Stories from Ankara · Turkey

A report noted that 57% of households in Turkey currently do not have children. This decline in birth rates was highlighted by Göktaş. The source warned that the situation could lead to the closure of primary schools.

The ratio of non-performing loans to total receivables in Turkish banks has reached 4.27 percent. This figure exceeds the maximum levels of 3.5 to 4 percent observed during previous economic crises.

CHP Chairman Ozgur Özel announced during a parliamentary group meeting that he will not resign. He stated the party will continue its struggle until the ballot box. The announcement follows discussions regarding his political roadmap. The announcement serves as a roadmap for the party's future political actions. Özel said a commitment to winning elections through a village-by-village and city-by-city strategy. He vowed to fight for the ballot boxes until the end. Özel said a commitment to fighting for votes in every village and town.

The Ankara Development Agency has completed the HB program process in Ankara. As of today, projects for 25 cooperatives and unions have begun implementation. The agency will also make repayable financing support available to investors under the Green Grain program during 2026. This development marks the transition of green transformation in Ankara from the planning stage to concrete investment. The program has a total size of approximately $400 million. The initiative aims to implement green transformation investments on a larger scale in Ankara using a support mechanism. The agency stated that green transformation is a critical element of global competitiveness for investors and entrepreneurs. The initiative features a grant program implemented across 81 provinces. The program is supported by 400 million dollars from the UFON over the next four years.

Core personnel appointments have been completed for a planned multinational NATO headquarters to be established in Turkey. Turkey has appointed several new officials to provincial leadership roles. Yakup Nevşehir, the former governor of Aydın, has been appointed as the governor of Ankara. Maksut Yüksek, the former governor of Konya, will serve as the Ankara Provincial Police Chief. Fahri Aktaş, formerly the Manisa Provincial Police Chief, has been appointed to Mersin, while the Mersin Provincial Police Chief will move to Siirt. Additionally, Mehmet Gokhan Zengin and Mehmet Levent Kepçeli have been appointed to general directorate roles within the Ministry of Interior. A presidential decree has resulted in several administrative changes across Turkey. Abdullah Küçük, the District Governor of Güngören in Istanbul, has been appointed as the Governor of Adıyaman.

A ceremony was held in Ankara to mark the anniversary of the Constitutional Court's founding. New member Şaban Kazdalı was sworn into office during the event. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the ceremony. Constitutional Court President Kadir Özkay said the importance of an independent judiciary in his speech. An investigation has been launched into a separate incident where a person's lifeless body was found near a riverbank. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a ceremony in Ankara marking the 64th anniversary of the Constitutional Court. The event included the swearing-in of Şaban Kazdal as a member of the Constitutional Court. Following the ceremony, Erdogan presided over a meeting of the AK Party Central Executive Board. During the event, newly elected member Şaban Kazdağlı took the oath of office.

The Turkish Ministry of Trade has granted foreign trade capital company status to 10 additional entities. This brings the total number of such companies in the country to 103. This move aims to expand the number of entities authorized for international trade operations.

Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek met with foreign media in Ankara to discuss the 'Century of Türkiye' investment program. Ersoy noted that despite the negative effects of the America-Israel-Iran war that began on February 28, visitor numbers reached 3 million in March. This follows a total of 2,995,000 visitors last year. The Turkish President issued a decree increasing the tax deduction for certain service exports to 100 percent. This applies to income from architecture, engineering, design, software, education, and health services provided to foreign clients. The full income must be brought into Turkey to qualify for the deduction. The regulation is effective for taxation periods starting January 1, 2026. Income and corporate taxpayers providing services such as architecture, engineering, design, software, education, and health abroad can receive an 80% tax reduction.

Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced that all preparations for the Turkish Antarctic Science Base are complete. Kacır stated that environmental impact assessment studies were successfully conducted. The ministry plans to construct the base in the upcoming period to facilitate research in fields ranging from climate change to medicine. The facility will support scientific research in various fields including medicine and climate change. Research at the base will cover various fields including climate change and medicine. Minister Kacir announced that Turkey has submitted an application for advisory member status in the Antarctic Treaty Council. Turkey currently holds non-advisory member status within the organization. The announcement was made during a photo exhibition regarding the country's scientific journey to Antarctica.

Turkey has successfully completed field testing for the Korkut unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) physical interception system. The system was developed to counter both mini and macro drone threats. The test was reported as a success in neutralizing various drone threats. The system features remote control capabilities, advanced electro-optical systems, and computer-controlled firing algorithms. It includes automatic guidance to target positions and is designed for rapid reaction against threats, particularly small-sized targets. The system can be integrated into various platforms ranging from wheeled vehicles to fixed facilities. It utilizes Atom 25 ammunition to increase success against small-sized targets. The system reportedly rendered aerial targets ineffective during the exercise.