Two years after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated southeastern Türkiye, killing over 55,000 people, rebuilding efforts remain incomplete, with hundreds of thousands still living in temporary housing.
On the anniversary of the disaster, residents of Antakya gathered early Wednesday to honor the victims, holding torches and chanting, "No forgetting, no forgiving, no reconciliation." The quake, which struck on February 6, 2023, destroyed entire towns across 11 Turkish provinces and parts of northern Syria.
Despite government pledges to construct 650,000 homes, opposition leaders and aid groups say progress has been slow. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently stated that 201,431 housing units had been delivered, falling short of the 319,000 he initially promised within a year.
Critics, including opposition leader Özgür Özel, argue that only 30% of the pledged reconstruction has been completed, with some areas, like Hatay, seeing just an 18% completion rate. Many survivors remain in container homes, facing poor sanitation, limited healthcare, and economic uncertainty.
Aid organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, warn that reconstruction delays threaten long-term stability, with some areas at risk of depopulation.
The Turkish government insists that recovery efforts remain on track, with Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum announcing plans to deliver 423,000 more homes and workplaces by the end of 2025. Türkiye has allocated $19 billion for ongoing reconstruction.
For many survivors, however, the pain of loss and displacement continues. In Antakya, activist Özgür Tıraş vowed, "We will rebuild this city with our own hands."
The official opening ceremony of the 'Azerbaijan' residential complex, constructed by Azerbaijan in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş, was held on Thursday and was attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Iran's foreign minister is expected in Istanbul on Saturday for a key Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) council meeting as regional tensions rise over Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched its Youth in Business programme in Türkiye, building on its success in 12 other countries. The initiative aims to mobilise up to €250 million in financing to support young entrepreneurs under 35.
Security measures along Türkiye' border with Iran have strengthened. Türkiye’s Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler said it's due to recent developments at between Iran and Israel.
The Armenian Prime Minister is set to visit Türkiye on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly pushed back against his Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, on Friday, asserting that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon, directly contradicting intelligence assessments she shared earlier this year.
President Donald Trump says the U.S. is unlikely to push Israel to end its airstrikes on Iran, calling it “very hard” to make that request while Israel is gaining ground militarily.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will continue to defend itself unless Israeli strikes stop, following high-level talks in Geneva with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union’s top diplomat.
Tajikistan and China have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, following high-level talks between President Emomali Rahmon and President Xi Jinping in Astana earlier this week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used the platform of the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to reinforce his vision of Ukraine as a neutral state aligned with Russia, warn of rising global conflict potential, and outline conditions for foreign firms to return to Russia.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will continue to defend itself unless Israeli strikes stop, following high-level talks in Geneva with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union’s top diplomat.
Hungary has temporarily relocated its embassy from Tehran to Baku, citing rising security risks, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in a video statement posted on social media.
China’s exports of rare earth magnets dropped sharply in May, plunging 52.9% from April to just 1,238 metric tons, their lowest monthly level since February 2020. The drop comes amid tightened export controls and growing customs scrutiny.
Severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in southern China has forced the evacuation of about 70,000 people, local media reported on Wednesday.
Former UFC lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have landed in Baku ahead of Azerbaijan’s first-ever UFC tournament.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly pushed back against his Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, on Friday, asserting that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon, directly contradicting intelligence assessments she shared earlier this year.
President Donald Trump says the U.S. is unlikely to push Israel to end its airstrikes on Iran, calling it “very hard” to make that request while Israel is gaining ground militarily.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will continue to defend itself unless Israeli strikes stop, following high-level talks in Geneva with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union’s top diplomat.
Tajikistan and China have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, following high-level talks between President Emomali Rahmon and President Xi Jinping in Astana earlier this week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used the platform of the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to reinforce his vision of Ukraine as a neutral state aligned with Russia, warn of rising global conflict potential, and outline conditions for foreign firms to return to Russia.
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