Erdal

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on March 11, as the faithful prepared for a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting in which Muslims will refrain from eating or drinking anything.

Many will strictly observe prayers, read the Quran and donate to charity as they seek to draw closer to God. Family and friends will gather for joyful nightly feasts for the next 30 days.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has unveiled his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) district mayor candidates in Ankara for the upcoming local elections scheduled for March 31.

With adverse weather dealing a severe blow to the fishing sector, fishermen are struggling to continue catching fish in the Black Sea, resulting in limited fish stock available for selling and a consequent rise in prices that have also almost doubled.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have revealed extensive slates of mayoral candidates in a move ahead of the March 31 local elections.

The CHP's announcement, following a party assembly meeting on Jan. 10, presented mayoral candidates for six pivotal metropolitan cities.

Industrialists say they cannot find machine operators and welders, contractors seek plasterers and painters, while tailors and carpenters cannot find apprentices.

With approximately 3 million people unemployed in Türkiye, the shortage of skilled and intermediate workers has become a threat to production, according to employers.

The economic confidence index increased by 1.1 percent in December after declining 1.3 percent in the previous month, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has said.

Even though it climbed to 96.4, the index still remained below the 100-mark. Any index figure above 100 indicates an optimistic outlook regarding the general economic situation.

Oil refiner Tüpraş once again ranked first in the Istanbul Chamber of Industry's (İSO) Top 500 Industrial Enterprises list with production-based sales amounting to 418.4 billion Turkish Liras ($15.4 billion) last year.

Türkiye will establish five more free zones as part of its target to boost exports and lure more foreign investments, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has said.

Speaking at an event at the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (İSO), Bolat noted that there are currently 19 free zones in the country.

Leaders of business associations have welcomed the Central Bank's move to hike its policy rate sharply by 650 basis points, calling it a step taken toward ensuring price and financial stability.

The Central Bank on June 22 increased its one-week repo auction rate from 8.5 percent to 15 percent. This has been the first rake hike since March 2021.

Turkish travel writers have listed the most 10 beautiful coves one can visit during a blue voyage in the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas, with the Cove of Bedri Rahmi topping the list.

The cove in the southwestern province of Muğla's Göcek neighborhood is named after famous Turkish poet, writer, and painter Bedri Rahmi Eyüpoğlu, who died in 1975 at the age of 64.