Author: Daily Sabah With Agencies

Fenerbahçe’s record-signing Youssef En-Nesyri has been the talk of the Süper Lig, and his latest heroics against Hatayspor – netting a crucial brace – have only solidified his status as a key player. However, the Moroccan forward’s standout performances have caught the attention of Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al-Nassr, who presented a massive 35 million euro ($36 million) offer to secure his services in the January transfer window. Despite the tempting bid, the Yellow Canaries remain resolute. The Istanbulites, sitting second in the Süper Lig with 39 points, has ambitious goals for the season, both domestically and in Europe. Club officials…

Galatasaray’s Argentine striker Mauro Icardi has captured headlines once more, not for his on-field brilliance, but for his off-field romance. Taking to social media, Icardi declared his love for Argentine actress Eugenia “China” Suarez, posting a heartfelt message: “Love always triumphs over hate.” The post featured photos of Icardi alongside his children and Suarez, sparking widespread curiosity about the actress’s life and background. Star in spotlight China Suarez, born on March 9, 1992, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been a prominent figure in Argentine media. The daughter of Guillermo Suarez and Marcela Riveiro Mitsumori, she shares a unique cultural heritage,…

The YPG, the Syrian wing of the terrorist group PKK, struggles in post-Assad Syria as Türkiye weighs a cross-border operation and the new government seeks to dissolve them. Talks are taking place on whether U.S. and French troops could secure a border zone in northern Syria, a senior figure of the so-called autonomous region the YPG/PKK carved out in the northeastern part of the country. However, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned on Tuesday that Türkiye would launch a counterterrorism operation against the PKK/YPG if the terrorist group’s leadership refuses to dissolve itself. “We will do what’s necessary, and it is…

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington is working to address Türkiye’s concerns in Syria, aiming to prevent the NATO ally from launching a military operation against the YPG, the PKK’s Syrian offshoot. Blinken said that Türkiye had “legitimate concerns” about the PKK inside Syria and, following the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar Assad, called for a resolution in the country that includes the departure of “foreign terrorist fighters.” His comments came just a day after Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye would launch an operation against the PKK/YPG if it fails to disband and leave Syria. “That’s…

Türkiye’s Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced that 2025 will be designated the “Year of the Family.” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to unveil new initiatives for families at a promotional event scheduled for Jan. 13 at the Presidential Complex in capital Ankara. In her statement, Göktaş highlighted the decline in marriage rates and fertility, alongside rising divorce rates, later ages for marriage and motherhood, an increase in single-parent families, individuals living alone and the aging population. “While marriage rates decrease, the number of people who have never married is also rising. This demographic shift underscores…

Istanbul is currently experiencing unseasonably warm weather, with temperatures reaching 16 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, thanks to a warm air mass originating from Libya. However, winter is set to return as temperatures begin to drop sharply later this week. By Sunday, Istanbul’s temperature is forecast to fall to 9 degrees Celsius, accompanied by two days of rain over the weekend. Türkiye remains under the influence of warm air brought in from Libya, creating spring-like conditions in the middle of winter. Yet, colder weather is on the horizon. On Wednesday, northern, central and western parts of the country…

The Syrian National Army (SNA) started dispatching heavy weaponry to the front lines in their fight against the terrorist group PKK/YPG on Tuesday. The weaponry is accompanied by more fighters to the front covering an area near Ain al-Arab (also known as Kobani), Ain Issa and Tal Tamer where terrorists are active. The area is located near a region where Türkiye conducted Operation Peace Spring in 2019 against the terrorist group. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned on Tuesday that a new cross-border operation might be in the works if terrorists do not heed their call to dissolve their organization.…

First lady Emine Erdoğan received the prestigious “International Value Award” in recognition of her contributions to environmental sustainability through the Zero Waste Project. The award, named after Mehmet Akif Inan – educator, poet, writer and founder of the Memur-Sen Confederation (a labor union) – was presented at a ceremony commemorating the 26th anniversary of his passing. The award was accepted on behalf of the first lady by Murat Kurum, minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, during the event held at Memur-Sen’s headquarters. The ceremony was organized by the Mehmet Akif Inan Foundation and Memur-Sen. Speaking at the event, Minister…

The FIBA Women’s EuroCup enters a pivotal stage as Galatasaray prepare to host France’s LDLC ASVEL in the first leg of the Round of 16 on Thursday. The match at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall marks a key moment for the yellow-reds, who aim to build on their successful playoff campaign against Serbia’s Crvena Zvezda. A win here would see them progress to the quarterfinals, with the return leg scheduled for Jan. 15 in Lyon. Meanwhile, in the men’s competition, Fenerbahçe Beko seek to maintain momentum as they face ALBA Berlin in the 20th round of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. The…

The Houston Rockets stormed past the Washington Wizards 135-112 on Tuesday, powered by Alperen Şengün’s double-double and Jalen Green’s explosive third-quarter performance. Şengün shined with 26 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while Green erupted for 22 of his game-high 29 points in a pivotal third quarter. Amen Thompson added a monstrous 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet dished out 19 points and 12 assists. The Rockets, now boasting 24 wins, remain a dominant force in the Western Conference. Houston overcame a sluggish start, trailing 28-16 after a cold-shooting first quarter where they hit just 29.2%…