Turkey

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is undergoing its most extensive restoration in years to protect the nearly 1,500-year-old UNESCO-listed landmark from earthquake damage, The Guardian reported. Architect Hasan Fırat Diker leads the project, focusing on strengthening the grand central dome…

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced its dissolution and the end of its armed struggle after four decades of conflict with Turkey, Arab News reported. Founded by Abdullah Ocalan in the late 1970s, the PKK’s insurgency since 1984 caused over…

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Turkey’s ambitious target to reach 120,000 megawatts (MW) of combined solar and wind power capacity by 2035, backed by $80 billion in investments, as part of its 2053 net-zero emissions pledge, Anadolu Agency reported. Speaking…

TEKNOFEST, Türkiye’s flagship technology and aviation festival, attracted 225,000 attendees during its four-day event in Lefkosa, the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Held at the old Ercan Airport under TRNC presidential patronage, the festival featured air…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Monday that 200,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland from Türkiye since December 9 last year, Anadolu Agency reported. Speaking at an event in Istanbul, Erdogan stated that the number of returnees has begun…

A strong earthquake measuring 6.2 struck the Marmara Sea near Istanbul’s Silvri area at 12:49 local time (09:49 GMT) on Wednesday, according to Turkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD). The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km and was…

Hilmi Şehitoğlu, an 84-year-old from Erzurum, Türkiye, fulfilled his lifelong dream by handwriting the entire Quran in calligraphy after six years of dedicated work. Şehitoğlu began learning Arabic at age 71, motivated by a desire to leave a meaningful legacy…

Trials have begun in Istanbul for 189 individuals, including students, journalists, and lawyers, accused of participating in protests against the Turkish government following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19, UPI.com reported. The Istanbul prosecutor’s office plans…

Turkey has launched a new phase of restoration for the nearly 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, focusing on enhancing its seismic safety, SFGate reported. The project will reinforce the main dome and half domes, replace worn lead coverings, and upgrade…

The Bey Mosque in Türkiye’s Kemah district has been reconstructed after being forgotten for over 800 years, Türkiye Today reported. Located atop Kemah Castle, the mosque, believed to date back to the Mengucekid era, was rediscovered during excavations in 2010.…