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 says 'intensive contacts' underway to free Israel's hostages with Hamas The Turkish president said his government, which has channels to both Hamas and Israel, is seeking the release of hostages held in Gaza, but hinted at Western obstacles. Turkey
Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria announce mechanism to clear mines in Black Sea The joint mechanism between Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania comes after the British government said Russia might use sea mines to deter Kyiv from exporting its grain. Turkey
Analysis Gaza war tests fragile Israel-Turkey rapprochement as Erdogan ups rhetoric Seen once as a champion for the Palestinians, Erdogan has lambasted the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza even as his government has tried to mend ties with Israel. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Syrian Kurds accuse Turkey of war crimes as Erdogan vows escalation Syria’s Kurds say Turkish forces are committing war crimes as Erdogan escalates against the US-Allied Syrian Democratic Forces. Turkey
Turkey’s Erdogan says ‘first phase’ of Syria operation has concluded The Turkish president also said the first phase of Turkey’s ongoing operations against outlawed Kurdish militants and dominant Syrian Kurdish groups was concluded. Turkey
Turkey's Erdogan strikes moderate stance as Israel-Hamas war rages Turkey's Erdogan is striking a neutral stance in the Gaza conflict, avoiding incendiary rhetoric that would derail his charm offensive with the West and offering to mediate between Israel and Hamas. Turkey
Analysis As Armenia's ties strain with Turkey, France pushes EU to stand with Yerevan France has positioned itself strictly on Armenia’s side on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, but can it avoid generating another crisis with Turkey? By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Turkey escalates airstrikes in Syria, but will it cross US, Russia red lines? The likelihood of a fresh Turkish ground offensive in northern Syria appears to weaken after the unprecedented shooting down of a Turkish drone by the United States. Turkey
Turkey expands strikes as Fidan, Blinken discuss deconfliction, 'terrorist threats' The US readout of a call between the top US and Turkish diplomats stressed the two countries share a common objective of defeating terror. Turkey
US fails to deter Turkey's bombardment of Syria's Kurdish enclave Turkey continued to bomb infrastructure in Syria’s Kurdish-controlled region after a US F-16 shot down a drone that encroached within half a kilometer of a US base. Turkey
Turkey’s energy minister to visit Israel as talks advance on gas transfers to Europe The Turkish energy minister says his country’s priority is to bring Israeli gas to Turkey. Turkey
US downs Turkish drone as Turkey bombs infrastructure in Syria’s Kurdish zone The reports came as Turkish forces pounded strategic economic installations today in the Kurdish-run zone, including oil installations and power stations. Turkey