The International Monetary Fund recently announced that it expects the Turkish economy to expand six percent in 2021. It also predicted there would be a modest drop in inflation towards the end of the year. Meanwhile, the Turkish lira stood out as the best performing emerging market currency in January after hitting record lows last year. Turkish exports also jumped to a record 17.8 billion dollars in December. So is the worst over for the Turkish economy?

Guests

Taha Arvas

Financial Columnist

Alvaro Ortiz

Head of Big Data Research at BBVA

Bogazici University, recognised as one of Turkey's most prestigious institutions, has now become the site of a month-long protest. What started off as the disapproval of the government-appointed rector has morphed into something else. The Turkish government says that student protests were distorted by outside forces, causing disarray. Ankara also criticised the US state department's condemning Turkey, warning it could fuel anti-American sentiment across the country.

Guests

Vehbi Baysan

Political Analyst

Yusuf Alabarda

Security Analyst

After a turbulent 2020, the Turkish economy is showing signs of recovery. The International Monetary Fund said recently that it expects the Turkish economy to grow by six percent in 2021 and a modest drop in inflation towards the end of the year. Meanwhile, Turkey has criticised a recent statement from the US state department regarding the protests against the appointment of the rector at a local university. A Turkish government official has has warned that Washington's interference could fuel anti-American sentiment across the country.

Guests

Taha Arvas

Financial Columnist

Alvaro Ortiz

Head of Big Data Research at BBVA

Vehbi Baysan

Political Analyst

Yusuf Alabarda

Security Analyst

US President Joe Biden faces a very different Middle East from what he left as vice president in 2017. During his campaign, he promised drastic changes in the country’s Middle East policy, and after just a week in office, there are already indications of what direction he wants to take. Meanwhile, pirates have attacked a Turkish cargo ship off the western coast of Africa, kidnapping 15 sailors and killing one. So how dangerous is the Gulf of Guinea and why has it become the new stronghold of piracy?

Guests:

Mark Meirowitz

Professor at State University of New York

Dalia Fahmy

Middle East Analyst

Faruk Dogan

Retired Naval Staff Colonel

Scott Edwards

Researcher at the University of Bristol

A Turkish cargo vessel has become the latest victim of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western coast of Africa, in what is now the new hotspot for kidnappings on the high seas. In 2020, 95 percent of all the such kidnappings too place in this region, with more than 80 percent of the attackers armed with guns. So why are these waters so dangerous, and what can be done to prevent such incidents from happening?

Guests:

Faruk Dogan

Retired Naval Staff Colonel

Scott Edwards

Researcher at the University of Bristol

It has only been a week since US President Joe Biden took office, but the drastic changes to the country’s Middle East policy that he promised in his campaign are already becoming visible. Relations with the Palestinian Authority have been restored and support for a two-state solution has been affirmed. A string of weapons deals worth tens of billions of dollars to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including the sale of the advanced F-35 fighter jets, are under review. So with a new White House, we are already seeing a major pivot in US foreign policy. How far will it go and what other changes are likely?

Guests:

Mark Meirowitz

Professor at State University of New York

Dalia Fahmy

Middle East Analyst

After WhatsApp recently announced new guidelines on privacy and user data, other messaging apps are soaring in popularity. One such platform is the Turkish app BiP, which has not only become popular locally but also in other countries. We discuss how well the Turkish tech sector is gearing up in becoming a dominant force in the industry, and explore why the privacy and user data protection laws have become so important globally.

Guest

Ali Taha Koc

Head of Turkey's Digital Transformation Office

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron sparred publicly over a host of international issues last year, from Syria to the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in France. But now with a new year ahead, there are signs that both sides want to put past differences to rest. Other EU countries also want to do the same - Greece recently has resumed technical talks. Erdogan says the country's future lies in the West, while Brussels wants a win-win relationship with Ankara. But will that actually happen? And what are the biggest obstacles for both sides?

Guests

Enes Bayrakli

European Studies Director at SETA

Klaus Jurgens

Political Analyst

WhatsApp recently gave a warning to its two-billion plus users; accept to share your private data with its parent company Facebook or be removed from the platform. With the latter previously making headlines over data privacy, it seems this time around, its users are taking it seriously. Apps like Turkeys BiP have, for example, seen an increase in downloads since the announcement, contributing to one of the largest mass digital migrations in human history. Hyder Abbasi explains more.

After a turbulent year, Turkey and the EU are looking to their ties EU and overcome any disagreements in the new year. Both sides have clashed over migration, Islamophobia, and the Eastern Mediterranean. With 2021 starting off on a positive note with an important ministerial meeting in Brussels to discuss these topics, what's needed for Ankara and the European countries narrow the trust deficit? Plus, we discuss why there has been a mass exodus of users from WhatsApp to alternative messaging apps such as Turkey's BiP - which has seen a surge in popularity.

Guests

Enes Bayrakli

European Studies Director at SETA

Klaus Jurgens

Political Analyst

Ali Taha Koc

Head of Turkey's Digital Transformation Office