Turkey, Japan launch defense industry partnership with eye on drones The initiative could eventually lead to joint UAV development and production as Japan looks to expand drone capabilities amid regional tensions. Turkey
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hezbollah commanders killed as renewed strikes test Lebanon-Israel talks Israeli strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon raise new doubts over a fragile ceasefire ahead of expected talks in Washington. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Saudi FM in Turkey as Ankara, Riyadh step up coordination amid Iran war Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visit to Ankara comes amid rapidly expanding Turkish-Saudi coordination as the fallout from the Iran war reshapes Gulf security dynamics. Turkey
Newsletter: Daily Briefing US pauses Hormuz escort mission as Trump cites progress on Iran talks A tentative diplomatic opening with Iran emerges as the US sustains its pressure campaign. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul “Form-Craft-Activism” spotlights the labor behind making By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Turkey’s potential xenophobia goes beyond Syrian refugees Growing popular resentment of refugees and migrants is on course to become the second hot-button election topic in Turkey after the economic crisis, but the government is not in a position to force the return of Syrians, the main component of the problem. Turkey
Difference over Syrian refugee policy behind unseemly feud between Turkish politicians The founder of a small right-wing party challenges the interior minister in row over repatriations — but is it an attempt to gain support as Turks grow weary of refugees? Turkey
Silenced Turkish singers decry continued music ban Turkish government persistence on not removing the live music ban draws outcry from the entertainment and music industry. Turkey
Erdogan’s plan for return of Syrian refugees unlikely to succeed Erdogan’s new plan to encourage the voluntary return of Syrian refugees promises little success as long as fighting, militia violations and insecurity continue in Syria. Turkey
Istanbul mayor’s PR fiasco bruises presidential ambitions Istanbul's popular opposition mayor hit a pothole on his informal presidential campaign trail when a photograph sparked outrage and he responded, some detractors say, like an aspiring Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Can Ankara-Riyadh rapprochement help improve Turkey-Egypt ties? Although Ankara has secured several diplomatic strides by normalizing its relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, rapprochement with Egypt still seems a challenging prospect. Turkey
Analysis Sinjar becomes latest flashpoint for Iran-Turkey tensions in Iraq New Pentagon IG report says that the Turkey-PKK conflict and Iranian militias are contributing to instability in Iraq. By Week in Review
Culture Turkish soccer in dire straits due to economic crisis, power struggles Turkey’s soccer sector has hit rock bottom as power struggles as well as financial and structural difficulties set in. Turkey
Turkish inflation jumps from 20% to 70% in just six months Even if monthly price increases ease to an average of 5% in the coming months, Turkey would face an annual consumer inflation of over 100% in the fall and finish the year with a rate of some 90%. Turkey
More niceties, zero progress in third round of Turkey-Armenia peace talks Turkey and Armenia's third round of rapprochement talks have produced little of substance as Armenians protested by in the thousands and called for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign. Turkey
Bulgaria looks to Turkey for help with gas shortage Russia has cut gas exports to Bulgaria, leaving Sofia looking to Ankara, which has some tough decisions to make. Turkey
Erdogan unveils plans to send 1 million Syrians back as anti-refugee sentiment escalates As anti-refugee sentiment rises higher in Turkey during the Eid, Erdogan pledges a build-and-return project enabling more than a million Syrians to return “voluntarily” to northern Syria. Turkey