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
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Ayla Turan’s three decades in sculpture Also this week: Aegean tables and Istanbul through Robert Capa’s lens By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Turkey touts Somalia spaceport as Horn of Africa rivalry heats up A high-level presidential aide said the facility could open new avenues in defense and technology sharing between Turkey and Somalia. Turkey
Turkey to repatriate its ISIS fighters from Iraq as jihadis escalate Syria attacks Ankara will repatriate its nationals from among thousands of fighters transferred from Syria, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said. Turkey
Analysis Why Turkey’s exclusion from Gaza force may be a strategic blessing Despite being excluded from Gaza’s international stabilization force, Ankara will likely leverage its ties with Hamas to maintain influence within the Trump administration’s Board of Peace. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Culture Ramadan opens in Turkey as secular-conservative divide resurfaces Ramadan began in Turkey amid a fresh flare-up of secular-conservative tensions, fueled by a controversial TV series and renewed concerns over secularism. Turkey
Newsletter: Turkey Turkish lawmakers back advancing PKK peace plan Turkey’s parliament moved closer to ending the PKK conflict, even as doubts linger over Kurdish rights and the country’s worsening democratic climate. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Seven decades of Istanbul captured by Feruz Erturer Also this week: nostalgic Istanbul flavors, offbeat art spaces and tech-driven creativity By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Turkey backs Libya in legal challenge to Greece-Chevron offshore deal Ankara is engaging Libyan authorities in challenging the Greece-Chevron deal, a Turkish official said. Turkey
Fidan heads to US as Turkey eyes Gaza troop role: What to know Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar is also expected to attend the Board of Peace meeting, raising the prospect of the first face-to-face talks between top Turkish and Israeli diplomats since the war amid high-running tensions. Turkey
On first Horn of Africa trip in 10 years, Erdogan cautions Ethiopia over Somaliland Turkey opposes Somaliland's recognition to protect its strategic military foothold in Mogadishu and the Red Sea. Turkey
Turkey’s Erdogan heads to Ethiopia amid tensions over Horn of Africa The Turkish leader is expected to raise Ankara’s concerns over Somalia’s territorial integrity while discussing ways to deepen bilateral ties with Addis Ababa. Turkey
Saudi-UAE rift complicates Israel's counter-Iran efforts, normalization Israel fears that the rivalry between the UAE and Saudi Arabia will further push Riyadh toward countries that espouse political Islam policies. Israel