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FROM MOBSTERS TO A HITMAN: NEW TWIST IN ISTANBUL MUNICIPALITY CASE
Deep Dive Aug 21, 2025

FROM MOBSTERS TO A HITMAN: NEW TWIST IN ISTANBUL MUNICIPALITY CASE

The corruption probe into Istanbul and other CHP-run municipalities has taken a new turn, extending beyond politicians, lawyers, mobsters, and journalists to include a hitman. The alleged hitman is said to have acted on the instructions of Selahattin Yılmaz, a figure backed by MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli. The latest detentions targeted several lawyers and legal experts, whose ultra-luxurious offices and lavish lifestyles raised questions, with images suggesting close links to the government.

Editorial Team
SENIORITY CRISIS IN THE MILITARY
Security and Defense Aug 21, 2025

SENIORITY CRISIS IN THE MILITARY

Resignations have begun in the Turkish Armed Forces after promotion decisions by the Supreme Military Council and presidential appointments signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan broke with the long-standing principle of seniority.

Editorial Team
İŞ BANK SEES 29% INFLATION, 35% INTEREST RATES AT END-2025
Economy and Finance Aug 15, 2025

İŞ BANK SEES 29% INFLATION, 35% INTEREST RATES AT END-2025

Hakan Aran, head of İş Bank, the country’s largest private lender, said they expect Turkey’s annual inflation to drop to 29% by the end of 2025, with interest rates falling to 35%. Aran shared his predictions regarding the economic normalization process at a press conference. According to Aran, “we may see monthly inflation rates drop below 1% as the normalization process begins in May 2026.”

Editorial Team
GOVERNMENT PAY RISE PROPOSAL SPARKS UNION OUTRAGE
Economy and Finance Aug 15, 2025

GOVERNMENT PAY RISE PROPOSAL SPARKS UNION OUTRAGE

The government’s first pay offer in collective bargaining—10% for the first half of 2026, 6% for the second half, and 4% for each half of 2027—was rejected by public sector unions representing about four million civil servants and more than two million retirees.

Editorial Team
BAYKAR TO BOOST HIGH-TECH JOBS WITH SAMSUN FACTORY
Security and Defense Aug 15, 2025

BAYKAR TO BOOST HIGH-TECH JOBS WITH SAMSUN FACTORY

Baykar, the unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer owned by the Bayraktar family, announced plans to build a factory on 400 acres in Tekkeköy, Samsun. The facility is expected to boost high-tech production and create high-quality jobs in the Black Sea region, the company said Aug. 8.

Editorial Team
ASSAN HIT BY FRAUD AND ESPIONAGE CLAIMS
Security and Defense Aug 15, 2025

ASSAN HIT BY FRAUD AND ESPIONAGE CLAIMS

ASSAN, one of Turkey’s top private-sector ammunition producers and an exporter to more than 60 countries, is under scrutiny following allegations of illegal staffing, supply delays, fraud, and improper transfer of state-developed defense technologies, according to Cumhuriyet daily.

Editorial Team
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN: TURKEY AND EGYPT AS THE TWO BASTIONS
Guest Voices Aug 8, 2025

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN: TURKEY AND EGYPT AS THE TWO BASTIONS

The Eastern Mediterranean has always been shaped by the interplay of northern and southern powers. From the time of the Hittites and Ancient Egyptians to the Ottomans and Mamluks, and through to the present day, control or influence over this region—from Mesopotamia to North Africa—has often rested with one or the other. When Turkey and Egypt were aligned, a degree of order and stability was possible. When they clashed, chaos ensued. History shows us that these two centers of power matter—and they still do today.

Guest Voices