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
Pompeo says US-Greek relations at 'all-time high,' urges Athens-Ankara talks In Greece, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Athens and Ankara to resume talks over maritime disputes ahead of an EU summit later this week that is expected to address lingering tensions in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Turkish prosecutors issue second indictment against suspected Khashoggi killers Six Saudi nationals join a growing list of accused as Turkey's trial takes on an international dimension. Turkey
Turkey backs Azerbaijan against Armenia as war looms over Caucasus Armenia and Azerbaijan are once again fighting over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in a conflict that could draw in Russia and Turkey. Turkey
Can Turkey replace Egypt in Palestinian unity process? The Fatah-Hamas reconciliation talks in Istanbul have fueled debate on whether Turkey could increase its influence over the Palestinians, who are desperate for regional support amid normalization deals between Arab countries and Israel. Turkey
Egypt leads international coalition to confront Turkey in eastern Mediterranean Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy signed the charter to transform the EastMed Gas Forum into a regional organization based in Cairo, in an attempt to form an international lobby capable of confronting Turkish ambitions in the eastern Mediterranean. Egypt
Erdogan weighs next moves in Libya after Sarraj's departure Ankara is keen to preserve its influence over the Tripoli government and several figures with close ties to Turkey are eyeing the prime minister’s post after the impending departure of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. Turkey
How Turkey’s ‘zombie’ companies keep afloat A number of big companies that would have normally gone bust amid Turkey’s economic turmoil are surviving thanks to government favors. Turkey
Turkey's military deterrence breaks down in Syria's last rebel stronghold Despite Turkey’s efforts to maintain the status quo in Idlib, a Russian-backed Syrian assault seems increasingly likely. Syria
Turkish army accused of throwing Kurdish farmers from helicopter Allegations that Turkish soldiers took two Kurdish farmers up in a helicopter and threw them out fit a broader pattern of operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party in rural areas. Turkey
Turkey yields to markets, raises interest rates as lira tanks The central bank hikes its benchmark rate for the first time since 2018, hoping to curb double-digit inflation and a currency that is plumbing record lows. Turkey
Turkey considers new restrictions as infections rise New COVID-19 cases and death rates in Turkey have returned to levels not seen since May, prompting officials to consider tighter restrictions following a partial reopening of public schools. Turkey