Author: Daily Sabah

Türkiye welcomes the truce deal between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and is prepared to make every contribution to stop the bloodshed and achieve a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, as well, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday. “We’re facing a historic responsibility as wars rage on in our region,” Erdoğan told lawmakers of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) at a parliamentary meeting in the capital, Ankara. “Türkiye expects all sides, especially Israel, to fulfill their responsibilities in order to maintain calm on the ground,” Erdoğan said of the cease-fire in Lebanon. A cease-fire between Israel and…

World and European champion wrestler Nesrin Baş, currently training at Turkey’s Olympic Preparation Center (TOHM) in Edirne, has her eyes firmly set on a gold medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. At just 22 years old, Baş’s journey to elite wrestling began unexpectedly. While in middle school in Turhal, Tokat was discovered for her potential during a volleyball game by her PE teacher. Today, after a career filled with accolades, she’s pushing forward to achieve her Olympic dreams. Having won 14 medals in major tournaments – two World Championships, three European Championships and one Balkan title – Baş has…

Beşiktaş will look to extend their Europa League winning streak when they host Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, aiming to build on recent momentum after a slow start to the campaign. For safety reasons, the match was moved to a neutral venue, Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, due to the ongoing tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv, sparked by Israel’s bombardments of Palestinians in Gaza. The buildup to the game has been marred by chaos, as Turkish fans have strongly protested Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Beşiktaş, currently 18th in the standings with six points from four matches, have…

Galatasaray will look to extend their unbeaten run as they travel to AFAS Stadion on Thursday to face AZ Alkmaar in their fifth Europa League match, aiming to maintain their impressive start to the competition. The Turkish giants sit in third place with 10 points from four matches, having scored a combined 14 goals in their opening fixtures. Their thrilling 3-2 win over Tottenham on matchday four capped a dramatic run that included victories over PAOK (3-1) and Elfsborg (4-3), along with a 2-2 draw against Rigas Futbola Skola. Okan Buruk’s side has been nearly unstoppable in recent weeks, winning…

Addressing the seventh edition of the Religious Council organized by the Presidency of Religious Affairs on Tuesday in the capital, Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlighted the danger emanating from “a digital movement that aims to create an artificial religion by targeting Abrahamic religions, especially Islam.” He urged measures to protect Muslim values against “digital belief systems.” The council’s theme is religious services in a digitalized world, and participants, including Islamic scholars, academics specialized in communications, digital content creators and AI experts, will discuss the topic in the two-day event. “Undoubtedly, our religion is in safe hands, but this does…

Türkiye’s first lady Emine Erdoğan on Tuesday called for the continued inclusion of women in design and production processes as technology advances. Erdoğan spoke at the opening of the Global Women’s Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Delivering the keynote address of the forum, held with the theme of “Power of Influence,” the first lady highlighted the transformations around the world and the realities spurred on by digitalization and artificial intelligence. “The information produced within a week equals to a century in the past,” she said, pointing out research that predicts two out of every 10 professions will change…

“We have never been this close to a clash of civilizations; this is a warning for humanity,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Tuesday in Portugal. He was addressing a forum for the Alliance of Civilizations, which Türkiye formed with Spain. The top diplomat of the country that is pursuing a diplomatic blitz for mediation in two major ongoing conflicts said the world should grow resistant to excluding, intolerant policies and respect other faiths and cultures. “We cannot accept any form of discrimination,” he told the 10th Global Forum of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Portugal’s Cascais. The forum…

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have closed the security loop in northern Iraq’s Zap region where the PKK terrorist group had a bastion, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler announced Tuesday. “Türkiye continues to take every measure and retaliate in fold to attempts to attack its troops in northern Iraq and Syria and most recently closed the loop in Zap,” Güler told a parliamentary budget committee, referring to Operation Claw-Lock. “Our operations in the region will continue with the same pace and determination,” he said, adding that every measure is taken to prevent any civilian deaths. Ankara Launched Operation Claw-Lock in April…

The leader of the government’s major ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), expanded on his call against PKK terrorism in a speech on Tuesday. Addressing the parliamentary group meeting of his party in the capital, Ankara, Devlet Bahçeli said he stood with what he said on Oct. 22. “We are waiting for the contact between Imralı and the DEM Party, waiting for it to take place without delay,” he said, referring to the island where PKK’s jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan is imprisoned and the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). Bahçeli told the same meeting in October that Öcalan…

Türkiye is widening its crackdown on terrorism on its soil as authorities round up suspects linked to the PKK, Daesh and the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) in nationwide operations. Security measures have been tightened across the country following an attack by PKK terrorists in Ankara last month that killed five and injured 22 others. Police captured 231 PKK/YPG suspects in raids across 30 provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Diyarbakır, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Tuesday. “The suspects are facing charges of operating on behalf of the PKK’s political and press affiliates, spreading terrorist propaganda on social media, raising funds…