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
Yazidis in Turkey camp wish for IS captives to return home Yazidis who have been in a camp near Mardin wish for their women and children to return home safely from IS captivity. Turkey
Is Turkey aligned with al-Qaeda affiliate in Idlib? Russian-Turkish relations worsen as Syrian forces advance in Idlib; Al-Monitor leads media coverage of Iran’s financial crisis — by six months; the American University of Beirut dedicates "transformative" Halim and Aida Daniel Academic and Clinical Center. Lebanon
Turkey’s optimistic plans in Iraq seem to be faltering Ankara thought it had promising deals with the Iraqi government — such as a new pipeline from Kirkuk, Iraq, to Ceyhan, Turkey, and a new crossing to Iraq — but the proposals now are in question. Iraq
Turkey’s national booze under government siege On top of sky-high taxes on liquor, the Turkish government has moved to thwart the home brewing of raki, the much-coveted national booze. Turkey
Macron slams door on Erdogan's EU ambitions The Turkish public's strong desire for its country to join the EU could eventually have political implications for its president, who just returned from Europe empty-handed — again. Turkey
Erdogan: No extradition to US until Turkey gets Gulen Turkey has announced it will suspend extraditions to the United States until Washington produces Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen as US-Turkish relations continue to circle the drain. Turkey
Turkey calls on Russia, Iran to get Syrian army under control The Syrian army's attacks against armed groups at Idlib could ignite tensions between Russia and Turkey. Syria
A new refugee flow to Europe: Turkish refugees The mass arrests in Turkey after the failed coup in July 2016 have prompted many Turks to flee their country for Europe. Turkey
Do improved ties with France, Germany signal end to Turkey’s EU bid? Turkish liberals lament the state of Ankara-EU relations, but pro-government analysts believe developing practical ties with key European powers is better than waiting at the EU’s door. Turkey
Russia, Iran must 'stop the regime' in Idlib, pleads Turkish FM Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has ramped up diplomatic efforts to get the Syrian government to halt its offensive in Idlib. Syria
Turks up in arms over religious green light for 9-year-old brides Huge public outrage forces Turkey’s top Islamic authority to step back from its endorsement of marriage for girls as young as age 9. Turkey
Erdogan's border-security bluster a snarl at Moscow The Turkish president has renewed threats to move against Syrian Kurdish forces, playing to his nationalist base with promises to secure Turkey's borders, but is unlikely to take action yet for fear of Russian retaliation. Syria