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
Deadly fire in religious girls dorm shakes Turkey Tragedies similar to the deadly fire in a religious girls dorm in Turkey will continue until the mindset that causes them changes. Turkey
Turkey's Sirnak now nothing but rubble The nine-month-long curfew on Sirnak was lifted after security forces cleared the trenches, barricades and booby traps of the PKK urban warfare units. But Sirnak is now one big pile of rubble. Turkey
Why are the flames of Aleppo burning Turkey? As they continue to suffer defeats, Syrian opposition forces are being pressed back against the Turkish border, signaling yet another nightmare in the making. Syria
Russian-rebel talks resume as Erdogan backs down on Assad Talks between Russia and Syrian rebels were reportedly derailed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's contradictory statements on Syria, but they have apparently resumed after he and the Russian president spoke on the phone and Erdogan publicly declared that Turkey is only targeting terrorist organizations in northern Syria. Syria
As risk rises, will Turkey persist in quest for al-Bab? The Turkish army, which so far has avoided actively fighting in Syria, now faces increasing danger as it advances to al-Bab. Syria
How Turkey plans to lure more Arab tourists Scrambling to stop the downturn in its vital tourism sector, Turkey plans to build special holiday villages for Arab tourists. Turkey
Why this Palestinian university is offering Turkish language courses Al-Quds University is the first Palestinian university to offer Turkish language courses to its students, in an effort to promote cooperation between the two countries. Palestine
Shiite forces advance on Tal Afar in Mosul operation Predominately Shiite Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) have liberated Tal Afar airport to the west of Mosul and now seek to coordinate with Kurdish peshmerga forces on the front. Iraq
Is Turkey all talk, or will it split from the West, NATO? Ankara is sending out plenty of signals that it might leave the West and head east toward Russia and China. Turkey
Kremlin unsure how to take Erdogan's vow to topple Assad A Russian diplomat has expressed confusion and cautious disapproval over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly saying that Turkey's main objective in Syria is to topple the regime. Syria
Why Aleppo’s fall will be a game-changer for Turkey The recapture of Aleppo by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces could turn the tables on Turkey. Iraq
How the Turkish lira entered free fall The European Parliament’s vote to suspend Turkey’s membership talks is the latest move to worsen the rapid decline of the Turkish lira's foreign exchange rates. Turkey