Ankara

Ties between Türkiye and the European Union should return to pre-Sarkozy era, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said, referring to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy who suspended the advance in Türkiye's accession process when he came to power in 2007.

The updated version of Türkiye's Hürkuş training aircraft successfully completed its first flight on Dec. 30.

The flight conducted at Mürted air base in the capital Ankara followed ground testing. During the 20-minute journey, the aircraft reached an altitude of 6,500 feet and a speed of 140 knots, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) said in a statement on X.

Türkiye is all set to usher in the New Year on Dec. 31 with a series of events across urban centers and bustling tourism hubs, under the umbrella of enhanced security measures to ensure public safety.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has maintained a busy diplomatic schedule in 2024, engaging in intensive international contacts across 17 countries and hosting leaders from 18 nations in Türkiye.

A significant portion of Erdoğan's efforts focused on resolving the crisis in the Palestinian territories and addressing other global and regional issues.

Teams from the Trade Ministry have intensified price checks across the country to see if retailers are passing the hike in minimum wage onto consumers.

This month, the minimum wage for 2025 was raised by 30 percent to a net of 22,104 Turkish Liras ($628) per month.

Ankara's art enthusiasts rushed to secure tickets for the world-famous ballet "The Nutcracker" as demand soared to record-breaking levels.

Tickets for the Jan. 11 performance, staged by Ankara State Opera and Ballet (DOB), sold out in just 20 seconds after online sales opened at 10:30 a.m., leaving many disappointed fans empty-handed.

End-of-year pieces typically highlight the milestones of the past year. For a food writer, it's about the best meals savored; for a wine writer, it's the finest bottles uncorked. This year, my memory is foggy, the only memory I recall vividly is our bizarre trip to Provence with my daughter who is 28.

PKK and YPG cannot be sheltered in Syria, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in a phone call on Dec. 28.

Thousands of people protested in Turkey's capital Ankara on Saturday to demand a bigger hike in the minimum wage, chanting slogans calling on the government to resign and waving the opposition and national flags.

The US appeared to take a neutral stance amid reports that Turkey and Syria may sign an agreement on maritime boundaries that could undermine Cyprus' sovereign rights.

In response to relevant question on the matter, a State Department spokesperson suggested addressing specific questions about the potential accord directly to Ankara and Damascus.