Turkey

The Middle East Institute has published an analysis examining Turkey's nuclear ambitions in the aftermath of the war involving Iran. The piece explores how the changed regional security landscape may shape Ankara's strategic calculations regarding nuclear capability, and what that could mean for the Middle East's balance of power going forward.

A police helicopter has supported the 'Huzur' public order operation in Istanbul, a routine security drive in which Turkish police carry out large-scale ID and vehicle checks across the city. The deployment of air support underlines the scale of the operation, and local news coverage of the checks is drawing attention among readers in Turkey.

New research at Göbeklitepe in Turkey, the 12,000-year-old Neolithic sanctuary, suggests deliberate burial practices explain the hundreds of scattered human bones previously found at the site. Archaeologists say the remains were not randomly dispersed but part of ritual funerary customs, reshaping understanding of how some of the world's earliest known communities treated their dead.

Fenerbahce and Bayern Munich meet in a EuroLeague basketball game, with live coverage available on TV and via streaming services. The matchup is drawing attention ahead of tip-off, with betting providers and sports media highlighting how fans in Germany and Turkey can follow the game live. It is one of the standout European basketball fixtures of the day.

A widely shared ranking claims to list the countries with the richest history, placing Egypt first, followed by Greece and Italy. France, the United Kingdom, China, Spain and Turkey round out the top eight, with India, Japan, Russia, Germany, Mexico, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Austria and Morocco completing the list of seventeen. Reactions have focused on the subjective nature of the ranking and the placement of countries like China and India outside the top spots.

Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković is set to undergo unexpected medical examinations, according to Mundo Deportivo. The tests are reportedly linked to a potential transfer move, with clubs keen to assess his physical condition before committing. Livaković, who has been a key figure for Croatia and Dynamo Zagreb before moving to Turkey, remains a sought-after name in the European goalkeeper market.

Nicolo Zaniolo has left the Italian national team's training camp in Rome as the Azzurri continue preparations for their upcoming match against Turkey. The FIGC announced the departure without giving detailed reasons, prompting questions about whether it is injury-related or a personal or disciplinary matter. Fans and media are now watching for further updates from the Italy camp ahead of kickoff.

Attention is turning to the Crimean Tatars, the indigenous Muslim people of Crimea, and their position caught between Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. The discussion focuses on their history of deportation and displacement, their political ties to Kyiv, and cultural and religious links to Turkey, following Russia's annexation of Crimea and the ongoing war. Commentators frame them as a key factor in the peninsula's future.

Turkey is positioning itself to expand its influence across the Middle East as the United States signals a reduction in its military and diplomatic footprint. Amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran and regional upheavals following 2023, Ankara is moving to fill the vacuum, prompting debate over whether Turkey can become the region's dominant power broker.

Italian tennis players Lucia Bronzetti and Luca/cocktail — correction: Bronzetti and Matilde Stefanini are both entered in the WTA tournament in Adana, Turkey, in 2026. Italian sports coverage is reporting the draw and their opening matches, drawing attention from Italian tennis fans following the two players' progress on tour.

As the United States signals plans to reduce its military and political footprint in the Middle East, Turkey is positioning itself to take on a larger regional role. Turkish officials view the American drawdown as an opening to expand their influence across the region, raising questions among allies and analysts about how the regional balance of power could shift.