Newsletter: Turkey Turkey navigates Gulf rivalries while Kurdish peace efforts resurface Turkey hosts a flurry of regional diplomacy while fresh debate over Abdullah Ocalan’s future exposes new tensions in the Kurdish peace process. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul EU spotlights digital art in Ankara Also this week: A new chef’s table, ceramics and institutional debuts By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
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
Newsletter: Daily Briefing US pauses Hormuz escort mission as Trump cites progress on Iran talks By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
What Turkey fails to understand about IS Conspiracy theories keep Turkey’s new ruling class in a bubble of self-delusion, blinding them to the bitter and complex realities that Turkey faces. Turkey
Turkey's artists face growing government pressure Freedom of expression in the arts and entertainment have been under mounting government pressure to toe the AKP's conservative line or face sanctions. Turkey
Following reconciliation with Israel, will Turkey revive ties with Cairo next? While Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim expressed the desire for his country and Egypt to become closer politically and economically, Egyptian officials have reservations in this regard. Egypt
Is Turkey's radical foreign policy shift sustainable? The Turkish president's willingness to put practicality ahead of pettiness in international relations might be driven solely by his survival instincts, but it is desperately needed. Turkey
Turkey's pro-government media mired in CIA conspiracy theories Odd logic and pro-government leanings lead some Turkish media outlets to embrace theories of IS intrigue. Turkey
Turkey eyes African farmlands as own farmers go broke Turkey plans to lease farmlands in African countries as thousands of its own farmers have gone out of business amid decreased government support and an aggressive construction drive swallowing arable lands. Turkey
How Turkey’s televangelists gain money, mockery Religious leaders who allegedly receive astronomical sums for preaching Islam raise questions about the basics of faith and social practices in Turkey. Turkey
Will Turkey’s plan to bring in billions succeed? Scrambling to lure funds from abroad, the Turkish government has outlined unprecedented incentives for those who put money in Turkey, including Panama-style advantages and Turkish citizenship. Turkey
Ankara’s IS militants return home In one of the Islamic State’s main recruitment grounds in Turkey, about half of the recruits have returned home, but experts warn that the organization’s appeal is far from over. Syria
Erdogan’s latest wake-up call on Islamic State The Obama administration weighs deeper coordination with Moscow against Jabhat al-Nusra; Erdogan’s slow turnaround on Syria policy; Hamas seeks to resume ties with Iran. Palestine
Could Turkish-Israeli reconciliation eventually end Gaza siege? The reconciliation agreement between Israel and Turkey has been modestly welcomed in the Gaza Strip, as Palestinians hope it will lead the way to the end of the blockade. Palestine
Welcome to the most vulnerable country to terrorism As long as the Turkish government does not attach priority to the fight against IS, Turkey will remain the most vulnerable country in the world. Syria