A passenger bus traveling from Tekirdağ to Antalya overturned into a ravine at Kömürler Junction in Döşemealtı, southern Türkiye, killing nine people and injuring 26. Emergency teams evacuated the injured, with several in serious condition, to nearby hospitals. Authorities cited possibly wet roads and fog and said a technical investigation will determine the exact cause.
South Africa is reviving its long-dormant ties with Türkiye, activating a bilateral commission after 12 years, to strengthen political, economic, and trade relations, with a focus on energy, industrial cooperation, and shared geopolitical interests.
Pope Leo XIV will undertake his first international trips to Türkiye and Lebanon in late November and early December 2025, including a pilgrimage to İznik for the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, following invitations from both countries' authorities.
Iraq has resumed Kurdish oil exports to Turkiye after a 2.5-year halt, following an agreement between Baghdad, the Kurdistan regional government, and international oil companies, allowing about 180,000 to 190,000 barrels per day to be exported through the Ceyhan port, aiming to boost Iraq's oil revenues and stabilize regional relations.
The USMNT announced its starting lineup for the friendly against Türkiye, featuring debutants and key players, with Chris Richards captaining and Miles Robinson and Luca de la Torre starting together. The match marks notable first caps for several players, including Matt Freese and Alex Freeman, and continues a historical series where the USMNT has a slight edge over Türkiye. The game is scheduled for June 7, 2025, at Rentschler Field.
The US Men's National Team will play against Türkiye in a friendly match at Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, Conn., on June 7, 2025, with options to watch on TNT, truTV, Max, Peacock, and listen on Westwood One Sports, with live updates available online and on social media.
A U.S. senator has issued a warning to Türkiye regarding its actions against the PKK, a Kurdish militant group considered a terrorist organization by both countries. The senator threatened potential sanctions if Türkiye continues its military operations against the PKK, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two NATO allies over the handling of Kurdish groups in the region.
Russia and Iran have agreed to coordinate with Türkiye on matters related to Syria, aiming to enhance diplomatic efforts in the region. This collaboration is part of ongoing discussions to address the complex political and security situation in Syria, involving key regional players.
The United States and Türkiye released a joint statement following the seventh meeting of the U.S.-Türkiye Strategic Mechanism, emphasizing their commitment to a positive bilateral agenda that addresses global challenges. Discussions covered various issues including regional priorities, counterterrorism, defense cooperation, economic growth, and climate change. Both countries reiterated their support for Ukraine's sovereignty, discussed the crisis in Gaza, and reaffirmed their commitment to fighting terrorism. They also addressed the Syrian crisis, broader issues in the Middle East and Africa, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the South Caucasus. Additionally, they discussed ways to bolster NATO coordination and solidarity, opportunities to transform the U.S.-Türkiye security and defense relationship, and the continuous growth in bilateral trade.
The Biden administration has urged the U.S. Congress to approve the sale of F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Türkiye, emphasizing the importance of modernizing Türkiye's F-16 fleet for NATO interoperability. The approval is linked to Türkiye's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership bid, which was recently cleared by the Turkish Parliament. The U.S. administration has promised to move forward with the $20-billion sale, but there is no clear timeline for Congress to approve the deal. Türkiye's request aims to replace its aging F-16 fleet, and discussions to buy Eurofighter jets have also been initiated due to frustration over the prolonged process.
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured a stunning nighttime photograph of Antalya, Türkiye, showcasing its urban structures, natural landscapes, and vibrant coastal lights. The image highlights the contrast between brightly lit urban infrastructure and unilluminated parks and natural areas. Nighttime photographs taken by astronauts are valuable for research on light pollution and urbanization. The photograph reveals fine details of the city, including street layouts, suburban areas, and areas without lights. The image also features the Taurus Mountains, agricultural areas, and tourist locations along the coast.
Six months after a devastating earthquake struck southeastern Türkiye and neighboring Syria, the humanitarian needs in the affected areas remain enormous. Thousands of people have lost their lives, tens of thousands have been injured, and infrastructure has been severely damaged. Elcin, who was trapped in the rubble for 81 hours, shares her harrowing experience and the ongoing struggles she faces living in a container. The psychological impact of the earthquake continues to affect many, and the town she lives in remains destroyed, with people relying on support for their basic needs. CARE is providing assistance to those affected, including water, food, shelter, and protection services.
Türkiye and the United States have agreed to deepen their cooperation in all domains of mutual interest and intensify dialogue at all levels. The two sides discussed Türkiye's demand to buy 40 F-16s and Sweden's bid to join NATO. They also reviewed preparations for the upcoming NATO summit and reaffirmed their commitment to the maintenance of stability and dialogue in the eastern Mediterranean. The US expressed its appreciation for Türkiye's efforts to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative and both sides committed to establish a Climate and Energy Dialogue. The delegations also discussed concrete joint endeavors to advance Türkiye-US cooperation in other regions and reiterated their commitment to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The newly-appointed central bank Governor of Türkiye, Hafize Gaye Erkan, expressed confidence in the government's determination to fight inflation, stating that all economic units are working hard to combat inflation in line with the government's economic targets. Erkan stressed the importance of price stability for financial stability and explained that they would combat inflation by ensuring both price stability and financial stability. The lira weakened as much as 3.3% to a record low of 25.74 against the U.S. dollar on Friday, after the rate hike fell short of market expectations of a larger initial tightening.
Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian will attend President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's inauguration ceremony in Ankara on June 3, as the two countries aim to normalize relations. Armenia and Türkiye have never established formal diplomatic relations and their shared border has been closed since the 1990s. The two countries appointed special envoys in December 2021 to help normalize relations, a year after Armenia lost to Türkiye's ally Azerbaijan in a war for control of the Armenian-occupied Karabakh region.