Turkish president marks 573rd anniversary of Istanbul conquest, praises Fatih Sultan Mehmet

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday commemorated the 573rd anniversary of the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul, describing the 1453 victory as a transformation that brought light and security to the historic metropolis while honoring Sultan Mehmed II as the commander who achieved the feat at age 21.

Türkiye sees strong drone cooperation potential with Japan: Turkish foreign minister

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Nikkei Asia that Ankara is eager to deepen defense-industrial relations with Tokyo, highlighting that Türkiye's field-tested unmanned aerial systems and complementary capabilities could form the basis for mutually beneficial collaboration in advanced aviation technologies.

CHP rival camps trade accusations as leadership feud deepens

Former CHP chair Kemal Kilicdaroglu and incumbent Ozgur Ozel held competing gatherings in Ankara on Saturday, trading sharp accusations over a court ruling that restored Kilicdaroglu's legal party chairmanship pending a new congress.

US naval blockade of Iranian ports continues despite Trump pledge

Iranian seafarers reported on Saturday that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains fully in effect despite President Donald Trump's announcement that the restrictions would be lifted, with vessels continuing to receive stop warnings from US Central Command, according to Tasnim news agency.

Israeli settlers attack Palestinian homes, farmland in occupied West Bank

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian homes in the northern town of Beita and damaged farmland in the southern Masafer Yatta area on Saturday, Palestinian media reported, amid a documented surge in violence that saw 540 attacks against civilians across the occupied West Bank in April alone.

Ukraine strikes Russian military, energy targets; Moscow retaliates

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his forces conducted long-range strikes on Russian oil and military infrastructure deep inside the country, while Moscow's Defense Ministry reported launching retaliatory attacks on Ukrainian facilities and intercepting hundreds of drones overnight.

Pakistan says no Israel shift without Palestinian state

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan will not normalize relations with Israel unless there is concrete progress toward an independent Palestinian state, reaffirming Islamabad's long-standing position following talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.

Israeli attacks kill 2 Palestinians, injure 9 in Gaza ceasefire violations

Medical sources said two Palestinians were killed and nine others wounded in separate Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip since early Friday, raising the death toll from ongoing ceasefire violations to 922 since the agreement took effect on October 10, according to the enclave's Health Ministry.

US Secretary Rubio thanks Pakistan for mediation with Iran

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday for Islamabad's efforts to mediate an end to the war with Iran, as Washington considers a proposal to secure a lasting peace and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran downs 'hostile' drone near strategic Qeshm island

Iranian air defense units shot down a hostile drone near Qeshm Island overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported on Friday, as Yemen's Houthi forces separately claimed to have destroyed an American unmanned aircraft over Marib province amid the ongoing two-month war.

UAE carried out dozens of strikes against Iran during war: Report

The United Arab Emirates secretly conducted dozens of airstrikes against Iranian targets during the opening phase of its war with the United States and Israel, with some operations continuing until after a ceasefire took effect in April, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Iran authority rejects US sanctions bid to control Hormuz

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority said Friday that US Treasury sanctions targeting the body would fail to secure American control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, condemning the measures as ineffective attempts to achieve through economic pressure what Washington could not accomplish through military or diplomatic means.

Israel rejects Lebanese demand to withdraw from south Lebanon

Israeli officials rejected Lebanese demands to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon during US-mediated military talks, insisting on maintaining positions while pushing for a direct communication mechanism and cooperation on Hezbollah disarmament.

Pentagon hosts Israeli, Lebanese military talks on regional security

The Pentagon on Friday hosted military delegations from Israel and Lebanon to launch a security track supporting ongoing peace negotiations between the two nations, with military-to-military outcomes expected to directly inform a parallel State Department-led political track reconvening next week.

Israeli officials say Netanyahu endangering troops with Litani remarks

Israeli security officials told public broadcaster KAN on Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks about military operations north of the Litani River serve no operational purpose and could compromise troop safety, adding that the comments appear designed to advance his election campaign.

Iran rejects Trump claims on draft deal as 'mixture of truth and falsehood'

Tehran's Fars News Agency said Friday that Trump's remarks mix "truth and falsehood" in an attempt to portray a manufactured victory, noting that no provision obliges Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without fees and that Tehran demands the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets.

Brazilian President rejects US 'terrorist' label for gangs

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized Washington's unilateral designation of two criminal groups as terrorist organizations, warning that Brasilia will not tolerate external interference in domestic security affairs following a visit by his political rival to the White House.

UN official says Israel provided no evidence on sexual violence prevention

Pramila Patten, who authored the report that placed Israel on the UN's war zone sexual violence blacklist, says she received no substantive response to repeated requests for information on preventive measures taken by the government.

UN says all of Gaza must be for Palestinians after Netanyahu occupation order

The United Nations on Friday rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's order to expand military occupation to 70% of the Gaza Strip, insisting that the entire Palestinian territory must remain for Palestinians and calling on Tel Aviv to withdraw from the so-called yellow line immediately.

Turkish and Algerian presidents discuss bilateral ties, regional developments

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune discussed bilateral cooperation and regional developments during a telephone conversation on Thursday, with the Turkish leader emphasizing Ankara's commitment to deepening ties across all sectors including trade and defense.

Türkiye honors victims of 1993 Solingen racist attack

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday commemorated the five members of the Genc family killed in a 1993 far-right arson attack in Solingen, Germany, while praising the late Mevlude Genc's legacy of reconciliation and reaffirming Ankara's commitment to combating racism and Islamophobia.

Netanyahu: Israel could replace Hormuz as energy transit route

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that escalating tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz present an opportunity for Israel to serve as an alternative energy transport route to the Mediterranean, though he declined to identify potential partner countries or provide specific details about the proposed infrastructure.

Qatari emir tells Trump diplomatic solutions key to Middle East stability

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told US President Donald Trump that political and diplomatic solutions are essential to ensure regional security and prevent further escalation, as Doha continues facilitating Pakistani mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran following the February outbreak of hostilities.

Lebanese premier slams Israeli attacks on historic cities as 'collective punishment'

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Israeli strikes on the historic cities of Tyre and Nabatieh and threats against residents constitute collective punishment condemned under international law, as the Culture Minister contacted counterparts to protect UNESCO-listed archaeological sites.

Canada can help 'make America great again,' PM tells US business leaders

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told leading American industrialists in New York that a strong and independent Canada would benefit the United States through a "true partnership," as Ottawa prepares to negotiate a new trade treaty with Washington and Mexico City amid ongoing tariff tensions.