Author: Daily Sabah
A pivotal night awaits Türkiye as they visit the Gradski Stadion in Niksic on Tuesday, with a golden opportunity to secure their first-ever promotion to League A of the UEFA Nations League. Standing in their way is a hapless Montenegro side, already relegated and without a single point in League B Group 4. The Crescent-Stars lead the group by two points, keeping Wales at bay after a frustrating 0-0 stalemate against them on Saturday. Türkiye’s Kerem Akturkoglu missed a crucial penalty in the 89th minute, leaving Vincenzo Montella’s side with no margin for error in the final matchday. For Türkiye,…
A critical agreement between Türkiye and the Palestinian Authority came into force this week, with the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Memorandum of Understanding on Training of Law Enforcement will allow Turkish security forces to train their Palestinian counterparts. Türkiye’s Police Academy provided educational programs for more than 1,000 Palestinian police officers since 1998 but the new deal will be more comprehensive in its scope. It aims to strengthen cooperation on law enforcement training between the two countries. It also covers the exchange of personnel between two countries and the exchange of information and experience. According to information…
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is cautiously optimistic for relations between Türkiye and the United States under the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump. In his first term, President-elected Trump pursued a seesawing policy regarding Türkiye with disagreements over several issues. Still, relations were relatively worse under his successor Joe Biden. Speaking to broadcaster A Haber late Saturday, Fidan said Trump’s candidates for government posts were mostly pro-Israeli names, “which is not surprising.” “I hope Mr. Trump will stand by his pledge to prevent any new conflicts,” Fidan said. Türkiye is a firm opponent of Israel’s genocidal policy in the Palestinian territories…
As the opposition claimed cracks in the People’s Alliance formed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the two parties’ leaders met at the Presidential Complex last week. AK Party leader President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the meeting is a testament to the bonds between the two parties, especially on the matter of a terror-free Türkiye. MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s recent call for the conditional release of Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the PKK terrorist group, received mixed reactions from the opposition, while Erdoğan hailed it as a historic window of opportunity to…
Türkiye host Wales at the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri on Saturday for a pivotal UEFA Nations League League B Group 4 showdown. A win would cement Türkiye’s place atop the group and secure promotion to League A with a game to spare. Brimming with confidence, the Crescent-Stars have been on a tear since their goalless draw against Wales in Cardiff on matchday one. Vincenzo Montella’s side has strung together three consecutive wins, scoring eight goals. The highlight was a dramatic 4-2 triumph over Iceland in Reykjavik, sealed by late strikes from Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoğlu in the dying…
As the weekend nears in Istanbul, a summary of the notable disruptions in the city’s public transportation system highlights several incidents that have impacted commuters. On Friday afternoon, a driverless metro traveling on the Üsküdar-Samandıra line caused panic among passengers after it skipped five stations during its journey, leading to confusion and distress. The incident occurred when the metro, traveling from Üsküdar to Samandıra, continued its route without stopping at several key stations. After passengers disembarked at the Bulgurlu station, the metro passed through Ümraniye, Çarşı, Yamanevler, Çakmak and Ihlamurkuyu stations without stopping, leaving passengers stranded at those locations. Many…
Any peace negotiation with Ukraine must be based on an “Istanbul Agreement” discussed two years ago under Turkish mediation, according to Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva. “Negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine that has been going on since February 2022 should be based on not Ukraine’s changing wishes but the realities on the ground first and the agreements reached in Istanbul,” Gatilov told reporters at the U.N. office in Geneva Thursday. “However, the goal should not be a cease-fire that lasts half an hour or six months simply to allow more ammunition to…
A controversial bill proposing changes to Türkiye’s anti-spying law was rejected by a majority of votes at Parliament late Thursday. The text, first raised by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), would add a new definition of espionage for “crimes committed against the state security or for political interests” and allow prison terms of up to seven years for suspects found guilty of working for foreign interests. The parliamentary group of the main opposition’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) said the proposal, which was part of a larger bill of law, was withdrawn following criticism from the opposition parties.…
Türkiye will take every measure to protect the interests and rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Defense Ministry sources said Thursday. The statement came following claims that the U.S. would rent military bases on the Greek Cypriot side of the divided Mediterranean island, close to where U.S. ally Israel has been attacking the Gaza Strip and Lebanon for months now. “We continue taking military and political measures to ensure the TRNC’s security against any attempt in violation of international law, such as a foreign state owning a base on the island,” the sources told a weekly press…
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday welcomed Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Ankara for bilateral and inter-committee talks. The pair chaired a high-level strategic council meeting and signed off on eight bilateral agreements, including trade facilitation, military and technical cooperation. The agreements are meant to elevate Turkish-Qatari to the highest possible level. The strategic committee has signed 108 agreements and memorandums of understanding since its launch a decade ago. Sheikh Tamim’s visit comes after Doha said at the weekend it stalled its Gaza mediation efforts for now. Some analysts believe Türkiye, which fiercely criticized Israel over…