Turkey: Flash floods kill 3, paralyze Istanbul after record downpour Heavy rains stranded hundreds, blocking major roads and disrupting air and public transportation, flooding buildings and forcing school closures across Istanbul province. Turkey
Analysis Pragmatic politics: Why Turkey avoids blaming Russia for Black Sea attacks Beyond economics, Ankara’s approach is also shaped by maintaining its role as an indispensable mediator between the Kremlin and the West. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Erdogan aide named suspect in Turkey financial scandal Former AKP deputy chairwoman Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya is facing allegations of being linked to a market manipulation scandal. Turkey
Analysis Turkey’s $20B fund crisis: Who profited, and who will pay? Opposition parties are demanding immediate government compensation for affected investors, who face up to a six-month wait as independent banks oversee the asset liquidations. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Analysis Can Turkey’s Bashiqa withdrawal pave the way for deeper Iraq ties? By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Russian invasion of Ukraine would spell more economic turbulence for Turkey War would bring Turkey under intense pressure from its Western allies to join putative sanctions against Russia, a critical trading partner and supplier of natural gas. Turkey
Israel still hesitant to rehab diplomatic relations with Turkey Jerusalem seems unconvinced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sincerely wants to improve bilateral relations. Israel
Turkish inflation hits two-decade high, inches toward 50% With annual producer inflation reaching 93.5%, further price increases appear in store for Turkish consumers in February and March after consumer inflation sets a two-decade record in January. Turkey
Independent Turkey economists face court action over inflation figures that challenge official data ENAGrup is sued over calculations that put yearly price rises at 83% and told to halt work refuting state agency’s rate. Turkey
Turkey’s central bank continues window dressing with currency swaps Hit by a foreign reserves drain, Turkey’s central bank eyes fresh currency swap deals, including with the central banks of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Libya. Turkey
Pro-Erdogan business leaders anxious about Turkey's economy The pro-government business association MUSIAD has stood behind Erdogan’s controversial economic policies but appears concerned that both borrowing costs and foreign exchange prices remain above the desired levels. Turkey
Inflation crisis hits Turkey's retirees hardest of all According to economists and Turkish seniors' personal accounts, the elderly who suffered most during the COVID-19 pandemic are now being hardest hit by the economic slump. Turkey
Turkish women decry high price of sanitary pads Women activists call on the Turkish government for a tax reduction and other measures to lower the prices of menstrual products, which have grown forbiddingly expensive amid the country’s economic turmoil. Turkey
The Takeaway: Iraq takes first steps toward new government: What comes next Updates from our regional correspondents on Turkey, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt; multimedia on Israel and Iran — all in about 1,000 words. Iraq
Kazakhstan crisis challenges Turkey's leadership of Turkic union The unrest rattling Kazakhstan has reflected the irrelevance of Turkey and the Organization of Turkic States chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Turkey’s middle class put on austerity footing amid skyrocketing prices Staggering price increases are forcing Turkey’s middle class to cut on spending in myriad fields, from shopping and transport to dining and travel. Turkey
Erdogan hopes fence-mending trip to Saudi Arabia eases financial woes Following normalization with the UAE in November, Erdogan plans to pursue reconciliation with Saudi Arabia next month, pressed by financial woes at home, as both sides appear ready to leave the Khashoggi affair behind. Turkey
