February 12, 2026 – Turkey Headlines

Story gist: ÖSYM announced final and late application dates for the 2026 YKS university entrance exam. Details include application process and fees.

Bias summary: Left- and center-leaning outlets provided no coverage of the 2026 YKS application dates. Right-leaning Yeni Şafak omitted the story entirely, instead publishing on the 111th episode of Hafıza examining Epstein files. Absent left and center perspectives prevent comparison; right lane shifts focus to unrelated investigative content.

Story gist: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized CHP leader Özgür Özel, telling him to stop using ‘meyhane jargonu’ (tavern jargon) in politics and learn to engage without swearing or punching microphones.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like soL Haber frame the story by highlighting Erdoğan’s direct insult to Özel with ‘meyhane jargonu,’ portraying it as a personal attack. Right-leaning NTV Haber emphasizes Erdoğan’s condemnation of an attack on Zeynep Güneş before noting his reaction to Özel, presenting him positively. No center-leaning coverage, omitting neutral framing.

Story gist: Aziz İhsan Aktaş requested the lifting of his overseas travel ban during the ninth hearing of his criminal organization case in Turkey. He stated that he received contracts from municipalities governed by both AKP and CHP.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Cumhuriyet emphasizes Aktaş’s demand and his claim of bipartisan municipal contracts, framing it defensively. Right-leaning Anadolu Ajansı highlights the criminal organization case’s ninth hearing, stressing legal proceedings. Center-leaning coverage is absent, omitting neutral focus on court details or broader context.

Story gist: AFAD and Kandilli announced recent earthquakes on February 12, 2026, in Turkey. Coverage details locations including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, and queries the latest quake’s place and magnitude.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, lacking any coverage. Center (NTV) frames with urgent ‘breaking news’ tone, emphasizing ‘just now’ quakes in major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir to heighten immediacy. Right (Habertürk) uses factual announcement style, focusing on official AFAD/Kandilli reports of where and magnitude without city-specific alarm.

Story gist: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the United States. Trump sent Netanyahu a message stating that negotiations with Iran should continue.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets omitted coverage entirely, leaving the story absent from that perspective. Center outlets like Euronews neutrally highlighted Trump’s direct message to Netanyahu urging continued Iran negotiations. Right-leaning Sabah used a speculative headline questioning ‘what kind of Trump awaits Netanyahu,’ emphasizing uncertainty in their upcoming meeting.