Author: hurriyetdailynews.com

Türkiye Reaffirms EU Bid as Strategic Goal President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to joining the European Union, declaring it a “strategic goal” for the country. During a press conference with Estonian counterpart Alar Karis in Ankara on June 27, Erdoğan emphasized the importance of EU-Türkiye relations. Despite the stalled accession process since 2016, Erdoğan brought attention back to Türkiye’s EU bid by linking it to Sweden’s NATO bid. The formal negotiations, which began in 2005, have been suspended due to Türkiye’s inability to meet membership criteria. Erdoğan and Karis discussed enhancing bilateral relations by increasing trade volume,…

Scandal in Ankara: Brigadier General Arrested for Alleged Human Trafficking A recent scandal has rocked Ankara as a brigadier general, Bilal Çokay, was arrested after being accused of involvement in human trafficking activities across the Syrian border. The arrest came after an investigation by the chief public prosecutor’s office in Şanlıurfa’s Akçakale district. Upon questioning, Çokay was formally arrested by the court in Ankara, with reports stating that he used his office vehicle for trafficking activities. The Defense Ministry has launched an internal investigation into the matter, emphasizing that all members of the Turkish Armed Forces are subject to discipline…

The Urgent Call for a No-Fly Zone in Western Ukraine Ukraine, facing relentless attacks from Russia, is urging its European allies to establish a no-fly zone in the western part of the country. Lack of adequate anti-aircraft systems has left Ukraine vulnerable to widespread destruction. Officials are advocating for air defense systems to be deployed in neighboring Poland and Romania to create a safe space for civilians and vital infrastructure. Lawmakers are pushing for NATO to deploy Patriot systems along the Polish border to protect against Russian missiles. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has emphasized the need for partners to…

Exclusive Talks Between Taliban and UN Envoys Draw Outrage for Excluding Afghan Women Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities are set to engage with international envoys on June 30 in Qatar, in talks organized by the United Nations to promote dialogue. However, the decision to exclude Afghan women from these discussions has sparked criticism from rights groups. Despite lacking recognition from any state, the Taliban government’s interaction with the international community has raised concerns. The upcoming talks in Doha will cover economic matters and counter-narcotics, with representatives from the U.N., the U.S., and the Taliban. Amnesty International’s Agnes Callamard warns against legitimizing the…

Russia Warns of Risks with US Drone Flights Over Black Sea Russia issued a warning to the United States regarding drone flights over the Black Sea, citing the potential for direct confrontation with NATO. Tensions escalated after Russia accused Ukraine of a deadly missile strike on Crimea, leading to increased surveillance flights over the region. The Russian defense ministry highlighted the frequency of U.S. drone flights over the Black Sea, claiming these drones were gathering information for Ukrainian weapons planning to target Russian interests. This raised concerns of direct conflict between Russia and NATO, prompting the army to prepare for…

Challenging the Dutch Government: Rights Groups Sue Over F-35 Fighter Jet Parts Deliveries to Israel A trio of rights groups took the Dutch government back to court on June 28, questioning the compliance with a ban on supplying F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel. Following a previous ruling in February to halt deliveries to Israel due to potential violations of international humanitarian law during the offensive in Gaza, the groups argue that the ban has not been effective in practice. Despite the court order, parts are believed to still reach Israeli planes through alternative channels from the Netherlands. The government’s…

FATF Removes Türkiye from ‘Gray List’ The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has officially removed Türkiye from its “gray list” after the country made significant progress in improving its anti-money laundering and terror financing measures. The decision is expected to boost foreign investments and enhance the confidence of international investors in Türkiye’s financial system. Türkiye was downgraded to the “gray list” in 2021, but after a series of meetings with Turkish authorities and a thorough assessment of the country’s actions, the FATF declared Türkiye no longer subject to increased monitoring. The removal from the list is predicted to attract a…

Welcome to a New Era in Argentina Argentina’s parliament made history on June 28 by approving President Javier Milei’s groundbreaking economic reform package. After months of intense debate, Milei celebrated his first legislative triumph, setting the stage for a transformative period in the country’s economic landscape. The reform package, hailed as the “greatest fiscal adjustment in history,” aims to tackle chronic inflation and achieve a balanced budget by 2024. However, the drastic austerity measures have sparked concerns about the impact on purchasing power and the future of small and medium-sized enterprises. Despite the political success of Milei’s government, the economic…

Israel Threatens to Send Lebanon ‘Back to Stone Age’ Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has issued a warning, stating that Israel’s military is capable of taking Lebanon “back to the Stone Age” in a potential war with Hezbollah. Despite this threat, Gallant emphasized that his government is pursuing a diplomatic resolution. Concerns of escalating tensions have risen in recent weeks as cross-border attacks have intensified, with Israel even revealing plans for a potential offensive in Lebanon. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah responded with threats of his own, further heightening the situation. U.S. allies, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, have stressed the…

Ultraconservative Candidates Exit Iran Presidential Race Two ultraconservative candidates have withdrawn from Iran’s presidential election, leaving four contenders including one reformist in the race. Tehran’s ultraconservative mayor, Alireza Zakani, announced his withdrawal on social media, urging unity among remaining conservative candidates. The withdrawal of Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, another ultraconservative, was confirmed by the Interior Ministry. Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, a former vice-president, did not endorse any candidate upon withdrawal. The remaining candidates include veteran politician Mostafa Pourmohammadi, cleric Saeed Jalili, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the reformist Massoud Pezeshkian, supported by former president Hassan Rouhani. This unexpected development highlights the competition within the…