Newsletter: Turkey SDF’s Kobane says Ankara trip in the works Mazlum Kobane says he could travel to Turkey and potentially meet jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says removing Iran’s uranium is more about optics Trump downplays Iran uranium removal after China talks, the UAE moves to bypass Hormuz and Iraq ends months of political deadlock. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Interview Syrian Kurdish commander Kobane says Turkey visit ‘in the making,’ Ocalan meeting possible The SDF commander-in-chief reflected on a fragile integration deal with Damascus, growing Kurdish backlash and ongoing talks with Turkey as questions mount over Rojava’s political future. Mazloum Kobane SDF commander in chief
Turkey, Armenia to launch direct trade in normalization push: What to know The move removes a decades-old reexport mechanism routed largely through Georgia as Ankara and Yerevan step up normalization efforts. Turkey
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump rejects Iran's latest proposal By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis From drones to deterrence: Turkey's ICBM missile signals bigger ambitions By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Why Israel’s democracy is weakening Israel gets to keep its rating in democracy indices only because countries like the United States, Hungary and Turkey are losing index points. Israel
Will Khashoggi’s disappearance rock Turkish-Saudi relations? How Turkish President Erdogan discloses the official findings of the investigation into Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance will be crucial in determining the future of Turkish-Saudi ties. Saudi Arabia
Russia, Turkey continue tug of war over Idlib despite the agreements As the first deadlines of the Russia-Turkey deal on Idlib draw near, the two countries each seek to push their own agenda while avoiding large-scale conflict. Syria
Opposition to US plans for east Syria unites fragile Astana trio No daylight among Iran, Turkey and Russia in opposing US policies in Syria; Can Iraq mediate between the United States and Iran? Iraq
Intel: Why Ankara is refraining from retaliation against Riyadh over missing dissident Turkey seems to be reluctant to wage a full-out-war against Saudi Arabia on the fate of missing Saudi journalist, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan adopts low-key approach. Saudi Arabia
What happened to Jamal Khashoggi? The disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi from the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul highlights, once again, the House of Saud's division on the war in Yemen and the crown prince's decision-making. Saudi Arabia
Europe’s big eggs in Turkey’s economic basket Economic concerns lie at the heart of Turkey’s moves to repair ties with European countries, which, in turn, are open to Ankara’s overtures due to the significant stakes they have in the ailing Turkish economy. Turkey
Is the Idlib buffer plan really implemented? The Turkish-Russian deal for a demilitarized zone in Idlib is not going on as planned, with radical groups keeping their positions and lingering uncertainty on the scale of the pullout of heavy weaponry. Syria
Can Syrian refugees in Turkey benefit from amendment to citizenship law? The Turkish decision to ease some requirements to apply for Turkish citizenship will not help a large number of Syrian refugees in Turkey as they cannot meet the conditions required. Syria
Northern Syria takes step toward new judicial system The Turkish-built Palace of Justice and an even larger prison were inaugurated in al-Rai last month with the expectation of a new judicial system to begin functioning in mid-October in place of unsanctioned courts controlled by the Free Syrian Army. Syria
Turks wake up to animal cruelty Animal rights activists in Turkey seek harsher penalties, including additional fines and imprisonment, against those who commit violence against animals. Turkey
Fate of missing Saudi journalist puts Turkey in ironic position As mystery remains over the fate of a missing dissident Saudi journalist, Ankara finds itself in a position in which it may try to rescue a foreign journalist at a time when more than 100 journalists are behind bars in Turkey. Saudi Arabia