Turkey

Story gist: Milli Piyango conducted its 2026 New Year’s special lottery draw. The 800 million TL jackpot went to winners in Istanbul and Konya; full results including numbers, amorti, and consolation prizes are available for QR code ticket queries.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting any progressive perspective on gambling or economic impacts. Center outlet Mynet Finans uses excited tone, emphasizing ‘lucky’ provinces Istanbul and Konya for the 800 million TL win. Right-leaning Hürriyet adopts neutral, service-oriented framing, focusing on practical tools like QR queries, full prize lists, and numbers without hype.

Story gist: Turkey’s Official Gazette published tax rates for 2026, including income tax brackets, motor vehicle taxes, and exit fees to abroad. The announcements appeared as breaking economic news.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets emphasize motor vehicle tax rates’ publication without noting hikes. Center sources neutrally report income tax brackets as determined for 2026. Right-leaning coverage highlights the exit fee increase (‘zam geldi’), framing it as a direct cost rise to citizens, while omitting other tax details.

Story gist: Mehmet Akif Ersoy provided a confession under Turkey’s effective remorse provision, detailing parties in AK Party offices and other activities. His statement did not lead to release, and he returned to prison.

Bias summary: Left-leaning T24 emphasizes scandalous details like transporting imam hatip girls for drug treatment, using sensational quotes to highlight moral depravity. Center rudaw.net neutrally reports the legal process and emergence of Ersoy’s statement without emphasis. Right-leaning Sabah focuses on Ersoy’s failed release bid and party revelations, implying internal AK Party accountability while omitting drug-related sensationalism.

Story gist: Turkey’s Meteorology Department warned of heavy snow, storms, and icing in 39 provinces. Istanbul governorship specified districts and timings for intense snowfall.

Bias summary: No left-leaning coverage observed. Center outlet Onedio emphasizes local Istanbul impacts, listing districts and timings with exclamatory, urgent tone. Right-leaning TRT Haber focuses on national scope across 39 provinces, highlighting kar, showers, and storms in factual, comprehensive alert style. Center prioritizes urban immediacy; right stresses broader warnings.

Story gist: Snowfall affected high elevations in Ankara, Turkey. Some areas in Istanbul experienced first snow.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Diken emphasizes novelty with ‘first snow’ and vivid phrasing of Istanbul areas ‘turning white,’ adopting an aesthetic tone. Right-leaning TRT Haber uses a straightforward, factual headline focused on Ankara’s high areas. No center-leaning outlets reported, omitting a neutral perspective.