Author: Daily Sabah
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of the main opposition’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) said the proposal, which was part of a larger bill of law, was withdrawn following criticism from the opposition parties.…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…
The newly established National Intelligence Academy (MIA) aims to contribute to Türkiye’s security agenda with monthly recommendations of books. The academy was created just last year under the umbrella of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) not as a place for covert operations or spy training, but as a center for ideas, preparing the country for a future where intellectual rigor and strategic foresight are essential. The academy will be making recommendations for books and other media every month, starting with the “Siyasatnameh” of Nizam al-Mulk, a vizier of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century. MIA Intelligence and Security Research…
Opposition-run Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) has followed the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality in what has been dubbed the “overcharged concert scandal” after authorities launched an investigation for “unlawful” spending on celebratory events. The Turkish public was rocked in recent weeks by the news that the Ankara city administration had paid Ebru Gündeş, a prominent pop-folk singer, a staggering TL 69 million for a concert to mark Republic Day on Oct. 29. The claim, swiftly rejected by Mayor Mansur Yavaş, a member of the main opposition’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), sparked outrage and pushed authorities into action over suspected profiteering. While the…
Since the beginning of this week, Istanbul Electric Tram and Tunnel Company (IETT) transportation services have been severely disrupted across the city, leaving commuters in a state of uncertainty and frustration. A fire broke out at the Yenikapı station of the M2 Yenikapı-Hacıosman Metro Line on Nov. 14, 2024, causing significant disruptions. The cause of the fire, which occurred at the busy transit point, remains unknown. Upon receiving the alert, police, fire and medical teams were immediately dispatched to the scene to control the blaze. The fire led to a thick smoke buildup inside the station, affecting passengers in the…
Wednesday marked two years since a PKK terrorist attack claimed six lives in a bustling street in the heart of Istanbul. On a busy afternoon on Nov. 13, 2023, a PKK member planted an explosive device on Istiklal Street shortly before a blast ripped through the street packed with shoppers and tourists, killing six people, including a 9-year-old girl, and injuring 99 others. Türkiye’s cultural and economic hub has been targeted several times by terrorist groups like the PKK and Daesh in the past decade, but the bomb attack was the first in long years during which many attempts had…
On a presidential plane returning from Azerbaijan’s Baku, where he attended the World Leaders Climate Summit at COP29, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed continued hope for normalization of relations with Syrian President Bashar Assad. “I still have hope that we can meet and put Türkiye-Syria relations on the right track,” Erdoğan said on Wednesday. The main reason behind this initiative, Erdoğan emphasized, is the need to eliminate terrorist organizations along the Türkiye-Syria border. “We need to dismantle the terrorist structures between Türkiye and Syria,” he said, stressing that a successful effort could also support Syria’s territorial integrity and stability. Erdoğan…
The incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will reconsider the U.S. Central Command’s (CENTCOM) ties with the PKK terrorist group’s Syrian branch YPG, according to a former NATO commander. Washington’s support for the PKK/YPG has rattled Turkish-American ties for years. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union, launched a bloody campaign of terrorism in the 1980s, targeting Turkish security forces and civilians, primarily in the southeastern Türkiye, close to the border with Iraq. More than 40,000 people were killed in the acts of terrorism, while the PKK leadership retains a swath…