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
Obama Brokers Apology From Netanyahu to Erdogan Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accepted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s apology over the Mavi Marmara incident, reports Tulin Daloglu. Turkey
Erdogan’s Other Kurdish Problem Denise Natali writes that there is a large gap between what Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan can deliver and what average Kurds expect from the Imrali peace talks. Turkey
Turkey Faces New Challenges Over Cyprus Negotiations between Nicosia and Moscow over gas reserves off the southern Cyprus coast are being watched with concern by Ankara, which does not accept Nicosia’s claim to full sovereignty over these reserves, writes Semih Idiz. Turkey
Erdogan's Kurdish PoliciesBreak From Turkey's Past Mustafa Akyol writes that Turkey's Kurdish policies represent a reorientation of Turkey's new political elite under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Ocalan Calls For 'New Era' In Turkish-Kurdish Relations Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), calls for "armed members to move out of Turkey's borders." Turkey
Turkey’s Kurds Rally for Peace, But Mistrust Lingers A crowd of 600,000 turned out to celebrate Newroz and hear a message from Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in support of Turkish-Kurdish peace talks, Sibel Utku Bila reports from Diyarbakir. Turkey
Israel-Turkey Strategic Ties Show Signs of Thawing Jean-Loup Samaan writes that the Israel-Turkey split is not really grounded in substance but rather in the personal ties of their leaders, and that a thaw may be in the works. Israel
Erdogan Softens Zionism Remarks As Obama Lands in Israel Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s attempt to clarify earlier remarks on Zionism may aim in part to repair ties with the United States, which have also been strained by Ankara's refusal to hand over an al-Qaeda official to US authorities, writes Tulin Daloglu. Israel
Resignation Signals New Low For Turkish Journalism Hasan Cemal, after 45 years as a journalist, loses his job because of government pressure. Turkey
The Death of Journalism in Turkey Cengiz Candar writes that when veteran Turkish journalist Hasan Cemal resigned on March 18 from his 15-year stint with daily Milliyet after it refused to print his latest article, it was the death of decent journalism in Turkey. Turkey
Turkey Miscalculates Syria Turkey's policies on Syria over the past two years have reduced Ankara's diplomatic leverage in the region, writes Semih Idiz. Turkey
Turkey in No Position To School Israel on Human Rights Until it comes terms with its own violations, Turkey should not offer lessons in human rights to other countries, writes Orhan Kemal Cengiz. Turkey