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
Turkey’s parliament ratifies Mecca pact in boost to Saudi Arabia Turkey will now decide the scope of military support for Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Iran-backed Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Turkey
Turkish Parliament Faces Deadline On Draft Constitution Cornered by Prime Minister Erdogan's electoral calendar, Cemil Cicek announced a deadline for the Parliamentary Constitution Reconciliation Commission to finalize its work, writes Tulin Daloglu. Turkey
Turkey's Liberal Divide Mustafa Akyol analyzes the state of the left in Turkey and the issues that divide it. Turkey
World Press Freedom DayPuts Turkey in Spotlight The US Department of State's annual human rights report refers to the limitations on freedom of the press in Turkey, writes Yavuz Baydar. Turkey
No Incentive for Turkey, Armenia To Normalize Relations The Armenian genocide issue will not play a role in the normalizing of Armenia-Turkey relations, Cengiz Candar writes. Turkey
Exclusive: Hamas' Meshaal Says Latest US Peace Efforts 'Will Fail' In an exclusive telephone interview with Adnan Abu Amer for Al-Monitor, Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas's political bureau, spoke about US efforts to revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and more. Palestine
Turkey’s Trouble at the Border The longer the Syrian civil war goes on, the more Turkey is challenged by both its deteriorating border security and the Syrian refugee crisis, writes Tulin Daloglu. Turkey
AKP Report on Uludere Airstrike Condemned as 'Whitewash' Amberin Zaman writes that the December 2011 killing of Kurdish smugglers from Uludere by Turkish warplanes remains a test for the Turkish government. Turkey
Turkey Faces 'Lose-Lose' Situation Over Syria Without a change in its Syria policy, it will be impossible for the Erdogan government to pull out a win, writes Semih Idiz. Turkey
Netanyahu Will Ignore Arab League's Land-Swap Proposal Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ideology will prevent him from accepting the pragmatic Arab League peace proposal, writes Akiva Eldar. Palestine
Palestinian Groups Ponder Response to Israeli Strike in Gaza While coordinating a response to the April 30 Israeli air strike, Palestinian groups in Gaza urge respect for the cease-fire agreement signed in November 2012, writes Mohammed Suliman. Palestine
Hezbollah Leader 'Will Not Let Syria Fall' Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said that "Syria has real friends in the region, and the world will not let Syria fall into the hands of America, Israel or [radical Islamist] groups," reports Ali Hashem from Beirut. Lebanon
Iran Has Reasons to Spoil PKK-Turkey Peace Process The Kurdistan Workers Party has announced a withdrawal from Turkey, a move that could isolate Iran and end a cease-fire between it and the PKK’s Iranian offshoot, reports Wladimir van Wilgenburg. Turkey