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
Can Qatar and Germany save Turkey’s economy? The Turkish lira was up a few points after Qatar's leaders pledged to help Turkey and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made some positive statements, but will this be enough to get Turkey through its currency crisis? Qatar
Kurdish farmers hit by water crisis With neighboring Iran diverting rivers and building dams, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is in the midst of an already severe water crisis that threatens to get even worse, thanks to national and regional governments failing to acknowledge the urgency of the problem. Iraq
Turkey shares municipal expertise with Syrian engineers The municipality of the Turkish city of Kilis held a training for Syrian engineers in Syria’s Euphrates Shield area to help develop municipal services. Syria
Syrians flock home from Turkey for Eid despite danger Syrian refugees living in Turkey are returning home by the thousands for Eid al-Adha, and the border crossing facilities are working overtime to facilitate the process. Syria
Residential complex to house 1,500 families in Euphrates Shield area With the support of Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, the local council of al-Bab in the northeastern Aleppo countryside is building 1,500 residential units to accommodate families that have been displaced from eastern Ghouta. Syria
Turkey kills PKK leader in Sinjar A Turkish airstrike has killed a senior leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party in Sinjar, to the dismay of the Iraqi Yazidis the group rescued. Iraq
Four years after genocide, thousands of Yazidis languish in Turkey Displaced Yazidis who fled from IS' brutality to Turkey have been languishing in camps and tenements for years, hoping to reach the West. Their departure threatens the survival of one of the Middle East’s oldest religions. Iraq
Iran-US conflict leaves Abadi in a dilemma By rectifying his statement on supporting US sanctions against Iran, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is balancing between the United States and Iran in Iraq to keep both sides as his supportive allies. Iraq
Book boom reflects Turkish interest in military history The growing popularity of military history publications over the past two years offers clues to a transformation in Turkish society. Turkey
Ankara frees Amnesty International chair Amnesty International's Turkey chair Taner Kilic was finally freed today as Turkey looks to Europe for help with its financial woes. Turkey
Russian, Turkish officials meet, keep low profile on Idlib ideas Moscow and Ankara seem to share some common goals regarding Syria, but don't necessarily agree on how to reach them. Syria
Will AKP-linked biker gang scuttle a Berlin-Ankara rapprochement? During the current row with the United States, Turkish leaders have rediscovered their love for the European Union, particularly Germany, but the illegal activities of the Osmanen Germania Biker Club in Germany and its ties to the Ankara government could complicate efforts to improve relations. Turkey