Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul “Form-Craft-Activism” spotlights the labor behind making Also this week: A century-old lokanta, cartoonists and labor cinema By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Turkey warns France over Cyprus troop deployment: What to know A potential French deployment to Greek Cyprus comes amid Turkey’s growing concerns of strategic encirclement in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Turkey advances gas pipeline plan to northern Cyprus as East Med rivalry grows The Turkish energy minister said the country's oil and natural gas pipeline operator, BOTAS, has started the engineering work for the pipeline. Turkey
In first, Libya’s rival armies to join drill in Turkey: What to know The move follows the first joint exercise inside Libya amid renewed international efforts to unify the country. Turkey
Analysis Why Saudi Arabia, Egypt are wary of Turkey’s proposed 4-way defense pact with Pakistan By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Contemporary art takes over restored Byzantine cistern By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Russia, UN take another stab at forming Syria’s constitutional committee Despite real progress on the formation of a constitutional committee for Syria, challenges remain ahead of a new round of Astana talks. Syria
Three years on, coup attempt continues to reshape Turkey On the third anniversary of the July 15 coup attempt, politics, foreign policy and daily life continue to bare marks of the night that would remake Turkey. Turkey
New Turkish political party in works as economy czar quits AKP Turkey’s former economy chief, Ali Babacan, quit the ruling party last week in the first overt move toward creating a new rival party. Turkey
Russia eyes big picture with S-400 sale to Turkey Russia's controversial S-400 deal with Turkey is more about constructing a Middle East less dependent on the United States than direct competition. Turkey
How Turkey is planning to handle US blowback over S-400s Some parts of the Russian made S-400 missile system arrived in Ankara in the last several days, but none of the shipment included missiles. Turkey
US forced to mull sanctions against Turkey after S-400 purchase The delivery of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system to Ankara has forced a new US sanctions regime into effect. Turkey
Traps abound as Iraq charts independent course based on ‘national vision’ Iraq's new foreign policy vision promotes noninterference and economic integration; Turkey's bombing of PKK sites in Iraq's Qandil Mountains tests Baghdad's resolve. Iraq
New challenges for Moscow with arrest of 'Russian trolls' in Libya Following the arrest of two Russians by Libyan security forces, the Government of National Accord is trying to sway Moscow away from Khalifa Hifter. Syria
Syrian refugees becoming scapegoats for Turkey’s troubles Turkey’s economic downturn and the lack of long-term residence options are putting pressure on the nation’s 3.6 million Syrian refugees. Syria
Ankara goes on risky quest to cut interest rates Bent on lowering interest rates, Turkey’s president took the extreme step of ousting the central bank governor, but his insistence on rate cuts is fraught with risks that could fan fresh economic turmoil. Turkey
Turkish-US talks on northern Syria stall as S-400 crisis peaks US envoy for Syria Jim Jeffrey tells the German Marshall Fund that a residual force of US troops will be staying in northeastern Syria for an "indeterminate time"; this decision appears to have been made in part to protect the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units from Turkey. Syria
Turkey's favorite TV cop returns, but not to Turkish channels The renegade Behzat C was Turkey's favorite cop for half a decade. Now he's back, just not on Turkish TV. Turkey