Stories from Istanbul · Turkey

The BIST 100 index recently tested the 14,339 point level. This designation includes the exchange in a prestigious global list of financial markets.

Istanbul authorities decided to use all revenue generated from the upcoming fair to fund drone production and training centers across 81 provinces. This decision follows observations regarding the defense industry's response to ongoing warfare.

Fenerbahce Beko defeated Zalgiris Kaunas 89-88 in the first match of the EuroLeague playoff series. The second game is scheduled for Thursday at 20:45 in Istanbul. The victory gives the Turkish team a 1-0 lead in the series. Nicola Omelli scored 17 points to lead the team. The first half ended 51-33 in favor of Fenerbahçe Beko. The third game of the series is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, in Lithuania. Nikola Omelli scored 17 points as the top scorer for the team. The series requires three wins for a team to advance to the Final Four.

Four houses belonging to the same family were destroyed in the Avcılar district of Istanbul. Deliveries are expected to occur three months after the initial process. The Ministry selected Istanbul as the primary location due to the depth of the rental crisis there. Renters will pay rates lower than market prices. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has selected Istanbul as the primary location for a new social housing rental model. Minister Murat Kurum announced that the first 2,000 units are expected to be delivered in August. Beneficiaries will be determined via a notary-supervised lottery, after which they will sign lease agreements with TOKI. Citizens who own property through TOKI will sign rental contracts for social housing in Istanbul.

The Gaziosmanpaşa Municipality in Istanbul has initiated the delivery process for 863 housing units as part of urban transformation projects. The municipality is continuing its urban renewal efforts in the district.

Prosecutors in Istanbul have launched an investigation into Yusuf Çekli regarding the killing of 16-year-old Atlas Çağlayan. The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated the probe under case number 6136 for the unauthorized use of knives and other tools.

Measures were reviewed to increase the presence of the Turkish financial system in global markets. The goal is to establish Istanbul as a leading financial center. Efforts are also underway regarding the opening of branches for public banks abroad.

Traders are reportedly manipulating the weight and purity of gold sold as cheap goods. Consumers and shopkeepers have filed complaints regarding fraudulent sales methods, including deceptive social media advertisements.

Scammers are targeting individuals through fraudulent home packaging job advertisements. Victims are first asked to provide personal identity information and a 500 TL application fee.

A truck stalled due to a malfunction in Beylikdüzü, Istanbul, and subsequently slid down a slope. The driver avoided a major accident by steering the vehicle toward a ravine and jumping out of the truck. The incident occurred at the Beylikdüzü Kavak intersection where the driver attempted to maneuver the truck. The vehicle reportedly began moving on its own after the driver's actions. Workers conducting natural gas excavation in the Eyüp Sultan district of Istanbul discovered a metal object resembling an explosive device. Police and bomb disposal teams arrived at the scene and implemented wide security measures in the street. Authorities identified the object as an explosive similar to a mortar shell that is approximately 100 years old. No injuries or damage were reported during the discovery.