From Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, news about the raise came to the people of Izmir, like an April 1 joke. The people of Izmir woke up to a rain of price hikes on the morning of Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Many services, from urban public transportation to ferry services, from bread to minibuses, from taxis to İZBAN, came into force on the first day of April in line with the decisions taken by the metropolitan municipal council recently. There was a 16 percent increase in urban public transportation vehicles such as buses, metro, ferries and trams. Thus, full boarding increased from 30 lira to 35 lira. The people of Izmir woke up on the morning of April 1 to the newly increased tariffs that the Metropolitan Municipality had put into effect. The increases in public transportation fees in Izmir came into force as of April 1, 2026. In line with the decision taken by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council at the beginning of March, ESHOT, tram, metro, ferry İZBAN and ferry will have an increase. According to the new tariff valid throughout the city as of April 1, the full ticket price on ESHOT, tram, metro and ferry increased by 16 percent from 30 TL to 35 TL. The ‘Youth Card’ fee used by students was increased from 15 TL to 17.5 TL. Teachers also got their share from the increased tariff. Teacher tariff increased to 23.50 TL.

İZBAN, which is the lifeblood of urban public transportation, established by İZBB and TCDD with a 50 percent partnership, received the lion’s share of the increases. Although the decision of the İZBAN Board of Directors was not taken, the İZBB Assembly increased the full boarding fee from 30 TL to 40 TL, the youth boarding fee from 12.50 TL to 16.50 TL, and the teacher boarding fee from 22.15 TL to 29.50 TL, with the votes of CHP council members. A 25 percent increase was applied to the per kilometer fees at İZBAN. For journeys exceeding 20 kilometers, the pricing per kilometer has increased from 1.17 TL to 1.50 TL for full rides, from 0.50 TL to 0.65 TL for junior rides, and from 0.5250 TL to 0.65 TL for teacher rides. With the increase, the total fare between Aliağa and Selçuk was determined as 214.8 TL. The vehicle toll for car ferries serving on the Bostanlı-Üçkuyular line also increased by 20 percent. Motorcycle transportation fee was increased from 75 TL to 90 TL, automobile transportation fee was increased from 200 TL to 240 TL, middle class vehicle transportation fee was increased from 400 TL to 480 TL, bus-truck transportation fee was increased from 900 TL to 1,080 TL, and TIR transportation fee was increased from 1,250 TL to 1,500 TL. It was decided to increase taxi fares by approximately 15 percent to 20 percent. Taximeter opening fee increased from 30 TL to 34.50 TL, kilometer fee increased from 43 TL to 49.50 TL, one hour fee increased from 180 TL to 207 TL, and under 2.94 kilometers increased from 150 TL to 180 TL. Student services were increased by 5 percent. There was a 15 percent increase in personnel service fees.

BREAD HAS ALSO BEEN INCREASED

The sales price of 200 grams of bread, which is 15 TL in Izmir, increased to 17.50 TL. The fact that the increased tariffs came into force as of April 1 became a matter of joke among the city residents. Many Izmir residents who called our newspaper criticized the increased tariffs in a humorous manner, saying “Mayor Tugay played an April 1 joke on the people of Izmir.”

“Investment Ecosystem Meeting” was held in Istanbul within the scope of the “Women in Innovation” program by the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM). Speaking at the program, where the topics of empowering women entrepreneurs, increasing their access to finance and developing sustainable collaborations came to the fore, KADEM Chairman of the Board of Trustees Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar stated that strengthening women’s entrepreneurship is critical for sustainable development. Stating that the power of the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem arises from collaborations where different stakeholders can bring together their knowledge, experience and opportunities, Bayraktar said, “It is of great importance for women entrepreneurs to take a stronger place in this ecosystem, to increase their access to finance and to establish new collaborations. Our program has gone beyond a competition and become a strong ecosystem that brings together women entrepreneurs, investors and institutions. The role of women in economic life is no longer just a social policy issue, but also an important part of Türkiye’s sustainable development vision.”

THERE ARE 1.2 MILLION WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Bayraktar also shared data on women entrepreneurship and stated that there are approximately 1.2 million women entrepreneurs in Türkiye, the share of women entrepreneurs in total entrepreneurs is 18 percent, and the rate of women founders in newly established companies is approximately 20 percent. Noting that these rates are still below international averages, but the increasing trend indicates a strong transformation, Bayraktar said, “Increasing diversity on the investment side directly affects equality of opportunity. The probability of investing in women entrepreneurs is 60 percent higher in funds that have at least one woman in the investment team.” Pointing out the critical role of mentorship, strong networks and correct investment mechanisms in the entrepreneurship journey, Bayraktar hoped that this meeting would pave the way for new collaborations and investments. The meeting, where three main panels were held after the opening speeches, aimed to increase women entrepreneurs’ access to finance, strengthen their collaborations and increase their visibility in the investment ecosystem.

COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR R&D AND INNOVATION

Deputy Minister of INDUSTRY and Technology Muhammed Kasım Saygı pointed out the role of women in technology and production processes and stated that the way to make the country a structure that produces high technology and competes on a global scale is through the more active participation of women in production processes.

Stating that they carry out comprehensive support programs for women to be more involved in R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship fields, Saygın said, “We have provided billions of lira of support to hundreds of thousands of women researchers and entrepreneurs to date. We do not see women’s entrepreneurship as limited to big cities only, but also consider it as one of the basic elements of the development of Anatolia.”

DIVERSITY IN THE INVESTMENT ECOSYSTEM IS INCREASING

Burak Dağlıoğlu, Head of the Presidential Investment and Finance Office, also emphasized that women’s entrepreneurship is getting stronger in Türkiye and said, “The rate of women entrepreneurs has exceeded 18 percent and this increase indicates a significant acceleration.

There has been serious activity in technology investments in recent years. Since 2020, early-stage investments have reached over $5 billion. There are 7 unicorns in Türkiye today, and 3 of them have female founders. The presence of women in the investment ecosystem is increasing not only as entrepreneurs but also as fund managers. “This transformation enables the ecosystem to gain a more inclusive and stronger structure,” he said.

Lawyers of the families of victims who lost their children suggested establishing a “grief therapy center” at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Investigation Commission on Children Driven to Crime. At the commission meeting, Şeyda Karayazgan, the lawyer of the victim families who wanted the terminology of children dragged into crime (SSÇ) to be changed, said, “The term child perpetrator can be used.”

A GRIEF THERAPY CENTER SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED

Stating that families need not only justice but also “grief therapy”, Karayazgan said, “Necessary steps need to be taken to which people with such grievances can directly apply, especially those who rush for justice without even experiencing their grief.” Karayazgan listed the demands of the families as follows: “Our main demand is that the punishment be given according to the severity of the crime, not according to age. It is not the age of the murderer, but the gravity of the act, intent, intensity and the way it was committed that is important. The judge should be given the discretion to not apply a discount. The obligation for a reduction should be abolished for serious crimes in the 15-18 age group, and a reduction should not be applied.”

BOTH GUILTY AND STRONG

Şahin Çakır, father of Hakan Çakır, who was killed in Ankara, read some of the threatening messages he received. Among the messages were the following statements: “It’s a meaty ocean, I cast a fishing rod, the finale is certain, I’m pacing in the courtyard” and “We’ll lie down like lions and come out.” With the suggestion of the members of the commission, it was decided to include the messages in the report.

AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik spoke briefly as follows before the AK Party Central Executive Board meeting held under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan:

Today, the sole responsibility for the crisis and the negativity affecting 8 billion people is the attack on Iran by the USA and Israel. There is no justification for this. What needs to be done in the first stage is to end the unjust and unlawful aggression of the USA and Israel.

We see that the genocidal policy of Israeli aggression continues in other areas as well as physically killing people. It commits spatial, intellectual and religious genocide. While the Iran war continues, we see that some people are taking our eyes off Gaza and the West Bank, and we will definitely not allow this.

We know that the Israeli side is working intensively to draw our Kurdish brothers into this war by meeting with certain groups and certain actors. Our Kurdish brothers in Iran and our Kurdish brothers in Northern Iraq acted prudently. Important Kurdish opinion leaders stated that they would not be a part of this war in any way. What is important is the common sense approach of our Kurdish brothers.

(Israeli parliament’s death sentence) This is clear racism, clear discrimination and crime. The Israeli Parliament enacts the death penalty to be applied only to Palestinians. It is the most damning decision taken in a parliament, it is shameful. We condemn and categorically reject it.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the AK Party TBMM Group Meeting.

WITHOUT BREAKING, WITHOUT SPILLING: We will hopefully continue to increase the momentum we gained during Ramadan. We will continue on our way, as we have for 23 years, without breaking, spilling or dividing, on the contrary, by winning hearts and conquering hearts, and we will add night to day in order to receive the blessings of our nation.

WE FOCUSED ON SERVING THE NATION: While we were surrounded by a ring of fire and missiles and drones were flying in the air just beyond our borders, we stayed away from any political discussions that would disrupt our concentration and keep us busy. Everyone should know that our silence was not because we tolerated the slanders and rudeness, but on the contrary, it was due to our good manners and dignity. As we have done for 23 years, we have made an effort not to talk one word after another, but to throw stones at stones. We are in a struggle to make Türkiye a global player. We are taking firm steps towards our vision of the Türkiye Century, without getting caught up in the virtual agendas fueled by the opposition.

CHP WROTE THE BOOK OF COUPISM: It is neither the right nor the place of anyone, including the head of the main opposition, to criticize the President of this country and the ruling party in a very lowly manner and to insult them with very ugly expressions. Because CHP wrote the book on coupism and juntaism in this country. If you look at Turkish political history, you will see the CHP walking arm in arm with the coup plotters, there you will find the CHP acting as a host to the coup plotters in misty weather, there you will find the CHP preparing the ground for the coup with the lie that ‘university students are put through meat grinders’,

POOR MOUTH, POOR MOOD: Unfortunately, in the chairmanship of the main opposition party, there is a character who is foul-mouthed, in a bad mood, and who throws insults at everyone he comes across, and whose face does not even turn red from his insults. I know very well that our CHP citizens are disturbed by these increasingly reckless discourses and this lack of reason and morality. I do not complain about this disgrace to anyone, but to my beloved nation, I leave it to my beloved nation.

YOU DID NOT DEAL WITH THOSE WHO PERFORM CORRUPTION: As much as you dealt with those who reported corruption and those who said ‘I gave a bribe’, you did not deal with those who took bribes, those who committed corruption, those who extorted tradesmen, and those with poor character who turned municipalities into a waste. I’m sorry, but this country is not CHP’s domination. Municipal resources are not the preserve of CHP mayors. Therefore, no one can say to you, ‘Eat, gentlemen, eat. It doesn’t say ‘eat until you’re full, until you’re hungry, until you’re hungry’. He can’t say, he won’t say. In the Republic of Türkiye, no one has the privilege to commit crimes, commit corruption, or betray the trust of the nation. The days when the law of the superiors dominated remained in old Türkiye. Gone are the days when those who steal and rob will get away with it.

WE ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP Türkiye AWAY FROM FIRE

President Erdoğan stated that Israel and Netanyahu are primarily responsible for the war in the region: Our priority is for our country to get through this stormy period without any trouble. We are determined to keep Türkiye away from this fire. As the government, we are managing this process on a cautious, moderate, balanced and rational basis, without falling into the traps that the opposition wants to pull us into.

President Erdoğan met with the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Numan Kurtulmuş. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and AK Party Group Chairman Abdullah Güler also took part in the half-hour meeting.

NATIONS KNOW VERY WELL HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE THE CURVE FROM THE DIRECT

The Turkish nation is a nation with wisdom, foresight and foresight. You cannot deceive or deceive this nation. You cannot make this nation think of political juggling, acrobatics, and talk as ‘politics’. This dear nation knows very well how to distinguish the honest from the honest, the sincere from the fraudulent, the liar from the honest, the moral from the immoral, and how to distinguish between them. Our nation clearly sees the difference in level, style, quality, stance and vision between the AK Party and the People’s Alliance and the main opposition party CHP. Our nation follows CHP’s aggressive rhetoric, which does not take a break even during Ramadan and has become even more ugly in recent days. They should not forget that by turning every opportunity they get into a symphony of insults against us and our party, they will only humiliate themselves, not us and our party. We have never been a tool in this game and we never will be. We will not allow anger, hatred, the language of conflict and fight to poison politics, especially in the sensitive period we are going through. But we will also know very well that putting people in their place when necessary is better than dressing 40 orphans.

SUPPORTING THE COUPISTS IS CHP’S NATIONAL SPORT

In Türkiye’s dictionary of political terms, CHP is written opposite the adjectives coup plotter and juntaist. Coupism is the character, spirit and identity of the CHP. Supporting the coup and the coup plotters is CHP’s national sport. In their eyes, young people are consumables that can sometimes be used to prepare the environment for coups and sometimes to whitewash corruption. CHP is the embodiment, embodiment and embodiment of coupism. Just as tin can does not turn into gold by painting it yellow, the coupist mentality ingrained in the CHP’s genes does not change either.

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, in his meeting with his counterpart David van Weel within the scope of his contacts in the Netherlands, brought up the issues of strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extradition of criminals. Stating that he believes that the meeting will contribute to the further development of the existing cooperation between the two countries, Gürlek stated that they attach importance to the mutual cooperation of the two countries in the judicial sense and said: “We currently have 217 extradition requests from the FETO terrorist organization and 8 extradition requests from the PKK terrorist organization.

Since we see the Netherlands as an ally country, we ask you to extradite these criminals within the scope of judicial cooperation on this issue.” Reminding that the previous day was the martyrdom anniversary of the martyr Public Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz, Gürlek stated that the trial of Musa Aşoğlu, the leader of the DHKP-C terrorist organization, who ordered this vile attack, continues at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court. Gürlek said, “As a result of the trial, Musa Aşoğlu, the leader of this terrorist organization, was also extradited from the Netherlands. We demand his return to our country. Unfortunately, no positive steps have been taken in this regard so far. “We sincerely believe that the demands and important sensitivities we have expressed will be met by the Dutch authorities,” he said.