Türkiye merits ‘Made in EU’ inclusion over Customs Union: Bolat

Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Türkiye should be included in the European Union’s “Made in EU” approach due to the country’s deep production integration with the bloc under the 1995 Customs Union, as he prepares to meet Italian officials in Rome to discuss upgrading bilateral trade ties.

Israel continues Lebanon attacks as Aoun warns framework blocked

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israeli attacks and ongoing occupation of southern territory are preventing full implementation of the ceasefire framework formula agreed with Israel in June, as the army reported continued airstrikes and shelling across multiple districts Thursday.

Pentagon weighs withdrawal of 25,000 troops from Europe

The Pentagon is considering plans to withdraw at least 25,000 US troops from Europe, a move that could reduce the American military presence by nearly one-third, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expected to receive an initial analysis on Friday, according to a report.

Slovak premier warns Europe on brink of wider military conflict

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned Thursday that Europe faces unprecedented risk of a broader military conflict fueled by the war in Ukraine, stressing that Slovakia remains committed to NATO while vowing to prevent the country from being drawn into armed hostilities ahead of a visit to Kyiv.

Israeli minister vows to expand Judaization of Negev, Galilee

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday that he will apply the West Bank settlement model to the Negev and Galilee regions, vowing to Judaize these areas at triple the scale of its actions in occupied Palestinian territory, according to his statements on social media.

Western Thrace Turks take religious rights case to UN

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe has submitted a written statement to the UN Human Rights Council alleging that Greece is violating the religious autonomy of the Turkish minority by appointing state muftis, citing breaches of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1913 Treaty of Athens.

Aliyev says ties with Türkiye bolster regional stability

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told security officials from Organization of Turkic States member states that relations with Türkiye occupy a special place in ensuring stability, noting that joint activities between the two countries further strengthen security amid current geopolitical challenges.

Syria abolishes Assad-era 'Terrorism Court' in major rights move

Syria's People's Assembly unanimously approved legislation Thursday to abolish the Assad-era "Terrorism Court," with authorities pledging to reverse rulings in more than 90,000 cases and restore confiscated property to citizens caught up in the controversial judicial system.

US sanctions Cuban nickel sector, military enterprises

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions targeting 11 Cuban entities and individuals linked to the island's nickel mining sector and military development programs, accusing Havana of threatening US national security while regime elites hoard resources and ordinary citizens face blackouts and food shortages.

Greece, Israel hold 'highly symbolic' naval drill in Eastern Med

Greek and Israeli naval forces conducted a joint exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean described as "highly symbolic" by the Greek press, deploying two frigates and two missile boats in complex operational scenarios aimed at boosting interoperability and maritime threat response capabilities.

UN approves Abbas video address after US visa refusal

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on Thursday permitting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to deliver a pre-recorded address to next week's high-level debate, after Washington refused visas to the Palestinian delegation for a second consecutive year in a move condemned by Ramallah.

Italian premier warns Putin seeking escalation via 'provocations'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of seeking an escalation with Europe as Moscow's 'provocations' multiply, warning European countries against reacting in ways that could benefit the Kremlin while proposing a single envoy to coordinate the continent's position on Ukraine.

US approves $24.3B F-35 fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia

The US State Department announced on Thursday that it has approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, saying the transaction would advance Washington's foreign policy and security objectives without disrupting the regional military balance or requiring additional American personnel.

Trump says US, Poland making progress on new Army base

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Washington and Warsaw are making significant progress toward establishing a permanent US Army base in Poland, crediting Polish President Karol Nawrocki with driving the initiative and suggesting the location could be announced soon.

Iraqi PM to meet Trump at UN General Assembly next week

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi will travel to the United States next week to attend the UN General Assembly and hold bilateral talks with President Donald Trump, according to government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi, who said the visit marks a pivotal shift toward long-term economic cooperation.

UKMTO reports tanker interception attempt off Yemen

UK Maritime Trade Operations said a tanker reported pursuit off Yemen on Thursday, classifying the incident as suspicious activity and urging vessels to transit with caution in the area.

Türkiye's intel chief visits Pakistan for security talks

Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin held talks with Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday, discussing regional security challenges including the US-Israel war with Iran and bilateral cooperation efforts.

Türkiye warns on Houthi Red Sea threat, hails anti-settlement steps

The Turkish National Defense Ministry on Thursday condemned Houthi drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and disruptive actions in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, warning that such threats endanger international maritime trade, while simultaneously welcoming coordinated steps by 12 countries to restrict commercial ties with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Turkish Airlines, Air China expand codeshare to Africa, Asia

Turkish Airlines and Air China announced Thursday an expansion of their codeshare partnership to cover all direct flights between Türkiye and China, opening access to destinations across Africa and Latin America for Air China passengers and six additional mainland Chinese cities for Turkish Airlines travelers via their respective hubs.

Iran FM: China talks to shape 'future strategic balance'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that decisions reached during his official visit to Beijing would determine the region's future strategic equilibrium, as Tehran seeks to strengthen ties with China amid ongoing tensions with Washington over the Strait of Hormuz.

Bab al-Mandeb traffic grinds to halt as Yemen conflict escalates

Escalating clashes off Yemen's western coast have brought shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to a standstill, threatening a critical chokepoint that handles 10% of global maritime trade as Houthi fighters seize key coastal positions and force vessels to reroute around Africa.

Jordan and France sign defense cooperation agreement in Paris

King Abdullah II of Jordan and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a defense cooperation agreement in Paris on Thursday, while also convening with Lebanon's president to advance the Aqaba Process initiative aimed at supporting Beirut's military and regional counterterrorism efforts.

Israel poll shows Eisenkot leading Netanyahu by 9 points

Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot leads Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by nine percentage points in voter preference for prime minister, though Netanyahu's governing bloc narrowly edges the opposition in projected Knesset seats ahead of October elections, according to a Channel 13 survey released Tuesday.

UN mission finds 'reasonable grounds' for US war crimes in Iran

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran reported reasonable grounds to believe the US committed war crimes during February airstrikes that killed at least 178 civilians, while also documenting Tehran's violent repression of recent protests.

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