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's Fidan heads to New York for Cyprus talks as Libya tensions flare The top Turkish diplomat will attend UN-hosted Cyprus talks amid rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Analysis How Turkey can help Syria-Israel normalization — and why it should Despite Ankara’s tense relationship with Israel and current diplomatic freeze, some experts believe Turkey’s role in Syrian-Israeli dynamics could grow over time. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis From Caucasus to Iraq: How Israel’s war hands Turkey edge over Iran After the war with Israel, a wounded Iran opens new doors for Turkey from Iraq to the Caucasus, but advancing its agenda could rekindle their rivalry. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
PKK militants symbolically lay down arms in historic ceremony in Iraqi Kurdistan The ceremony marks a fresh turning point in a peace process aimed at ending the militant group’s four-decade armed campaign against Turkey. Turkey
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul From absinthe to abstraction: A royal rebellion at Istanbul Airport Ara Güler’s cafe, a leaping shepherd and Turkey’s work-life reality. By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Libya, Turkey sign agreement to deepen military ties: What to know The agreement comes at a time when the Libyan Army is struggling to assert control in a capital increasingly dominated by rival militias. Libya
US envoy Barrack pushes deal between Syria's Sharaa, Kurdish commander Kobane The talks come amid shifting dynamics on the ground and a reduced US military presence in the northeast. Syria
In first AI crackdown, Turkey blocks access to some Grok content The access ban marked the first AI content censorship in Turkey, stemming from offensive material targeting the Turkish president, religious values, and the country’s founder. Turkey
Turkey’s Sozcu TV forced off air in latest crackdown on opposition: What to know As Istanbul's mayor remains jailed, pressure mounts on opposition-aligned media to soften their criticism, analysts say. Turkey
Turkey's spy chief heads for Iraq as PKK militants prepare to disarm The planned weapons handover marks a major step in Turkey’s quiet bid to end the PKK’s decades-long insurgency and secure Kurdish political support for constitutional reform. Turkey
12 Turkish soldiers die from methane poisoning in Iraq: What to know Turkish troops were exposed to the toxic gas while searching for the remains of a soldier. Turkey