The race is on for key cities as Turkey holds local elections in test of Erdogan’s popularity

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey is holding local elections Sunday that will decide who gets to control Istanbul and other key cities. The vote is also a barometer of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s popularity as he seeks to win back control of key urban areas he lost to the opposition five years ago. The main … Read more

Turkey’s local elections — and whoever wins Istanbul — could dictate future

As the sunsets, a ferry boat glides across the waters of the Golden Horn with the Suleymaniye Mosque and the city of Istanbul, Turkey in the background.  Vw Pics | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once said that whoever wins Istanbul wins Turkey. If that’s the case, the stakes … Read more

Exclusive-Russia struggles to collect oil payments as China, UAE, Turkey raise bank scrutiny

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian oil firms face delays of up to several months to be paid for crude and fuel as banks in China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) become more wary of U.S. secondary sanctions, eight sources familiar with the matter said. Payment delays reduce revenue to the Kremlin and make them … Read more

Turkey central bank raises interest rate to 50%

A picture taken on August 14, 2018 shows the logo of Turkey’s Central Bank at the entrance of its headquarters in Ankara, Turkey. ADEM ALTAN | AFP | Getty Images Turkey’s central bank on Thursday raised its key interest rate, the one-week repo rate, from 45% to 50%, citing the continuing need to counter climbing … Read more

Trabzonspor fans invade pitch, attack Fenerbahce players in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish police have detained 12 people after fans of top tier soccer club Trabzonspor invaded the pitch following a home loss against Fenerbahce, touching off violent scuffles between the fans and visiting players. The Trabzonspor fans charged onto the pitch as Fenerbahce players celebrated their 3-2 win following the final whistle of … Read more

Shock and confusion as Turkey seizes earthquake survivors’ homes

By Ceyda Caglayan and Burcu Karakas SAMANDAG, Turkey (Reuters) – Habip Yapar felt lucky that his home in southern Turkey withstood last year’s devastating earthquake. Then a text message appeared on his phone in October telling him the government was taking ownership of the apartment. The message sent to Yapar, 61, declared that the deeds … Read more

Turkey opts for new tightening strategy after signaling pause to hikes

A picture taken on August 14, 2018 shows the logo of Turkey’s Central Bank at the entrance of its headquarters in Ankara, Turkey. ADEM ALTAN | AFP | Getty Images Turkey’s central bank is opting for a different monetary tightening method as it grapples with climbing inflation, after previously signaling that its rate-hiking cycle was … Read more

Turkey struggles to stop violence against women. At least 71 have been killed this year

ISTANBUL — Muhterem Evcil was stabbed to death by her estranged husband at her workplace in Istanbul, where he had repeatedly harassed her in breach of a restraining order. The day before, authorities detained him for violating the order but let him go free after questioning. More than a decade later, her sister believes Evcil … Read more

Turkey detains 7 more people for allegedly selling information to Israel’s spy agency

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish police on Tuesday detained seven more people suspected of selling information to the Israeli spy agency Mossad, authorities said, the latest in a wave of such arrests in Turkey. The suspects were taken into custody during simultaneous raids in Istanbul, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on the social media platform X, … Read more

Turkish annual inflation soars to 67% in February

The Maslak financial and business center in the Sariyer district of Istanbul. Ayhan Altun | Moment | Getty Images Turkish annual consumer price inflation soared to 67.07% in February, the Turkish Statistical Institute said Monday, coming in above expectations. Analysts polled by Reuters had anticipated annual inflation would climb to 65.7% last month. The combined … Read more