• Turkmenistan to supply 2bcm gas to Turkiye: Turkish minister

    Ankara, Turkey - Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced on Friday the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Turkiye and Turkmenistan, focusing on collaboration in the natural gas sector and hydrocarbon partnerships. Under the agreement, the initial phase will involve the transportation of up to two...
  • Welcoming 2024: A year of hope, healing, and unity

    "Hopefully, 2024 will be a year in which we overcome the troubled period that started with the coup attempt, grew with the COVID-19 pandemic, and deepened with conflicts in our region, as we refocus on our goals.," the Turkish president adds in his New Year message.
  • Erdogan plays down row over Saudi-hosted Super cup

    Friday night's Turkish Super Cup between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce had been due to be played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. But it was postponed before kickoff after Saudi organizers refused to allow players to wear jerseys bearing political slogans.
  • Turkish SuperCup in Saudi postponed over ‘political slogans’

    According to the Saudi sports television channel SSC, "the match has been cancelled. The match will not take place." Scheduled to be played on Friday between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, the Turkish SuperCup was postponed at the last minute after Saudi organisers refused to allow players to wear jerseys bearing "political...
  • Erdogan says no difference between Netanyahu and Hitler

    "He (Netanyahu) is richer than Hitler. All kind of support comes from the West and the United States," Erdogan added. The Turkish leader has lashed out repeatedly at Israel for the scale of death and destruction caused in Gaza.
  • More than a bubble: Turkish sparkling wines win fans

    Ankara, Turkey - Drinkers are getting into something of a fizz over Turkish sparkling wine. "We are selling out very quickly. We cannot meet the growing demand especially as the New Year (celebrations) near," said Candas Misir of the Vinkara winery an hour from Ankara. When it comes to celebrating a...
  • Turkey to hold parliament debate for Sweden’s NATO bid

    Sweden and Finland bids earned approval from all NATO members except Turkey and Hungary. They remain the only NATO members left to ratify Sweden's bid 19 months after it applied for membership. Sweden and Finland dropped decades of military non-alignment and sought to join the organisation after Russia invaded Ukraine...
  • Six Turkish soldiers dead in Iraq after PKK attack

    Ankara, Turkey - Six Turkish soldiers were killed and one wounded when their base in northern Iraq was attacked by members of a Kurdish party outlawed by Ankara, the defense ministry said on Saturday. Turkey has operated several dozen military posts in northern Iraq for the past 25 years in its...
  • Eight civilians killed by Syria army in rebel bastion: monitor

    The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said six other people were injured in the attacks. Earlier, five government soldiers were killed by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, formerly the local branch of Al-Qaeda, in the north of Latakia province, according to the Observatory.
  • UAE, Turkey explore ways to enhance bilateral relations

    Abu Dhabi, UAE - UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed bilateral ties with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey. The two explored boosting cooperation to achieve further prosperity for the UAE and Turkey, local media reports said. Al Nahyan and Erdogan also exchanged views on various regional...
  • Turkish Airlines to buy 355 planes from Airbus

    Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish Airlines said on Friday it has decided to order 355 Airbus aircraft over the coming decade as it seeks to become the world's largest carrier. "It was decided to purchase 355 aircraft from Airbus," Turkish Airlines chief executive Bilal Eksi said in a social media statement. "I...
  • Erdogan says US has ‘historic responsibility’ to ensure Gaza ceasefire

    Erdogan has been one of the Muslim world's most vocal critics of Israel's military tactics in Gaza. He has referred to Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu as "the butcher of Gaza" and branded Israel a "terror state".
  • Germany to stop accepting imams from Turkey

    BERLIN, GERMANY -  Germany will stop accepting imams sent from Turkey and instead train the Muslim clerics on home soil in a bid to encourage integration, the interior ministry said on Thursday. An agreement has been reached with the Turkish-Islamic umbrella group DITIB to phase out foreign imams and train 100...
  • US sanctions China, Turkey firms to curb Russia war efforts

    Washington, United States -- The United States unveiled sanctions Tuesday on individuals and companies based in China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and others, aiming to disrupt Moscow's military procurement networks amid its war in Ukraine. The latest actions take aim at people and entities accused of supplying Russia’s industry and...
  • Turkish top-flight suspended after ‘vile, inhumane’ referee attack

    According to local media Halil Umut Meler was the transferred to a hospital due to his injuries. the TFF said that responsible club, the Club President, its managers and all the criminals who attacked Halil Umut Meler will be punished in the most severe way.
  • Turkish President Erdogan slams UNSC over failed Gaza truce bid

    Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday denounced the UN Security Council after the United States vetoed a ceasefire resolution for Gaza, describing the international body as the 'Israel protection council'. "Since October 7, the security council has become an Israel protection and defense council," Erdogan said. The United...
  • Turkey’s Erdogan in Athens in ‘new chapter’ bid

    Speaking to Kathimerini on Wednesday, the Turkish leader said communication channels with Greece had been "revived" and that he looked forward to signing a declaration of bilateral friendship with Greece on Thursday. Thursday's talks are expected to also discuss the Israel-Hamas war, where Erdogan has shown no sign of abandoning...
  • UNESCO places Ramadan’s ‘iftar’ in intangible cultural heritage

    Tehran, Iran - The UN cultural agency on Wednesday recognized iftar, the meal that breaks the daytime fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on its list of intangible cultural heritage. The application for the sociocultural tradition was jointly submitted by Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to the UN Educational,...
  • Investments strengthen Türkiye-GCC economic ties

    The strategic partnerships, including substantial financial support from UAE and Qatar, mark a new era in Türkiye-GCC ties, promising to significantly boost bilateral trade.
  • Qatari emir denounces ‘shameful’ global inaction in Israel-Hamas war

    Doha, Qatar - Qatar's ruler hit out at "shameful" international inaction over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as he opened a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Doha on Tuesday. "It is shameful for the international community to allow this heinous crime to continue for nearly two months, during which the systematic...
  • Saudi, Turkish firms ink 8 deals to boost Riyadh-Ankara business

    Istanbul, Turkey - Saudi and Turkish companies, part of the Saudi-Turkish Business Council, signed eight trade agreements to strengthen trade and investment between the two countries. The Federation of Saudi Chambers, Saudi General Authority of Foreign Trade, and Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board co-organized the meet between the two. It...
  • Turkey’s inflation surges to 62 percent in November

    The latest batch of data show higher borrowing costs starting to slow down consumption -- a key goal of the central bank. Turkey's gross domestic product rose by just 0.3 percent between July and September. It had risen by 3.3 between April and June.
  • Turkey’s Erdogan rejects US pressure to cut Hamas ties

    Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday pushed back against mounting US pressure to cut Ankara's historic ties with Hamas in the wake of the group's unprecedented attacks on Israel. The US Treasury's top terrorism financing official conveyed Washington's "profound" alarm about Ankara's past relations with Hamas during...
  • Turkish President Erdogan calls Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ‘butcher of Gaza’

    Ankara, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "the butcher of Gaza" and accused him of spawning anti-Semitism across the world. Erdogan has lashed out repeatedly at Israel for the scale of death and destruction caused by its response to Hamas members' unprecedented...
  • Sweden says Turkey promised NATO approval ‘within weeks’

    NATO's other 29 allies, outside of Turkey and Hungary, had hoped to formally welcome Sweden into the alliance at the meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.Sweden and Nordic neighbor Finland had dropped their long-standing policies of non-alignment and applied to join the US-led military alliance in the wake of Russia's...
  • Saudi, Turkey, Egypt among 16 nations viewing climate change as top concern

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Around 80% of consumers surveyed across 16 countries now view climate change as the world’s No. 1 challenge, a recent research conducted by GSMA Intelligence with support from Huawei, revealed. The countries include Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Pakistan,...
  • Movement against ‘Pro-Israeli’ fast-food chains gains momentum

    Tehran, Iran – Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey witnessed a significant surge in a boycott targeting multinationals that have either pro-Israeli stances or financial ties with Israel such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, and KFC, Lebanese Al-Mayadeen news network reported.  Amidst rising global condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, the boycott movement gains...
  • Turkey to ask UNSC, IAEA: Verify whether Israel possesses nukes

    Erdogan went on to reiterate his claim that Israel was a “terrorist state”: “We need to know this once and for all. Israel is a terrorist state. There is no need to hesitate to say this. This is the truth we know. This is the case.”
  • Turkey FM warns of escalation in nuclear arms race

    Tehran, Iran-- Expressing deep concern over Israel's possession of nuclear weapons, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned of a spurt in the nuclear arms race, leading to an unfavorable situation. "The ongoing possession of nuclear weapons by Israel, coupled with the failure to denuclearize the region, will escalate the...
  • Germany, Turkey leaders hold divergent views on Israel-Hamas war

    BERLIN, GERMANY - Germany and Turkey's leaders traded barbs on Friday over Israel's war on Hamas, with Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressing the country's right to exist while Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded an end to Israel's military operation. Turkey’s President Erdogan is on a highly controversial visit to staunch Israel defender Germany, made...
  • Gaza cancer patients fly to Turkey for treatment

    Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 27 patients had been flown to Turkey from Egypt, along with 13 companions, without specifying whether these were doctors or family members. He also said that Turkey was waiting for Egypt's permission to open its first field hospital at the Rafah crossing.
  • Erdogan calls Israel a ‘terror state’ before his Germany visit

    ANKARA, TURKEY - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called Israel a "terror state", stepping up his condemnation of the spiralling civilian toll of its war against Hamas in Gaza. Erdogan's latest -- and one of the most heated -- verbal attacks against Israel came two days before he plans...
  • Turkish Airlines explore options of buying 355 Airbus jets

    Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish Airlines, the country's flag carrier, confirmed on Monday that it was in talks with Airbus to buy up to 355 jets in a huge push to expand its fleet. "Negotiations are held with Airbus regarding the purchase of a total of 355 aircraft -- 240 of which...
  • GCC keen to strengthen economic cooperation with Turkey: Albudaiwi

    Istanbul, Turkey-- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is keen to enhance economic cooperation with Turkey, according to its Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. The secretary general stressed that the GCC Ministerial Council, which held its 155th session in March this year, resumed the strategic dialogue with Türkiye, and adopted the...
  • Burgan Bank Sells 52% stake

    The stake in its Turkish subsidiary BBT was sold to Rawabi Holding.
  • Turkey halts joint-energy projects with Israel over Gaza war

    Dubai, UAE-- Turkey has suspended joint-energy projects with Israel over the latter's invasion and bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to Turkish Minister of Energy Alparslan Bayraktar. The minister in a statement said: "It would be inappropriate to talk about the implementation of projects with Israel under such conditions. The...
  • Putin, Erdogan and Raisi make visits in Central Asia

    Tashkent will host the Iranian and Turkish presidents, as well as Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Central Asian leaders. The war between Israel and Hamas is not on the agenda, Uzbekistan said.
  • EU expansion: who’s in and who wants to join?

    Founded in 1957, the European Economic Community (later renamed the EU) started out with six members Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg,  the Netherlands and West Germany.
  • Turkey sidelined as EU prepares to open door to others

    As when the European Union published its annual reports on candidate countries' progress towards EU norms on Wednesday, all eyes will be on Ukraine and Moldova. Turkey, a formal candidate for membership since 1999, will barely be discussed -- but it wasn't always the case.
  • Anti-west boycott waves sweep across Middle East in Gaza solidarity

    Manama, Bahrain - In a convenience store in Bahrain, 14-year-old Jana Abdullah carries a tablet as she shops, checking a list of Western brands to avoid as Israel pounds Gaza in its campaign to destroy Hamas. Jana and her 10-year-old brother, Ali, used to eat at McDonald's nearly daily but they...
  • In Ankara, Blinken tries to soothe strategic ally Turkey’s anger

    Blinken's first visit since Israel went to war with Hamas in reprisal for the militants' October 7 attack comes with fury at both Israel and the West boiling over on the streets of Turkey and in the palace of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Police used tear gas and water cannon...
  • Turkey recalls envoy to Israel, breaks off contact with Netanyahu

    Turkey has hardened its attitude toward both Israel and its Western supporters, particularly the US, as the relentless Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave of Gaza sent the death toll among Palestinians shockingly up. Turkey's decision came on the eve of what promises to be a difficult visit to Turkey...
  • Don’t pause Mideast de-escalation over war, says UAE official

    Dubai, UAE - Middle East powers should maintain their push to de-escalate the region through trade and economic ties despite the Israel-Hamas war, a senior United Arab Emirates official said on Saturday. The sudden flare-up in Gaza, after a deadly attack by Hamas, follows a period of fence-mending in the region including...
  • Erdogan says severing all contact with Israeli PM Netanyahu

    Erdogan said that Turkey was not breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel. "Completely severing ties is not possible, especially in international diplomacy," Erdogan said. He said MIT intelligence agency chief Ibrahim Kalin was spearheading Turkey's efforts to try and mediate an end to the war.
  • Erdogan calls Gaza bombing ‘crimes against humanity’, urges ceasefire

    Astana, Kazakhstan - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saying "crimes against humanity" were being committed in Gaza. Erdogan has strongly supported the Palestinians in the face of Israel's war with Hamas, attending pro-Palestinian rallies and positioning himself as a mediator...
  • US sanctions Turkey, China, UAE entities to disrupt Russia war

    "Russia is dependent on willing third-country individuals and entities to resupply its military and perpetuate its heinous war against Ukraine and we will not hesitate in holding them accountable," said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a statement. The Treasury added on Thursday that Russia has been exploiting "otherwise legitimate economic...
  • Relations sour between Turkey and Israel after Erdogan’s speech

    Israel and Turkey -- an overwhelmingly Muslim nation that forms the bulwark of NATO defenses on the edge of the Middle East -- had only just agreed to reappoint ambassadors last year. But their relations unraveled as Erdogan began to pick up the pace and venom of his attacks on...
  • Turkey ready to act as guarantor for Palestine to resolve conflict with Israel: Erdogan

    Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey is ready to act as a guarantor country for Palestine in the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his address to a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Russian agency TASS reported. Erdogan also proposed to convene an international peace conference aimed...
  • Turkey and Qatar reject ‘double standards’ in Gaza response

    Qatar's top diplomat Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said the two governments -- both Western allies -- "reaffirm our complete rejection of responding to the crisis with double standards when it comes to human life". "It is not permissible to condemn the killing of civilians in one context and justify it...
  • Erdogan cancels Israel visit, says Hamas not terrorists but liberators

    Erdogan had taken a more measured tone in the first day of war, condemning all attacks against civilians and urging Israel to be measured in its response to the deadly October 7 attacks by Hamas. But he became much more vocal after the deadly strike on Ahli Arab hospital in...
  • Phallus and the boar: Turkey digs yield clues to human history

    For researchers, the carved statue of a man holding his phallus with two hands while seated atop a bench adorned with a leopard, is a new clue in the puzzle of our very beginnings. The 2.3-meter (7.5-foot tall) work was discovered at the end of September at Karahantepe, in the...