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Turkey

Latest news and updates on the country which straddles both Europe and Asia.

Capital

Ankara

Head of State

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Head of Government

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (left) shakes hands with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York on Wednesday. Photo: Iraqi Prime Minister’s Media Office via Reuters

Middle East

Turkey to hand over military base to Iraq

Ankara established the facility in Bashiqa in 2015 and deployed up to 600 soldiers there, sparking tensions with Baghdad.

4 hours ago

Ukraine war

Zelensky warns of painful winter for Russia if energy truce talks fail

6 hours ago

Alibaba

Alibaba Cloud set to open new data centres in Europe as overseas push gains pace

23 Sep 2026 - 1:32PM

Crime

Turkey teenager arrested after 11 pupils injured in shotgun shooting

In the third such incident in six months, the youngster opened fire near his school, leaving three in intensive care.

22 Sep 2026 - 11:38PM

This handout photograph taken and released on Tuesday shows a CCTV image of a gunman running near a school in Turgutlu, an area west of the resort city of Izmir, before a shooting outside a school. Photo: via AFP/DHA

Vladimir Putin

Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia

Far from being isolated, Moscow’s relationships across the non-Western world are a geopolitical constant the West cannot break.

19 Sep 2026 - 12:00PM

US, Israel war on Iran

US pivot leaves Saudi Arabia with ‘humiliating dilemma’ over Houthis

Riyadh is now working frantically to build a coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea and defend the kingdom against Houthi attacks.

18 Sep 2026 - 6:40PMvideocam

Middle East

US approves sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli concerns

US says the sale would improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter ‘current and future threats’.

18 Sep 2026 - 1:53PM

An F-35 jet at the Dubai Airshow in 2025. Photo: Reuters

China travel

China airports surge in global-connectivity ranking, led by Shanghai, Guangzhou

Third terminal helps Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport jump 17 places in global standings, while airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong also improve.

17 Sep 2026 - 11:00AMvideocam

Middle East

Saudis turn to Western, regional allies as missile defences run low

Regional officials say kingdom appeals to France, UK, Pakistan, and Egypt for help against Houthis amid US interceptor shortages.

17 Sep 2026 - 3:40PM

Middle East

‘Doing a North Korea’? Why the Middle East could be entering a new nuclear age

A Saudi-US nuclear pact and further attacks on Iran could prompt Tehran to withdraw from the non-proliferation treaty, analysts warn.

15 Sep 2026 - 7:25PMvideocam

Iranian commuters pass a huge anti-US billboard reading in Persian, “The devil army will be drowned in the Persian Gulf”, erected on Enghelab Square in Tehran, on Monday. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Surrounded by war, Turkey more than triples defence spending

Most of the 229 per cent budget increase will fund domestic arms production as Ankara seeks to cut reliance on the West.

11 Sep 2026 - 5:00PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in September. Photo: dpa

Climate change

Opinion | Cop31: Forget climate pledges, countries like Nepal need actual cash

No payout from the loss and damage fund has reached vulnerable nations. Cop31 must focus on delivering the money already promised.

10 Sep 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US targets Iran’s airlines with sweeping new sanctions

The US Treasury is aiming to ground Mahan Air and other firms in a sharp escalation of Trump’s economic pressure campaign.

9 Sep 2026 - 4:19AM

China's military weapons

Pakistan’s China-made HQ-17AE system to boost drone defence in future India war

Successful integration with other foreign systems by Pakistan would strengthen China’s export case ‘considerably’, analyst notes.

9 Sep 2026 - 12:08AMvideocam

Pakistan has been revealed to be the fourth foreign operator of the HQ-17 Chinese short-range air-defence (Shorad) system. Photo: CCTV

Japan

US wants foreign warships for its navy. Japan is hoping to be picked

Should Washington commission Mogami-class frigates, it will become Japan’s largest deal since relaxing the rules on weapon exports in April.

4 Sep 2026 - 10:30AM

Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force Mogami-class stealth frigate JS Mikuma anchors at a naval base in Yokosuka on September 5, 2025. Photo: AP

US military

US looks to warship designs from Japan, South Korea and Turkey, reports say

It comes after Trump signed a memorandum calling for foreign shipbuilding capacity and investment as US industry struggles to meet demand.

3 Sep 2026 - 6:00PM

Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s talk of joining an ‘Islamic Nato’ raises red flags in India

Joining the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani security alliance offers Dhaka leverage, but could also threaten its non-aligned stance.

3 Sep 2026 - 5:27PM

SCO

Opinion | 25 years on, the SCO’s pragmatic strategy is working better than ever

The SCO’s significance is practical: it gives those who do not want their future defined in Washington a forum to coordinate and hedge.

2 Sep 2026 - 5:26PMvideocam

Heads of state attend a session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on September 1. Photo: Reuters

Britain

UK’s Burnham pledges to restore hope as he makes House of Commons debut as PM

His vow to ‘unlock a feeling of positivity and possibility’ was a marked contrast to his predecessor Starmer’s downbeat pronouncements.

2 Sep 2026 - 4:40AM

US-China trade war

Opinion | Move over Strait of Hormuz. Innovation chokepoints are the ones to watch

The strength of a chokepoint lies not only in the force of the initial blow but in the scale of the long-term damage it leaves behind.

31 Aug 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Cyprus

At least 8 dead, 17 missing after ferry capsizes off Northern Cyprus

Captain and crew arrested after survivors report explosion on bow before vessel sank into deep waters.

31 Aug 2026 - 9:20AM

A passenger being rescued off the ferry that capsized off the coast of Northern Cyprus. Photo: Reuters TV

China-Middle East relations

China’s Middle East policy at a crossroads 6 months into US-Israeli war on Iran

Gulf states are rethinking their strategy after coming under attack, but observers say Beijing does not want to commit itself too deeply.

29 Aug 2026 - 7:40PMvideocam

Smoke billows over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City, following an Iranian strike in June. Photo: AFP

United States

US Secret Service says it is aware of Iranian video threat to Barron Trump

Iranian state TV airs video claiming tracking of US president’s 20-year-old son and offering US$10 million bounty for his killing.

26 Aug 2026 - 9:11AM

Middle East

Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?

As security deal shakes up calculations for the US, China and Russia, a regional order shaped by regional states is no longer unthinkable.

25 Aug 2026 - 8:30PM

Middle East

Israel’s strikes push Syria towards joining Mecca defence pact

Air strikes intended to curb Turkish expansion risk triggering the very encirclement Israel fears, analysts say.

25 Aug 2026 - 4:19PM

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (left) shakes hands with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Thursday. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan / AFP

Middle East

US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list in major diplomatic shift

Washington lifts decades-old designation, removing final barriers to foreign investment following Assad’s fall.

25 Aug 2026 - 1:47PM

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and US President Donald Trump meeting in Turkey. Photo: Reuters

Israel-Gaza war

Syria holds talks with Israel addressing de-escalation, Israel-Turkey tensions

A Syrian government source said Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani met the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Roman Gofman.

24 Aug 2026 - 3:13PM

Middle East

US envoy walks back comments on Golan Heights that contradicted Trump’s position

Tom Barrack had said Israel ‘still’ occupies the territory but on Sunday said that was a description of the Golan Heights’ historical status.

24 Aug 2026 - 3:44AM

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Turkey

Turkey to hand over military base to Iraq

Ankara established the facility in Bashiqa in 2015 and deployed up to 600 soldiers there, sparking tensions with Baghdad.

Zelensky warns of painful winter for Russia if energy truce talks fail

Alibaba Cloud set to open new data centres in Europe as overseas push gains pace

Turkey teenager arrested after 11 pupils injured in shotgun shooting

In the third such incident in six months, the youngster opened fire near his school, leaving three in intensive care.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia

Far from being isolated, Moscow’s relationships across the non-Western world are a geopolitical constant the West cannot break.

US pivot leaves Saudi Arabia with ‘humiliating dilemma’ over Houthis

Riyadh is now working frantically to build a coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea and defend the kingdom against Houthi attacks.

US approves sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli concerns

US says the sale would improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter ‘current and future threats’.

China airports surge in global-connectivity ranking, led by Shanghai, Guangzhou

Third terminal helps Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport jump 17 places in global standings, while airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong also improve.

Saudis turn to Western, regional allies as missile defences run low

Regional officials say kingdom appeals to France, UK, Pakistan, and Egypt for help against Houthis amid US interceptor shortages.

‘Doing a North Korea’? Why the Middle East could be entering a new nuclear age

A Saudi-US nuclear pact and further attacks on Iran could prompt Tehran to withdraw from the non-proliferation treaty, analysts warn.

Surrounded by war, Turkey more than triples defence spending

Most of the 229 per cent budget increase will fund domestic arms production as Ankara seeks to cut reliance on the West.

Opinion | Cop31: Forget climate pledges, countries like Nepal need actual cash

No payout from the loss and damage fund has reached vulnerable nations. Cop31 must focus on delivering the money already promised.

US targets Iran’s airlines with sweeping new sanctions

The US Treasury is aiming to ground Mahan Air and other firms in a sharp escalation of Trump’s economic pressure campaign.

Pakistan’s China-made HQ-17AE system to boost drone defence in future India war

Successful integration with other foreign systems by Pakistan would strengthen China’s export case ‘considerably’, analyst notes.

US wants foreign warships for its navy. Japan is hoping to be picked

Should Washington commission Mogami-class frigates, it will become Japan’s largest deal since relaxing the rules on weapon exports in April.

US looks to warship designs from Japan, South Korea and Turkey, reports say

It comes after Trump signed a memorandum calling for foreign shipbuilding capacity and investment as US industry struggles to meet demand.

Bangladesh’s talk of joining an ‘Islamic Nato’ raises red flags in India

Joining the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani security alliance offers Dhaka leverage, but could also threaten its non-aligned stance.

Opinion | 25 years on, the SCO’s pragmatic strategy is working better than ever

The SCO’s significance is practical: it gives those who do not want their future defined in Washington a forum to coordinate and hedge.

UK’s Burnham pledges to restore hope as he makes House of Commons debut as PM

His vow to ‘unlock a feeling of positivity and possibility’ was a marked contrast to his predecessor Starmer’s downbeat pronouncements.

Opinion | Move over Strait of Hormuz. Innovation chokepoints are the ones to watch

The strength of a chokepoint lies not only in the force of the initial blow but in the scale of the long-term damage it leaves behind.

At least 8 dead, 17 missing after ferry capsizes off Northern Cyprus

Captain and crew arrested after survivors report explosion on bow before vessel sank into deep waters.

China’s Middle East policy at a crossroads 6 months into US-Israeli war on Iran

Gulf states are rethinking their strategy after coming under attack, but observers say Beijing does not want to commit itself too deeply.

US Secret Service says it is aware of Iranian video threat to Barron Trump

Iranian state TV airs video claiming tracking of US president’s 20-year-old son and offering US$10 million bounty for his killing.

Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?

As security deal shakes up calculations for the US, China and Russia, a regional order shaped by regional states is no longer unthinkable.

Israel’s strikes push Syria towards joining Mecca defence pact

Air strikes intended to curb Turkish expansion risk triggering the very encirclement Israel fears, analysts say.

US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list in major diplomatic shift

Washington lifts decades-old designation, removing final barriers to foreign investment following Assad’s fall.

Syria holds talks with Israel addressing de-escalation, Israel-Turkey tensions

A Syrian government source said Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani met the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Roman Gofman.

US envoy walks back comments on Golan Heights that contradicted Trump’s position

Tom Barrack had said Israel ‘still’ occupies the territory but on Sunday said that was a description of the Golan Heights’ historical status.

Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia