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
Eastern Mediterranean may be scene of first conflict of 2018 Developments warn of growing tension between Turkey and the Greek Cypriots over newly discovered hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Christmas trees in Aleppo? A new roof in Bethlehem, a desecrated altar in Diyarbakir, Christmas trees in Aleppo and an appreciation of “fellow travelers” in faith. Palestine
Turkey's 'war machine' goes global The ambitious Turkish gendarmerie command is seeking to form a cooperative agency with countries in and around Central Asia as part of its increased involvement in Turkey's foreign policy. Turkey
Turkey-UAE rift may have unintended spillover The conflict between Ankara and Abu Dhabi may spill over into Turkey's ties with Saudi Arabia and the United States. Legacy: Gulf
'Don't send us to our death' Saudi sisters beg Turkey Two sisters from Saudi Arabia are fighting deportation from Turkey, where they fled violence back home, but the court order still stands. Saudi Arabia
How ‘Kurdistan’ became illegal in Turkey, again The Turkey of 2013 and the Turkey of 2017 are very different places, which is why uttering the word “Kurdistan” is once again a punishable offense in the parliament. Turkey
Are hit squads about to take aim at Turkey's dissidents abroad? A Turkish parliamentarian has told Al-Monitor that Western officials believe dissidents and religious minority leaders in exile are being targeted by Turkish government operatives for assassination. Turkey
Iconic Armenian church survives war but not plunder in Turkey The Surp Giragos Armenian Church in Diyarbakir enters the Christmas season as a victim of plunder and vandalism, despite its location in a sealed-off area with heavy security presence. Turkey
Pro-Erdogan media targets Saudis after Trump's Jerusalem decision Let's hope Turkey can afford its alienation of Saudi Arabia and Saudi allies for the cause of Jerusalem. Saudi Arabia
Turkey closes door to bitcoin Against the backdrop of a global bitcoin frenzy, the Turkish government has taken a stance against cryptocurrencies. Turkey
Turkish commander accuses US of sabotage Distrust between the United States and Turkey is at a new low as an anonymous Turkish commander claims that US-manufactured and supplied bombs dropped on Kurdish separatist targets were duds. Turkey
Turkish government mum about abducted intelligence personnel Several senior Turkish intelligence officials have been in PKK hands for more than three months, but the government is refusing to share what it knows about them with the parliament. Iraq