★ On February 13, Orhan Turan, the head of TÜSİAD, Turkey's leading business association, criticized corruption and judicial inconsistency, urging judicial independence to restore public trust and stability.

  Also, Mr. Turan emphasized that Turkey had no more time left to address its economic issues. He said they supported finance minister Mehmet Şimşek's economic program, but not everything in the economy is going well.

  Among the issues he listed were:

• Removing elected local officials and replacing them with trustees.
• Killing of women.
• Disastrous workplace accidents.
• Widespread corruption
• Arrests of journalists and mayors.

  Mr. Turan also said:

  "As all citizens are equal before the law, the state is also bound by the law. Governance at all levels should follow legal rules, not arbitrary decisions. If trust in the law collapses, insecurity, instability, and uncertainty spread everywhere."

  Government officials criticized the remarks for "overstepping" by trying to influence the judiciary. Yılmaz Tunç, Turkey's justice minister, on X, claimed that Turkey is a state governed by the rule of law. No institution, organization, or interest group is above the national will. The separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary are cornerstones of the Turkish democratic system.

  The next day, Turkish prosecutors launched an investigation into TÜSİAD's Ömer Aras, another person who spoke at the meeting, over his remarks on governance and oversight failures.

★ On February 13, a Turkish court ordered the arrest of 10 municipal officials from Istanbul's opposition-led municipalities, including deputy mayors from Kartal and Ataşehir districts, as part of a "terrorism" investigation.

  The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office alleged that the leadership of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party devised the "urban consensus" concept that the opposition Republican People's Party built with the pro-Kurdish People's' Equality and Democracy Party for the 2024 local elections.

  On February 11, another Turkish court sentenced Abdullah Zeydan, the co-mayor of the eastern Van Metropolitan Municipality from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party, to three years and nine months in prison on charges of "aiding a terrorist organization" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization through media."

  Locals in Van started a sit-in protest despite freezing temperatures.

★ And a reaction from Europe: According to Reuters, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the dismissal and arrest of opposition mayors in Turkey, calling for sanctions on officials responsible for replacing them with government-appointed trustees, citing concerns over the erosion of local democracy.

  Read more from Reuters >> here <<

★ On February 13, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan strongly criticized President Trump's recent proposal to forcefully relocate Palestinians from Gaza, labeling it a "major threat to world peace."

  Mr. Erdoğan was in Indonesia on a visit and spoke on an Indonesian television broadcast.

★ According to Tammy Bruce, the State Department spokesperson:

  Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations, shared regional interests, and growing bilateral trade.

  Turkey's state-run Anatolia News Agency had the following about the meeting:

  The first face-to-face meeting between Messrs. Rubio and Fidan came on the margins of the 61st Munich Security Conference.

  Mr. Fidan emphasized the importance of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must have a resolution to establish regional peace.

  The two also discussed in detail the latest developments regarding the possibility of establishing peace between Ukraine and Russia.

  Fidan also held separate meetings with his UK counterpart David Lammy and German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on the sidelines of the conference.

  In his meeting with Lammy, Fidan highlighted the importance of Syria's political unity and that the Syrian government, which is in charge after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, should be supported.

  He said a permanent truce in Gaza is essential for peace in the region.

  In his meeting with Baerbock, Fidan discussed developments regarding the Ukraine war, the security situation in Syria, and transatlantic relations.

★ According to Reuters, Turkey is Europe's top polluter with its coal-powered power plants.

  However, Turkey will soon have a nuclear power plant producing electricity that will meet 10% of the country's power needs and help reduce pollution.

  Read the details >> here <<

★ Defense News reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's trip to Asia has yielded several defense cooperation agreements that will bring new business to Turkish defense companies.

  Earlier this week, Mr. Erdoğan visited Malaysia and Indonesia before moving to Pakistan.

  Ministers of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, National Defense Yaşar Güler, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, and Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat accompanied him.

  The delegation's first stop was Malaysia, where the two countries signed 11 agreements. One was a preliminary acceptance letter for acquiring multipurpose mission ships for the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs from Desan Shipyard in Turkey.

  According to The Express Tribune, a Pakistani news outlet, during his visit to Pakistan, Mr. Erdoğan and Pakistani officials signed 24 agreements and MoUs to enhance bilateral cooperation following the 7th session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Islamabad on Thursday.

  Both countries pledged to strengthen economic ties and achieve a bilateral trade volume of $5 billion. The agreements cover diverse sectors such as defense, power, energy, mining, trade, water, education, banking, health, legal affairs, media, aerospace, halal food, culture, and business.

★ Since February 10, Istanbul's Boğaziçi University students have occupied a new campus cafe in protest against privatization.

  Boğaziçi University students launched an occupation protest at the new campus chain coffee shop in response to the closure of the campus canteen and the restrictions on coffee sales in other areas on campus.

  For about five days, students have been making coffee and organizing events in a space they named "Occupation Cafe."

  Boğaziçi University is a public university funded by the state.

★ On February 14, Turkey's Family and Social Services Ministry placed a message on its social media account for Valentine's Day and said, "If you're in love, go get married."

  The ministry included the hashtag "Year of Family" in the post and added a link to the "Support Project for Young Getting Married."

  The government offers young couples interest-free loans of 4,141.36 USD in Turkish liras, with a 48-month term and a two-year grace period for repayment.

  Critics say it is not enough to cover the expense of a family with children in the current economy.

★ ECONOMY

★ After the ousting of the Assad regime and the ascendance of new rulers friendly with Turkey, on February 11, Turkey's Trade Ministry announced the lifting of trade restrictions with Syria.

★ According to the research arm of DISK, a trade union confederation, the number of unemployed people in Turkey reached 11.5 million in 2024, increasing by approximately 1.8 million in the past year.

  The 2024 figure approached levels seen during the peak of the covid pandemic.

★ According to a report by the Turkish daily Sözcü, the Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, led by the ruling Justice and Development Party mayor Mehmet Öntürk, spent a whopping 484 thousand dollars for its commemoration program for the second anniversary of the February 6 quakes.

★ İş Gıda, operator of KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in Turkey, declared bankruptcy with over 200,000 USD in debt. Workers protested unpaid wages, alleging misuse of funds.

  The company plans to lay off all its 7000 employees and pledges to pay January salaries by the end of February.

  On January 8, Yum! Brands announced that it terminated its franchise agreements with franchisee İş Gıda. Yum! claimed that İş Gıda failed to meet its standards.

  Read more here >> here <<

★ The jury announced The winners of the Short Film Competition organized by Sabancı Foundation since 2016. This year's theme was "Migration due to Climate."

  Among the ten works that made it to the finals, the first place and the Social Impact Award went to Hasan Hüseyin Alkan with his movie "Last Nest."

  The second place in the competition was for Çağrı Erdoğdu with the movie "White Nights," and the third place went to Turan Güngör, director of the "Minaret."

  Muhammed Emin Çırçır and Mahmut Enes Şahin received the Honorable Mention Award for their movie "What Remains Behind Us."

  Güler Sabancı, Chairman of the Sabancı Foundation Board of Trustees, said:

  "We have a structure in which national and international filmmakers serve as valuable jury members and opinion leaders.

  "With our competition, we draw attention to deepening problems around the globe and contribute to the development of young artists.

  "We address a different social problem every year."

★ Alarko Holding is implementing a new project with IKSV, the Istanbul Culture and Arts Foundation, to increase young generations' access to art.

  With the project dubbed "First Step to Art," Alarko became the sponsor of children and youth workshops at the İKSV festivals in 2025.

  Ümit Nuri Yıldız, CEO of Alarko Group of Companies, said, "We see art as the common language of humanity and a power that will shape a sustainable future.

  "We are happy to direct our long-standing cooperation with İKSV to young people.

  "This time, Alarko Holding aims to spread art education and awareness in cooperation with İKSV, Turkey's most comprehensive art institution.

  "Within the scope of the project, children and young people will have the opportunity to develop their artistic creativity with workshops held during the Istanbul Film, Music, Jazz and Theater Festivals."

  Among the workshops are:

• Stop-Motion Animation
• Hip-Hop Dance
• Jazz

★ İstanbul Modern launched a new educational initiative, "On the Path of Art," to support fine arts graduates from various regions of Turkey, reports the magazine ArtDog Istanbul.

  Istanbul Modern developed the initiative with contributions from art historians, academics, and artists.

  In its inaugural year, it will be active in Nevşehir, Trabzon, Mardin, and Van cities, thus covering Turkey's Central, Black Sea, Southeastern, and Eastern regions.

  The initiative combines online courses with hands-on workshops, and it invites participants to explore modern and contemporary art through seminars and panel discussions on its historical development, interdisciplinary connections, and socio-political context.

  Additionally, there are artist-led workshops designed to enhance participants' creative perspectives. Experienced artists will guide the young artists.

  Applications opened on February 7. To be eligible, candidates must be under 35 years old, have a bachelor's or master's degree in painting, sculpture, or ceramics, and reside in one of the four designated cities.

★ ArtDog Istanbul reports Turkish author Alev İnan returned with her latest fantasy masterpiece: "Maxistra: tales of Fortune."

  In this gripping novel, İnan crafts a richly layered world where mythology and modernity collide, profoundly exploring human nature, power, and environmental decay.

  Through the intertwining stories of four ancient tribes and their struggles against Despera's Curse, the book delivers a dark yet thought-provoking tale that resonates with today's social and political challenges.

★ As part of its exhibition "The Story Unfolds in Istanbul," Meşher is launching a curated selection of films adapted from Western literary works.

  The February program features three adaptations:

• Orlando (based on Virginia Woolf's novel)
• The Man Who Murdered (Curtis Bernhardt's adaptation of Claude Farrère's novel) and
• The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (directed by Karel Zeman.)

  All screenings at Meşher are free of charge, but registration is required.

★ Dr. Ayşe Aldemir, Manager of the Arts of the Book and Calligraphy Collection at Istanbul's Sakıp Sabancı Museum, published an article titled "Ottoman Tastemaker Robert-Sadia Pardo and a Sixteenth-Century Prayer Rug in The Met" in the annual publication of Journal of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

  In the article, Dr. Ayşe Aldemir examines Robert-Sadia Pardo, a figure in the Ottoman art world.

  Dr. Aldemir's article analyzes Pardo's life, spanning from Istanbul to Paris, his commercial achievements, expertise in carpet collecting, and international network.

  It also describes Pardo's restoration and transfer of a 16th-century Ottoman prayer rug to New York.

★ Neş'e Erdok, whose paintings feature landscapes from daily life, will open her exhibition of recent works at Yapı Kredi Bomontiada on February 20.

  Ms. Erdok, born in 1940 in Istanbul, Turkey, is a Turkish painter.

  She is a contemporary figurative artist known for painting distorted figures with large hands and feet.

  It is her 37th solo exhibition featuring the works she has produced in the last two years.

  It will be on view until March 8.

★ The Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture has a new exhibition: "Diverse Dimensions."

  The exhibition showcases the second selection from the collection donated by Lale and Cengiz Akıncı.

  It features renowned artists such as Halil Paşa and İbrahim Çallı.

  Cengiz Akıncı says he started collecting art at 16. He adds that the recognition should go to the Turkish artists rather than the collection.

  The exhibition will be through March 28.

★ An exhibition with an interesting name is on in Istanbul.

  The "Sweetheart Applied" mixed exhibition of the School of Applied Art Group, consisting of graduates and faculty members of the College of State Applied Fine Arts, continues at the Maltepe Prof. Türkan Saylan Culture Center in Istanbul.

  Berrin Aksu, the founder of the School of Applied Art Group, who curated the exhibition, stated that the event brought together the graduates and faculty members of the Marmara University Fine Arts school, which provides art education with the Bauhaus school method.

  Aksu stated that the exhibition aims to commemorate the pre-1985 school building in Istanbul district Beşiktaş Akaretler, the first home for artists, and the memories experienced there.

  The exhibition includes works by 102 graduates and faculty members who produce works in different disciplines.

  The common point of these works, produced in different sizes and techniques, is that they reflect their Alma Mater and its spirit.

★ On February 16, Cristina Branco, one of Portugal's leading Fado artists, will give a concert in Turkey for the first time at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall in Istanbul.

  Cristina Branco is one of the names that expand the boundaries of the genre by combining traditional Fado music with modern sounds.

  Combining Fado music with the verses of poets such as Shakespeare and the Dutch poet J.J. Slauerhoff, Branco brings a new perspective to the sad narrative of classical Fado and creates more optimistic and lively songs.

★ Archaeologists excavating at Hadrianopolis in Karabük, Turkey, have unearthed a bronze filter used in Roman and Byzantine times.

  The 3.6-inch object has a carrying loop and dates to the fifth century CE. Ancients used it to purify beverages before consumption.

  Designated as an archaeological site, humans lived in the ancient city during the Late Chalcolithic, Roman, and Early Byzantine periods.

  Excavation and restoration works at the city continue under the supervision of Professor Ersin Çelikbaş from the Department of Archaeology at Karabük University.

★ After strong northerly winds in the Aegean Sea, the receding waters in Balıkesir's Burhaniye district in northwestern Turkey revealed the remains of an ancient harbor, estimated to date back to the 4th century BCE.

  The harbor was on the shores of the ancient city of Adramyttium.

★ Taha Akgül, the newly elected president of the Turkish Wrestling Federation, has set his sights on revitalizing the sport by strengthening its grassroots.

  Aged 34, the Olympic gold medalist with a track record of three world titles and 11 European championships, Akgül aims to replicate his success as an athlete in his new managerial role.