Stories from Turkey

The incident occurred on May 6 last year in Istanbul near Osman Paşa. Parents are seeking justice for their child following a death in Istanbul. According to the family, the service vehicle responsible for the death continues to transport students at the same school.

Public transportation services will be free in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir during the upcoming holiday. Free services include Marmaray and metro lines in Ankara and Istanbul, as well as Izban in Izmir. Specific lines in Istanbul such as Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme and Gayrettepe are also included in the free service period. Other municipal metro lines in these cities will also operate free of charge. Istanbul will offer free Marmaray, Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme, and Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport metro lines. Authorities retain the power to adjust rates by up to 50 percent.

Ten people, including seven children, were injured when a car overturned in the Merkez Bağları district of Bakırköy. The injured individuals were transported to local hospitals via ambulance. The cause of the accident was not specified.

The Borsa Istanbul index reached a peak of 14,339 points during early trading. This designation facilitates smoother cross-border financial operations and regulatory alignment between the Turkish market and UK authorities. This designation includes the BIST 100 index and places the exchange on a prestigious international list. This status follows regulatory assessments of the Turkish stock market.

Technical studies for the draft Water Law have reached the completion stage, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Turkey stated that only the sovereign state of a vessel's flag-carrying nation has the authority to intervene or issue commands in international waters. Turkey has condemned the Israeli seizure of Sumud Flotilla boats in international waters, calling the intervention an illegal and unacceptable violation of sovereignty. The Turkish government is working with Spain to raise international awareness regarding the incident. The Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that the intervention carried out in international waters is a clear violation of international law. Turkey noted it has the longest coastline bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Officials said they are monitoring developments closely and with sensitivity.

Serdar Anup Depe suffered a broken left collarbone following a racing accident. The incident occurred during a prestigious cycling race currently in its 61st edition. The race route includes stages from Marmaris to Fethiye and Patara to Kemer. The 5th stage is scheduled to cover 180 kilometers starting from Patara Antik Kent and ending in Kemer. The 61st edition of the prestigious race includes a 180-kilometer fifth stage starting in Patara Ancient City and ending in Kemer.

Turkish Confederation of Real Work (Hak-İş) General President Mahmut Arslan will address workers in Edirne during May Day celebrations. The program will focus on demands regarding the structure of the minimum wage determination commission. Last year, the organization held celebrations in Rize with tea plantation workers. This year, the union also plans a program in the industrial city of Bursa. Turkish Confederation of Real Work (Hak-İş) General President Ergun Atalay will also speak regarding the impact of economic conditions and income tax on workers. Approximately 20,000 people are expected to participate in a May Day rally in Edirne today. Previous estimates suggested participation of 12,000 to 13,000 locals and nearly 7,000 outsiders. Preparations for the event began early in the morning despite recent heavy rain and cold weather.

The measure aims to prevent disputes where buyers claim to have paid but cannot secure the title deed. The regulation is set to take effect on July 1. Turkey will end the practice of cash payments for the purchase of houses, workplaces, and land on July 1. This measure aims to eliminate issues regarding unrecorded transactions. Under the new system, buyers must block funds in a special bank account. This measure aims to eliminate risks of fraud, theft, forgery, and unregistered transactions. A specific usage fee will be charged for transactions conducted through this new system, though the exact amount has not yet been determined. According to the report, this fee will be collected from the seller.

Tight monetary policy and high interest rates have driven vehicle loan volumes to lows in Turkey. According to Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency data, individual auto loans peaked at 95.8 billion lira at the end of 2023.

Vasip Şahin, the former Governor of Ankara, has been appointed as the President of the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey. Yakupca Ambolat, previously the Governor of Aydın, has been appointed as the new Governor of Ankara.