Analysis From drones to deterrence: Turkey's ICBM missile signals bigger ambitions Turkey’s planned test of a 6,000-kilometer missile could boost Ankara’s defense industry prestige, strengthen its deterrence messaging and feed a powerful domestic narrative of technological self-reliance, but it also raises questions about cost, timing and NATO protection. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Culture How ‘dog mom’ vacuum cleaner ad sparked culture war in Turkey A Mother’s Day advertisement featuring a “dog mom” triggered a backlash from conservative media, government officials and regulators, turning a soft consumer campaign into a flashpoint over motherhood, declining birth rates, stray dogs and even antisemitism. Turkey
Newsletter: Turkey Turkey navigates Gulf rivalries while Kurdish peace efforts resurface Turkey hosts a flurry of regional diplomacy while fresh debate over Abdullah Ocalan’s future exposes new tensions in the Kurdish peace process. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul EU spotlights digital art in Ankara Also this week: A new chef’s table, ceramics and institutional debuts By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hezbollah commanders killed as renewed strikes test Lebanon-Israel talks By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing US pauses Hormuz escort mission as Trump cites progress on Iran talks By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Hamas tones down Brotherhood links to improve Egypt ties Hamas is positioning itself to welcome Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as Egypt’s likely next president, hoping it will result in an improvement in relations. Palestine
The false promise of Mideast elections The coming presidential elections in Egypt, Syria and Turkey offer little hope for a regional trend toward stability and democracy. Palestine
Syrian girls forced to marry ISIS fighters The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham is forcing Syrian girls to marry its foreign fighters. Syria
War-weary Syrians see hope in Homs deal Syrian civilians, routinely shelled by regime forces and rebels, hope the Homs cease-fire is an indication of better times to come. Syria
What next for Turkey’s stock market? Having recovered in the wake of political turmoil, Turkey’s stock market appears on a downward trend in the short run. Turkey
Cyprus bids farewell to 'ecumenical' Sufi Sheikh Nazim Qubrusi, who died at 92, was a colorful Sufi leader who spread the Naqshbandi order to the West and eased emotional barriers on long-divided Cyprus. Turkey
Syrian government ponders post-election scenarios As the June 3 presidential elections approach in Syria, the government considers how domestic and internal actors will react to the expected re-election of President Bashar Al-Assad. Syria
Israel rejects accusations of spying on US Committed never to spy on American soil, some Israeli officials consider the espionage accusations as politically motivated to damage Israel-US relations. Israel
Turkey, Qatar strengthen economic ties Turkey is again stepping up relations with Qatar by adding cultural and commercial links to their political collaboration in the international arena. Qatar
Turkish inflation rate rises to record levels Higher-than-expected inflation in April makes it harder for Turkey’s Central Bank to lower interest rates as the government wishes, rekindling a long-standing controversy in the country. Turkey
Ankara at crossroads on Syria policy Developments in Syria have confounded the Turkish government’s efforts to depose President Bashar al-Assad and forced a rethink of its policies. Syria
Honor killings haunt Turkey's gay community Two court cases of "gay honor killings" in Turkey reveal a similar pattern of deep-rooted prejudice and social codes that override even the closest family bonds. Turkey