of turkey broods — a family of young turkeys accompanied by a hen. The online survey is taking place from Tuesday through Aug. 31. Last year, a total of 808 turkey broods were reported. Over half were seen in the southern part of the state. This year, biologists are hoping to see an increase in other areas, particularly in the northern and western parts of the state.

When the Cold War ended, more than a few European and American officials predicted that Turkey would decline rapidly in geopolitical significance. Without the Soviet threat, they said, Turkey's role as a bulwark against communist expansion was finished and it was destined to be a second-tier power in the 21st century. That prediction, of course, could not have been more shortsighted. During the past decade, Turkey has become the rising power in Europe, arguably the world's most influential Muslim country and a dynamic inspiration for young Arab reformers.

Before cooking, check the chart on this page for roasting times. 1 turkey (10 to 30 pounds), thawed if frozen (see chart) Stuffing (optional) Salt and pepper, to taste 2 carrots, each cut into 4 pieces 2 stalks celery, each cut into 4 pieces 2 onions, quartered 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, or more if necessary Cheesecloth (for the bird)

1. Let the bird sit at room temperature for 1 hour before smoking. Use a smoker, or use a gas grill if it has two burner controls and a thermometer. 2. Pull off one of the grates and place a small piece of hardwood on one side (or wood charcoal). Light the grill on that side. 3. Place the turkey on the opposite side (the side without the wood) and maintain the grill temperature at 300 degrees. Do not open the grill top too often; that will prevent the log from burning high and hot. 4. Cook the bird for 10 minutes a pound or until the internal temperature of the thigh registers 155...

SUNDAY’S ELECTION in Turkey was another reminder of the country’s astonishing rise, which has been one of the most dramatic geopolitical stories of the last decade. For the first 80 years of its existence as a nation, Turkey was dominated by generals and played almost no role in the world. Now it is a vibrant democracy and a major force in the Middle East, the Caucasus, North Africa, the Balkans, and beyond. The election was a triumph for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has presided over his country’s remarkable transformation.

Serves 6 5 medium Russet potatoes, quartered 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 medium onions, diced 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter 4 cups coarsely chopped cooked turkey 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced Salt and pepper, to taste ...

Birds do it, bees do it. But the rules about who pays for dates vary from country to country, according to Matador Nights. GERMANY Here the volume on the whole courting thing gets turned down; flirting is more subtle. A meaningful but casual glance (more James Marsden than Michael Cera), and then if a woman is interested what follows may involve a short exchange about, say, German politics. After that, if the man does the asking, it's understood that he's paying for the date.

BAGHDAD - The international law enforcement agency Interpol stepped squarely into a bitter political and sectarian fight Tuesday when it responded to a request for help from Iraq to arrest the country's fugitive Sunni vice president on charges he ran death squads inside Iraq. The move will probably add fresh tensions to relations between Iraq's Shi'ite leadership and leaders in Turkey, where the Iraqi vice president, Tariq al-Hashimi, has been staying with the apparent blessing of the Turkish government...

Treated to a hero's welcome, Turkey's prime minister met Syrian refugees Sunday for the first time since his country opened its doors to tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing their government's crackdown on a popular uprising. Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to defend the rights of the Syrian people, saying they were close to achieving success. He was greeted by joyous Syrians at the largest refugee camp near the border. Erdogan has urged Syrian President Bashar Assad to quit and has encouraged the Syrian opposition to unify and present a credible political alternative.

In a recent play in Turkey, two actors wore trench coats in their role as assassins posing as perverts planning to flash girls near a school. The scene and its themes of nudity and sexual depravity are at the center of a debate over freedom of expression in Turkish arts, where the Islamic-rooted ruling party has become increasingly critical of plays and television shows deemed to violate moral or religious values. Turkey, a candidate for European Union membership, is less strict than many other nations in the Muslim world.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Wild Turkey's first US television ad campaign offers a new twist to giving someone the bird. The 157-year-old brand's splash on television comes as bourbon rides a wave of popularity, due in part to the comeback of cocktails appealing to younger adults. In the ad, which debuted Tuesday, Wild Turkey spreads a campaign that first appeared last year, in print and on billboards. The commercial shows a young bartender's reluctance to obey a seasoned barman's direction to "just give ‘em the bird" when a tough-looking customer walks in. The novice...

When the Cold War ended, more than a few European and American officials predicted that Turkey would decline rapidly in geopolitical significance. Without the Soviet threat, they said, Turkey's role as a bulwark against communist expansion was finished and it was destined to be a second-tier power in the 21st century. That prediction, of course, could not have been more shortsighted. During the past decade, Turkey has become the rising power in Europe, arguably the world's most influential Muslim country and a dynamic inspiration for young Arab reformers.

A large turkey burst through a window at the offices of the Massachusetts State Lottery in Braintree on Tuesday. "It was crazy," Beth Bresnahan, a Lottery spokeswoman, said. "It was a 40-pound turkey that came crashing through a double-paned glass window with such force that it crashed through the window and then hit a brick wall at the back of our lobby. " Bresnahan said the turkey, which was fatally injured, crashed through the window at the Lottery's rear employee entrance around 4:45 p.m. and caused a bit of commotion near the end of the workday.