Stories from Ankara · Turkey

Turkey's European Union policies and foreign relations are being reviewed. Discussions are ongoing regarding the protection of children from the harmful effects of social media. Details of a second negotiation topic between Iran and the United States were also evaluated. They questioned why someone with a clear conscience would hide their identity, stating that hiding one's identity is not freedom.

Turkish lawmakers Leyla Güven, Musa Farisoğulları, and Şeref have been mentioned in relation to parliamentary proceedings. The specific nature of the proceedings or the charges remains unclear. Several Turkish Members of Parliament are facing potential loss of their seats. The government is defending its actions as democratic transformation. This follows the submission of finalized court decisions against them to the parliament. Previously, the parliamentary statuses of Kadriye Nesperberoğlu and Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu were also revoked due to finalized court rulings, but they regained their seats after court decisions were read in parliament. This development is part of a broader political shakeup. The discussions involve the full parliament working to provide means for the justice system.

The AK Party's leadership has initiated a new era in Turkish political history through its democratic response. This transformation is considered a revolutionary and positive turning point for democracy and politics in the Republic Era. AK Party Secretary Eyyup Kadri stated that a certain event is one of the most turning points of transformation. The AK Party General Secretary stated that civil politics strongly upholds its honor. The Turkish Grand National Assembly's Joint Committee currently holds 1,052 files concerning the immunity of 145 deputies. The distribution of these files among political parties is being monitored.

High-standard hotels in Ankara have reached a 90 percent occupancy rate. Preparations are accelerating for the NATO summit scheduled for July 7-8. The surge in bookings is attributed to visiting heads of state and high-level diplomatic delegations. This movement in the hospitality sector is noted as being distinct from typical seasonal trends.

Turkey has defined the calendar for the upcoming COP 31 UN climate conference. The summit aims to address global environmental pressures and institutional debate. The summit follows previous climate negotiations held in Fiji and Tuvalu in early October. Turkey's Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat is scheduled to announce April foreign trade statistics on May 2. The Turkish Statistical Institute will release April inflation data on May 4. Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan is expected to present to the Grand National Assembly's Plan and Budget Commission on May 5. Discussions are anticipated to focus on developments regarding the fight against inflation. The idle labor rate increased by 1.6 percentage points to reach 31.5%. Experts said the need to carefully monitor and examine the idle labor rate regardless of methodology.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held discussions regarding the mediation process between the United States and Iran. Fidan spoke via telephone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Istakhar. The talks focused on evaluating the current stage of the mediation efforts. Turkey is closely monitoring the developments between the two nations. The initiative aims to detect high-risk households early to strengthen family structures. The program involves coordination between the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of National Education, and the Ministry of Health. Social investigation reports will be used to guide interventions and support for these families. Turkish authorities are implementing a new security monitoring system starting Monday to enhance student safety.

The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reports that 805 million square meters of marine area were cleaned between 2014 and 2025. The project, initiated in 2014, targets the removal of abandoned or lost fishing gear from the seas. Approximately 10 million marine organisms have been saved as a result of these efforts. Officials state it may take four years for the ecosystem to fully recover its original function. Approximately 332,061 pieces of debris were removed from the sea during this period. Over 83 million juvenile fish were released back into the sea last year. Efforts to combat invasive pufferfish in the Mediterranean Sea are ongoing, with approximately 80 million pufferfish prevented from entering the ecosystem since 2020.

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş stated he is prepared to leave his office to protect the reputation of municipal leaders. His comments were made during a meeting where CHP Chairman Özgür Özel listened to new roadmap proposals for mayors. Yavaş said that the dignity of elected officials is more than the positions they hold. Yavaş said that the prestige of the mayoral office is higher than the individuals occupying the seats.

A mixed commission composed of members from the main law and justice commissions has reviewed immunity files for 145 members of parliament. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke via telephone with the US President regarding the recent attack attempt on Donald Trump. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed shock at the events and called for the protection of democratic institutions and press freedom. Buckingham Palace stated King Charles III is being kept informed of developments and expressed satisfaction that Donald Trump and his wife were unharmed. French President Emmanuel Macron described the incident as unacceptable. The assailant attempted to pass a checkpoint with a rifle, but the Secret Service neutralized the threat at a hotel. Donald Trump claimed in a recent interview that the attacker's motivation was religious and driven by a hatred of Christians.

Minister Kacır announced plans to mobilize $10 billion in investments for data centers and artificial intelligence. Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced that the ministry has completed 14 out of 35 social risk maps over the last 1.5 years. The project utilizes 648 social indicators to conduct risk analyses at the district, neighborhood, and household levels. The mapping tracks social phenomena including women's rights, child vulnerability to crime, and dependency on care. stated that 53% of children are playing games online. He reported that 60% of these children encounter violent imagery during these activities. The minister called for collaborative efforts between institutions to address these online risks. He said the need to evaluate behavioral risk factors in schools.