AGP Executive Report

Noah’s Ark Hunt in Türkiye: Researchers in Ağrı used ground-penetrating radar to scan the Durupınar formation near Mount Ararat, reporting underground anomalies and cavities that could be natural—or linked to ship-shaped remains—while building 3D models and detailed maps. Cancer Risk From a Dermatoscope: Ankara University analyzed 1,091 confirmed basal cell carcinoma tumors and found visible ulceration (especially over half the lesion) strongly signals aggressive biology, pointing to a future “forecast” role for routine skin exams. Türkiye’s High-Tech Manufacturing Milestone: TurkStat data show high-tech manufacturing output in Türkiye crossed 1 trillion lira in 2025 for the first time, with 4,070 high-tech enterprises and rising employment. Türkiye’s Tech-Driven Defense Industry: Türkiye’s next-gen cruise missile completed ground-launched tests, underscoring continued progress in indigenous high-tech weapons development. Aegean Tensions Meet OSINT: A Turkish OSINT group claims it mapped Greek ammunition storage and military installations using public sources, preparing an interactive map—raising new questions about open-source monitoring and security. Türkiye’s Global Media Reach: Culture and Tourism officials say Turkish TV series exports now exceed $1B and are boosting tourism interest by driving viewers to search filming locations and destinations.

National AI Governance: Turkey will set up a National Artificial Intelligence Board chaired by President Erdoğan, with a progress and transparency portal and a separate ethics board to guide bias, explainability, security and oversight. Renewables Deal: Erdoğan approved a Turkey–Saudi intergovernmental framework for renewable projects, including 1,000 MW solar plants in Sivas and Karaman and a second phase adding 3,000 MW, with 30-year investment terms. Defense Tech & Data: The UK and Ukraine signed an AI defence partnership giving UK researchers access to Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs battlefield data from cameras and infrared sensors to train models for national security. Counter-Drone Handbook: US JIATF 401 published a first-principles guide for countering small drones, drawing on lessons from recent drone campaigns and counter-drone deployments. Maritime Energy Support: SAAM Towage took delivery of a new LNG-support tug, designed for energy-efficient operations and firefighting capability, for Colombia’s growing LNG terminals. Archaeology With Tech Angle: Turkey announced an 11,000-year-old Neolithic statue of a human riding a leopard from Karahantepe, adding fresh material for early human history research. Health & Biosecurity: CEPI-backed work is advancing a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine candidate toward early clinical trials, with Minapharm leading development.

Ebola Vaccine Push: Egypt’s Minapharm Group will receive up to $16.5m from CEPI to move its Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate into early-stage clinical trials in Africa, using a Berlin-designed MVA platform. Counter-Drone Handbook: U.S. JIATF 401 released a first-principles, 90-page guide for countering small drones, drawing lessons from recent Middle East drone campaigns and Ukraine. Turkey Manufacturing Finance: Turkey unveiled a TL 250bn ($5.18bn) employment-linked loan package for manufacturers, with grace periods up to six months and maturities up to 36 months; financing costs can drop to as low as 25% if employment targets are met. High-Tech Output Milestone: TurkStat reports Türkiye’s high-tech manufacturing production value crossed 1 trillion lira in 2025, with 479,164 enterprises operating and high-tech firms up sharply over five years. Privacy-Preserving AI: Turkish researchers proposed a machine-learning framework that trains stronger predictive models across institutions without pooling sensitive raw data, while handling differences between data sources. Space Education: Turkic States’ secretary general backed Turkic youth to lead future space research at Türkiye’s Space Camp in İzmir, highlighting cube-satellite cooperation. Defense Tech Watch: Roketsan said Türkiye’s Çakır next-gen cruise missile completed ground-launched tests against land and maritime targets, including extended-range performance.

Space & Science Diplomacy: Türkiye will sign the NASA-led Artemis Accords on Aug. 31 at NASA HQ in Washington, with Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır attending—another step for Turkey’s civil space cooperation. Public Health & Biotech: CEPI will invest up to $16.5m in Egypt’s Minapharm to push a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine candidate into Phase 1 trials in Africa, aiming to speed readiness for fast-growing outbreaks. Archaeology in Türkiye: Excavations at Karahan Tepe in Şanlıurfa uncovered an 11,000-year-old Neolithic statue of a person riding a leopard, adding to evidence of early symbolic art. Ancient Discovery (Western Türkiye): Archaeologists at Adramytteion (Balıkesir) report a remarkably preserved Roman villa with mosaics, frescoes, and advanced drainage. Energy & Regional Trade: Egypt is weighing LNG supply needs as Cyprus’ Cronos project nears—potentially reshaping a Turkey-adjacent Mediterranean gas corridor. Industry Watch: UK auto production fell 11.6% in July, with exports down across major markets including Turkey, while EV output rose 6.8%.

Turkish Green Policy: Türkiye has published the regulation for its Emissions Trading System (TR ETS) in the Official Gazette, aiming to cut greenhouse gases, align monitoring/reporting/verification with the EU ETS, and speed the green transformation. AI & Industry: A local AI cloud project is putting 400+ Nvidia GPUs to work, while separate global tech news flags Nvidia’s 70% sales forecast bump and a reported Hugging Face acquisition talk—signals that AI infrastructure and tooling remain hot. Security & Regional Tech/Defense: Ankara says Turkish troops are likely to stay in Syria after the SDF’s dissolution, shifting the mission toward supporting President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government. Cyber/Influence: A report claims Russia used a fabricated-news campaign to target a US-backed Armenian AI project, showing how AI-linked infrastructure is becoming an information battleground. Mobility/Travel Tech: Northern Cyprus will introduce an e-visa for Nigerians, Armenians and Syrians, with processing expected within 30 days (up to 60). Health Tech: CEPI backs an Egyptian Ebola vaccine candidate (Bundibugyo) with up to $16.5m to move into early human trials. Human Rights: A new Turkish law allowing children aged 15+ to face life sentences has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights groups.

Turkey-Linked Defence Industry: Nigeria doubled down on self-reliant, tech-driven defence manufacturing at the 7th Nigeria–Türkiye Defence Industry forum in Abuja, citing DICON Act 2023 and pushing for technology transfer and local production. Cybersecurity & AI: The US says it disrupted a Chinese hacking operation targeting sensitive government networks, while OpenAI reports Russian-linked ChatGPT accounts were used to seed a covert influence campaign. AI in Military Decision-Making: NATO’s Indo-Pacific Four partners (Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand) are looking to learn from NATO’s AI-enabled decision support systems to improve coalition targeting and coordination. Digital Safety Rules: Meta agreed to pay up to $18B in a US settlement over claims its platforms were designed to addict children, as more countries move to curb youth social media access. Turkey Tech & Society: Crisis Connect, an offline-first emergency communication app, is expanding across Android and iOS for disasters when networks fail. Archaeology in Turkey: Excavations at Side and Kibyra delivered major Roman-era finds, while Karahantepe’s 11,000-year-old leopard-riding human statue adds to Turkey’s Neolithic spotlight.

AI Influence Ops: OpenAI says it banned ChatGPT accounts linked to Russia that used AI to ghostwrite English posts and disguise their origin, including a fake “Israel-based” think tank and content pushed across X, LinkedIn, Facebook and Telegram. Cybersecurity: The US disrupted a Chinese hacking campaign, seizing domains tied to “QScan” and “QTRouter” that targeted US government bodies and major institutions, including NASA and the Federal Reserve. Turkey-Region Security: Turkey is preparing for possible war scenarios while monitoring Greece–Israel military cooperation, according to a Defense Ministry letter cited by Nordic Monitor. Defence Industry (Nigeria–Türkiye): Nigeria and Türkiye used their 7th defence forum to push a shift from buyer-seller deals to joint production, technology transfer, local manufacturing and R&D, with warnings against inflating contract figures. ADEX 2026: Lockheed Martin and SIG SAUER will debut at Azerbaijan’s ADEX 2026, where Türkiye’s defence firms—including ASELSAN, BAYKAR, TAI and HAVELSAN—are set for a major presence. Archaeology in Türkiye: New finds at the Manzikert battlefield include Byzantine ballista bolt heads, while a digital “Islam History Atlas” maps nearly 1,300 years of Islamic history. Tech Policy: New Zealand proposes a minimum age of 16 for harmful social media and AI companions, following Australia’s lead.

Iran Sanctions Push: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” expanding secondary sanctions tied to Iran’s digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping, warning trading partners and enablers they face penalties and possible unilateral action. China Pushback: China’s foreign ministry said it “firmly opposes” the move and will take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests, urging a US-Iran ceasefire instead of “economic warfare.” Turkey in the Crosshairs: US messaging explicitly flags major Iran trading partners that could include Turkey, as Washington tries to choke Tehran’s access to the dollar-based system. Maritime Risk Near Hormuz: Regional reporting says Iran-Oman talks are exploring a temporary shipping corridor and mine-clearing, while tanker traffic shifts and a vessel near Oman was hit, disabling its engine room. Archaeology in Türkiye: At Karahantepe, Turkish archaeologists announced an 11,000-year-old stone sculpture of a human seated on a leopard, adding to evidence of complex Neolithic ritual life. Ancient Health Clue: Another Türkiye dig reports the earliest known plague evidence in Anatolia from a Byzantine-era necropolis near Nicaea/İznik. Tech & Media: EditShare will demo FLOW AI transcription expansion (including Turkish) at IBC2026, while Kyivstar launched a travel eSIM “Travel SIM” for roaming mobile internet across dozens of countries including Türkiye.

AI Infrastructure: Lancium and Nvidia are teaming up to roll out gigawatt-scale AI data center capacity, using Nvidia’s AI factory platform and power-management tech across Lancium sites. Autonomous Defense Tech: NATO’s Military Committee chiefs will meet Sept 18-19 in Copenhagen to discuss deterrence, defense, innovation and technology, with a focus on support for Ukraine. Turkish Aerospace & Naval Power: Türkiye’s first domestic T-625 Gökbey helicopter crew has completed training, and the Navy confirms the MUGEM indigenous aircraft carrier launch target of Sept 27, 2027. Cyber & Kids’ Rights: Amnesty International warns that children’s online safety is being undermined by Big Tech’s surveillance and AI-driven engagement systems, calling for youth input in digital rights rules. Mobile Security: Zimperium reports 800+ banking/fintech apps targeted by 30 mobile malware families across EMEA, with Turkey among the most hit markets. Archaeology in Türkiye: Iznik excavations near a Roman theatre uncovered what researchers call the earliest known plague case in Anatolia. Regional Tech-Defense Watch: Ukraine unveiled a purpose-built drone aircraft carrier concept using a marine drone mothership to launch airborne strike drones.

Child Justice Reform: Human Rights Watch warns Türkiye’s new law allowing prison terms up to 27 years for children (and life for 15+) risks violating international child-rights norms, urging a shift toward science-based rehabilitation and open, educational approaches. Sanctions & Finance: The US launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” an “economic D-Day” aimed at severing Iran’s financial lifelines via expanded secondary sanctions across oil, shipping, technology, gold and digital assets, with Treasury warning countries and firms to cut ties or face exclusion from the dollar system. Syria De-listing: Washington removed Syria from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list and revoked HTS/Al-Nusra designations, signaling sanctions relief for the post-Assad government while stressing counter-terror posture. Energy Markets: The IEA chief says coal may get a boost as geopolitical shocks disrupt supply and governments pay more for reliable energy. EV Safety in Türkiye: Chinese EV maker Skywell’s engineers arrived to investigate reported thermal incidents in Turkey’s ET5 models, as disputes over charges and warranty handling spark consumer backlash. Agriculture & Water: Türkiye’s agriculture minister says the country ranks 7th globally and 1st in Europe in agricultural output, citing irrigation buildout and large-scale afforestation. Travel Tech: Turkish Cypriot authorities plan an e-visa system for Armenians, Nigerians and Syrians, aiming to modernize crossings with faster processing.

Maritime Tech & Defense: FNSS unveiled the U-MAV unmanned amphibious vehicle at TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland, designed to make first contact with shore defenses and support manned-unmanned teams, while Turkish Aerospace is also pushing AKSUNGUR toward higher payload and longer endurance for persistent maritime ISR and strike. Drone & Missile Tech: The UK plans to declassify classified components so Ukraine can build SCALP cruise missiles using British-French technology, a move Russia calls direct war participation. Blue Homeland Security: Türkiye’s leadership stressed expanding maritime security capabilities as geopolitical competition grows, highlighting new naval platforms and unmanned systems showcased at the festival. Climate & Water: DSİ data shows precipitation up 75.4% year-on-year and dam occupancy rising to 68.9%, but experts warn drought recovery isn’t guaranteed. Behavioral Health Research: Istanbul hosts the 11th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions, bringing together global researchers on gambling, gaming, social media use, and compulsive behaviors. Biodiversity Discovery: Türkiye researchers report 13 new plant species, feeding into a major illustrated flora project. Archaeology: At Sardis, a nearly 2,500-year-old monumental statue was unearthed after being reused as paving stones.

Syria-Israel De-escalation Talks: Syria’s foreign minister met Israel’s Mossad chief in Jordan, mediated by the US, aiming to stop attacks and targeting operations after an Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase near Turkey’s border. Regional Security Spillover: The same reporting frames the dispute as a contest over Syria’s sovereignty and Turkey’s regional reach, with Washington pushing for a security agreement between Israel and Syria. Maritime Energy Dispute: Cyprus urged the UN to demand Turkey fully comply with international law and halt work tied to an undersea gas pipeline “memorandum,” citing navigational warnings and research vessel deployments. Turkish Defense Tech: A new Turkish infrared detector is highlighted as a homegrown capability with potential use in UAVs, armored forces, tanks and missile defense, supporting Türkiye’s push to reduce foreign dependence. Justice Tech Upgrade: Türkiye launched the “Alo Adalet 135” hotline to flag court delays earlier via local efficiency offices, focusing on administrative bottlenecks while keeping judges’ decisions outside the system. Travel Tech in Türkiye: TravelDistro rolled out QR-issued attraction tickets and a unified payments-style API for travel agencies, adding tickets, tours, transfers, car rental, eSIM and hotels through one contract. Teknofest Blue Homeland Wrap: Türkiye’s maritime defense festival in Kocaeli showcased domestic naval platforms and unmanned systems, ending with high-level attendance and hands-on tech displays.

Maritime Tech Showcase: Teknofest Blue Homeland wrapped up in Kocaeli, spotlighting Türkiye’s naval platforms and unmanned systems with crowds packing interactive demos. Judicial Efficiency Tech: Ankara launched the “Alo Adalet 135” hotline to flag court delays early, with local offices tracking administrative bottlenecks to speed up justice. Defense & Robotics: Türkiye’s TEKNOFEST maritime edition also highlighted unmanned underwater systems and autonomous concepts, while China’s humanoid robots kept breaking sprint and factory-style challenge records. Travel Infrastructure APIs: TravelDistro launched Türkiye’s API-first B2B travel marketplace, using signed requests and idempotency to reduce booking failures across tickets, hotels, transfers, tours, car rental and eSIM. Aviation Maintenance Capacity: Turkish Technic opened its 7th hangar at Atatürk Airport, boosting simultaneous aircraft maintenance capacity to 57. Energy & Geology: Sabah reported Türkiye’s first shale oil extraction near Diyarbakır using modern methods, adding momentum to domestic unconventional energy efforts. Archaeology: Excavations at Sapinuwa (Çorum) are probing a 3,400-year-old Hittite structure, with carbon dating pointing to the 1380s B.C.

Archaeology & Heritage: Excavations in Aydın’s ancient Tralleis uncovered a large Roman frigidarium “cold plunge” pool inside the Hamam Gymnasium complex, part of Türkiye’s “Legacy for the Future” project. Education & Climate Adaptation: Reports from the UK highlight how extreme heat is forcing schools to close early or shift calendars, with concerns about exam performance and child concentration. Defense & Regional Tensions: Israel says it struck Syria’s al-Duhur airbase to stop a Turkish plan that could include radar, air defenses and a commando force—while Türkiye’s role in Syria remains a flashpoint for escalation fears. Tech & Industry: Burgan Bank in Kuwait received an MSCI ESG rating upgrade from BB to BBB, signaling deeper sustainability and risk-management integration. Energy & Trade Routes: A new look at global chokepoints argues that with Hormuz disrupted, attention shifts to other bottlenecks shaping oil prices and logistics. Space/Imagination Meets Science: A renewed Noah’s Ark radar-scan claim from Turkey’s Durupınar Formation keeps the debate alive, now framed around deeper underground anomalies.

Climate Diplomacy: China is reportedly weighing a bid to host UN climate talks in 2028 (COP33), with the UNFCCC saying no formal nomination has been received yet—coming after Turkey’s COP31 and Ethiopia’s COP32. Health & Tech Cooperation: Egypt will train 20 doctors in Türkiye in robotic surgery, catheterisation and advanced cardiac care under a tripartite plan involving Koç University Hospital and Medtronic. Maritime Robotics in Türkiye: TCG Anadolu hosted a 5G-linked robotic surgery telementoring test during Teknofest Blue Homeland, with Kocaeli University guiding a shipboard surgical team in real time. Defense Industry & Uncrewed Systems: FNSS completed its first U-MAV modular unmanned amphibious vehicle prototype in five months, aiming to support unmanned first-wave beach landings. Strategic Comms: Türkiye’s Communications Directorate ran STRATCOM events in Tokyo on AI, digital sovereignty, disinformation and economic security. Air Defense Watch: Analysis flags speculation that Türkiye could revisit Chinese long-range air-defense options if Western access tightens amid Syria tensions.

COP33 Bid Watch: China is reportedly weighing a run to host the 2028 UN climate summit, with COP31 set for Turkey this November and COP32 in Ethiopia—leaving the host decision for the Asia-Pacific group still unclear. Archaeology in Anatolia: Turkish teams report ancient turtle figurines from İn Cave, dated up to ~16,500 years ago, pointing to ritual life at the end of the last Ice Age. Maritime Defense Tech: At TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland, STM says its domestically built NETA autonomous underwater vehicle has entered mass production, with mine-hunting systems next. AI & Travel Friction: A case involving an Agoda booking where an Istanbul hotel appeared closed highlights how automation can fail travelers when human support is needed. Seismic Monitoring: New reporting flags intense microearthquake activity near Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands, keeping local risk attention on. Energy Security Angle: The IEA compares Strait of Hormuz disruption to a “broken vase,” stressing long-term damage to global energy markets.