Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul “Form-Craft-Activism” spotlights the labor behind making Also this week: A century-old lokanta, cartoonists and labor cinema By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Turkey warns France over Cyprus troop deployment: What to know A potential French deployment to Greek Cyprus comes amid Turkey’s growing concerns of strategic encirclement in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Turkey advances gas pipeline plan to northern Cyprus as East Med rivalry grows The Turkish energy minister said the country's oil and natural gas pipeline operator, BOTAS, has started the engineering work for the pipeline. Turkey
Analysis Why Saudi Arabia, Egypt are wary of Turkey’s proposed 4-way defense pact with Pakistan By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Erdogan displays survival instinct in Israel reconciliation Turkey has taken major steps to end its global isolation by reconciling with Israel and apologizing to Russia. Palestine
Death knell looms for Turkey's judicial independence Turkey’s government has drafted an unprecedented bill to pave the way for a massive purge in the highest echelons of the judiciary, which many believe will spell the death of judicial independence. Turkey
Israel and Turkey have reconciled, now what? The renewed Israeli-Turkish relations will not be based, as in the past, on closed security cooperation, but on the convergence of interests and common enemies. Israel
Anti-terror, security expenses boost Turkey’s economic growth Turkey’s growth will continue with massive funds for reconstruction of destroyed towns. Turkey
How Erdogan’s personal ambitions impact war in Turkey’s southeast Analysts say the time is ripe for the Turkish government and the PKK to talk peace, but such a move could get in the way of President Erdogan's political ambitions. Turkey
Could an alternative Kurdish party succeed in Turkey? Two Kurdish parties are merging and others are striving for a joint front, but there are doubts as to whether any effort to form an alternative Kurdish party is feasible. Iraq
Are major players shifting strategies in Syria? Russia and the US find themselves in a complex situation in Syria, with plenty of doubt to go around. Syria
Have Turkey's human rights violations reached point of no return? Prominent Turkish academic lands in solitary confinement for writing about the devastation and human rights violations conducted by the Turkish state in southeast Turkey. Turkey
Why Turkish women are rallying behind this killer A young Turkish woman who killed her abusive husband has found strong support among women's rights activists calling for her acquittal. Turkey
Why beefing up private security could leave Turks feeling less secure A surge in the private security sector raises questions about the surge's cause, and about its potential to deteriorate quality of service and basic rights. Turkey
Islamic State attacks Syrian journalists, even in Turkey In a series of attacks, four Syrian journalists living in Turkey's border towns were killed. Why are they such easy prey? Syria
Turkish-EU ties in throes of a slow death The EU’s demand for a revision of Turkey’s anti-terrorism law as a precondition for allowing Turks visa-free travel in Europe has turned into the Achilles’ heel of ties between Ankara and Brussels. Turkey