Culture How ‘dog mom’ vacuum cleaner ad sparked culture war in Turkey A Mother’s Day advertisement featuring a “dog mom” triggered a backlash from conservative media, government officials and regulators, turning a soft consumer campaign into a flashpoint over motherhood, declining birth rates, stray dogs and even antisemitism. Turkey
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 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
Bomb scare ends century-old run of Turkish soccer match Turkey's postponement of a major soccer match reveals much about the country's failure to combat terror, and cancellations of other public events are likely to follow. Turkey
Is Turkey ready to become Europe’s border guard? Opposition says the deal aims to reduce Europe’s discomfort and poses a threat to Turkey. Syria
Is Turkey swaying back toward Iran? The recent visits of Turkey’s prime minister to Iran and the Iranian foreign minister to Turkey may indicate a turning point in relations between these two important neighbors. Turkey
Massoud Barzani vows to fight corruption with same dedication as KRG has fought IS Speaking exclusively to Al-Monitor, Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani discussed his meetings with the judiciary to launch a corruption investigation, starting with his own family and the KDP. Iraq
Why are Turkey’s dogs committing suicide? The problem of abandoned dogs in Turkey has worsened in recent years, and animal rights groups are standing up to promote anti-abuse legislation. Turkey
Will the Islamic State survive 2016? The Islamic State's loss of territory has some experts predicting its demise, but are we sure? Iraq
EU deal with Turkey to send back refugees already on thin ice The consensus on the resolution of the Syrian refugee crisis by Turkey and the European Union may not last long due to its fragile framework. Syria
What Russia's withdrawal means for Syria conflict Opinions vary about the repercussions and motives behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria. Syria
Erdogan takes authoritarian rule to new heights in war on PKK Terrorist bombing in Turkey kills two Americans as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan resurrects "thought crimes" in confronting critics; Is Iran a spoiler in Palestinian politics? Israel cool to feelers from Sudan. Saudi Arabia
Tough days for foreigners in Turkey Five bomb attacks in major cities over the past six months have made life difficult for foreigners living in Turkey. Turkey
Istanbul residents retreat from public spaces following latest attack In the wake of the March 19 suicide attack in Istanbul, Turks are questioning why security vulnerabilities increase as police visibility and power increase. Turkey
What it's like to be a foreign journalist in Turkey Most foreign journalists in Turkey are reminded of the government’s power while trying to renew residency permits and press cards. Turkey