Author: Daily Sabah
As the opposition rallied around a group of military graduates who faced dismissal from the army over a controversial oath, Defense Ministry sources said on Monday that the dismissal is for disobeying orders, not the oath itself. Some among 960 graduates separately convened after a traditional oath-taking ceremony for graduates at the Turkish Military Academy on August 30. When their footage of crossing swords and shouting “We are soldiers of Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk)” emerged, the group, including valedictorian Ebru Eroğlu, faced disciplinary proceedings. They recited a discontinued version of the oath that was championed by the opposition. President Recep Tayyip…
A senior official from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) said the party’s chair, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, would be “reelected again in the first round of elections.” The party’s deputy chair, Erkan Kandemir, was speaking at a district congress of the party in northwestern Türkiye’s Kocaeli on Sunday. The AK Party launched a congress process following the March 31 municipal elections to reshuffle its cadres. Erdoğan said this was the last election he would see in office after that election. Erdoğan was elected president in 2023 in his first runoff, cementing his place in Turkish politics. He…
Shield-30 operations netted 51 migrant smugglers and 1,644 irregular migrants across Türkiye, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced in a statement Monday. Yerlikaya vowed to continue the fight against migrant smuggling and irregular migration for the peace and security of the country. Security forces captured 51 smugglers, including 11 foreign nationals, in the operations while the deportation process was underway for irregular migrants. Yerlikaya said 24,400 security personnel participated in the operations and inspections in 5,094 locations, from abandoned buildings where irregular migrants were hiding to entertainment venues, truck depots, bus stations, ports and mass transportation hubs. Authorities checked the IDs…
Turkish Foreign Ministry sources on Monday denied reports that the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas moved its offices to Türkiye. Sources quoted by media outlets said members of the movement occasionally visited the country. Rumors of Hamas political bureau members setting up office followed Qatar’s recent announcement that it would suspend its role as a mediator in the Palestine-Israel conflict unless sides showed willingness to proceed with talks. Doha, however, denied that Hamas members in the country were expelled. Türkiye is among few countries recognizing Hamas as a liberation and resistance movement, unlike supporters of Israel which…
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…