Turkey - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Turkey

Turkey

November 5, 2026

Ankara 9:12 am

9°C

Turkey probes Google’s AI search tools, orders protections for news websites

Turkey’s competition watchdog said it is assessing whether AI-generated answers appearing on Google Search divert traffic from news sites and impose unfair content-use terms.

A protestor holds a flag bearing a portrait of jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan during a demonstration of Kurdish people from all around Europe to mark the 27th anniversary of his arrest and to demand his liberation, in Strasbourg, Eastern France, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Turkey moves PKK leader Ocalan to prison villa as peace process faces new test

The move is expected to give the PKK leader a more direct role in negotiations, but deep divisions over disarmament and Kurdish rights continue to threaten the process.

OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu is pictured during a joint press conference with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Switzerland's Foreign Minister at Vienna International Airport on Feb. 6, 2026 in Schwechat, Lower Austria.

Explainer

Who is Feridun Sinirlioglu, Turkey’s candidate for UN chief?

The Turkish president's confidant enters the race for UN chief with decades of diplomatic experience marked by both praise and scrutiny.

Demonstrators hold a banner reading "Free Gaza, free world"

Analysis

Gaza progress, Syria pullback: What Turkey wants from Israel’s next government

Ankara sees room for limited improvement in ties if Israel’s next government eases Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and reduces military pressure on Syria.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Explainer

After EU rebuff, how Turkey is courting Egypt for maritime deal

Turkish Navy sailors wave their caps from the flight deck

Culture

Rock collapse near UNESCO-listed site in Turkey’s Cappadocia kills three

An view of the Uchisar settlement, east of Nevesehir in the province of the same name in central Turkey's historical Cappadocia region on Aug. 24, 2022.

Tornado kills 4 in Turkey’s Mediterranean tourism hub Antalya

Kepez

Saudi Arabia’s KBS, top Turkish and Pakistani officials hold rare meeting in Iran: What to know

GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Senior lawyers protesting against a draft bill governing the organization of bar associations sit on the ground during a rally in front of Turkish riot policemen, in Ankara on June 22, 2020.

Government critic elected to lead Union of Turkish Bar Associations

Defeating a pro-government incumbent, Ankara Bar Association Chair Erinc Sagkan was elected head of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations on Sunday, pledging to strengthen the rule of law and independence in Turkey’s legal profession.

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu arrives to hold a news conference in Ankara, Turkey on June 26, 2018.

Turkish opposition leader barred from data center as mistrust in data grows

Turkey’s official inflation figures have fueled tensions between the government and the opposition amid growing doubts over the credibility of the data.

AMIR MAKAR/AFP via Getty Images

Erdogan vows response to Cyprus mosque arson attempt

The Turkish president said an attempt to burn down the mosque on the disputed island “will not go unanswered,” while the Cypriot press said the incident was not related to religious or ethnic strife.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu

Can Turkey help in Ukraine crisis?

Moscow is likely to welcome a Turkish mediation effort if it serves to restrain Ukraine from a military adventure.

Turkey Erdogan

Patronage marginalizes qualified Turkish diplomats

Increase of unqualified personnel and self-serving political appointees has harmed Ankara’s ability to conduct international affairs, experts say.

A journalist stands in front of a poster featuring jailed businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala during a press conference of his lawyers on Oct. 31, 2018.

Council of Europe initiates action against Turkey over Kavala detention

The 47-member council has agreed to invoke a rarely used mechanism against Turkey over its failure to release philanthropist Osman Kavala.

An undated image of new Turkish Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati.

Erdogan appoints champion of low interest rates as new finance minister

Nureddin Nebati, who has fiercely defended the president’s low rate policies, has replaced Lutfi Elvan as Turkey's finance minister.

A man walks past a currency exchange agency near Grand Bazaar in Istanbul on Nov. 24, 2021, in Istanbul.

Turkish Central Bank intervenes to curb 'unhealthy' lira losses

Amid a sharp slide in the nation’s currency, the Turkish Central Bank announced it would intervene in markets and sell foreign exchange reserves Wednesday to stem volatility in the Turkish lira.

A promotional image for the film "Dying to Divorce."

UK nominates documentary on femicide in Turkey for Oscars

“Dying to Divorce,” the United Kingdom’s official entry into the Academy Awards for best international feature film, tells the story of Turkey’s gender-based violence victims, femicide and the inability of the legal system to bring the perpetrators to justice.

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s economy grows in third quarter, but so do risks

Turkey has posted a 7.4% growth rate in the third quarter but continues to accumulate economic risks that threaten to sharply stem growth next year.

A man walks past a fruit seller at Eminonu district near Spice Bazaar in Istanbul, on Nov. 24, 2021.

Erdogan doubles down on economic policy amid currency volatility

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his stance against interest rate hikes Monday, sending the Turkish lira down 4% as the nation’s economy faces high inflation.

Turkish President and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during his party's group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, on Nov. 17, 2021.

Erdogan says Turkey will move to improve ties with Egypt, Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted Ankara will reinstate its ambassadors in Egypt and Israel.