Turkey extends flight ban to Sulaimaniyah

Turkey seems to be expressing its opposition to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's candidate for the Iraqi presidency by extending its ban on flights to Sulaimaniyah, but the move may represent the extent of Ankara's influence over political machinations in Baghdad.

Iraq

How Syrian artists are livening up Turkey’s art scene

Syrian artists who have come to Turkey found it difficult to find platforms to showcase their work, but this may be changing slowly.

Syria

Putin grants Erdogan last chance to end Idlib quagmire on Turkey’s terms

Erdogan saves face in Sochi; did Turkey and Syria collaborate to capture Reyhanli terrorist?; Erdogan, Ocalan and Syria.

Syria

Turkey downsizes economic growth outlook as crisis bites

Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak has unveiled a much anticipated plan to rescue Turkey from its economic woes, pledging to adhere to stricter fiscal policy and focus on financial stability.

Turkey

'Gezi generation' flees Turkey

Well-educated, qualified young people from Turkey’s “Gezi generation,” which led mass anti-government protests in the summer of 2013, are increasingly emigrating to the West, having lost hope in the future of their country.

Turkey

Fate of jailed Kurdish leader questioned as Turkey shuns peace

As a showdown looms in Idlib between Syrian government forces and Turkish-backed opposition rebels, Ankara faces the prospect of further turmoil, while long-stalled Turkish-Kurdish talks seem unlikely to be revived nearly 20 years after Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan was jailed.

Syria

Turkish court keeps former NASA scientist in prison

NASA scientist Serkan Golge, in jail on coup-plot charges, lost an initial appeal to a Turkish court. His wife believes he is a captive in Ankara’s feud with Washington, which has flexed diplomatic and economic muscle to free another jailed American.

Turkey

Idlib still wary of attack despite Turkish-Russian agreement

Despite the Turkish-Russian agreement on a buffer zone in Idlib, the opposition-held city is preparing for an attack by the regime.

Syria

How did Turkey end up with VIP plane it didn’t need?

A Qatar leader's VIP plane that had first been put up for sale ended up as a gift for Erdogan, causing a major stir in Turkey.

United Arab Emirates

Syrian girl’s Twitter account accused of Western propaganda

Russia has accused the West of manipulating the Twitter account of a six-year-old girl from Idlib, who is posting about the suffering of children in the province ahead of an imminent regime offensive.

Syria

Dozens of Turkish airport workers jailed after protest

A labor protest demanding better conditions and a safer workplace at Istanbul’s controversial new airport, due to open in six weeks, lands 24 workers in jail pending formal charges. Officials say they are provocateurs seeking to sully one of Turkey’s grandest infrastructure projects.

Turkey

Erdogan scores diplomatic wins in meetings with Putin, Merkel

Despite negative portrayals of President Erdogan, he has been successful in his recent diplomatic efforts.

Syria