Turkey, Armenia agree to restore medieval bridge in normalization push Ankara is pursuing normalization with Armenia ahead of June parliamentary elections in a thaw also positioned to advance its broader Middle Corridor ambitions. Turkey
Turkey hosts Kuwaiti FM as UAE's OAPEC exit fuels Gulf rift Kuwait's top diplomat visited Turkey as the Gulf rift deepens following the UAE’s exit from OPEC and its affiliated alliances, forcing Ankara to balance ties between Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Turkey
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
Few dengbejs remain to sing Kurdish stories In the old city of Diyarbakir, a dengbej house was established for the few remaining Kurdish storytellers to gather and try to keep their tradition alive, although younger generations are resorting to pop culture to convey the people’s suffering. Syria
Depressed in Istanbul: Why are Turkey's young Islamist men feeling so blue? Senior Islamist pundits have highlighted painful challenges young Islamist men face in Turkey. Turkey
Is Turkey really committed to fighting IS? Turkey's striking harder at the PKK than at the Islamic State has raised concerns that it is pursuing the domestic political agenda of the Justice and Development Party to marginalize the Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party and gain sole control in early elections. Turkey
Has Turkey found world's oldest temple? A 12,000-year-old Stone Age temple discovered in southern Turkey is challenging conventional views on the rise of civilization. Turkey
Turkish private sector gears up for Iran push An end to international sanctions against Iran raises strong commercial prospects for Turkish companies on the Iranian market. Turkey
Is PKK real target of Turkish strikes? Turkey’s decision to open two fronts, against the Islamic State and the PKK, complicates US cooperation with Kurds in Syria. Iraq
Erdogan’s shift on Islamic State linked to Kurdish gains in Syria Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan finally takes on the Islamic State while attacking PKK bases in northern Iraq; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now the only US ally actively opposing Iran deal; Israel faces pressure to forgo demolition of Palestinian village. Palestine
Turkey drawn into vortex of violence A sudden escalation of attacks against police and the military after the Suruc suicide bombing prompts fears that the cease-fire with the Kurds has ended. Turkey
Does Turkey care about cultural diversity? More than 100 countries have endorsed a UN convention on protecting cultural diversity, but a decade after its inception, the convention still awaits ratification by the Turkish parliament. Turkey
Cyprus settlement could open trade routes for Turkey Should the peace talks in Cyprus result in the island’s reunification, the Turkish economy could benefit from Nicosia's close ties in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Why are Turkey's televangelists talking about oral sex? Turkish imams and televangelists are becoming increasingly outspoken in their commentary and debates on permitted sexual practices. Turkey
Ankara turns blind eye to economic downturn Turkey’s economy is on a worrisome course as tourism and export revenues fall. Turkey