Steel factory explosion in western Turkey kills at least 16 Footage from the scene showed a huge plume of thick smoke spreading into the sky as flames engulfed a tall structure within the plant. Turkey
Analysis Will Democrats block Trump’s push to deliver Turkey F-35s, lift sanctions? Democratic control of Congress complicates Turkey’s push for F-35s and sanctions relief, but Ankara remains hopeful Trump can still broker a deal. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Nisantasi beyond the shop windows Also this week: Hopdaddy burgers, Ara Guler’s photographs and Istanbul’s apartment stories. By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Costa Rica's Grynspan extends lead in UNSG poll as Nusseibeh places fourth The Costa Rican candidate received 12 encourage votes in Thursday's UN Security Council straw poll. United Arab Emirates
Netanyahu weighs more aggressive action as Hamas leader backs 'intifada' The Israeli prime minister is under pressure from the Israeli right as Israeli-Palestinian violence escalates; Syrian Kurdish leaders back Russian intervention to battle the Islamic State. Palestine
US to arm Syrian Kurds, rebel groups fighting IS The Pentagon will pause its beleaguered Syria train and equip program to instead provide arms and air support to Syrian Kurdish and Arab rebel groups already fighting the Islamic State. Syria
Syria's increasingly congested skies In addition to warplanes over Syria, cruise missiles are now carving out airspace. Syria
Grew up Kurdish, forced to be Turkish, now called Armenian When loose-talking Turkish officials toss around the word "Armenian" like it's a slur, they incite further hatred toward minorities. Turkey
Russian market huge disappointment for Turkey Turkey’s hopes of replacing European countries as a major food exporter to Russia have been dashed. Turkey
Syrian Kurdish leader: Moscow wants to work with us A senior leader in the PYD is in Washington seeking more military support and expressing ambivalence about Russia’s latest intervention. Syria
Facts mingle with political fantasy in Ankara's Gulenist indictments An indictment alleging an attempted coup against Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party government follows the party's narrative of a sinister parallel state and its imperialist collaborators. Turkey
Erdogan's EU visit fails to produce results Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tried to use his Brussels visit to enhance his own domestic political clout, but the Europeans were not very keen on helping him. Syria
Young guns rule their turf in Turkey Members of the Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement, a youth group linked to the PKK, control the streets by force of arms in some parts of southeastern Turkey. Turkey
Erdogan uses refugee issue for his own benefit in EU EU leaders' focus during Erdogan’s visit to Brussels was on stemming the flow of Syrian refugees, not on his authoritarian and undemocratic ways. Syria
Another Syrian nightmare, courtesy of the Russians Russian operations are rattling Turkey as militants fleeing Syria infiltrate Turkey. Syria
Russian intervention throws a wrench into Turkey's Syria plans Russian air superiority in Syria has destroyed Ankara's hopes for a safe zone in the north and "Syria without Assad." Syria