Published February 26,2026

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Türkiye’s Communications Director Burhanettin Duran met with Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa in the Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday, discussing bilateral ties and cooperation in strategic communication.

The meeting took place following a panel titled “Türkiye’s Role as a Peacekeeper in Conflict Zones from a Media Perspective,” hosted by the Turkish Communications Directorate.

In a statement shared on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Duran said he was pleased to host Mustafa at the event and noted that the talks focused on the current state and future of relations between Türkiye and Syria.

The two sides exchanged views on the importance of maintaining communication and diplomatic channels to help establish regional peace, stability and security, Duran said.

They also underscored the responsibility of the media during conflict situations and stressed the need for a shared understanding to safeguard the truth, according to the statement.

Duran said both parties reaffirmed their mutual will to strengthen cooperation in strategic communication, public diplomacy and efforts to combat disinformation.

He added that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Türkiye continues its efforts toward achieving lasting peace, justice and stability in the region, and that the Communications Directorate remains committed to defending the truth and ensuring that accurate information reaches the public.

Published February 26,2026

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Türkiye’s defense industry has reached a new milestone with the export of Hurjet, a jet trainer developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), to Spain.

Mass production of the Hurjet is currently underway for the Turkish Air Force, while preparations continue to meet the requirements of the export contract with Spain.

The aircraft is scheduled to enter service in Türkiye in 2027 and in Spain in 2028.

Turkish defense firm Havelsan will supply the full mission and flight training simulator to accompany the Hurjet as part of the deal.

The simulator is expected to be delivered to the Turkish Air Force in the fourth quarter of 2026, ahead of the aircraft’s export to Spain.

Mehmet Akif Nacar, Havelsan’s general manager, told Anadolu that the agreement represents a major turning point for Türkiye’s defense sector.

Nacar said the deal reverses a long-standing trend in which Türkiye imported such simulators, noting that Havelsan has now developed the capacity to design and export comprehensive simulator software.

He said the company plans to apply the same export model with other countries purchasing the Hurjet, providing advanced training simulators alongside the aircraft.

Havelsan engineers began work on the Hurjet simulator three years ago, contributing to the aircraft’s engineering tests, cockpit scenarios and validation processes.

The company is using the same engineering approach for KAAN, Türkiye’s homegrown combat aircraft.

The Hurjet’s next-generation embedded simulator allows pilots to train in virtual scenarios during actual flights, without relying on ground-based visual systems, extending operational training time.

Havelsan is also constructing a new complex in Ankara to meet growing domestic and international demand. Once completed, the facility is expected to be the largest simulator production and integration center in Europe.

Nacar said Havelsan’s global market share and export revenues are expected to grow as TAI expands international sales of domestically developed platforms, including the Hurkus and Atak aircraft.

Published February 26,2026

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Finland wants to partner with Türkiye and its robust construction sector to help rebuild Ukraine while expanding the already intense defense cooperation, the Finnish ambassador to Ankara told Anadolu.

Pirkko Mirjami Hamalainen said Finland expects to expand the two countries’ collaborative efforts into new areas, particularly in the construction industry.

She noted that joint projects are possible bilaterally and in third countries and that Helsinki is eager to collaborate with Ankara on the reconstruction of Ukraine.

She stated that Türkiye’s support for Finland’s NATO accession is important in the face of European security risks.

Hamalainen said the two countries’ NATO memberships will allow them to collaborate more closely and work together.

She noted that Türkiye has the largest land forces in Europe, making it an important partner for Finland, particularly on NATO’s southern flank.She added that the signing of a defense cooperation deal between the two countries last year prompted corporate cross-promotion and bilateral defense efforts to ramp up even further.

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.