October 2026

A four-way meeting between delegations from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran began in Tehran. The talks cover regional security, Israel's activities in the region, and developments in Palestine and Lebanon.

Two high-speed trains on the Madrid-Andalusia route collided in Spain, killing at least 68 people. Another 53 were injured, 15 of them seriously.

Israelis went to the polls in an election that opposition parties cast as a chance to end Benjamin Netanyahu's time in office, with the opposition calling on voters to turn out. Gadi Eisenkot, who sat in Netanyahu's war cabinet, has emerged as his strongest challenger, while the field of rivals is notable for the number of former commanders. The vote is the first since October 7.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia will take place next month, according to NTV Haber and Euronews.com. Russia's side said it is ready for trilateral negotiations on Ukraine after November 4, Anadolu Ajansı reported.

Erdoğan said payment transactions in the fund process will speed up, and that those who obtained unjust gains will be made to answer before the judiciary. He rejected the idea of keeping the matter quiet, saying "we will not say 'the arm breaks, it stays inside the sleeve'" — a Turkish saying for covering up a scandal.

Turkish authorities detained five people in a fund investigation, among them Ertan Aydın, a former adviser to the prime minister, and a former AK Parti member of parliament. The detentions were reported across the political spectrum, from pro-government Habertürk and Hürriyet to oppositional Sözcü and Diken, and by the centrist BBC Turkish and Euronews.

Capital Markets Board (SPK) chairman Sütçü submitted his resignation, and Treasury and Finance Deputy Minister Çelik filed a retirement petition with Minister Şimşek. The two departures were reported together on Monday.

Libya's parliament approved the maritime jurisdiction memorandum between Turkey and Libya, according to reports on Tuesday. The memorandum covers the two countries' maritime jurisdiction areas. Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said Turkey and Libya have the will and the power to take decisions about their own futures.

An Istanbul court ordered the arrest of 15 suspects in a money-laundering investigation, among them journalist Murat Ağırel and Ömer Sarıgül, the son of former mayor Mustafa Sarıgül. Prosecutors had sought judicial control orders for two further suspects. The case is known in Turkish coverage as the Germany investigation.

Istanbul Governor Gül announced after the flash flood that structures occupying the stream bed will be demolished. The governor also said financial aid has been paid to flood victims. Work is under way to erase the traces of damage left by the downpour across the city.

Journalist Bahadır Özgür was taken into custody as part of a fund investigation and was to spend the night in detention. He was later referred to court, with prosecutors seeking a judicial control order and a foreign travel ban.

President Erdoğan said the fund problem has been brought under control, a message carried by pro-government outlets including BloombergHT, Hürriyet and Sabah and by business outlets Dünya and Ekonomim. Hürriyet reported that Erdoğan set out three priorities for funds. The statements follow a fund investigation that has dominated the agenda, with a parliamentary research commission being formed to examine the scandal.

Turkey has extended the deadline for joint-stock (anonim) and limited (limited) companies to comply with minimum capital requirements until the end of 2027. The measure was published in the Official Gazette, giving companies with low capital additional time to raise their capital.

Muğla Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı Ahmet Aras announced that he is leaving CHP membership and will continue his post as an independent. He said, "CHP üyeliğimden ayrılarak görevimi bağımsız sürdürme karar aldım." The resignation came after a Syria visit that had already stirred turmoil within the party.

İzmir Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı Cemil Tugay joined the AK Party, with President Erdoğan pinning on his party badge. Tugay said, "İzmir'i yeniden inşa etmek üzere yola çıkıyoruz." The move marks the first time İzmir has come under AK Party control.

AKP MP Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya is at the center of a political crisis over a fund scandal. She has said her husband conducted transactions without her knowledge, an explanation that has not convinced party members, and the party headquarters is uncomfortable with the situation. Opposition parties have demanded to know when her testimony will be taken.

A student at a secondary school in Başakşehir, Istanbul, was killed in a knife attack. The victim, identified as Eslem Sare Bulut, was buried on October 7. The attack took place at the school and prompted a criminal investigation.

Iran's parliament speaker said the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen unless seven conditions are fulfilled. Iran has conveyed those seven conditions to the United States via Qatar, signaling a return to negotiations.

France's political and fiscal deadlock is threatening the Eurozone with a new debt crisis, as the country accelerates historic bond sales and shifts toward short-term borrowing. The budget plan includes 125 billion euros in cuts.

President Erdoğan convened the Presidential Cabinet at Beştepe, with the fund investigation at the top of the agenda. He also met with his economic team at the same location for a critical summit on the probe.

A fund scandal has put AKP MP Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya at the center of a political crisis. She has defended herself by saying her husband conducted transactions without her knowledge, but this explanation has not convinced party members, and the party headquarters is uncomfortable with the situation. Opposition parties have demanded when her testimony will be taken.

A passenger plane belonging to Iran-based Caspian Airlines was seized at Istanbul Airport. The aircraft was preparing for departure when the seizure order was enforced, and passengers were removed from the plane.

A corruption investigation into Yahşihan Municipality has resulted in the arrest of 15 people, including two former mayors. The detentions followed a probe focused on the municipality.

Turkey will start a new secure payment system for real estate sales on December 1, replacing cash payments at title deed offices. The system applies to both residential and land transactions, and the start date was moved from an earlier schedule.