Stories from Istanbul · Turkey

The Borsa Istanbul index (BIST 100) reached a record level, testing 14,339 points. This designation impacts market accessibility and regulatory standing for the Turkish exchange within the UK jurisdiction.

An eight-year-old child named Yazgül was found safe in a field approximately 500 meters from their home. Search drones were used to locate the child, and emergency 112 teams provided assistance. The child was taken to a hospital for precautionary checks. The child had been held in Turkey by his grandmother for seven years following the death of his father two years ago. A DNA test conducted on March 19 confirmed the mother's identity. The court also imposed a ban on the child traveling abroad and obtaining a passport. A Turkish court granted custody of a child named Nazar to his German mother, Rebecca, during a hearing on April 28. The decision follows a DNA test conducted on March 19 that confirmed Rebecca is the biological mother. The child's father passed away two years ago, according to the report.

An eight-year-old child was allegedly assaulted by the parents and grandmother of another student during a classroom dispute. The victim's family has filed a formal complaint regarding the incident. An investigation into the matter is currently underway.

A witness in an Istanbul corruption probe claimed that municipalities often fund facility construction through donations.

The suspects reportedly claimed in their statements that they did not intend to mock the police. Authorities seized more than three million drug pills during raids on drug traffickers. The seized narcotics are being displayed at the Istanbul Police Department headquarters. The raids resulted in the detention of 116 people. Authorities conducted raids on addresses identified through these methods. A total of 116 suspects were detained during operations conducted over the last three weeks. Detainees include individuals wanted at national and international levels as well as organized crime members. Istanbul Police Chief Selam Yıldız reported that operations resulted in the seizure of 306.385 kilograms of narcotics and over 3 million drug pills. Authorities have arrested 89 individuals in connection with the raids.

A cellular cleansing method has been reported to extend the lifespan of mice by 30 percent. Specifically, there is a possibility that the intervention could cause cells to transform into aggressive, uncontrolled cancerous tumors.

Companies are facing a serious crisis regarding oil tankers as insurance policies are being canceled due to high risks. Some tankers are unable to operate without these policies, and insurance premiums have become very high. The situation involves complexities regarding which vessels are permitted to enter certain ports, such as those heading to Iran, Qatar, or Iraq. Insurance premiums for ships have increased from 0.25 percent to 5 percent of a vessel's value. For a ship valued at $100 million, the cost has risen from $250,000 to $5 million. These costs are expected to continue rising, according to the report.

Investigators have added WhatsApp messages between Umut Altış and his father to a case file. Correspondence dated January 9, 2026, has been identified as evidence in an ongoing investigation. The source stated that the messages were used to establish certain facts in the case. Police investigation into the death of 24-year-old Selin Başak Şılaşer in Istanbul has uncovered WhatsApp messages from January 9, 2026. The messages reportedly show the victim stating she was being followed and sought help from a market owner two days before her death. Şılaşer, a German national on vacation, was found in a hotel room in the Fatih district. Investigators noted that nine hours of security camera footage from the hotel is currently missing. Police are investigating the death of Selin Başak Şılaşer after her body was found in a hotel room on April 23.

DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimboğulları stated that the party supports the ongoing peace process in Turkey. She criticized media figures for claiming the process has stalled, suggesting they are attempting to create confusion.

The 28th session of the trial involving 414 defendants, 92 of whom are currently detained, has concluded. The case concerns the alleged criminal organization related to Ekrem İmamoğlu. During the hearing, the defense for detained defendant Adem Soytekin was heard. The prosecution alleges the criminal organization caused approximately 160 billion lira and 24 million dollars in public losses. In the previous session, the defense of detained defendant Mehmet Pehlivan was heard. The 29th session of the trial involving the Ekrem İmamoğlu Criminal Organization has commenced in Istanbul. The current session began with defenses from lawyers representing the defendants. This follows a previous session where detained defendant Aydem Soytekin reportedly provided a bribery confession during cross-examination.