WASHINGTON Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the “dire situation” in Gaza, calling for “urgent attention” towards a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian aid in the Palestinian enclave during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This meeting was part of the Türkiye-US Strategic Dialogue Mechanism at the State Department. “The dire situation in Gaza requires the international community’s urgent attention to halt the suffering of innocent people,” Fidan stated. “Immediate humanitarian assistance is crucial. Therefore, we must collaborate diligently to ensure a cea ..read more

ISTANBUL In a significant diplomatic engagement, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye hosted his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Friday for discussions aimed at bolstering bilateral relations and addressing regional security concerns, particularly in the Black Sea. The high-profile meeting, conducted behind closed doors at Istanbul’s historic Dolmabahce Office, underscored both nations’ commitment to deepen ties amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Expressing his appreciation for Türkiye’s steadfast support, President Zelenskyy took to the social media platform X to highlig ..read more

The Rafah border crossing, situated between Gaza and Egypt, will soon be reopened, announced US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday. Speaking to reporters in Cairo, Blinken expressed, “We’re collaborating with the United Nations, Egypt, Israel, and other stakeholders to establish a process to ensure that assistance reaches those in need.” Concluding his Egyptian visit, Blinken shared the positive outcomes of his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, emphasizing Egypt’s notable assistance to the people of Gaza. David Satterfield, the newly-appointed US special representa ..read more

JERUSALEM A senior Israeli official accused Iran on Sunday of attempting to open a new front against Israel from Syria and indirectly confirmed that Tel Aviv had targeted the airports in Damascus and Aleppo. The accusation was made by Joshua Zarka, the head of strategic affairs at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, in a statement he posted on X. Jol Rayburn, director of the American Center for Middle East Studies, commented that “Israel’s repeated strikes to disable the airports in Damascus and Aleppo send a strong signal, in my opinion: First, that the Iranian regime is attempting to transfer stra ..read more

According to Eurostat, retail sales volume in July decreased by 1% in the euro area and 1.2% in the EU year-over-year. The volume of retail trade for automotive fuels saw a decrease of 3.4% in the euro area, and food, drinks, and tobacco dropped by 2.2% in the same period. However, non-food products saw a 1.1% increase in sales volume. In the EU, automotive fuels experienced a 3.9% decrease, and food, drinks, and tobacco declined by 2.4%, while non-food products grew by 0.7%. Slovenia, Estonia, and Hungary registered the largest yearly decreases, while Spain, the Greek Cypriot administration ..read more

ISTANBUL Azerbaijan’s presidential adviser said Wednesday that The New York Times is curbing alternative views, amid reports by media outlets on an alleged “blockade” on the country’s Karabakh region. “Instead of being a fair platform for all voices, I do regret that NYT is putting firewalls and bureaucratic barriers to alternative views,” Hikmet Hajiyev said on X, along with the screenshot of an open letter addressing the daily’s editor. Hajiyev said that there is an information monopoly made up of “some western media outlets,” which he said are engaged in “Soviet style propaganda” against Az ..read more

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Wednesday for an unannounced two-day visit, according to U.S. media reports. This marks Blinken’s fourth visit to Ukraine since the Russia-Ukraine war began in February of the previous year. He is expected to announce over $1 billion in additional funding, as reported by The Washington Post. During his visit, Blinken met with diplomats and staff at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. He is also set to meet with civil society organizations to discuss anti-corruption efforts and will attend a wreath-laying ceremony alongside his ..read more

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have jointly issued an amber heat-health alert (HHA) for eight regions in England, including London. The alert is active from 12 noon on Tuesday until 9 pm on Sunday, affecting London, the South East, South West, North West, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, Yorkshire, and the Humber, according to a UKHSA statement. The amber alert signifies that the heat is likely to have a broad impact on the healthcare system. This warning comes in light of forecasted temperatures expected to surpass 30°C (86°F), as per the country’s mete ..read more

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Tuesday that Türkiye is committed to finding a solution based on Syria’s demographic realities and territorial integrity. He made this statement in light of recent regional upheaval and urged other significant regional powers to follow suit. Speaking after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye’s approach is inclusive of all ethnic and sectarian groups across the region, especially during challenging times. While prioritizing Türkiye’s border security, he stated that Ankara also seeks to maintain regional balance. Erdogan unders ..read more

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is optimistic about the imminent revival of the Black Sea grain deal, stating that it will “meet necessary expectations.” Speaking to reporters late Monday aboard the presidential plane en route from Russia, Erdogan emphasized the global priority of revitalizing the initiative and confirmed ongoing discussions with the UN. Erdogan, who recently visited Sochi for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, revealed that the two leaders discussed the grain deal’s revival, among other topics. The deal, brokered by Türkiye and the UN last year, helped allevi ..read more