Published February 27,2026

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Yaren, the beloved white stork, known for his touching “friendship story” with fisherman Adem Yılmaz, has returned to northwestern Türkiye for the 15th consecutive year during the migration season to Bursa.

The stork, the enduring symbol of Eskikaraagac Mahallesi on the shores of Lake Uluabat in Bursa, again landed on Yilmaz’s boat, giving them another opportunity to strike their iconic traditional pose.

The heartwarming scene was captured by nature and wildlife photographer Alper Tuydes.

Yaren shares a nest with his mate Nazli, and the pair can be watched live around the clock via cameras streaming at yarenleylek.com.Yilmaz explained that when the stork arrived on Feb. 24, people initially thought it was Nazli, pointing out how easily they can mistake one white stork for another since they look so similar.

“Yaren is the symbol of our village and very dear to me. He stays here for about six months. We bid him farewell at the end of August. During that time, they raise three to four chicks, help them fledge into the wild, and roughly 15 days later, Yaren and his mate depart,” he said.The fisherman noted the rising waters in Lake Uluabat is excellent news for Yaren and all bird species. “Fish multiply, and the birds can fill their stomachs,” he added.

White storks can live for up to 40 years, with an average lifespan of 20 – 35 years in the wild and often longer in captivity.Yaren’s extraordinary bond with Yilmaz has captured global attention for years.

The 24/7 live feed draws viewers from across the world who tune in to follow the storks’ daily life, nesting behavior and family moments in real time.EuroNatur is a German nature conservation foundation founded in 1987 that promotes cross-border protection of Europe’s wildlife and habitats, and Eskikaraagac village where Yaren comes every year is a member of its European Stork Villages Network, which honors communities dedicated to white stork conservation.

Published February 26,2026

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Türkiye’s GDP will reach to $1.6 trillion in 2026, the Turkish trade minister said during his speech at Türkiye-Azerbaijan-Georgia Business Forum.

The minister noted that this figure is six times higher than the year of 2002 when President Erdogan came into power.

The forum was held in Tsinandali, Georgia, on Thursday.

Bolat added that the country’s GDP per capita will reach to $18,000 this year, and the figure that is five and a half times higher than the figure in the year of 2002, making Türkiye the fifth biggest economy in Europe.

The minister described the gathering as the “Davos of Caucasus,” noting it brings many opportunities to increase bilateral relations at the governmental level and between business representatives.

Bolat said that the Caucasus is a region “where different cultures converge” and serves as an “important transition point between east and west as well as North and South.”

He highlighted that Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are located “at the very center of the world’s energy transfer and logistics routes” due to their geostrategic position.

The minister expressed “great hopes for increased international trade” and investment cooperation in sectors such as “port operation, airline operation, IT and artificial intelligence.”

Bolat underlined the responsibility of officials “to pave the way and to clear the mines on the way for businesses” to achieve “much more close economic integration.”

Published February 26,2026

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Several world leaders on Thursday congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his birthday, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications shared on the social media platform NSosyal.

Those offering congratulations included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Denis Becirovic, the Bosniak member of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s presidency, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Erdogan held separate phone calls with the leaders, during which they conveyed their birthday wishes, the statement said.

He thanked them and expressed his determination to further advance bilateral relations between Türkiye and their respective countries.

As Türkiye gears up to host and preside over the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) later this year, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change brought together relevant non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on Thursday for a key consultation meeting.

The event, held at a local hotel in Ankara and chaired by Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister and COP31 President Murat Kurum, focused on preparations for COP31.

Minister Kurum announced that the COP31 Presidency Office has been established, the Antalya EXPO venue has been designated as the primary site, and on-site work has begun rapidly.

The Antalya EXPO Center will serve as the main venue for COP31.

Earlier, Kurum met with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell on February 12 as part of ongoing preparations.

He also held two-day preparatory meetings in Istanbul with Australia, which is leading negotiations; the previous COP30 host, Brazil; and climate leaders from Azerbaijan.

Türkiye will host COP31 in Antalya in November 2026, under a unique partnership arrangement with Australia.

Türkiye holds the formal COP31 presidency and will manage hosting logistics, the World Leaders Summit, communications, and overall operations.

Australia has been appointed as the president of negotiations, with exclusive authority over the negotiation process leading up to and during the conference.

This unprecedented Türkiye-Australia partnership was agreed upon at COP30 in the Brazilian city of Belem in Nov. 2025.

– High expectations for COP31

Kurum emphasized at the Ankara consultation meeting that Türkiye sees COP31 as more than just a diplomatic gathering but as a watershed moment in which implementation accelerates, global trust is rebuilt, and concrete outcomes are delivered, particularly through strengthened and updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

While COP processes primarily involve state negotiations, their success depends heavily on the empowering role of civil society organizations, he noted.

The minister highlighted escalating global challenges, including reactivated geopolitical fault lines, intense competition in energy, mining, rare elements, artificial intelligence, and digital sovereignty, as well as demographic shifts, migration waves, food security issues, and financial uncertainties.

He pointed to the emerging divide between a “fossil bloc” and a “green bloc.”

He stressed that Western green standards sometimes weaken the dialogue space with the Global South and developing nations’ development priorities.

– Türkiye’s role as bridge

Kurum emphasized Türkiye’s bridging role in global climate efforts, stating: “Türkiye will act as the voice of countries seeking development through climate justice, just transition, and humane diplomacy approaches.

“At the same time, it will invite developed countries to take responsibility with proposals on green economy, green energy, equity, and the loss and damage fund.”

He emphasized that fighting climate change does not restrict economic growth or hinder development, but instead promotes inclusive prosperity, equity, and sustainable progress on a global scale.

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), holding annual meetings since 1995 to evaluate climate progress and negotiate actions.

The 31st session (COP31) will be held in Türkiye this November, primarily in the Turkish Riviera resort of Antalya, with the leaders’ summit in Istanbul.

At the gathering, nearly 200 countries are expected to convene in Türkiye to discuss the next steps in implementing the Paris Agreement, including updated emission reduction targets, adaptation measures, climate finance, and carbon market rules.