Erdogan announces plan to train 550 doctoral students in strategic tech

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Thursday that Türkiye will select 550 doctoral students through a centralized examination for training at 20 research universities in strategic fields including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and chip technologies, aiming to bring 3,000 young researchers into the national science ecosystem within five years.

Syrian FM calls Türkiye 'key partner' in reconstruction

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani described Türkiye as a “key partner” in Syria’s reconstruction during his official visit to Pakistan, stating that Damascus had not yet decided whether to join the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement while urging Tehran to acknowledge its actions against the Syrian people.

D-8 Secretary-General deepens Türkiye ties during Ankara visit

D-8 Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood held a two-day working visit to Ankara, meeting senior Turkish officials, academics and lawmakers to strengthen institutional cooperation. He praised Türkiye's founding role as host of the D-8 Secretariat and its support under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, discussing expanded ties in research, innovation, entrepreneurship and parliamentary engagement across the eight-member developing bloc.

China urges talks over US Treasury 'toughest sanctions' on Iran

China on Friday urged Washington to resolve its dispute with Iran through negotiations and dialogue, opposing the US Treasury secretary's announcement of what he called the "toughest sanctions in history" against Tehran while warning that military actions and pressuring tactics only escalate tensions in the current situation.

Turkish firm unveils unmanned amphibious assault vehicle at TEKNOFEST

Turkish defense manufacturer FNSS has unveiled its I-ZAHA unmanned amphibious assault vehicle at TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland. The modular platform, built on the manned ZAHA system, can operate autonomously or via swarm tactics, minimizing personnel casualties in high-risk missions while offering significant export potential.

Türkiye’s indigenous ‘National Submarine’ project to be enhanced by AI

Türkiye's first domestically developed submarine, MILDEN, will be equipped with advanced artificial intelligence through Havelsan's Advent Muren combat management system. The AI-powered platform will integrate national weapons and sensors, while Havelsan aims to become the chief combat system integrator for the landmark MILGEM project.

UN rapporteur says Israeli occupation itself 'must end'

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese said on Friday that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories itself "must end," not merely the controversial E1 settlement plan, citing the International Court of Justice's 2024 advisory opinion and urging states to sever trade ties with Tel Aviv.

Hundreds of Ukrainian troops desert training in Germany: report

Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers have deserted from military training programs across Germany since the war began in February 2022, German media reported Friday, noting that the men face up to 12 years imprisonment back home while Kyiv increasingly relies on forced conscription to maintain frontline numbers.

Stranded Hormuz ships risk global biological invasions, study warns

Over 1,500 vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz amid US-Iran tensions could become "super-spreaders" of invasive marine species, according to a new study. Prolonged stationary periods during peak reproductive seasons have allowed extensive biofouling to develop, threatening ecosystems and economies worldwide when ships resume voyages.

Iran's Pezeshkian: End war while Tehran holds 'power, dignity'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended the recent agreement with Washington as a "major achievement" approved by the Supreme National Security Council, insisting that Tehran had surrendered nothing while arguing that ending the conflict now would preserve the nation's position of strength and dignity.

Israeli strike on Syria sparks domestic fury against Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting criticism at home following an August 18 airstrike on Syria's Abu Zuhur airbase near Türkiye's border. Opposition leaders Yair Golan and Ehud Barak condemned the operation as reckless, while former defence minister Moshe Yaalon called for Netanyahu's removal, warning the premier is driving Israel toward ruin.

US public debt surges past $40T amid quarter-century of crises, wars

America's total public debt has surpassed $40 trillion, accelerating from $30 trillion in just four-and-a-half years. Decades of war spending, financial bailouts, pandemic stimulus, and tax cuts have driven the historic surge, with interest payments alone now reaching $1 trillion annually amid mounting fiscal pressures.

Qalibaf urges Tehran, Baghdad to use national currencies to 'deal blow' to US dollar

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has called on Iran and Iraq to conduct bilateral trade using their national currencies instead of the US dollar. Speaking in Baghdad, he argued that Washington's global dominance has ended and urged both nations to abandon outdated trade methods.

Meta deliberately hooks children to platforms, ex-director says

A former Meta engineering director testified in a US lawsuit that the company intentionally designs its platforms to foster addiction among minors. Arturo Bejar claimed safety features are deliberately ineffective and that Meta prioritises profits over child welfare, allegations the tech giant has firmly rejected.

German authorities uncover arms cache near Berlin 'linked to Russian spies': Reports

German security services have discovered a professionally concealed weapons stockpile in a forest outside Berlin, believed to have been established by Russian intelligence operatives. The cache, found last autumn, may have been intended for attacks ordered by Moscow. A suspect was arrested in Romania.

Seoul urges Pyongyang to halt 'derogatory remarks' after drills cut short

South Korea's Presidential Office on Friday called on North Korea to halt its “derogatory remarks” against Seoul and the president, warning that such rhetoric undermines efforts to build mutual trust after US President Donald Trump ordered joint military exercises between Washington and its East Asian ally cut short.

Israeli warplanes carry out overnight strikes in southern Lebanon

Israeli warplanes conducted a series of overnight airstrikes and artillery bombardments across southern Lebanon, targeting multiple areas including Mansouri, Nabatieh, and Hadatha. The attacks come amid heightened tensions following the collapse of a November 2024 ceasefire and renewed hostilities that began in March.

Türkiye aims to boost naval capabilities: Defense minister

National Defense Minister Yasar Guler said Türkiye aims to enhance its armed forces capabilities including the navy, speaking at the opening of TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland in northwestern Türkiye where 1.6 million young people applied to compete this year.

Experts assess Türkiye-Somalia ties on 15th anniversary of Erdogan visit

Researchers in Mogadishu examined the evolution of bilateral relations from humanitarian aid to strategic cooperation during a panel marking 15 years since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's landmark 2011 visit, as Ankara and Mogadishu celebrate six decades of diplomatic ties.

Yemeni forces target Houthi equipment, commander in west

The Yemeni Armed Forces' 5th Military Region said Friday it targeted heavy equipment used by the Houthis to construct fortifications and struck a command position in western Yemen, as government forces and the Iran-backed group exchange fire along several front lines amid fears of renewed full-scale conflict.

US has entered 'new phase' of economic pressure on Iran: Vance

US Vice President JD Vance has declared that Washington is moving into a new phase of applying economic pressure on Iran, calling it the most effective tool to achieve American objectives. The remarks came as the Treasury Department imposed fresh sanctions and the administration vowed unprecedented economic isolation.

Fidan holds talks with Egyptian, Saudi ministers on Gaza, Hormuz

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate telephone conversations Thursday with his Egyptian and Saudi counterparts to discuss obstacles facing the Gaza peace plan and rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, vowing that the three nations would continue strengthening coordination for regional peace and prosperity.

Trump orders push to expand US space launches to more than 1,000 a year by 2030

President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum directing federal agencies to partner with private firms to dramatically expand America's space launch capacity. The initiative aims to exceed 1,000 launches and reentries from US soil annually by 2030 while bolstering national security and commercial space exploration.

Pakistan, Syria discuss expanding defense and security cooperation

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani meets with Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir at military headquarters in Rawalpindi

All Headlines