RARE PHOTOS: 11 | Vintage Vibes

Life after earthquake: Rabia Topuz puts behind personal grief to compete at women’s World boxing

NEW DELHI: Rabia Topuz still shudder with fear recalling the horror-filled February 6 early morning when a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake ripped through her home country of Türkiye and northern Syria, resulting in thousands of people dying, tens of thousands injured and seeking shelter in cars, factories, mosques, shopping centres and…

The Times of India · Mar 17, 2023

Syrian Kurdish Force Says It Lost 9 Fighters in Iraq Crash

The main US-backed and Kurdish-led force in northeastern Syria said Friday it lost nine fighters, including a commander, when two helicopters crashed this week in neighboring Iraq. The Syrian Democratic Forces said the helicopters crashed during bad weather while en route to the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah on Wednesday…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023

Türkiye’s President Says He Will Back Finland’s NATO Bid

Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that his government would move forward with ratifying Finland’s NATO application, paving the way for the country to join the military bloc ahead of Sweden. The breakthrough came as Finnish President Sauli Niinisto was in Ankara to meet with Erdogan. Both Finland and…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023

Türkiye Plans to Ratify Finland's NATO Bid ahead of May Polls

Türkiye’s parliament will "highly likely" ratify Finland's NATO accession bid before it closes in mid-April, two Turkish officials told Reuters on Wednesday, a day before Finnish President Sauli Niinisto visits the country. Finland's bid will be approved independently from that of Sweden, which had applied for membership in the Western…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 15, 2023

Türkiye Seeks Extending Grain Deal for 120 Days, Says Defense Minister

Türkiye will continue discussions to extend a deal that allows grain shipments from Ukraine's Black Sea ports for 120 days rather than 60 days, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Wednesday. "We started negotiations in line with the initial version of the deal. The continuation of the deal is…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 15, 2023

Syrian President Assad Arrives in Moscow, Set to Meet Putin

Syrian President Bashar Assad arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, where he is scheduled to meet top ally Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia is a main backer of Assad and has a broad presence in Syria, where a 12-year uprising-turned-civil war has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 15, 2023

15th Saudi Relief Plane Lands in Gaziantep to Help Quake Victims

The 15th Saudi relief airplane arrived at Gaziantep Airport in Türkiye, carrying 85 tons and 346 kilograms of relief materials, the Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday. The aid is part of the Saudi relief airlift dispatched by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) to help the victims…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 14, 2023

UN: World after Earthquake Was Slow to Send Aid to Syria

The international community and the Syrian government did not act quickly last month to help people in need in the opposition-held northwest after a deadly earthquake hit Türkiye and Syria, a UN commission said Monday. The Feb. 6 magnitude 7.8 earthquake and strong aftershocks that ravaged southern Türkiye and northwestern…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 13, 2023

Türkiye’s Quake Toll Tops 48,000 as Govt Races to Build Container Cities

The death toll in Türkiye from last month's major earthquakes has risen to 48,448, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Monday, as authorities rush to set up container cities to house for the longer-term those left homeless by the disaster. The combined death toll including those killed in Syria has…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 13, 2023

56,000 Syrians Leave Türkiye for Good After Feb. 6 Quake

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said around 56,000 Syrians in Türkiye have voluntarily returned to their home country since the Feb. 6 earthquake. He added that some Syrians who live in Türkiye “have lost their families, houses, and businesses in the earthquake.” Some Syrians who were affected have expressed their…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 13, 2023