AIR FORCE RECEIVES ITS NEW AIRCRAFT
The Turkish Air Force has received its first Hürkuş new-generation basic trainer aircraft, a milestone in a project initiated 20 years ago.
Analysis
In-Depth Analysis
Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.
ONCE-WINNING OPPOSITION IS FALLING APART
After defeating the AKP in the 2024 local elections, the opposition set its sights on the presidency but the split and rivalry between the CHP and the Yeni Party are now weakening it by the day.
THE DIPLOMAT TURKEY WILL NEED
“In an age when artificial intelligence does data analysis,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan asked assembled ambassadors at the 2025 Ambassadors Conference in December, “is there still such a need for the classical diplomat and for classical diplomacy?”
NO MORE TAX BREAKS
The government will discontinue its 'sliding scale' fuel tax offset mechanism at the end of 2026, shifting focus toward boosting budget revenues ahead of potential elections in 2027 or early 2028.
LGBTQ+ OPERATION: ELECTION CAMPAIGN LOADING
Before me is the “LGBTQ+ Rights Monitoring Report” on the 2023 elections, prepared by University Queer Research and LGBT+ Solidarity Association (ÜniKuir) whose website was blocked as part of the “My Family Is Safe” operation.
ZÜLFÜ LİVANELİ'S WISE DECISION
Zülfü Livaneli made a clear decision this week. The musician and novelist put an end to the playing of his celebrated composition at opposition rallies protesting the operations that have targeted Ekrem İmamoğlu — and subsequently numerous other mayors and municipal officials — since March 19, 2025.
IZMIR: A CITY WITH NO PARTY, AND CEMİL TUGAY
Cemil Tugay has been mayor of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality since 2024. When he resigned from the CHP, he said he would join the new party Özgür Özel was forming. Özel said similar things. But around the same time, reports surfaced that Tugay’s communications with Özel were breaking down.
CRITICS QUESTION TURKEY'S RECORD PISA RESULTS
The Education Ministry hailed the latest educational achievement results as a 'historic success,' reporting that the nation became the fastest-climbing OECD country across all subjects, surpassing average scores in the 2025 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) assessment of science and reading.
JOURNALIST AMONG NINE DETAINED AS KOZINOĞLU DEATH CASE REOPENS
Turkish prosecutors have detained nine more people, including journalist Selahattin Günday, as part of a reopened investigation into the 2011 prison death of former National Intelligence Organization (MİT) official Kaşif Kozinoğlu.
MEDIUM-TERM PROGRAM DROPS STRONG LIRA POLICY, FUELS ELECTION TALK
The government revealed its new Medium-Term Program (OVP) covering 2027–2029, outlining macroeconomic targets that analysts view as unusually realistic while hinting at election preparations for 2027.
DEADLY MARITIME DISASTERS RAISE QUESTIONS OVER SYSTEMIC NEGLIGENCE
Two deadly maritime disasters off Northern Cyprus and in the Marmara Sea have raised questions over oversight failures within maritime transport, leaving at least 20 dead and 28 missing while triggering political backlash against officials.
TURKEY’S DIPLOMATS LEARN TO COOK: INSIDE FIDAN’S NEW RULES
Turkey’s diplomatic network has grown from 163 missions in 2002 to over 260 missions, making it the third largest diplomatic network in the world.