Desperate times bring out Erdogan in camouflage

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s biggest promise was to minimize the role of the military in politics. Did he keep his promise?

Turkey

Smuggling crackdown highlights resilience of northeast Syria’s oil trade

Despite a joint Kurdish-US crackdown against oil smugglers from northeast Syria toward government-controlled territories, trade continues.

Syria

How Iran's protests could impact foreign policy

Critical comments from France and Germany about the Iranian protests could further accelerate the dismantling of the Iran nuclear deal.

Israel

Istanbul mayor looks overseas as state banks deny him funds

Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s new opposition mayor, says government-controlled banks are refusing to finance the city’s stalled infrastructure projects after the ruling party lost control of Turkey’s largest city.

Turkey

IS designates Turkey as its next base

The Islamic State has selected Turkey as its next base to reorganize, recruit and plan.

Iraq

Jewish museums in Istanbul focus on upside of integration

Jews have been living in Turkey for many centuries, and both the Sephardim from Spain and then Ashkenazim from Eastern Europe boast their own museums.

Turkey

Ottoman 'city of princes' ready-made for the Instagram age

Referred to as the "city of princes" for once being a training ground for future sultans, Amasya is attracting tourists with its rich history, museums and natural beauty.

Turkey

Turkey’s HDP will not cede political ground

Despite pressure from both the government and its own base, Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party has decided against withdrawing from the parliament and local administrations in protest over its treatment.

Turkey

Copycat murder-suicides distress Turkey

Three separate Turkish families committed suicide by taking cyanide in the first two weeks of November, and despite the government's denials, economic hardship seemed to play a key role in all three cases that shook the country.

Turkey

Archaeology's Trojan War: The artist who took on Schliemann

Osman Hamdi, a 19th-century Ottoman painter whose works sold at record prices earlier this year, also saved artifacts from being smuggled out of Turkey by foreign archaeologists.

Turkey

Turkish court defies higher ruling to uphold verdict in Cumhuriyet retrial

A Turkish court has upheld its conviction of 12 Cumhuriyet journalists, defying a September decision by a higher court and exposing discord in the Turkish judiciary.

Turkey

Ankara seeks to discipline proxies in northeast Syria

Allegations of war crimes committed by the rebel Syrian National Army backed by Turkey in northeast Syria have forced Ankara to take steps to try to rein in its proxies.

Syria