Geopolitics

Power, alliances, conflict, influence operations and elections.

The Gulf

Istanbul’s Record Flood Turns Urban Renewal Into an Emergency

Oct 18, 2026

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14 min read

Istanbul’s Record Flood Turns Urban Renewal Into an Emergency

The heaviest rain in 84 years drowned Ayazağa, a business district built along a streambed. Ankara’s answer is bulldozers, a fast-track renewal offer and a disaster-insurance bill. For builders, insurers and owners, the Istanbul property game has new rules.

Mehmet Istanbullu

Culture & Heritage

Syria Is Putting Its Stones Back, and the Visitors Are Following

Oct 16, 2026

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14 min read

Syria Is Putting Its Stones Back, and the Visitors Are Following

In one autumn week, Aleppo reopened its Great Mosque beneath a minaret rebuilt from its own rubble, and a saint’s column returned to its hilltop. Behind the restorations is a travel market growing faster than its hotels, and an opening for patient, heritage-minded capital.

Mehmet Istanbullu

Geopolitics

Istanbul’s Record Flood Turns Urban Renewal Into an Emergency

Syria Is Putting Its Stones Back, and the Visitors Are Following

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