Author: Hasad Kadir

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Nov. 24 to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments. During the call, Erdoğan emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Russia, particularly in increasing trade volume between the two countries, the Communications Directorate said in a statement. The Turkish leader also reiterated Ankara’s ongoing efforts to reduce tensions in the region and its dedication to contributing to peace processes. In an address at a fair in Istanbul the day earlier, Erdoğan welcomed the recent International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defense chief. “We consider…

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will discuss the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during his visit to Ankara, a Turkish official says. Russia struck Ukraine with a new hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile on Thursday in response to Kyiv’s use of US and British missiles against Russia. The move marked an escalation in the war that began when Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. NATO member Turkey, which has condemned the Russian invasion, says it supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and it has provided Kyiv with military support. Turkey, a Black…

A joint US-Turkey naval exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean, which was never announced by Ankara, and the statements of outgoing US Ambassador Jeff Flake published by Politico, who stressed that Turkey in times of turmoil is even more important, are seen as signs of cooperation and re-engagement between the two countries. The drill took place on August 13-17 in the Eastern Mediterranean region with the participation of the Turkish amphibious operations and unmanned aircraft ship TCG Anadolu as well as the Turkish frigate Gokova and the US amphibious operations ship USS Wasp, and the Oak Hill frigate. The exercise was…

“They were plotting to kill a huge number, tens of thousands of people at this concert, I am sure many Americans,” CIA Deputy Director David S. Cohen said “Tens of thousands” of fans were the target of a thwarted terrorist attempt at Taylor Swift’s recent Vienna shows, a CIA official told reporters on Wednesday, Aug. 28. CIA Deputy Director David S. Cohen shared new details of the thwarted terror plot that canceled all three of the 34-year-old pop star’s planned Eras Tour concerts in Austria earlier this month during the annual Intelligence Summit just outside Washington, D.C., reports The New York Times and NBC News. “They…

Tajikistan, a Central Asian state with limited means, is trying to project a get-tough-on-terror image following the late March attack at a Moscow concert venue, in which Tajik militants are accused of killing over 140 people. But the government steps being taken appear to address the symptoms of the domestic challenge, not the disease. The March 22 terror tragedy prompted a wave of retribution against Tajik citizens in Russia and placed President Imomali Rahmon’s regime in an unwelcome spotlight, reminding the world of its numerous flaws in governance. Rahmon’s damage-control efforts have included a mixture of denial and a “round-up-the-usual suspects” approach that does…

The IMF Executive Board has completed the first review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility with Sri Lanka, providing the cash-strapped country with access to about $ 337 million to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. Announcing this, Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka also said that the debt restructuring with China was concluded on a strictly confidential basis for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to conclude its first review of the $ 2.9 billion bailout. China holds 52 per cent of Sri Lanka’s total debt. The Chinese agreement in principle was very good news in Sri Lanka’s…

Institut français Türkiye has introduced the second season of its “The Passengers of Pera” project, which aims to explore the francophone cultural heritage of the historic city of Istanbul. This audio journey delves deep into the essence of French culture and Franco-Turkish heritage in Istanbul, unfurling iconic places and themes. Through the narratives of historians, architects and urban planners, as well as the perspectives of writers, teachers and students, listeners are taken on an unprecedented exploration. The program also features personal anecdotes from various Francophone, Turkish and French individuals, who reminisce about their childhood neighborhoods in Istanbul, adding a unique…

The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) says 10 people were arrested following a search of a home that it received ‘numerous complaints’ about. According to a post from LCSO, its Narcotics Unit along with the sheriff’s office’s SWAT team executed a search warrant at a house on Plato Jones Street that it received multiple complaints about. During the search, 10 people were arrested while 3.6 grams of crack/cocaine and $1464.00 were found in the house, LCSO said. Anthony Delmar Anderson, Bryan Eugene Bass, Donnie Eugene Collier, Monica Lashea Baker, Sophia Yvonne Erskine, Joyce Marie Shelton, Donald Ray Stinnet, Bettina Deanne…

Water levels in the dams of Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest city, have dropped critically, according to recent data released by the city’s water and sewerage body İSKİ. The data indicated that the overall storage rate of Istanbul’s dams stood at a mere 20.36 percent, the lowest value recorded in the last 10 years. Comparatively, during the 2014 drought, the water level in dams was slightly higher at 21.13 percent. A particularly concerning aspect of the report revealed that the water level in six dams in Istanbul dropped below the alarming 10 percent mark. Water levels in Papuçdere dam, one of the…

A shocking affront to their neighbours AEK Athens is further evidence of rising far-right activity at football across Europe. The boos that echoed from three-quarters of Leoforos Alexandras Stadium could not blank out the message held up by the small but inescapable minority. As Panathinaikos and the visiting AEK Athens entered the field for Monday’s derby a 40-metre banner was unfurled by the home ultras group, Gate 13, to a backdrop of billowing green and blue smoke. “Free the boys,” it read, and the reaction from all sides left no doubt that its meaning had resonated. While Gate 13’s fellow…