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
Can Erdogan’s Baku visit fix Turkey-Azerbaijan rift? A dispute over religious dress in schools has exposed deeper tensions between the two allies, with energy, arms sales, Israel and financial interests adding to the strain. Turkey
Turkey to send Mecca pact to parliament, opening path to Saudi deployment Parliamentary ratification will remove a legal hurdle for Turkish military deployment to Saudi Arabia under a trilateral defense pact. Turkey
Latest defection hands Erdogan’s AKP control of Turkey’s third-largest city The ruling party’s takeover of Izmir’s mayoralty is the latest example of the unraveling of the opposition parties’ historic gains in Turkey’s 2024 local elections. Turkey
Erdogan aide named suspect in Turkey financial scandal Former AKP deputy chairwoman Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya is facing allegations of being linked to a market manipulation scandal. Turkey
Turkey, Pakistan to deploy forces to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks Turkish, Saudi and Pakistani officials agreed to bolster military cooperation under the Mecca defense pact as Houthi attacks and fighting in Yemen intensify. Turkey
Analysis Turkey revives F-16 talks with US amid Israel, Greece deterrence concerns Ankara’s renewed talks with Washington come as older aircraft near retirement while the Eurofighter and Kaan remain years from filling Turkey’s future air-power needs. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Turkey’s $20B fund crisis: Who profited, and who will pay? Opposition parties are demanding immediate government compensation for affected investors, who face up to a six-month wait as independent banks oversee the asset liquidations. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Turkey mine collapse death toll rises to five: What to know Authorities have detained nine people including executives of the mining company on suspicion of negligence. Turkey
Turkey-Greece cable dispute hits impasse as Ankara insists on prior coordination Turkey and Greece are increasingly at an impasse over the Great Sea Interconnector project, which aims to link the power grids of Greece and Cyprus and eventually Israel. Turkey
Turkey to receive first 2 C-130J aircraft in December under $730M UK deal The aircraft are part of a 12-plane procurement deal from the United Kingdom as Ankara seeks to rapidly modernize its aging air fleet. Turkey
Syria denies meeting with Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Turkey: What to know Both Damascus and Ankara denied reports that Syrian officials met with Hezbollah representatives in Turkey, as relations between the two sides remain fraught with tensions mainly over the Lebanese group’s support for Assad’s forces against rebels during the Syrian civil war. Syria
Turkey bans T24 news site as dissent crackdown widens: What to know Turkish authorities cited alleged LGBTQ+ propaganda for the ruling against the independent news website. Turkey
Turkey seizes Iran’s Caspian Airlines jet over $3.4M debt The court-ordered seizure at Istanbul Airport comes as Iranian carriers face mounting pressure from sweeping new US aviation sanctions. Turkey