Erdogan taps Istanbul prosecutor as justice minister in cabinet reshuffle Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday appointed Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akin Gurlek, who has been overseeing the ongoing investigation against Turkey’s main opposition party as justice minister. Turkey
Analysis Eyeing Turkey, Netanyahu boosts Greece, Cyprus ties ahead of US visit Worried about the increasing empowerment of Turkey across the Middle East, Israel is making a show of neighborhood strength with Greece and Cyprus. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Turkey sentences journalist over 4 years in jail for threatening Erdogan Prominent Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli was sentenced to over four years in prison in a trial government critics say aimed at silencing one of Turkey's most influential journalists and intended to intimidate journalists nationwide. Turkey
Turkey sees FDI rise 58% as investor confidence returns Turkey’s economy is seeing an uptick in foreign investment after a financial downturn punctuated by its highest inflation on record. Turkey
Analysis Emboldened by Suwayda fallout, Syria’s Kurds hold their ground with Damascus By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Turkey's politicians play blame game as earthquake death toll hits 20,000 The ruling AKP and its ally MHP approved the bill on declaring a state of emergency for Turkey’s quake zone while opposition parties voted against it, saying the president already has sufficient powers for disaster management. Turkey
Hopes dim amid frantic earthquake rescues, as Turkey declares state of emergency President Erdogan says there are more than 53,000 rescuers in the 10 provinces, but locals complain that some neighborhoods are abandoned as hopes run out for people trapped in the debris. Turkey
How will Turkey’s killer earthquakes impact the country’s politics? The mood of the public could very well shift against Erdogan and the AKP if their response to the earthquake is not swift. Turkey
Can Erdogan run for third term in Turkey's upcoming election? The opposition declares Erdogan’s candidacy “unconstitutional” while the Turkish president says his path to run for a third term is "clear." Turkey
Turkey's pro-Kurdish party HDP faces threat of closure after top court ruling The decision, which comes less than four months before the country’s fateful elections, raises the prospect of the pro-Kurdish party's running on other parties' tickets or as independent candidates. Turkey
Murder of former Grey Wolves leader divides Turkey’s nationalists Questions raised this week about the December shooting of Sinan Ates have placed Erdogan’s allied MHP party under the spotlight as elections loom. Turkey
Finland lifts Turkey's arms embargo, is one step closer to NATO While Finland seems one step closer to NATO membership after Helsinki’s decision to resume defense sales to Turkey, Ankara’s anger at Sweden shows no signs of abating. Turkey
Analysis The Takeaway: Turkey’s F-16 deal proves hard sell in Congress Plus, imprisoned American Siamak Namazi launches a hunger strike in Iran, and Iraq repatriates hundreds from northeast Syria's Al-Hol camp. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Erdogan picks historically charged date of May 14 for Turkey’s crucial election Turkey’s president indicates elections will be held on May 14, a symbolic date in the country's multiparty democracy and a month earlier than expected. Turkey
Al-Monitor/Premise poll: Majority in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia on edge over food access In an exclusive poll in five countries across the Middle East and North Africa, 68% majority of the population worried about their ability to access food. By Al-Monitor Staff
Syrian refugees in Turkey watch uneasily as Erdogan warms to Assad Syrians in Turkey are wary of losing refuge as the Turkish President eyes dialogue with Assad Turkey
Istanbul mayor charged with corruption as Turkish opposition weighs Erdogan challenger The latest move against Ekrem Imamoglu comes as Turkey’s opposition weighs which candidate would stand the best chance against Erdogan. Turkey
