https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:27:27 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230808-a-van-cat-for-every-home-saves-the-breed-from-extinction/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 09:05:10 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658647 Purebred cats are often hard to find, especially in countries like Turkiye where the stray cat population is high, and interbreeding is commonplace. But for the people behind 'A Van cat for every home project', this is a serious issue which needs to be addressed to stop the unique Van breed of cats from becoming extinct. Van cats are distinctive in their look, with their white, fluffy coat and startling eyes; often one amber and one blue. These traits are being preserved through a breeding programme run by the Van Cat Research and Application Centre within Van Yuzuncu Yil University. Cats are bred and then rehomed as part of the scheme, with 100 finding families annually. Each is microchipped, vaccinated […]]]> 658647 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230808-is-there-anything-new-on-turkiyes-path-towards-europe/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 08:16:40 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658629 As usual, Turkish President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan has made another political U-turn with his country's foreign policy. After stressing repeatedly just a few days before the NATO summit in Lithuania last month that Sweden has still not done all that is required of it to Turkiye's satisfaction as agreed (along with Finland) in June last year, and criticising the Swedes for allowing protesters to burn copies of the Holy Quran, Erdogan has agreed to proceed with the country joining NATO. Following a meeting between Erdogan, the Swedish Prime Minister and NATO's secretary-general, the organisation's closing statement included Turkiye's agreement to refer Sweden's NATO accession to the parliament in Ankara. In return, Sweden made certain commitments, including cooperation with Turkiye to […]]]> 658629 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230807-market-prices-in-somalia-rise-after-black-sea-grain-deal-terminated/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:22:02 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658366 Market prices in Somalia increased after Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain deal, reports Anadolu Agency. In Africa, 25 countries currently rely on Russia and Ukraine for over one-third of their imported wheat. In some countries, the dependency on external sources for grain has surpassed 90%. During the Russia-Africa Summit on July 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country will provide free grain to six African countries in the next three to four months. "We will be ready in the coming months, in the next three to four months, to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea with 25,000-50,000 tons of grain free of charge. We will also provide free […]]]> 658366 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230807-erdogan-palestinian-leaders-meeting-with-hamas-political-chief-in-turkiye-has-different-dimension/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 17:35:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658350 Palestinian president's meeting with Hamas political chief in Turkiye has a "different dimension," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, reiterating support for the Palestinian cause and the struggle of the Palestinian people, reports Anadolu Agency. "We hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara. On this occasion, we once again renewed our strong support for the Palestinian cause and the struggle of the Palestinian people," Erdogan said after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara. On July 27, Erdogan held a closed-door meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas group's political chief. "The meeting of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political bureau head Ismail Haniyeh, hosted by our country, added a different dimension to […]]]> 658350 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230807-saudi-signs-deal-to-localise-production-of-turkiye-drones/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 12:47:54 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658308 Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement with key Turkish defence firm Baykar Tech to help the kingdom localise the manufacturing of drones, in the latest deal signifying the improved relations between Riyadh and Ankara. In a post on the platform X, formerly Twitter, the state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) yesterday announced "the signing of a strategic localisation agreement with Baykar Tech, to localise the manufacturing of the 'Bayraktar Akıncı' UAVs and their systems within the Kingdom." It added that the agreement, which was signed under the patronage of Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, "will enhance SAMI's role in supporting the national defence industry and strengthening our local capabilities." برعاية سمو #وزير_الدفاع؛ يسرنا أن نعلن عن […]]]> 658308 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230807-quran-burnings-proof-of-broader-bias-against-migrants-in-europe-ex-un-rapporteur/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 11:22:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658295 A recent wave of Quran burnings in Sweden and Denmark is "an assertion of a broader anti-immigrant, anti-non-European right-wing bias that has grown to be quite politically strong," a former UN special rapporteur has said. "There's no legitimate purpose by allowing groups to burn the holy scriptures of another religious faith," Richard Falk, a professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University, said. "It seems to me to serve … no possible constructive purpose. And I think there is a strong case for [such acts to be] prohibited." In recent months, far-right groups have desecrated and burnt several copies of the Quran in Denmark and neighbouring Sweden, drawing fierce condemnation from Muslims around the world and calls for measures to stop […]]]> 658295 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230807-turkiye-ruling-ak-party-urges-sweden-to-adopt-balanced-policy-against-hate-crimes/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 10:56:35 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658291 The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in Turkiye called yesterday on Sweden to adopt an "effective and balanced" policy against all hate crimes, Anadolu has reported. Party spokesman [ made his comment after the "provocative parade" organised by PKK supporters that targeted Turkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Stockholm on Saturday. Celik condemned the provocative PKK supporters as well as the Swedish authorities which "tolerate such acts". He called on the authorities in Sweden to fulfil their obligations in the fight against terrorism. The PKK is designated as a terrorist group by Turkiye and other countries, including the US, Canada and Australia, as well as the EU. "There should be no place for terrorist acts and activities that […]]]> 658291 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-turkish-foreign-minister-ukrainian-counterpart-discuss-black-sea-grain-deal/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 12:32:09 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658168 Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday spoke over the phone and discussed steps that can be taken for the revival of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, according to Turkish diplomatic sources, Anadolu reports. On July 17, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain deal, saying the Russian part of the agreement was not implemented. It sought the loosening of banking restrictions and the ability to ship its fertilizer before returning to the agreement. The agreement, signed in July 2022 in Istanbul by Turkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine, was aimed at resuming grain exports from Ukrainian ports halted due to the Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022. Turkiye has said […]]]> 658168 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-turkish-coast-guard-saves-130-migrants-pushed-back-by-greece/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 10:47:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658160 A total of 130 irregular migrants pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces were rescued on Saturday by the Turkish Coast Guard off the coasts of western Izmir province's Menderes, Karaburun, Foca and Cesme districts, Anadolu reports. Meanwhile, 265 irregular migrants and a migrant smuggler were caught off the coasts of Karaburun and Dikili. Irregular migrants were handed to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management after procedures. READ: Tunisia rescues 15,000 migrants in first half of 2023 And 170 irregular migrants in rubber boats were caught by the Coast Guard off the coast of western Canakkale province's Ayvacik district. Coast Guard Northern Aegean Group Command teams detected four rubber boats with irregular migrants off the coast of Ayvacik. During […]]]> 658160 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-saudi-arabia-sends-18th-aid-plane-for-earthquake-victims-in-turkiye-syria/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 10:43:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658157 Saudi Arabia sent an 18th humanitarian plane to support victims of the Feb. 6 twin earthquakes in southern Kahramanmaras province which affected several cities in Turkiye and Syria, according to media reports, Anadolu reports. The Saudi Arabian official news agency SPA said the plane carrying 32 tons of medical supplies and equipment, departed from the International King Khalid Airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh for Gaziantep Airport. The plane was sent as part of the aid bridge established by Saudi Arabia for earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria. Saudi Arabia sent the last aid plane to Turkiye on June 17. READ: Saudi Arabia urges its citizens to quickly leave Lebanon]]> 658157 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-turkish-fm-us-secretary-of-state-discuss-black-sea-grain-deal-nato-enlargement/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 10:30:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658152 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke over the phone on Saturday and discussed the revival of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the security of the Black Sea and NATO enlargement, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the two also discussed developments in the South Caucasus and the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia during the phone call held at Blinken's request. READ: UK takes lead in Turkiye earthquake aid, donating over £150 million]]> 658152 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-uk-takes-lead-in-turkiye-earthquake-aid-donating-over-150-million/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 08:18:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658142 The United Kingdom has taken the lead in supporting the appeal for victims of the deadly earthquakes in Turkiye six months ago, with donations from the country's population reaching over £150 million. According to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), a UK-based umbrella group for charities, announced this week that donations to aid the victims of the February 6th earthquakes have reached £151.8 million, an amount which includes the £5 million matched by the British government through the Aid Match scheme. The earthquakes and their aftershocks during the first week of February this year killed around 60,000 people across southern Turkiye and north-west Syria, destroying thousands of homes and causing severe infrastructural damage. While donations flooded in and continue to do […]]]> 658142 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230805-turkish-ambassadors-gather-in-ankara-to-discuss-global-issues/ Sat, 05 Aug 2023 13:57:36 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658105 The 14th annual Ambassadors Conference on Saturday started in the capital Ankara with the participation of Turkish ambassadors serving abroad and at home, Anadolu reports. The conference, being held under the theme of "Our Foreign Policy in the Century of Turkiye," will continue through Aug. 9. The conference has been organized annually by the Turkish Foreign Ministry since 2008, where ambassadors discuss regional and global developments. The ambassadors will also have the chance to exchange views on the global trends and recent challenges and opportunities as the conference plays important role for in-house planning of foreign policy and inter-institutional coordination. As part of the conference, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will receive the ambassadors to give them foreign policy evaluations and […]]]> 658105 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230805-denmark-studying-legal-measures-to-prevent-quran-burning-egyptian-foreign-ministry/ Sat, 05 Aug 2023 13:29:54 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658102 Denmark is studying several measures and legislation to prevent the recurrence of Quran burning incidents, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Friday, Anadolu reports. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen affirmed this in a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement. Rasmussen told Shoukry that the recent incidents involving the burning and desecration of the Quran in Denmark were "regrettable and contradicted Denmark's societal values," the statement added. Reiterating Egypt's strong condemnation of Quran burning, Shoukry said that such incidents provoke Muslims worldwide. READ: Iran-born Swedish woman burns Quran in Stockholm He also affirmed that these incidents violate human rights, threaten peaceful coexistence and fuel extremism. On Tuesday, despite wide-ranging condemnation, members […]]]> 658102 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230805-russian-airstrikes-kill-3-civilians-in-northwestern-syria/ Sat, 05 Aug 2023 13:14:56 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658095 Three civilians were killed in attacks by Russian warplanes on a village in northwestern Syria, local sources said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. Two Russian warplanes departed from the Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia, and carried out four airstrikes on the village, according to the Syrian opposition aircraft observatory. Six others were injured in the attacks which hit the village of Ein Shib in Idlib province, said the White Helmets, a civil defense group. The injured people were transferred to nearby hospitals. In September 2018, Turkiye and Russia agreed to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited. The Syrian regime and its allies, however, have consistently broken the terms of the cease-fire, launching frequent attacks […]]]> 658095 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230804-about-3600-nests-of-loggerhead-turtles-found-in-turkiye-mediterranean-province-of-antalya/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:31:18 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658021 About 3,600 nests of loggerhead turtles, also known as Caretta caretta, were found in Turkiye's Mediterranean coastal province of Antalya, Anadolu Agency reports. Some 2,000 of the nests were found in the Belek district and 1,600 others in the Kiziliot district of Antalya, one of Europe's largest Caretta caretta nesting areas. From the eggs that the turtles buried under the sand as of May, offspring began hatching. The offspring of Caretta carettas, which are among the animals at risk of extinction in the world, came out of their eggs and reached the blue waters after a difficult journey. They are threatened by predators such as foxes, dogs, seagulls and crabs on this challenging journey, as well as by the garbage […]]]> 658021 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230804-date-not-yet-set-on-putins-next-visit-to-turkiye-president-erdogan/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:22:21 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658017 On the Russian President's upcoming visit to Turkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that the date has not yet been set, but talks continue and, hopefully, Vladimir Putin will visit in August, Anadolu Agency reports. "The date is not clear, but the Foreign Minister, head of the intelligence organisation, they are all holding talks," Erdogan told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul. "Within the framework of these talks, I think that this visit will take place hopefully in August." Erdogan's remarks followed his Wednesday phone call with Putin, in which they agreed Putin would pay a visit to Turkiye in the coming days. Erdogan also told Putin that Turkiye will continue its "intense" efforts and diplomacy for resumption […]]]> 658017 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230804-has-the-muslim-brotherhood-turned-from-friend-to-foe-as-turkiye-restore-ties-with-egypt/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 10:30:52 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657976 After almost a decade of diplomatic deadlock, Egypt and Turkiye have agreed to restore diplomatic ties and high-level visits have already taken place between two countries. Recently, Egypt's commerce minister was in Turkiye and it was agreed the two sides would raise trade levels to $15 billion by 2030. This rapprochement began in early 2021 but the major breakthrough came during the inaugural ceremony of 2022 Qatar World Cup when both President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel fattah Al-Sisi shook hands in the presence of Qatari ruler Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. The relationship between the two had soured after Turkiye denounced the removal of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in a coup in July 2013. Erdogan […]]]> 657976 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-revival-of-black-sea-grain-deal-crucial-for-food-access-price-stability/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 18:41:29 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657950 The revival of the Black Sea grain deal is significant for global food price stability and continued access to food in poor countries, Anadolu Agency reports. Following Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of withdrawal from the deal on 17 July, the matter resurfaced in a telephone conversation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Putin. Erdogan stressed that the suspension of the deal, which he termed the "bridge of peace," would benefit no one and particularly harm countries with low income levels that rely on the grain. Quoting figures, he said grain prices rose 15 per cent in the past two weeks, compared to a decline of 23 per cent when the deal was in place. Turkiye will continue its […]]]> 657950 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-turkiye-withdraws-as-host-of-cop16-blaming-februarys-earthquakes/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:46:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657942 Turkiye has withdrawn from hosting the United Nations' Cop16 biodiversity summit in 2024, citing three large earthquakes in February that devastated parts of the country, Reuters reports. According to the report, the UN convention on biological diversity announced that Turkiye had withdrawn due to "a force majeure situation", inviting other countries to offer to host the conference. It is hoped the scheduled dates – 21 October to 1 November – will not change. France, the UK, Switzerland and Spain are all possible replacement destinations for the conference, where governments will discuss how they are meeting targets to protect 30 per cent of land and sea, reform $500bn of environmentally damaging subsidies and restore 30 per cent of the planet's degraded terrestrial, inland water, […]]]> 657942 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-turkiye-criticises-reports-disney-will-scrap-ataturk-series/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:39:17 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657938 Turkiye's governing party has criticised a reported decision by Walt Disney Co's Disney+ not to broadcast a documentary series about modern Turkiye's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, on its streaming service, Turkish local media reports. According to the report, Ebubekir Sahin, Chairman of Turkiye's television watchdog, RTUK, announced the probe on Tuesday night in a statement, describing Ataturk as "our most important social value". The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) called on Disney+ in June to cancel the show, saying that it "glorifies a Turkish dictator and genocide killer". Last month, Disney+ Turkiye announced the Ataturk series would be on air "very soon". Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkiye's governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP, called it a "shame" that Disney+ had […]]]> 657938 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-turkiye-appoints-its-first-ever-female-admiral/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 16:12:01 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657932 Turkiye has appointed a woman as an Admiral for the first time in Turkish Naval Forces history, following a Supreme Military Council meeting Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports. Staff Colonel, Gokcen Firat Yas, will become Rear Admiral in the Turkish Naval Forces. The decision came after the closed-door meeting that was chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting serves as a platform to establish Turkiye's military agenda and usually addresses matters such as promotions, dismissals and other staffing decisions. READ: Turkiye provides over 2,000 prefabricated homes to earthquake victims]]> 657932 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-turkiye-a-factor-in-rising-anti-colonial-sentiment-in-west-africa-says-expert/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 16:07:35 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657930 Turkiye's long-standing anti-imperialist stance and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's famous motto "The world is bigger than five," has been a factor in the rising anti-colonialist sentiment in West Africa, an expert said, Anadolu Agency reports. Professor Enver Arpa, Director of the Regional Studies Institute of the Ankara Social Sciences University, spoke to Anadolu about the anti-colonial sentiment in West Africa, especially among the youth. "President Erdogan, in his speeches, criticises the ongoing injustices in Africa and the brutal policies carried out during the colonial period. 'The world is bigger than five' is not a mere slogan, there is more to it than what is visible," said Arpa, who formerly headed Middle East and Africa at state-run charity, Turkish Cooperation and […]]]> 657930 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-from-kofte-to-sarma-iraqi-chef-offers-turkiye-cuisine-to-locals/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:14:36 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657881 A young chef in Iraq's Kirkuk region offers Turkish cuisine to locals at a counter she has set up at a market, Anadolu Agency reports. Sara Sabah told Anadolu she tried Anatolian cuisine during her travels to Turkiye in the summer, and then decided to introduce the food culture to the Arab country. She makes dishes such as meat balls or kofte, Yaprak sarma, which are stuffed vine leaves, Turkish ravioli, or manti, as well as Lokum, also known as Turkish delight. Sabah said Iraqis have taken a great interest in the Turkish cuisine in the last few years due to increase in their travel to Turkiye. She soon plans to open a restaurant in Kirkuk, the city home to […]]]> 657881 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-time-place-of-meeting-of-russia-turkiye-presidents-to-be-set-via-diplomatic-channels-kremlin/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:59:32 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657878 The details of a meeting between the Russian and Turkish presidents, including the time, place and date, will be coordinated via diplomatic channels, a Kremlin spokesman said Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports. "In general, the presidents confirmed their intention to meet soon" during a Wednesday phone call between Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing in Moscow. "But the venue of the meeting and the timing of this meeting will continue to be agreed through diplomatic channels." Peskov also decried remarks by top EU diplomat, Josep Borrell, who accused Russia of trying to create dependence on its grain among developing countries. "This is absolutely not the case. Russia has always been, and remains – with known […]]]> 657878 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-brazil-president-supports-accession-of-saudi-arabia-uae-to-brics/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 11:41:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657845 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has expressed his support for more countries joining the BRICS group. Lula said in the capital, Brasilia, yesterday that he supports countries such as Argentina, Saudi Arabia and the UAE joining the group. BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is due to hold a summit in Johannesburg from 22-24 August. He also described the seven leading industrialised countries as a "club" that should not exist, considering that its form in terms of geopolitical affairs is outdated. The UK, US, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Germany make up the group of Western industrialised countries, known as the G7. Some 22 countries have "formally" asked to join the BRICS group, while […]]]> 657845 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-turkiye-provides-over-2000-prefabricated-homes-to-earthquake-victims/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 07:32:15 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657756 Turkish citizens in the southern province of Hatay received more than 2,000 prefabricated homes from the Turkish Religious Endowment in cooperation with the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DiTib), Anadolu Agency reported yesterday. The prefabricated house installations were carried out under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in coordination with the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). Citizens from four affected areas in the province of Hatay received their prefabricated homes, with the number of houses handed over so far amounting to 2,023. Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 struck southern Turkiye in February and were followed by thousands of violent aftershocks, leaving thousands dead and massive destruction. READ: UNICEF, Netflix to establish youth centre for quake victims in […]]]> 657756 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-danish-ultranationalists-continue-to-desecrate-quran-burning-holy-book-for-3rd-day-in-a-row/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:47:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657555 Members of the ultranationalist group known as Danske Patrioter (Danish Patriots) continued the desecration of Muslims' holy book, the Quran, for the third consecutive day on Wednesday in Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, as they burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy for the second day in a row, Anadolu Agency reports. Under the protection of local police, the members of the group chanted slogans against Islam in front of the embassy and unfurled anti-Islamic banners as well as ones calling for a boycott of Turkish products. Despite worldwide condemnation, members of the Danske Patrioter burned a copy of the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy on Tuesday. The members of the group chanted anti-Islamic […]]]> 657555 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-one-injured-during-shooting-at-swedish-consulate-in-turkiyes-izmir/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:48:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657533 A Turkish woman employee was seriously wounded in an armed attack on Tuesday at Sweden's honorary Consulate in the western province of Izmir, local Turkish media, NTV news reports. According to the report, the local governor's office said the attack was carried out by a "mentally disabled" person with a gun in the Konak district of Izmir at 0945 GMT. The attack took place outside Sweden's honorary Consulate. The wounded woman, who was working as a secretary at the diplomatic mission, was in critical condition, it added. The Swedish Foreign Ministry's press service in Stockholm confirmed the attack and said in an email to AFP that it was "in close contact" with the general Consulate in Istanbul which was, in […]]]> 657533 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-putin-reaffirms-russian-stance-on-grain-deal-in-call-to-erdogan/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 15:23:12 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657529 Russian President, Vladimir Putin, told his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan, on Wednesday that Moscow was ready to return to the Black Sea grain deal as soon as the West met its obligations with regard to Russia's own grain exports, Reuters reports. The deal, brokered by Turkiye and the United Nations in July 2022, allowed for the safe export of grain from Ukraine's Black Sea ports. Last month, Moscow exited the deal, accusing the West of hampering Russia's own grain and fertiliser exports. In a statement on Putin's call with Erdogan, the Kremlin said: "It was noted that, in the conditions of a complete lack of progress in the implementation of the Russian part of the 'grain deal', its further extension […]]]> 657529 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-turkiye-forces-carry-out-controlled-detonation-in-black-sea/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:30:52 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657398 Turkish forces, on Wednesday, carried out the controlled detonation of 28 artillery shells found off the Black Sea coast of Istanbul, Anadolu Agency reports. Turkish Underwater Defence Group Command (SAS) evacuated a 1.2-kilometer area before the planned detonation this morning. Anadolu captured the footage of the destruction of the artillery shells. The Istanbul Governor's Office said on Sunday that 28 unexploded artillery shells were found off the coast in Sile, eight of which were removed for pre-examination by the underwater team. READ: Turkiye forces detect over 2 dozen unexploded artillery shells in Black Sea]]> 657398 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-minister-turkiye-egypt-to-raise-trade-exchange-to-15bn/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:49:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657181 Turkiye and Egypt have agreed to boost bilateral trade from $10 billion to $15 billion over the next five years, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said yesterday. This came after a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Samir Saleh, and the accompanying delegation in Ankara. Speaking to reporters after the closed meeting, Bolat said there is great potential for cooperation between the two countries, noting that Egypt is Turkiye's leading trading partner in Africa. Bolat explained that the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries entered into force in 2007 with bilateral trade volumes of $1.6 billion and reached $10 billion after 15 years. READ: Elevation of Turkiye-Egypt diplomatic ties wins Arab plaudits Bolat said the FTA Joint Committee will meet […]]]> 657181 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-turkiye-rescues-41-migrants-off-izmir-coast/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:18:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657161 The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 41 irregular migrants yesterday off the coast of the province of Izmir, in the west of the country. The Coast Guard Command said in a statement that it received information on irregular migrants on a rubber boat off the coast of the Karaburun area. The command added that it sent its teams to the region to rescue 41 irregular migrants who were forced by Greece to return to Turkish territorial waters. The migrants were referred to the Directorate of Immigration in the province of Izmir, according to the Coast Guard Command. READ: Migration policy body proposes 'Solidarity Bridge' between Turkiye, member states]]> 657161 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-turkiye-cancelled-human-intelligence-deal-with-israel-in-2010-new-book-reveals/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 20:10:06 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657157 Turkiye cancelled human intelligence deals with Israel 13 years ago following the Israeli attack on the Gaza aid flotilla, a new book has revealed. in a year-long study as part of research for his new book named 'The National Intelligence Agency 1826-2023', Turkish historian, Polat Safi, was given access to Turkish official security archives, in which he discovered that Turkiye's National Intelligence Agency (MIT) and Israel's Mossad had signed a crucial human intelligence cooperation agreement on 2 May 1997. That agreement essentially allowed both agencies to deploy and handle their informants and personnel within each other's countries, on the condition that the other side was informed in advance. It reportedly came amid an intense drive by the Turkish government to […]]]> 657157 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-sweden-to-boost-border-controls-after-quran-burnings/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 18:29:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657148 Threats to Sweden have increased after recent Quran burnings, the country's government said on Tuesday, adding it had strengthened border controls to give police wider authority to stop and search people, as a result, Reuters reports. A new law, effective from the start of August, gives police extended powers to perform checks on and around the country's borders, including body searches, and allows for increased electronic surveillance. "Border controls are a measure that gives us the conditions to identify people coming into Sweden who could represent a threat to security," Justice Minister, Gunnar Strommer, told a news conference. Sweden and Denmark have seen a string of protests in recent weeks, in which copies of the Quran were burned or otherwise damaged, prompting outrage […]]]> 657148 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-marking-697th-anniversary-since-passing-of-ottoman-empires-founder/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:09:37 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657139 Tuesday marks the 697th anniversary of the death of Osman Ghazi, the founder and first ruler of the Ottoman Empire, which would eventually grow into a vast and influential world power, Anadolu Agency reports. Osman I, also known as Osman Ghazi, was the leader of the Kayi tribe. He founded the Ottoman dynasty at the end of the 13th century in Sogut, an area in present-day north-western Turkiye, from which it would expand and rise to become the Ottoman Empire. Founded in 1299 by Muslim Oghuz Turks in the present-day Sogut district of Turkiye's western Bilecik province led by Osman Ghazi (the warrior), the Ottoman Empire gradually became a world power spanning Africa, Asia and Europe, lasting over 600 years, and […]]]> 657139 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-turkiye-annual-inflation-to-rebound-to-47-3-after-tax-hikes-lira-decline/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 16:16:37 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657128 Turkiye's monthly inflation is seen at 9.1 per cent in July due to various tax hikes and the lira's sharp depreciation, a Reuters poll showed. According to the poll, the annual reading is expected to rebound sharply to 47.3 per cent after declining for eight months. Economists' year-end forecasts were also revised sharply higher to 59.9 per cent, as inflation is expected to continue climbing for the rest of the year, the poll added. Turkiye's Central Bank has hiked its policy rate by 900 basis points to 17.5 per cent at its two meetings under Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, but the pace of tightening has remained below market expectations. READ: Indonesia buys drones worth $300m from Turkiye Aerospace]]> 657128 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-indonesia-buys-drones-worth-300m-from-turkiye-aerospace/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:39:01 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657116 Indonesia has bought 12 new drones from Turkish Aerospace worth $300 million, its Defence Ministry said on Tuesday, the latest in a series of purchases aimed at modernising the country's ageing military equipment, Reuters reports. The deal comes after Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, in July warned his cabinet to maintain a "healthy" budget as he highlighted outsized spending by the country's security agencies, including the Defence Ministry. In January, Defence Minister, Prabowo Subianto, sealed an $800-million deal to buy 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets, which drew criticism as they were considered too old. Indonesia, in February, also bought 42 Rafale fighter jets for $8.1 billion, which will be disbursed in phases over several years. At 134.3 trillion rupiah ($8.89 billion), the Defence […]]]> 657116 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-turkiye-vows-to-promote-principles-against-islamophobia-monitor-hate-crimes/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 13:17:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657092 Turkiye will exert maximum effort to advocate for a set of principles and actively monitor their application in countries where anti-Islamic hate crimes occur, Turkish diplomatic sources said in a statement Monday, Anadolu Agency reports. The statement came as Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, attended a video meeting organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). "Turkiye will share its existing evidence on this issue with OIC members in organisations such as the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Commission against racism and intolerance," the statement added. The OIC also welcomed the distribution, at Kuwait's expense, of 100,000 copies of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, in […]]]> 657092 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-greece-closure-of-minority-schools-in-western-thrace-jeopardises-future-of-muslim-turks/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:37:08 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657064 The former deputy prime minister of Turkiye has said that the closure of Turkish minority schools in Western Thrace by Greece is a violation of historical agreements that guarantee minorities' rights to education in their own language. "It clearly shows that Greece does not respect human rights and minority rights," Hakan Cavusoglu told Anadolu. The majority of the ethnic Turkish minority of around 150,000 people live in Western Thrace, which borders Bulgaria to the north, Turkiye to the east, the Aegean Sea to the south, and the Greek region of Macedonia to the west. Cavusoglu, who is currently the chairman of the Turkish Parliamentary Human Rights Commission and was born in Western Thrace, said that there were 307 minority primary […]]]> 657064 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-turkiye-forces-detect-over-2-dozen-unexploded-artillery-shells-in-black-sea/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 19:00:13 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656770 The Turkish Navy has detected at least 28 suspicious objects in the Black Sea, according to local authorities in Istanbul, Anadolu Agency reports. Investigations conducted by the Underwater Defence Forces revealed that the objects were unexploded artillery shells, the Governor's office said in a statement. Off north-eastern Istanbul province, a diving team on Sunday retrieved some of the objects that had been encircled in a security parameter following reports of their presence, two days earlier. "At least 28 pieces of ammunition were detected. Out of the identified munitions, eight of them, which could be safely brought ashore, were taken to the SAS Group Command for identification and disposal," it said. Noting that Underwater Defence Forces continued to sweep the area, […]]]> 656770 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-turkiye-gives-two-months-to-syrians-in-istanbul-to-return-to-provinces-where-they-registered/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 18:19:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656765 The Turkish government is giving Syrians in Istanbul two months to leave the city if they were not registered there, ordering them to return to the provinces where they were registered within the country. In a statement released by Turkiye's Presidency of Migration Management on Saturday, it said that Syrian refugees who had been granted temporary residency and protection status within the country must move back to the Turkish provinces they registered in if they are currently living in Istanbul. It gave them until 24 September, just under two months, to make the move. Syrians in Istanbul with TP IDs issued from other provinces have until 24 Sep to return to the provinces of registration. This excludes Syrians who relocated […]]]> 656765 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-ukraine-signs-agreement-with-turkiye-company-on-drones-repair/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 18:16:30 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656762 Ukraine's Defence Ministry signed an agreement with Turkish company, Baykar Makina, to build a service centre for the repair and maintenance of drones in Ukraine, a Ministry official said on Monday, Reuters reports. Ukraine is seeking to boost domestic production of drones to build an "Army of Drones" in its fight against Russian forces who invaded the country in February 2022. "The creation of a service centre will be a significant contribution to strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities and will help bring our victory closer," the Ministry's State Secretary, Kostiantyn Vashchenko said in a statement. Ukrainian producers have sharply increased domestic drone production. More than 10,000 drone operators have been trained with 10,000 more in training, Mykhailo Fedorov, a deputy Prime […]]]> 656762 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-greece-and-cyprus-welcome-eu-bid-to-re-engage-with-turkiye-but-urge-caution/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:15:19 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656736 Greece and Cyprus, on Monday, welcomed moves by Turkiye to boost relations with the European Union, but said rapprochement should be gradual and not unconditional, Reuters reports. European Union foreign ministers said, on 20 July, they were ready to re-engage with Turkiye, but stopped short of offering Ankara a clear resumption of membership talks. Turkiye has been a candidate for EU membership for more than two decades, but talks stalled in 2016 over the bloc's concerns over the rule of law and human rights in the country. The division of Cyprus between its Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations, a source of friction between Greece and Turkiye, has also been an impediment. READ: Turkiye rescues 45 migrants pushed back by Greece Greek Prime […]]]> 656736 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-unicef-netflix-to-establish-youth-centre-for-quake-victims-in-turkiye/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 13:52:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656716 UNICEF and Netflix will jointly establish a youth centre in the Nurdagi district of Turkiye's south-eastern province of Gaziantep, which was affected severely by the 6 February devastating twin earthquakes Anadolu Agency reports. Around 13 million people and 11 provinces in the country were hit by the magnitude 7.7 and magnitude 7.6 earthquakes, centred in southern Kahramanmaras province, in February. The youth centre will aim to improve the lives of young persons affected by the quakes, reintegrate them into social life and help them realise their potential, UNICEF said on Monday. At this centre, UNICEF will offer a special six-month training program that will enable young people to acquire new competencies and improve their social skills. READ: UAE says it operated […]]]> 656716 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-conquering-north-channel-young-turkish-swimmer-takes-on-one-of-the-worlds-toughest-crossings/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 13:47:40 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656711 Already the youngest Turkish swimmer to cross the English Channel between Britain and France, Aysu Turkoglu is now embarking on a new journey to traverse the waterway between Scotland and Northern Ireland, Anadolu Agency reports. For what is widely seen as an even greater feat than crossing the English Channel, the 22-year-old will plunge into frigid waters that can get as cold as 12 degrees Celsius (about 54 degrees Fahrenheit) off Northern Ireland on a day between 9 August and 14 August, hoping to power through the choppy waves to reach the Scottish coast. If she succeeds, she will be the first Turkish woman to conquer the North Channel. "At first, I was just thinking of crossing the English Channel […]]]> 656711 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-stanford-expert-challenging-eurocentric-narrative-of-psychology-finds-inspiration-in-turkiye/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:45:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656701 For centuries, human psychology has been a focal point in the field of medicine. The greatest minds have delved into its depths, driven by the singular aim of unlocking the secrets of what remains the most complex aspect of humans and their humanity, Anadolu Agency reports. Rania Awaad, a senior psychiatrist from Stanford University in the US, is on a similar journey, just with a slightly different objective: challenging what she calls the Eurocentric narrative of psychology perpetuated throughout modern history. This has brought her to Turkiye, where Awaad and her team are retracing the history of mental health care at historic institutions known as Dar Us-Shifa, many of which date back centuries to the Ottoman or Seljuk eras. "This […]]]> 656701 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-turkiye-launches-underwater-museum/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:37:49 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656684 READ: Turkiye earns $21.7bn from tourism in first half of 2023]]> 656684 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-turkiye-earns-21-7bn-from-tourism-in-first-half-of-2023/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:04:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656653 Turkiye's tourism revenues rose by 27 per cent to $21.7 billion during the January-June period this year, official figures from TurkStat showed on Monday. The country hosted 22.2 million visitors – foreigners as well as Turkish citizens living abroad – in the first half of 2023, up 20.6 per cent on a yearly basis, the statistical institute said. The average expenditure per night for overnight visitors was $99, up from $89 during the same period last year. In the second quarter of the year, the country's tourism revenue totalled $12.9 billion, up 23.1 per cent on an annual basis. The number of people who visited Turkiye quarter just ended was 13.99 million, up from 11.9 million in the April-June period […]]]> 656653 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-turkiye-rescues-45-migrants-pushed-back-by-greece/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:54:26 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656651 The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 45 irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea on Monday. The migrants, from Afghanistan, were pushed back illegally into Turkish territorial waters by the Greek authorities. Turkiye's Coast Guard Northern Aegean Group Command determined that there were irregular migrants in a life raft off the coast of Ayvacik in Canakkale province and carried out the rescue. After the necessary procedures were carried out, the migrants were transferred to the Ayvacik migration office. Turkiye and global rights groups have condemned Greece repeatedly for its illegal practice of pushing back irregular migrants, which violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children. READ: EU watchdog opens probe into role of […]]]> 656651