MHP Calls for S-400 Activation Amid Frayed US Ties, Banks Shun Canal Istanbul Funding

LOCAL NEWS

• MHP leader Bahceli says "US ties are at a historical crossroads after Biden's use of the word genocide to commemorate 1915 events."
  • "the first thing we should do is activate the S-400s and get the money we paid for the F-35s back. I hereby declare that we will wilfully support every decision taken by our state and govt"
• Canal Istanbul project faces headwinds as banks show reluctance to help finance the $13bn project aimed at circumventing the Bosporus strait over environmental concerns.
  • 6 of Turkey's top banks have signed global sustainability agreements prohibiting such funding – forcing Erdogan to possibly rely on state and foreign financing.
  • Surveys also show the majority of the population is against its construction
• Turkey registers over 43,000 new daily covid infections & 346 deaths. Meanwhile Turkey launches its "vaccination persuasion" initiative aimed at improving vaccination rates in the reluctant elderly population (23.6% of >65 population).
  • Teams of doctors and health workers have been phoning/visting those refusing the vaccine to try persuade them otherwise - AA