Turkey and Israel are locked in a fresh diplomatic confrontation after Ankara reportedly sought an Interpol Red Notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

The dispute centres on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which sailed toward Gaza carrying hundreds of activists before Israeli forces intercepted the vessels in the Mediterranean and detained those on board.

Turkey has accused Netanyahu and others of serious crimes, while Israel has rejected the allegations and sharply attacked the Turkish government.

The wider controversy comes as Britain, Canada and Australia condemn Israel’s decision to close a probe into the 2024 strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza.

Turkey Seeks Interpol Red Notice For Netanyahu | Israel-Turkey Row Escalates Over Gaza Flotilla

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a major trilateral defence pact, creating a new security arrangement amid escalating tensions across West Asia.

The agreement is being viewed as part of Saudi Arabia's effort to diversify its security partnerships while maintaining its longstanding relationship with the United States. The pact builds on the existing defence relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, with Turkey now joining the arrangement.

Iranian officials and clerics have criticised the agreement, warning that closer military cooperation between the three countries will not guarantee security.

The pact comes as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict involving Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and broader regional instability.

Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan Defence Pact | New Alliance Amid Iran Tensions | What It Means for West Asia

Turkey is facing a major drought situation as the country's water levels are at a critically low level. Experts blame it on the Erdogan government's policies.

Turkey's water reservoirs at their lowest levels in 15 years

Under the guidelines of Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YOK), rectors are chosen from a pool of candidates with the highest votes following elections held within academic institutions.

Turkey: Students protest rector tapped to head top Turkish university

Turkey said it will hold a military exercise off northwest Cyprus for the next two weeks

Turkey Begins Military Drill Near Cyprus

A lake in Turkey has become a death trap for Afghan, Pakistani and other migrants seeking security and work.

All that Lake Van, a vast body of water nearly seven times the size of Lake Geneva, now speaks of are gravestones scribbled with identity numbers are all that remain of dozens of migrants aboard a boat that sank in a Turkish lake as they struggled to make it to Europe.

The sinking of two boats in June and December, claiming 68 lives in all, underscores the perils of a route used to circumnavigate checkpoints set up across the rugged eastern terrain of Turkey, not far from Iran.

Turkey, which offered fast-track access to Europe during the 2015 migrant crisis, has become an increasingly difficult country to cross.

The first move to cut the flow of migrants came after Ankara and Brussels signed a migration deal in 2016, but the measures were stepped up from 2018 against the backdrop of an economic crisis in Turkey.

The country is already home to around four million migrants, 3.6 million of them from war-torn Syria.

Before reaching the lake, the migrants must often cross perilous border mountains. Every year, villagers discover frozen bodies after the snow melts.

In Van Province, which borders Iran, two cemeteries were set up to bury migrants who could not be identified.

In one, there were freshly dug graves, awaiting the next victims.

When the weather is pleasant, the lake appears harmless.

Families have picnics on wooden tables while watching others wobble on their paddleboards, as a local municipality official cleans the promenade.

But its unpredictable waters leave little chance for small, flimsy boats.

After the fatal June accident, security services detained several smugglers. Since then, migrants and residents say that crossings by lake, which had been staged almost daily before then, have fallen sharply.

Migrants who cannot find a boat are forced to walk for days under the blazing sun, cutting across fields to get around checkpoints.

They have applied for refugee status in order to travel to Europe, and now cling on to this slim chance.

 
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A lake in Turkey has become a death trap for Afghan, Pakistani and other migrants seeking security and work. All that Lake Van, a vast body of water nearly seven times the size of Lake Geneva, now speaks of are gravestones scribbled with identity numbers are all that remain of dozens of migrants aboard a boat that sank in a Turkish lake as they struggled to make it to Europe.

A lake in Turkey has become a death trap for Afghan, Pakistani and other migrants seeking security and work. All that Lake Van, a vast body of water nearly seven times the size of Lake Geneva, now speaks of are gravestones scribbled with identity numbers are all that remain of dozens of migrants aboard a boat that sank in a Turkish lake as they struggled to make it to Europe. The sinking of two boats in June and December, claiming 68 lives in all, underscores the perils of a route used to circumnavigate checkpoints set up across the rugged eastern terrain of Turkey, not far from Iran. Turkey, which offered fast-track access to Europe during the 2015 migrant crisis, has become an increasingly difficult country to cross. The first move to cut the flow of migrants came after Ankara and Brussels signed a migration deal in 2016, but the measures were stepped up from 2018 against the backdrop of an economic crisis in Turkey. The country is already home to around four million migrants, 3.6 million of them from war-torn Syria. Before reaching the lake, the migrants must often cross perilous border mountains. Every year, villagers discover frozen bodies after the snow melts. In Van Province, which borders Iran, two cemeteries were set up to bury migrants who could not be identified. In one, there were freshly dug graves, awaiting the next victims. When the weather is pleasant, the lake appears harmless. Families have picnics on wooden tables while watching others wobble on their paddleboards, as a local municipality official cleans the promenade. But its unpredictable waters leave little chance for small, flimsy boats. After the fatal June accident, security services detained several smugglers. Since then, migrants and residents say that crossings by lake, which had been staged almost daily before then, have fallen sharply. Migrants who cannot find a boat are forced to walk for days under the blazing sun, cutting across fields to get around checkpoints. They have applied for refugee status in order to travel to Europe, and now cling on to this slim chance.

Lake turns into graveyard for migrants in Turkey

Worshippers attend afternoon prayers and visit Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, for the first time after it was once again declared a mosque after 86 years, in Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey authorities disinfect Hagia Sophia after Friday prayers

Turkey launched waves of airstrikes against what it claimed were Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) elements in northern Iraq

Turkey carries out airstrikes against Kurdish rebels in Iraq