Stories from Turkey

Thirty-three restaurants in Sanliurfa have been included in a new culinary heritage project. The initiative selects restaurants based on local regionality, geographical indication products, and historical storytelling. The project aims to diversify gastronomic destinations for tourists by including international-standard dining. The project's first stop was the opening of the Culture Route Festival in Sanliurfa. The project launched with the opening of the Culture Way Festival. Sanliurfa now includes 33 restaurants within the designated flavor points. Selection criteria for the project include local regionality, products with geographical indications, and historical storytelling. The project focuses on local, regional, and geographically indicated products with unique cultural stories.

MIA Teknoloji has applied to the Capital Markets Board (SPK) to merge with Lider Sistem Teknolojileri A.Ş.

The Turkish Ministry of Trade has granted foreign trade capital company status to 10 additional firms. This brings the total number of companies with this status to 103.

A football fan was stabbed and injured in Antalya during celebrations following a match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. The incident occurred as tensions rose between supporters of the two teams. The stabbing took place amidst the street celebrations for the victory.

Fenerbahçe management decided to part ways with Terezko and Sporting Director Devinozek following a 3-0 defeat against Galatasaray. The club also announced the departure of football coordinator Belkeçere. These decisions were made during critical board meetings held throughout the day.

A two-and-a-half-year-old child died in Kırşehir after a strawberry became lodged in their windpipe.

Water levels at Lake Eber in Afyon Karahisar have risen to over four meters following recent rainfall. The lake, one of Turkey's largest freshwater lakes, previously had a water level of approximately one meter. The lake's surface area had shrunk due to drought, with water levels at roughly 5% last year. Current water levels have increased to 15% following regular precipitation since November. The flamingo population in Lake Eber has increased approximately 3 to 4 times compared to previous years due to higher water levels. Experts stated that illegal smuggling must be prevented and warned citizens to comply with lake regulations.

A 147-meter cargo ship ran aground near the Yeniköy location in Sarıyer, Istanbul. It is traveling to the port of Constanta in Romania for a series of studies. Stranded crew members were evacuated from the ship using a rope system. An evacuation line was established from the sea to the shore. Eight individuals with good health were taken to an ambulance as a precaution. Efforts will be made to rescue the vessel. A ship was observed to be leaning slightly to one side. Steps are also being taken to strengthen the family and population structure. The cargo ship Minova ran aground near Istanbul early Saturday morning due to strong winds and adverse weather conditions. The ship has a crew of 8, consisting of 7 Azerbaijani nationals and 1 Turkish national. A collision warning was issued in the port area during transit from the Marmara to the Caribbean.

Oil prices remain high due to war uncertainty and potential disruptions to shipments in the Strait of Hormuz. Spokesperson Figueiredo stated these values may counteract the previous upward trend. The Middle East provides approximately 50% of the United Kingdom's aviation fuel imports. This fuel accounts for between 20% and 25% of airline operating costs. Previously, prices were recorded between $50 and $90 per barrel. Petrol prices in South Africa have increased by approximately five rand per liter. Diesel prices are expected to rise cumulatively by about 11 rand per liter next week. The price hike is described as a shock to the economy. There is a possibility that these increases could trigger widespread upward adjustments. Oil prices rose above $120 a barrel on Wednesday, marking the highest level since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

United Nations and World Economic Forum analyses indicate women's employment faces high risk due to AI-driven automation. Youth also face challenges entering the labor market. Speaker Özgür Burak Akkol noted that digital and green transformations are redefining necessary skills. These shifts impact the broader Turkish workforce landscape. A new report indicates that women in Turkey are more vulnerable to AI-driven job automation than men. Specifically, 47.8% of women work in roles susceptible to automation, compared to less than 23% of men. This disparity persists across all age groups. The report also introduced an AI automation vulnerability index for various professions.