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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

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

11 Jul 2026 - 9:20PM

Middle East

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

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

Cars line up at a fuel station in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday. Photo: EPA

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

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

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press aboard the new Air Force One while in flight from RAF Mildenhall air base on July 8. Photo: AFP

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

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

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

US President Donald Trump (left) and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte attend the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, where allies highlighted new defence commitments and higher military spending targets. Photo: AFP

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

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

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

The aftermath of a Russian strike in Kyiv on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

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

Stray dogs walk past the rubble of flattened homes and businesses, destroyed by the Israeli military, in the southern Lebanese village of Tibnin on June 24. Photo: AFP

United States

Trump still ‘disappointed’ with Nato, says US should control Greenland at summit

US president says he has ‘very good relationship’ with ‘loyal’ Turkey and is weighing up selling F-35 fighter jets to them.

8 Jul 2026 - 4:01AMvideocam

US-China relations

Nato launches defence projects to counter Russia and China

New measures focus on critical minerals, drone capabilities and missile shields as members boost the alliance’s industrial base.

8 Jul 2026 - 2:07AMvideocam

China's military weapons

China submarine fires long-range missile ahead of Nato summit

An unprecedented missile launch by a PLA nuclear submarine will prompt Nato leaders to focus more on the Asia-Pacific region.

7 Jul 2026 - 5:00PM

Submarine-launched JL-3 intercontinental ballistic missiles at a military parade in Beijing last year. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Norway urges China to help bring Russia to Ukraine peace talks

‘China is probably the country with the ‌best and most direct access to the Russian leadership,’ said Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Stoere.

7 Jul 2026 - 7:01AMvideocam

Middle East

France’s Macron becomes first Western head of state to visit post-Assad Syria

French president pledges support for a sovereign, peaceful Syria as new authorities seek international legitimacy and reconstruction funds.

7 Jul 2026 - 11:26AM

Ukraine war

Russia unleashes 400 missiles and drones against Kyiv on eve of Nato summit

New hypersonic and ballistic barrage comes a few days ⁠after the deadliest strike on Kyiv this year.

6 Jul 2026 - 9:43PM

An explosion lights up the sky over Kyiv. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Trump to meet leaders of Ukraine and Syria at Turkey Nato summit

US president seeks to make headway in addressing two key conflicts as Ankara hosts two-day Nato gathering.

6 Jul 2026 - 11:58AM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in France. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via AFP

US-China relations

Why the Indo-Pacific might be on the back burner at the Nato summit

Immediate pressures over Ukraine, Iran and spending mean alliance’s concerns about China could be sidelined at Ankara gathering.

5 Jul 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

Nato

First money, now ‘loyalty’: Trump’s demands test Nato chief’s flattery tactics

Mark Rutte has long fawned over Trump to keep the US inside the alliance, but that strategy faces new challenges at a summit in Turkey.

5 Jul 2026 - 3:55PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

‘No one lifts a finger’: Gaza’s fate eclipsed by Middle East war

Gaza remains mired in a severe humanitarian crisis and efforts to permanently end the war between Israel and Hamas have stalled.

4 Jul 2026 - 4:19PM

A Palestinian girl sits inside a house damaged during the Israel-Hamas war in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

China travel

China’s economic clout boosts ‘passport power’, index finds

Chinese travellers are gaining easier access to destinations worldwide, even as they still require visas for more countries than they can enter freely.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:00PM

China’s passport strength is slowly climbing global rankings on a stronger economy, better quality of life and more outbound travel and investment. Photo: Shutterstock

US-China relations

Which Trump will show up at Nato summit? Odds are it will be the fuming one

US president’s impatience and distrust of multilateral groupings has Nato’s 31 other members walking on eggshells before next week’s key meeting.

6 Jul 2026 - 11:02PMvideocam

Central Asia

Opinion | In today’s ‘great game’, Central Asian nations are no longer prizes to be won

Instead of being caught between great powers, the five Central Asian nations are using hegemonic rivalries to advance their own interests.

2 Jul 2026 - 6:38AM

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Turkey

.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

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

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.

Trump still ‘disappointed’ with Nato, says US should control Greenland at summit

US president says he has ‘very good relationship’ with ‘loyal’ Turkey and is weighing up selling F-35 fighter jets to them.

Nato launches defence projects to counter Russia and China

New measures focus on critical minerals, drone capabilities and missile shields as members boost the alliance’s industrial base.

China submarine fires long-range missile ahead of Nato summit

An unprecedented missile launch by a PLA nuclear submarine will prompt Nato leaders to focus more on the Asia-Pacific region.

Norway urges China to help bring Russia to Ukraine peace talks

‘China is probably the country with the ‌best and most direct access to the Russian leadership,’ said Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Stoere.

France’s Macron becomes first Western head of state to visit post-Assad Syria

French president pledges support for a sovereign, peaceful Syria as new authorities seek international legitimacy and reconstruction funds.

Russia unleashes 400 missiles and drones against Kyiv on eve of Nato summit

New hypersonic and ballistic barrage comes a few days ⁠after the deadliest strike on Kyiv this year.

Trump to meet leaders of Ukraine and Syria at Turkey Nato summit

US president seeks to make headway in addressing two key conflicts as Ankara hosts two-day Nato gathering.

Why the Indo-Pacific might be on the back burner at the Nato summit

Immediate pressures over Ukraine, Iran and spending mean alliance’s concerns about China could be sidelined at Ankara gathering.

First money, now ‘loyalty’: Trump’s demands test Nato chief’s flattery tactics

Mark Rutte has long fawned over Trump to keep the US inside the alliance, but that strategy faces new challenges at a summit in Turkey.

‘No one lifts a finger’: Gaza’s fate eclipsed by Middle East war

Gaza remains mired in a severe humanitarian crisis and efforts to permanently end the war between Israel and Hamas have stalled.

China’s economic clout boosts ‘passport power’, index finds

Chinese travellers are gaining easier access to destinations worldwide, even as they still require visas for more countries than they can enter freely.

Which Trump will show up at Nato summit? Odds are it will be the fuming one

US president’s impatience and distrust of multilateral groupings has Nato’s 31 other members walking on eggshells before next week’s key meeting.

Opinion | In today’s ‘great game’, Central Asian nations are no longer prizes to be won

Instead of being caught between great powers, the five Central Asian nations are using hegemonic rivalries to advance their own interests.

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