AnewZ Morning Brief -21 February, 2026
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of February, covering the latest developments you need to...
Turkish state broadcaster TRT reported on Thursday (29 January) that six people had been arrested by Turkish authorities for allegedly conducting espionage activities inside Türkiye.
According to the broadcaster, an Iranian national and five Turkish citizens were detained in a counter-intelligence operation on charges of spying for Iran’s intelligence service.
The operation was carried out in five separate provinces of Türkiye.
TRT reported that the wide-ranging operation had been conducted by the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office in coordination with Istanbul’s police counter-terrorism division and Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT).
Investigators reportedly found that the six suspects had been in contact with intelligence officers from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Turkish authorities claim the suspects had gathered sensitive information on several military installations, including Türkiye’s Incirlik Airbase, which is home to a large U.S. military contingent – in the southern Adana province.
According to authorities cited by TRT, the suspects conducted surveillance on the Incirlik Airbase and helped smuggle unmanned aerial vehicles through Türkiye for intended use against third countries.
The six suspects have since been remanded into custody to be tried on charges of political and military espionage, officials cited by the broadcaster said.
Tehran, for its part, has yet to formally respond to the Turkish allegations.The arrests come amid mounting tensions in the Middle East, including a U.S. military build-up in the region and fears of a looming U.S. attack on Iran.
Türkiye, a NATO member that shares a border with Iran, has said it opposes any foreign military intervention and has urged Washington to resolve its differences with Tehran through negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Istanbul on Friday (30 January) to discuss means of defusing the potential conflict with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of online fashion retailer ASOS, has died in Pattaya, Thailand, after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium on 9 February, Thai police confirmed.
The Board of Peace will be "looking over the United Nations," said U.S. President Donald Trump at the inaugural Washington meeting, where representatives from over 20 countries gathered to unveil plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and coordinate international support.
At least four people have died and 17 others were injured after a liquid gas truck overturned and exploded in Santiago, Chile’s capital, authorities confirmed on Thursday. Police said the driver was among those killed.
Kazakhstan has entered the world’s top 50 economies by GDP in 2026, ranking 50th with a projected nominal output of $320 billion. The result reflects sustained growth, structural reforms and the country’s rising role as a regional economic hub.
The Armenian Cabinet has approved a military-technical cooperation agreement (MTC) with Poland, which will be forwarded to parliament for ratification following its signing, according to Armenian media.
Iran's foreign minister is expected to have a draft counterproposal ready within days following this week's nuclear talks with the United States. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said he is considering limited military strikes.
Uzbekistan's president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held a series of high-level meetings in the U.S. aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and strategic ties between the two countries.
Türkiye has signalled readiness to contribute to a proposed Gaza stabilisation force during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting on Thursday (19 February), but according to former Turkish diplomat Mehmet Öğütçü, the decisive factor will be whether Israel and the United States agree on Ankara’s role.
Türkiye is prepared to contribute troops to a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday.
Iran has warned it will respond “decisively” if subjected to military aggression, saying U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric signals “a real risk of military aggression”.
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