Author: Daily Sabah With Agencies

Kylian Mbappe’s struggles as a center-forward have reignited debates in France and at Real Madrid. Despite being one of the world’s top players, the French star is grappling with a dip in form, raising questions about whether playing as a No. 9 suits his style. French coach Didier Deschamps has subtly addressed this during interviews, expressing confidence in Mbappe’s ability to bounce back but acknowledging the challenges. “He’s been less effective in 2024, but I see no reason why he won’t return to his best. Playing as a center-forward might not be ideal for him, but he has the quality…

A surprising revelation emerged this week, sparking fresh rumors in European football. According to a Barcelona advisor, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) attempted to sign young sensation Lamine Yamal last summer, offering a staggering $264 million to replace Kylian Mbappe, who had left for Real Madrid. However, PSG’s overture was swiftly dismissed, with Barcelona reaffirming its commitment to the 17-year-old star. Barcelona president Joan Laporta briefly mentioned the offer but emphasized that it was never taken seriously. “The president has already said he received a 250 million euro offer for Lamine, which was never considered,” said club advisor Masip in a recent…

Severe winds affected Türkiye this morning, disrupting transportation and causing structural damage in multiple cities, including Istanbul and Bursa. In Istanbul, strong southwesterly winds caused disruptions in sea transportation. Several ferry services operated by İDO, BUDO, and City Lines were canceled. The Turkish State Meteorological Service issued warnings earlier, and the winds, which intensified overnight, led to the cancellation of routes such as Bostancı-Moda-Karaköy-Kabataş and Büyükada-Sedef Adası. According to City Lines, services on some routes were temporarily adjusted to alternative lines until further notice. Despite the strong winds, no injuries or major accidents were reported in Istanbul. However, high waves…

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday that condemned a missile attack on a Turkish-owned ship by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. “We condemn the missile attacks by the Houthis on the Panama-flagged dry cargo ship Anadolu S, owned by a Turkish company while sailing off the coast of Yemen,” the ministry said. Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced Tuesday they had targeted a cargo ship in the Red Sea, while a multinational naval task force said two missiles had struck near the Panama-flagged vessel. Since last November, Houthis have been targeting shipping in and around the Red Sea in a campaign they…

Water prices have been raised in both Istanbul and Izmir. In a recent decision by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Council’s ISKI General Assembly, a 17.5% increase in water tariffs was approved. The new prices mean that the first tier of water (0-15 cubic meters) will go up from TL 32.28 (94 cents) to TL 37.92 ($1.10), with similar increases in the second and third tiers. These new rates will take effect in January 2025 and will be adjusted monthly based on the average of the Consumer Price Index (TÜFE) and the Domestic Producer Price Index (Yİ-ÜFE). The decision passed…

Search efforts have resumed to find two Belarusian sisters who went missing while climbing in the Aladağlar mountains of central Türkiye. Valentino and Mariao Ivankova, 36-year-old twin sisters, began their ascent to Kızılkaya Peak from Sokullupınar on Nov. 16. They were expected to return to their base camp by Nov. 18, but after losing contact with them, the Belarusian Consulate notified the Niğde governor’s office on Nov. 19, prompting a search and rescue operation. The Niğde Gendarmerie Search and Rescue (JAK) and Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) teams have been actively searching the Sokullupınar route, which covers Kızılkaya Peak…

Turkish prosecutors have prepared an indictment seeking a prison term of 72 to 240 years for the chief executive of private lender Denizbank for the alleged fraud of numerous football stars, according to local media reports on Tuesday. The new indictment relates to a previously opened case on the alleged defrauding of players, including Türkiye’s Arda Turan and Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera, by a former Denizbank branch manager. Denizbank has denied any role in wrongdoing. Anadolu Agency (AA) on Tuesday reported that Denizbank CEO Hakan Ateş and former assistant general manager Mehmet Aydoğdu, who faces similar charges, had denied the allegations…

When it mattered most in the UEFA Nations League B Group 4, Türkiye’s national team suffered a 3-1 defeat to Montenegro, finishing second in their group with 11 points. Despite a strong campaign, they now face a challenging playoff to secure promotion to League A. The loss in Niksic marked the end of a campaign that saw Türkiye secure three wins, two draws, and one loss in their group, where they competed against Wales, Iceland, and Montenegro. The team scored nine goals but conceded six. However, despite their solid performance, the defeat complicated their chances of advancing directly to League…

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on NATO to carefully review and consider Russia’s statement on modifying its nuclear doctrine, as he drew attention to the threats of a nuclear war. “We cannot say that there are any pros to a war with nuclear weapons,” Erdoğan said at a news conference on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Brazil. He continued by saying that he hopes a permanent cease-fire is established between Russia and Ukraine, as he said the world is waiting for peace. Erdoğan said that Russia had to take steps to protect itself. Russian President Vladimir Putin on…

The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department was stern in his warning to Türkiye about siding with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas. As he was tackling questions on reports of Hamas leaders settling in Türkiye, Matthew Miller said on Monday that Washington would make clear to the Turkish government that there can be no more business as usual with Hamas. The U.S. is a major ally of Türkiye, as well as Israel and recognizes Hamas as a terrorist group, unlike Ankara. Yet, despite the alliance, Türkiye’s call for the extradition of members of a terrorist group residing in the U.S.…