Author: Daily Sabah With Agencies

Türkiye will flex its naval muscles next week with a major military exercise in the Black Sea, Mediterranean and Aegean. The Blue Homeland drill will take place between Jan. 7 and Jan. 16 and already made waves in the media of neighboring Greece. Greek media viewed it as a show of force especially in the Aegean Sea, where the two countries dispute maritime borders. “Blue Homeland” is also the name of a doctrine conceived by two former Turkish naval officers. The doctrine encompasses Türkiye’s maritime jurisdictions, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in line with United Nations resolutions. Ankara and…

The United States is reportedly building a military base to help its ally the YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist group, in northern Syria where the terrorists have been cornered by the Türkiye-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) since the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime. Local journalists said 13 trucks with U.S. flags and carrying concrete construction blocks arrived in the PKK/YPG’s stronghold Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani, early on Thursday morning. The U.S. military has emptied a base in neighboring Iraq and the concrete blocks and other materials are being shipped to Ain al-Arab for a Syrian…

The Dakar Rally regarded as the world’s most grueling motorsport event, roars to life tomorrow for its 47th edition in Saudi Arabia. For the sixth year running, the kingdom is hosting the challenging race, where simply finishing is a monumental achievement. This year’s rally kicks off with a prologue in Bisha and ends in Shubaytah on Jan. 17. Spanning 7,805 kilometers (4 850 miles), including 5,209 kilometers of timed racing, competitors will face harsh landscapes, from coastal plains to the Rub’ al Khali Desert’s endless dunes. A standout challenge this year is the two-day marathon stage, where drivers must reach…

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Palestinian counterpart Mohammad Mustafa. Fidan and Mustafa, who also serves as the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, discussed the need for a lasting and immediate cease-fire in Gaza. Fidan asked Mustafa about the latest situation in the West Bank and renewed Türkiye’s pledge for political and economic support to Palestine, Foreign Ministry sources said on Tuesday. Mustafa visited Türkiye last month, a few months after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ historic address to the Turkish Parliament. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish government have been outspoken in their opposition…

The Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), which oversees Türkiye’s government-funded higher education scholarship program for international students, Türkiye Scholarships, received an impressive 122,000 applications from 171 countries for the 2024 academic year. This includes applications for associate, master’s and doctoral programs. YTB’s extensive global efforts, particularly in Europe, highlight its commitment to supporting the social, cultural, legal, economic and political needs of Türkiye’s citizens abroad, diaspora communities with historical ties to the country, and international students studying in Türkiye. Throughout 2024, the institution played a key role in bringing attention to Israel’s massacres while also emphasizing Türkiye’s…

The Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), which oversees Türkiye’s government-funded higher education scholarship program for international students, Türkiye Scholarships, received an impressive 122,000 applications from 171 countries for the 2024 academic year. This includes applications for associate, master’s and doctoral programs. YTB’s extensive global efforts, particularly in Europe, highlight its commitment to supporting the social, cultural, legal, economic and political needs of Türkiye’s citizens abroad, diaspora communities with historical ties to the country, and international students studying in Türkiye. Throughout 2024, the institution played a key role in bringing attention to Israel’s massacres while also emphasizing Türkiye’s…

The PKK terrorist group’s Syrian offshoot, the YPG, has reportedly asked the Israeli government for help to stay in Syria against the potential withdrawal of its main ally, the U.S. military, according to Israeli state television KAN. The YPG/PKK is concerned about the possibility that the U.S. may pull out its troops from northeastern Syria, where they have been allied since 2015 and has asked Tel Aviv to persuade Washington against such a move, KAN reported Sunday, citing a PKK/YPG terrorist who asked not to be named. If Israel provides political support to the PKK/YPG on international platforms and convinces…

The Turkish national football team made headlines in 2024 with a historic performance in the European Football Championship (EURO 2024) and a solid campaign in the UEFA Nations League B. Rising through FIFA ranks Türkiye climbed nine spots in the FIFA world rankings, leaping from 37th at the end of 2023 to 28th in 2024 with 1,537.24 points. The team played 15 matches throughout the year – 11 competitive and 4 friendlies – recording six wins, three draws, and six losses. Vincenzo Montella’s squad scored 19 goals but conceded 23, with three matches ending in goalless draws. Aktürkoğlu: Goal machine…

Serdal Adalı has been elected the new president of Beşiktaş following a fiercely contested extraordinary general assembly held at in Istanbul. Adalı, who secured 8,901 votes, emerged victorious over his opponent Hüseyin Yücel, who garnered 3,637 votes. The election, which spanned nearly 12 hours, drew an impressive turnout of 13,158 eligible members. Adalı’s commanding lead across all 25 ballot boxes sealed his triumph, marking a pivotal moment for the storied Istanbul club. May 2025 deadline Adalı’s tenure as Beşiktaş president will last until the scheduled general assembly elections in May 2025. This victory is particularly significant for Adalı, who had…

Serdal Adalı has been elected the new president of Beşiktaş following a fiercely contested extraordinary general assembly held at in Istanbul. Adalı, who secured 8,901 votes, emerged victorious over his opponent Hüseyin Yücel, who garnered 3,637 votes. The election, which spanned nearly 12 hours, drew an impressive turnout of 13,158 eligible members. Adalı’s commanding lead across all 25 ballot boxes sealed his triumph, marking a pivotal moment for the storied Istanbul club. May 2025 deadline Adalı’s tenure as Beşiktaş president will last until the scheduled general assembly elections in May 2025. This victory is particularly significant for Adalı, who had…