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
Erdogan continues to stir the pot in Turkey Erdogan’s suggestion that if the AKP had gotten 400 deputies in the June elections, then the turmoil and violence in the country today would have been avoided, causes outrage and increases tensions. Turkey
How the Islamic State is exploiting Asian unrest to recruit fighters Communication, trust and cooperation among governments and communities are required to prevent the spread of violent extremism and curb the flow of Islamic State recruits from Asia to the Middle East. Turkey
How the Islamic State has helped the Middle East The expansion of the Islamic State has forced regional powers to cooperate and is in fact strengthening state governance in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia
6 reasons why Turkey's war against the PKK won't last There are six major reasons why Turkey's war with the PKK, which resumed July 24 after 2½ years of non-hostility, cannot be sustained. Iraq
Twenty years later, Turkey's Kurds still search for their missing The clock has run out on Kurds' decadeslong efforts to resolve cases of kidnapping and murder from the 1990s, leaving hundreds of Kurdish families distraught. Turkey
Are Turkey's AKP Twitter trolls heading for unemployment? If the AKP fails to decisively win the upcoming elections, one can expect a thorough liquidation not only of its questionable social media organization, but also its radio and television operations. Turkey
Turkey pays hefty price for interest rate obsession Under government pressure to keep interest rates low, Turkey’s Central Bank has failed to act against the free fall of the Turkish lira, leading to a massive burden on the foreign debt stock. Turkey
Is Turkey driving down road to environmental disaster? The Turkish government’s Green Road Project has turned the quiet residents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s home region into feisty street protesters as they struggle to protect the environment on which their livelihoods and traditions rely. Turkey
New Istanbul bookstore-cafe focuses on Arab culture, refugee experience A small group of Syrian intellectuals has founded a bookstore-cafe in Istanbul, hoping to bridge cultures and promote Arab refugees' rich literary and cultural heritage. Syria
The unbearable lightness of media in Erdogan’s Turkey Police raids on pro-Gulen media outlets are seen as a prelude to suppressing the media opposed to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan prior to the snap elections. Turkey
Turkey takes on the Islamic State ... in 40-page report Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs has issued a 40-page report that condemns not just the Islamic State, but also "political Salafism." Turkey
European countries to Turkey: We pay, you keep Syrian refugees Syrian refugees are the new ping-pong between EU countries and Turkey. Syria