TOPIC

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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

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of the signing of a defence deal between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. Photo: Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via Reuters

Middle East

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign joint defence deal

The nations are particularly concerned by the increasingly aggressive military stances of both Israel and revolutionary Shiite Iran.

3 hours agovideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

How US became trapped in ‘dreadful situation’ of its own making over Iran war

6 Aug 2026 - 3:21PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ conditions Israel’s Gaza withdrawal on Hamas disarmament

4 Aug 2026 - 3:20PM

Asean

What Turkey’s upgrade to Asean dialogue partner status means

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan calls the development ‘of utmost importance’ in its relationship with Asia-Pacific countries.

3 Aug 2026 - 10:00AM

Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister Berris Ekinci (right) poses for a photo with Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera Lim (centre) and Asean Political-Security Community Deputy Secretary General Astanah Abdul Aziz during a meeting on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on July 22. Photo: EPA

China-Africa relations

Is Turkey putting pressure on China in Africa’s infrastructure market?

While Beijing is beating out Western players for major construction projects on the continent, it is not without competition.

2 Aug 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran’s foreign minister warns of any ‘adventurous action’ by US

Abbas Araqchi said Iran would retaliate if the US follows through on Trump’s threat of fresh attacks on the country.

2 Aug 2026 - 7:01AMvideocam

China exports

China’s surgical robots break into Vietnam as Beijing targets US dominance

Shipments to Asean have surged 246% this year as cross-border healthcare platforms pave way for manufacturers to challenge US giants like Intuitive Surgical.

31 Jul 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

A surgical robot during the 2025 China Medical Equipment Conference & Medical Equipment Exhibition held at Chongqing International Expo Centre in southwest China’s Chongqing, taken on March 14, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Extreme weather

France and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heatwave arrives

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people, including tourists, in France, while in Spain around 100,000 have been told to seek shelter.

28 Jul 2026 - 5:42AM

Hong Kong weather

Typhoon Noul: 2,000 passengers left stranded overnight at Hong Kong airport

Airport Authority provides extra 600 seats and food for travellers, while some lament hotel room rates increasing to HK$2,000 to HK$3,000.

26 Jul 2026 - 11:58PM

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s TDC to open Egypt office as it eyes African, Nordic markets

Trade Development Council has revamped corporate structure to better help firms in six new industry clusters, chairman Frederick Ma says.

24 Jul 2026 - 11:11PM

A view of the Pyramids of Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo. Photo: AFP

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s EV makers went from small fry to big shots. Can others do the same?

The global green shift is providing a way for emerging economies to catch up with global powerhouses, with help from China’s supply chain.

22 Jul 2026 - 2:34PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump’s new Air Force One to be ‘maxed out’ following missile defence fears

The upgrades were completed ⁠so quickly that some experts expressed concern that the plane might not be as secure as the previous one.

20 Jul 2026 - 12:04PM

Ukraine war

Ukraine blames Russia for deadly strike on Turkish cargo ship

Ukraine’s navy said 6 died when Russia launched cruise missiles at the Golden Leo as it was ‘leaving the combat zone with a cargo of grain’.

20 Jul 2026 - 7:43AMvideocam

ICBMs

Opinion | China’s missile test is a signal. How non-nuclear states respond matters

The reactions to Beijing’s ‘routine’ exercise put into focus a nuclear order that is rapidly fluctuating from Tehran to Tokyo.

14 Jul 2026 - 11:22AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump subpoenas journalists over Qatari Air Force One reporting

The Trump administration has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists after their report on security concerns involving the new Air Force One.

11 Jul 2026 - 9:20PM

President Donald Trump gestures during a media conference at the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Middle East

Erdogan pushes for ‘natural’ births amid Turkey’s high C-section rate

Turkish medical professionals say C-sections are more time-efficient for medical staff – 30 minutes compared to 12 hours for a traditional delivery.

11 Jul 2026 - 5:03PM

Russia

Russia’s diesel export ban deals new shock to strained energy market

The move sparked price spikes in Europe and the US, threatening agriculture, power and transport amid tightening supply.

11 Jul 2026 - 10:31AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Scare Force One? Security questions swirl over Trump’s new plane

The Secret Service advised the US president to switch from the luxury jet gifted by Qatar to an older aircraft, reports say.

11 Jul 2026 - 5:02AM

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press for the first time aboard the new Air Force One while in flight from RAF Mildenhall AFB to Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

United States

US plan to allow Turkey back into F-35 jet scheme faces Israeli opposition

Turkey was ejected from the American F-35 programme in 2019 after it bought Russian air-defence systems.

10 Jul 2026 - 6:33PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Editorial | Trump’s fickle behaviour over Iran puts world economy at risk – again

While he left the door open for further negotiations, Trump’s declarations have plunged the world into an uncertainty it can ill afford.

10 Jul 2026 - 7:15AM

Nato

1 revolver, 6 bullets: Turkish president’s ‘unusual’ gift to Nato leaders

Bring it home? Leave it in Turkey? Their delegations puzzled over what to do with the gun and live ammunition from Erdogan.

10 Jul 2026 - 9:46AM

A revolver given to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, with the president’s name engraved on it, is displayed during a press presentation in Vilnius, Lithuania. Photo: Office of the Lithuanian President via AFP

Japan

Trump blames ‘Islamic Republic of Japan’ for missile strikes on US warship

The US president said the missiles were shot at the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln over a period of one hour and they were intercepted.

9 Jul 2026 - 11:51AM

US President Donald Trump waves as he switches planes at an air force base in eastern England on his way back to Washington from the Nato summit in Turkey on Wednesday. Photo: AP

United States

Nato summit delivers unity and billions in defence deals, Rutte says

Secretary general says allies are strengthening the alliance after agreeing to higher spending, amid continued pressure from Trump.

9 Jul 2026 - 7:09AM

United States

Trump surprises Nato allies with arms deals and praise as summit ends positively

After promises of advanced air defence systems to Europe and Ukraine, US president says ‘unification’ was dominant theme of key meeting.

9 Jul 2026 - 5:27AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump switches back to old Air Force One, raising questions about Qatari jet

Asked if an assassination threat prompted the move, the US president did not answer directly but said: ‘I’m No 1 on the kill list for Iran’.

9 Jul 2026 - 11:41AM

Air Force One after landing at Etimesgut Air Base near Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Nato

Nato, Indo-Pacific 4 vow defence, tech boost as China-Russia ties spark alarm

Nato chief Mark Rutte meets top officials from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea on sidelines of Ankara summit.

8 Jul 2026 - 6:10PM

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte (third left) with representatives from the Indo-Pacific Four, (from left) New Zealand Defence Minister Chris Penk, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, and Australia’s defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, in Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo

Ukraine war

Russia strikes Ukraine ahead of Trump-Zelensky talks at Nato summit

Deadly barrages hit Kyiv while Ukrainian drone swarms target Russian ships and territory ahead of high-stakes Turkey talks.

8 Jul 2026 - 4:21PM

Middle East

Opinion | 3 paths to shaping Middle East order after Iran war’s conclusion

While the US, China and regional players have distinct plans, their visions for a post-Iran war order overlap more than might be expected.

8 Jul 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

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Turkey

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign joint defence deal

The nations are particularly concerned by the increasingly aggressive military stances of both Israel and revolutionary Shiite Iran.

How US became trapped in ‘dreadful situation’ of its own making over Iran war

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ conditions Israel’s Gaza withdrawal on Hamas disarmament

What Turkey’s upgrade to Asean dialogue partner status means

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan calls the development ‘of utmost importance’ in its relationship with Asia-Pacific countries.

Is Turkey putting pressure on China in Africa’s infrastructure market?

While Beijing is beating out Western players for major construction projects on the continent, it is not without competition.

Iran’s foreign minister warns of any ‘adventurous action’ by US

Abbas Araqchi said Iran would retaliate if the US follows through on Trump’s threat of fresh attacks on the country.

China’s surgical robots break into Vietnam as Beijing targets US dominance

Shipments to Asean have surged 246% this year as cross-border healthcare platforms pave way for manufacturers to challenge US giants like Intuitive Surgical.

France and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heatwave arrives

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people, including tourists, in France, while in Spain around 100,000 have been told to seek shelter.

Typhoon Noul: 2,000 passengers left stranded overnight at Hong Kong airport

Airport Authority provides extra 600 seats and food for travellers, while some lament hotel room rates increasing to HK$2,000 to HK$3,000.

Hong Kong’s TDC to open Egypt office as it eyes African, Nordic markets

Trade Development Council has revamped corporate structure to better help firms in six new industry clusters, chairman Frederick Ma says.

China’s EV makers went from small fry to big shots. Can others do the same?

The global green shift is providing a way for emerging economies to catch up with global powerhouses, with help from China’s supply chain.

Trump’s new Air Force One to be ‘maxed out’ following missile defence fears

The upgrades were completed ⁠so quickly that some experts expressed concern that the plane might not be as secure as the previous one.

Ukraine blames Russia for deadly strike on Turkish cargo ship

Ukraine’s navy said 6 died when Russia launched cruise missiles at the Golden Leo as it was ‘leaving the combat zone with a cargo of grain’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | China’s missile test is a signal. How non-nuclear states respond matters

The reactions to Beijing’s ‘routine’ exercise put into focus a nuclear order that is rapidly fluctuating from Tehran to Tokyo.

Trump subpoenas journalists over Qatari Air Force One reporting

The Trump administration has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists after their report on security concerns involving the new Air Force One.

Erdogan pushes for ‘natural’ births amid Turkey’s high C-section rate

Turkish medical professionals say C-sections are more time-efficient for medical staff – 30 minutes compared to 12 hours for a traditional delivery.

Russia’s diesel export ban deals new shock to strained energy market

The move sparked price spikes in Europe and the US, threatening agriculture, power and transport amid tightening supply.

Scare Force One? Security questions swirl over Trump’s new plane

The Secret Service advised the US president to switch from the luxury jet gifted by Qatar to an older aircraft, reports say.

US plan to allow Turkey back into F-35 jet scheme faces Israeli opposition

Turkey was ejected from the American F-35 programme in 2019 after it bought Russian air-defence systems.

Editorial | Trump’s fickle behaviour over Iran puts world economy at risk – again

While he left the door open for further negotiations, Trump’s declarations have plunged the world into an uncertainty it can ill afford.

1 revolver, 6 bullets: Turkish president’s ‘unusual’ gift to Nato leaders

Bring it home? Leave it in Turkey? Their delegations puzzled over what to do with the gun and live ammunition from Erdogan.

Trump blames ‘Islamic Republic of Japan’ for missile strikes on US warship

The US president said the missiles were shot at the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln over a period of one hour and they were intercepted.

Nato summit delivers unity and billions in defence deals, Rutte says

Secretary general says allies are strengthening the alliance after agreeing to higher spending, amid continued pressure from Trump.

Trump surprises Nato allies with arms deals and praise as summit ends positively

After promises of advanced air defence systems to Europe and Ukraine, US president says ‘unification’ was dominant theme of key meeting.

Trump switches back to old Air Force One, raising questions about Qatari jet

Asked if an assassination threat prompted the move, the US president did not answer directly but said: ‘I’m No 1 on the kill list for Iran’.

Nato, Indo-Pacific 4 vow defence, tech boost as China-Russia ties spark alarm

Nato chief Mark Rutte meets top officials from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea on sidelines of Ankara summit.

Russia strikes Ukraine ahead of Trump-Zelensky talks at Nato summit

Deadly barrages hit Kyiv while Ukrainian drone swarms target Russian ships and territory ahead of high-stakes Turkey talks.

Opinion | 3 paths to shaping Middle East order after Iran war’s conclusion

While the US, China and regional players have distinct plans, their visions for a post-Iran war order overlap more than might be expected.

Opinion | China’s missile test is a signal. How non-nuclear states respond matters