Igor, a young man from Saint Petersburg, fled Russia on a bicycle after the announcement of partial mobilization for the war in Ukraine. Despite not receiving a conscription letter, he decided to leave due to the fear of being drafted, as many of his friends and acquaintances were. He used his Schengen visa to reach Finland, a common escape route for Russians refusing to fight. Eva Rapoport from Kovcheg, an association led by opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky, helps Russians in Turkey who cannot afford accommodation and provides legal support for those seeking humanitarian visas or political asylum. The European Union has closed its borders to Russia, making it difficult for Russians to leave. Igor, now in Istanbul, is waiting for a job opportunity but is adamant about not returning to Russia.

The United Nations aims to halve global food waste by 2023, highlighting that 1.05 billion tons of food were wasted in 2022. The majority of waste occurs in households, accounting for 60% of the total. The report emphasizes that food waste is not limited to wealthy countries and is exacerbated by high temperatures and logistical challenges. The UN calls for immediate action, noting that some G20 countries have made significant progress. China has implemented laws to curb food waste, imposing fines for non-compliance.

The United States, Mexico, and Guatemala have announced the formation of a trilateral working group focused on migration and border security. This initiative aims to enhance cooperation in law enforcement and infrastructure development to ensure safe and orderly migration while addressing root causes. The announcement follows a meeting in Washington attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from Mexico and Guatemala. The article also contrasts the differing approaches to migration by the Biden administration, which seeks to regularize migrants and address root causes, and former President Donald Trump, who advocates for stricter measures including mass deportations and detention centers.

Iran is set to hold legislative elections on March 1, with over 60 million Iranians eligible to vote for 290 parliamentary seats and 88 members of the Assembly of Experts. The elections are expected to be dominated by conservatives, amid widespread discontent over economic crises, protests, tensions with the West, and Iran's support for Russia in the Ukraine war. Human rights groups and critics have labeled the electoral process as unfair due to the disqualification of reformist and liberal factions. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called for high voter turnout to 'save the country,' while public figures and activists, including Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, have urged a boycott. The death of Mahsa Amini in police custody has fueled feminist-led protests and a call for non-participation as a form of protest.

Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader, died days before a planned prisoner exchange, according to his team. Maria Pevchikh, a close ally, claims that Navalny was to be exchanged along with two American citizens for Vadim Krasikov, a Chechen serving a life sentence in Germany. Pevchikh accuses Vladimir Putin of ordering Navalny's death to prevent his release. The article details the circumstances surrounding Navalny's death, the planned exchange, and the reactions from his allies and family, who reject the official cause of death and blame the Kremlin.

Antony Blinken's visit to Argentina, where he met with President Javier Milei, was marked by discussions on economic stabilization and the extraction of critical minerals, particularly lithium. Blinken praised Milei's efforts to stabilize the economy and emphasized the US's interest in being a key partner in Argentina's mineral extraction projects. The meeting also highlighted Argentina's strategic importance in global supply chains and its alignment with US interests, including support for Israel and Ukraine. The visit underscored the strong bilateral relations and potential for future economic collaboration.

Turkish President Erdogan has shifted his approach towards Israel, moving from a mediator role to a more confrontational stance. Despite previous diplomatic advances, including the exchange of ambassadors and mutual visits, Erdogan's recent declaration that Hamas is a liberation group, not a terrorist organization, has sparked indignation in Tel-Aviv. The change in Erdogan's position reflects the sentiments of his followers who disapprove of any relationship with Israel, as evidenced by protests in Istanbul and Adana targeting Israeli and American consulates. The Turkish public's anger also manifested in an attack on a nearby McDonald's. Erdogan's popularity is at stake if he fails to support the Palestinian cause unequivocally, leading him to organize a large-scale event to demonstrate his new aggressive stance.

On October 17, following an attack on the Al-Ahli Hospital, protests erupted in Turkey against the Israeli consulate and American businesses like McDonald's. Demonstrators, mainly Erdogan supporters, expressed outrage over his continued relations with Israel despite the conflict. Erdogan, initially attempting to mediate, shifted his stance, declaring Hamás a liberation group and canceling a planned visit to Israel. This change aims to bolster his popularity amid rising public discontent. A significant protest is planned to solidify this new aggressive stance.

Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Kazakhstan to discuss making Turkey a key route for Russian gas to Europe, leveraging the Turk Stream pipeline. Putin emphasized Turkey's reliability as a gas route and criticized the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, suggesting U.S. involvement. Erdogan has not yet officially responded to the proposal. The meeting also covered ongoing nuclear energy projects in Turkey, with Erdogan providing updates on the Akkuyu nuclear plant and plans for a second plant. Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine were not addressed by Putin.

Nihat Özdemir, president of Limak Holding, has been awarded the contract to remodel Camp Nou for up to 900 million euros. Özdemir, closely linked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling AKP party, is part of a group of five companies frequently receiving government contracts. The opposition accuses this group of corruption and favoritism. Limak Holding's previous projects include the new Istanbul airport and a stadium in Mersin. The article highlights the political and economic implications of these relationships.