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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

Donald Trump

Trump says Iran deal should include additional countries joining Abraham Accords

The US president pointed to Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia and Turkey to join the agreements aimed at normalising ties with Israel.

5 hours agovideocam

Tourism

Checklist tourism trends as travellers go for selfies over ‘real stories’

25 May 2026 - 7:15PM

Middle East

Turkish riot police storm opposition party HQ to evict ousted leadership

25 May 2026 - 11:44AM

Indonesia

‘So rough’: father of Indonesian on Gaza flotilla claims Israeli mistreatment

Nine Indonesians were among those detained when Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla on Monday.

22 May 2026 - 6:02PMvideocam

Alliance of Independent Journalists members rally for the return of Indonesians on board the Global Sumud Flotilla in Surabaya on Thursday. Photo: Andre Yuris

Israel-Gaza war

Israel deports hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists as arrivals recount abuse

Detainees land in Turkey as their treatment in Israeli custody draws an international outcry.

22 May 2026 - 5:18PMvideocam

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Court rules to oust leadership of Turkey’s main opposition party

The abrupt judicial annulment of Ozgur Ozel’s 2023 election deals a serious blow to the nation’s oldest political faction.

22 May 2026 - 11:24AM

Israel-Gaza war

‘Welcome to Israel’: videos of bound Gaza flotilla activists trigger furore

Netanyahu scolds Israel’s security minister for releasing footage taunting hundreds of detained civilians as international backlash grows.

21 May 2026 - 12:45PM

A screengrab of a video posted by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shows detained activists from the Gaza-bound flotilla. Photo: @itamarbengvir via X

Israel-Gaza war

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla, denies using live ammunition

Israeli forces halt vessels in Mediterranean operation, detaining hundreds of international activists.

20 May 2026 - 10:49AM

United States

US imposes fresh sanctions on Iranian exchange house, 19 ships from shadow fleet

The Treasury’s move came after Iran ‌said its latest peace proposal to the US involved ending hostilities on all fronts.

19 May 2026 - 11:37PM

Yuan

China joins global sell-off of US Treasuries in March as Iran war prompts panic

Seven of the top 10 foreign holders cut their exposure to US government debt, led by Japan, which offloaded US$47.7 billion.

19 May 2026 - 9:19AM

Mainland Chinese investors are among seven of the top 10 foreign holders to cut their exposure to US government debt, triggered by uncertainty around the war in Iran. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

Is China’s new mediation body gaining steam as Western brokers’ influence wanes?

Summit encourages countries to join Beijing-led initiative as stalled US-Iran peace talks reveal limits of traditional solution mechanisms.

16 May 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Cui Jianchun, commissioner of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, addresses a summit of the International Organisation for Mediation held in Hong Kong last Friday. Photo: Xinhua

Ukraine war

36 nations approve tribunal creation to prosecute Russia over Ukraine

The move came on the same day the WHO said Ukraine’s mental health crisis is growing, with ‘work to do until the end of the century’.

15 May 2026 - 9:44PMvideocam

Editor's Letter

This week in PostMag: the summer travel edition offers holiday tips for all tastes

Discover dreamy summer getaways – from Hainan’s luxury escapes to Thailand’s creative Songkhla – plus sustainable stays, genre-blending concerts and Chinese state banquet secrets.

24 May 2026 - 5:24AM

Trip Inspiration

Rediscovering Turkey’s northeast: a journey from Trabzon to Erzurum

After 50 years, a writer returns to Turkey’s far-flung northeast and discovers what has changed – and what hasn’t.

11 May 2026 - 4:46PM

Sumela Monastery, Trabzon province, Turkey. Photo: Getty Images

War and conflict

Letters | History shows the high cost and low yield of war as conflict resolution

Readers discuss the imperative of dialogue to end the Iran war, the growth and diversity of Chinese products and Hong Kong’s efforts to deter smoking.

7 May 2026 - 11:30AM

An Iranian walks next to an anti-US mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, on May 4. Photo: EPA

Disease

Passengers on virus-hit cruise ship sway between fear and boredom

As the MV Hondius sails towards Spain, passengers describe a bizarre daily existence of high-end luxury and strict isolation.

7 May 2026 - 5:17PMvideocam

Middle East

‘Structural shift’: new routes for Middle East freight to bypass Hormuz

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE lead a push for a new trade architecture with multiple nodes linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

3 May 2026 - 10:30AM

Israel-Gaza war

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla in international waters off Greece, detaining dozens

Organisers accuse Israel of ‘abduction’ after boats are seized nearly 1,000km from the Palestinian enclave.

1 May 2026 - 9:35AM

Flotilla crew during an interception by Israeli forces. Photo: Global Sumud Flotilla via Reuters

United States

Austrian citizen admits plot to kill at Taylor Swift concert in Vienna

The 21-year-old and two other men also planned attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

28 Apr 2026 - 6:52PMvideocam

Malaysia

At Malaysia’s arms bazaar, drone dealers chase Southeast Asian market share

‘Drone warfare is the future,’ say arms dealers in Kuala Lumpur – and the region’s militaries are buying in.

26 Apr 2026 - 1:46PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

25 Apr 2026 - 1:30PM

(From left) Foreign Ministers Badr Abdelatty of Egypt, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Ishaq Dar of Pakistan and Hakan Fidan of Turkey meet to discuss regional de-escalation in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 29. Photo: Turkish Foreign Ministry/Reuters

US-China relations

Letters | China’s interest doesn’t lie in US failures

Readers discuss Chinese thinking on global stability, Turkey’s school shootings, and talk of regime change.

24 Apr 2026 - 11:30AM

A man walks past a Chinese newspaper featuring a photo of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on April 15. Photo: EPA

Social media

Turkey passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

It comes a week after a 14-year-old boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in southern Turkey, in a gun attack.

23 Apr 2026 - 4:59PM

Ramadan

Turkey jails 8 over deadly 2024 cable car accident

The 2024 Antalya disaster left a passenger dead and 174 others stranded for almost a day.

21 Apr 2026 - 12:39PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Beyond Panama and Hormuz: 8 critical waterways under the global microscope

Amid US actions in the two major shipping channels, attention has shifted to the strategic importance and potential risks elsewhere.

21 Apr 2026 - 1:12AMvideocam

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker travels through the Strait of Malacca off Malaysia on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Crime

LA woman charged in US with trafficking arms to Sudan for Iran

Shamim Mafi is accused ‘brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition’.

20 Apr 2026 - 11:46AM

Los Angeles International Airport, where Iranian national Shamim Mafi was arrested on Saturday. Photo: AP

Food and Drinks

Is this soup being culturally appropriated? Dispute boils between 2 nations

Greece and Turkey are arguing over a traditional soup’s origins as one restaurateur attempts to register it as a dish of Greece with Unesco.

19 Apr 2026 - 5:15PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Exclusive | Iran keen on deal with US but has higher ‘pain tolerance’: think tank chief

Mohamed Amersi, who is close to Iranian negotiators, says regime is prepared for long haul and will not give up its missile programme.

20 Apr 2026 - 4:10AMvideocam

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Turkey

Trump says Iran deal should include additional countries joining Abraham Accords

The US president pointed to Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia and Turkey to join the agreements aimed at normalising ties with Israel.

Checklist tourism trends as travellers go for selfies over ‘real stories’

Turkish riot police storm opposition party HQ to evict ousted leadership

‘So rough’: father of Indonesian on Gaza flotilla claims Israeli mistreatment

Nine Indonesians were among those detained when Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla on Monday.

Israel deports hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists as arrivals recount abuse

Detainees land in Turkey as their treatment in Israeli custody draws an international outcry.

Court rules to oust leadership of Turkey’s main opposition party

The abrupt judicial annulment of Ozgur Ozel’s 2023 election deals a serious blow to the nation’s oldest political faction.

‘Welcome to Israel’: videos of bound Gaza flotilla activists trigger furore

Netanyahu scolds Israel’s security minister for releasing footage taunting hundreds of detained civilians as international backlash grows.

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla, denies using live ammunition

Israeli forces halt vessels in Mediterranean operation, detaining hundreds of international activists.

US imposes fresh sanctions on Iranian exchange house, 19 ships from shadow fleet

The Treasury’s move came after Iran ‌said its latest peace proposal to the US involved ending hostilities on all fronts.

China joins global sell-off of US Treasuries in March as Iran war prompts panic

Seven of the top 10 foreign holders cut their exposure to US government debt, led by Japan, which offloaded US$47.7 billion.

Is China’s new mediation body gaining steam as Western brokers’ influence wanes?

Summit encourages countries to join Beijing-led initiative as stalled US-Iran peace talks reveal limits of traditional solution mechanisms.

36 nations approve tribunal creation to prosecute Russia over Ukraine

The move came on the same day the WHO said Ukraine’s mental health crisis is growing, with ‘work to do until the end of the century’.

This week in PostMag: the summer travel edition offers holiday tips for all tastes

Discover dreamy summer getaways – from Hainan’s luxury escapes to Thailand’s creative Songkhla – plus sustainable stays, genre-blending concerts and Chinese state banquet secrets.

Rediscovering Turkey’s northeast: a journey from Trabzon to Erzurum

After 50 years, a writer returns to Turkey’s far-flung northeast and discovers what has changed – and what hasn’t.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | History shows the high cost and low yield of war as conflict resolution

Readers discuss the imperative of dialogue to end the Iran war, the growth and diversity of Chinese products and Hong Kong’s efforts to deter smoking.

Passengers on virus-hit cruise ship sway between fear and boredom

As the MV Hondius sails towards Spain, passengers describe a bizarre daily existence of high-end luxury and strict isolation.

‘Structural shift’: new routes for Middle East freight to bypass Hormuz

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE lead a push for a new trade architecture with multiple nodes linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla in international waters off Greece, detaining dozens

Organisers accuse Israel of ‘abduction’ after boats are seized nearly 1,000km from the Palestinian enclave.

Austrian citizen admits plot to kill at Taylor Swift concert in Vienna

The 21-year-old and two other men also planned attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

At Malaysia’s arms bazaar, drone dealers chase Southeast Asian market share

‘Drone warfare is the future,’ say arms dealers in Kuala Lumpur – and the region’s militaries are buying in.

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

Letters | China’s interest doesn’t lie in US failures

Readers discuss Chinese thinking on global stability, Turkey’s school shootings, and talk of regime change.

Turkey passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

It comes a week after a 14-year-old boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in southern Turkey, in a gun attack.

Turkey jails 8 over deadly 2024 cable car accident

The 2024 Antalya disaster left a passenger dead and 174 others stranded for almost a day.

Beyond Panama and Hormuz: 8 critical waterways under the global microscope

Amid US actions in the two major shipping channels, attention has shifted to the strategic importance and potential risks elsewhere.

LA woman charged in US with trafficking arms to Sudan for Iran

Shamim Mafi is accused ‘brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition’.

Is this soup being culturally appropriated? Dispute boils between 2 nations

Greece and Turkey are arguing over a traditional soup’s origins as one restaurateur attempts to register it as a dish of Greece with Unesco.

Exclusive | Iran keen on deal with US but has higher ‘pain tolerance’: think tank chief

Mohamed Amersi, who is close to Iranian negotiators, says regime is prepared for long haul and will not give up its missile programme.

Letters | History shows the high cost and low yield of war as conflict resolution