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
Breaking | Last Updated: November 5, 2026, 3:56 pm 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
Davutoglu's tragedy Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has failed to escape the shadow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Hollande-PYD meeting challenges Erdogan French President Francois Hollande, by hosting at Elysee Palace two Kurdish female leaders from Kobani, sends a strong message to Ankara. Syria
Are tensions straining AKP's inner circle? Despite rumors otherwise, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's relationships with his prime minister and former intelligence chief remain strong. Turkey
Syrian Turkmens are forgotten ally in war against Islamic State Syrian Turkmens say they can play key role in fighting IS in northern Syria. Syria
Is Turkey becoming a police state? Critics say a proposed law will turn Turkey into a police state by providing security forces with extensive powers to suppress the government’s opponents. Turkey
Erdogan's 'facts' muddle Turkey's economic reality For his supporters, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is an unquestionable leader who, not being limited by reality, is able to create his own facts. Turkey
Why did Turkey seize Bank Asya? A Turkish government agency made the unprecedented move of taking control of the management of the financially sound Bank Asya. Turkey
Turkey offers cash rewards for marrying early The Justice and Development Party government is offering incentives to encourage university students to get married before graduation and to have more than three children. Turkey
Turkey's intelligence czar resigns to run for office The resignation of intelligence chief Hakan Fidan to run for parliament becomes the center of debate in Turkey. Turkey
Obama: 'Iran’s program has not advanced' US allies puzzled by March deadline for consideration of Senate sanctions bill; Iran’s gesture to Saudi Arabia; Iran’s man in Beirut; Erdogan’s anti-Western pivot; Aleppo’s fuel shortage; Israel reconciling to Hamas? Saudi Arabia
AKP's views on sexuality create uproar President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s dream of raising a "pious generation" fails to deal with taboo matters of sexuality. Turkey
Turkey saves cats from extinction After two decades of arduous work, a university research center in eastern Turkey has saved the precious Van cats from extinction. Turkey