Analysis Will Democrats block Trump’s push to deliver Turkey F-35s, lift sanctions? Democratic control of Congress complicates Turkey’s push for F-35s and sanctions relief, but Ankara remains hopeful Trump can still broker a deal. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Nisantasi beyond the shop windows Also this week: Hopdaddy burgers, Ara Guler’s photographs and Istanbul’s apartment stories. By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Costa Rica's Grynspan extends lead in UNSG poll as Nusseibeh places fourth The Costa Rican candidate received 12 encourage votes in Thursday's UN Security Council straw poll. United Arab Emirates
Turkey’s parliament ratifies Mecca pact in boost to Saudi Arabia Turkey will now decide the scope of military support for Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Iran-backed Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Turkey
Rich Ottoman recipes grace Istanbul tables A restaurant in Istanbul's historical district of Fatih has revived 500-year-old Ottoman recipes, including a special goose dish that help develop lasting relationships with regional farmers. Turkey
Turkey eyes amphibious jets after forest fire fiasco Following Ankara's embarrassing failure to control forest fires this summer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to be negotiating to purchase Russian firefighting planes. Turkey
Turkey slashes interest rates to kickstart economy Turkey's central bank has cuts interest rates more than expected after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised that the measure would reduce inflation and ease Turks' pain. Turkey
New pipeline in works to transport Iraqi oil to Turkey Iraq and Turkey are building a brand-new pipeline that will transfer Kirkuk oil to Turkey and tie into Iraq's existing pipeline network. Iraq
Regional, international actors risk making matters worse in Iraq's Sinjar The conflict over controlling the strategic area of Sinjar along Iraq's borders with Turkey and Syria has made the Yazidis' situation worse. Iraq
Turkey's pro-Kurdish HDP returns from Erbil with no news on PKK talks A delegation from Turkey’s largest pro-Kurdish party paid a visit to Iraqi Kurdistan that many Kurds hoped would lead to renewed dialogue between Turkey and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, but nothing concrete seems to have yet emerged. Turkey
Can Turkey escape the fireball in Idlib? Protesters in Idlib are calling Turkey traitorous, but that’s only a small part of the big picture, in which radical jihadi groups emerge as a fireball in all scenarios for Ankara, entertaining menacing ambitions. Syria
A generational change is looming in Turkish politics New names for the post-Erdogan era signify a generational change in Turkish politics. Turkey
More academics acquitted in Turkey, sparking cautious hope A Turkish court ruling has led to the acquittal of 27 academics convicted and on trial over terror charges, but the shaken defendants are hesitant to believe the decision will stand and be extended to hundreds of their purged colleagues. Turkey
Turkish drones in Libya are a strategic and family affair Drones manufactured by the company of the Turkish president’s son-in-law been prominently involved in what has become a proxy war between Turkey and the UAE in Libya. United Arab Emirates
Pentagon says it’s 'on time' with Syria safe zone despite questions The Pentagon said Monday it is "on time" or ahead of schedule in most areas of setting up a safe zone in Syria after initial patrols with Turkish troops over the weekend, despite lingering questions about the size and depth of the area. Syria
Joint US-Turkish patrols begin in north Syria amid Kurdish concerns Turkish and US troops have begun joint ground patrols in the area of Tell Abyad, the first time Turkish troops crossed into the US-protected and Kurdish-administered zone. Syria