Author: Daily Sabah With Agencies

A yoga session held at the 1,700-year-old Mor Yuhanna Syriac Church in southeastern Türkiye’s Mardin has sparked backlash from members of the Syriac community. The session, organized by a Turkish yoga instructor, drew criticism after its images were shared on social media. Seda Deliormanlı, who led the session in the church, apologized following the reactions, emphasizing that she had obtained all necessary permissions beforehand. “I sincerely apologize to the Mor Yuhanna Church and anyone I may have offended. If I had anticipated that even one person would be disturbed by the brief yoga session, I would have never done it,”…

The YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK terrorist group, has stepped up its attacks in the country’s north over the past few days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported Monday, with 11 people, including civilians, killed in the fresh round of violence. “A woman, her two children and a man were killed in the bombing of a military position,” the Britain-based monitor said. It said seven opposition army members were also killed in that incident. YPG members forces infiltrated the opposition forces’ military position and killed three fighters, said the monitor with a network of sources…

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday hailed “invaluable” contributions from Türkiye to the defense bloc ahead of his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the capital Ankara. “In an increasingly unpredictable world, Türkiye makes invaluable contributions to our Alliance, reinforcing deterrence on our Southern flank,” Rutte told Anadolu Agency (AA) in a statement. He said he was “looking forward to meeting” with Erdoğan to discuss major global issues, including the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. “I am looking forward to meeting President Erdoğan to discuss the growing challenges to our collective security – including…

Eleven were killed and eight others were injured when the YPG, the Syrian wing of the terrorist group PKK, attempted to infiltrate into a territory held by the Syrian opposition forces on Sunday. Local media outlets reported clashes broke out near al-Bab and heightened violence forced authorities to close schools on Monday. Also on Monday, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced seven PKK/YPG terrorists were eliminated in operations in the “Operation Euphrates Shield” area, which also covers al-Bab. Anadolu Agency (AA) reported that YPG terrorists tried to enter safe zones in Manbij, firing at guards. A deadly clash ensued…

A strong winter storm has blanketed Erzurum, Erzincan and Tunceli in Türkiye, leading to severe disruptions in daily life and transportation. In Erzurum, northeastern Türkiye, heavy snow began on Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning, causing chaos for drivers and pedestrians. Snow accumulation reached up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) in some areas, including the Palandöken Ski Resort. The snowfall brought much joy to the children, who played in the snow for hours. With schools closed due to the snowstorm, children took advantage of the day off by sledding and starting snowball fights in the streets. Local parks and…

Arda Güler’s mesmerizing display in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win against Leganes on Sunday has set social media abuzz and captivated the Spanish press. A standout moment came in the 15th minute when the Turkish sensation executed a dazzling dribble, leaving Estadio Municipal de Butarque in awe. Making the most of his start in the lineup, Güler showcased his immense talent with an assist and several brilliant plays that underlined his readiness to take on a pivotal role at Real Madrid. Twice, he came agonizingly close to scoring but was thwarted at the final moment. Despite these near misses, his performance…

Mark Rutte will visit Türkiye on Monday as a NATO Secretary-General on his first trip to the country. He is scheduled to talk with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other officials under the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Rutte and Erdoğan’s talks will focus on developments in the conflict, a Turkish official told Reuters on Sunday. Russia struck Ukraine with a new hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile on Thursday in response to Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British missiles against Russia, marking an escalation in the war that began in February 2022. NATO member Türkiye says it supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity…

Yearning for a peace mediator role, Türkiye long avoided taking sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, unlike the West’s firm support for Ukraine. But as the conflict heats up with U.S.-U.K. missiles used by Ukraine and the Kremlin implementing a nuclear doctrine, Ankara is concerned about where things may go amid the risk of the conflict’s expansion. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says there was certainly a “nuclear risk.” “It emerges the moment you start talking about ‘nuclear’ is being discussed,” he said. “Putin says he is ready to take things to the next level if Russia cannot adequately respond through conventional…

The arrival of snow and freezing temperatures across central and eastern Türkiye is marking a significant start to the winter season. From Kayseri in the Central Anatolia region to Niğde in the heart of Türkiye, several cities have been blanketed in snow, with freezing temperatures reaching as low as minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit). Snow has caused disruptions, but it also brought a sense of excitement as the season’s first snowfall set the stage for winter weather. In Kayseri, at the beginning of the evening, the snow quickly covered rooftops, cars, streets, and parks in the city. With…

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will arrive in Türkiye’s capital Ankara on Monday to hold meetings with Turkish officials, the military bloc said in a statement on Friday, amid rising tensions with Russia. During his visit, Rutte will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler. Rutte’s itinerary also includes engagements with the representatives of Türkiye’s defense industry and a visit to the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facilities. He will also lay a wreath at Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Türkiye. The visit will mark Rutte’s first official…