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
Turkish defense chief warns Syrian rebels against ‘provocation’ As the Turkish president eyes a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, the Turkish defense chief warns Ankara-backed armed groups against “provocations” amid ongoing Syrian protests against the Damascus-Ankara thaw. Turkey
Turkey spars with China over Uyghurs, but is it real? Turkey’s opposition and some Uyghur activists remain doubtful on how committed Ankara is to defending the rights of the Uyghurs despite its recent spat with Beijing. Turkey
Turkey's historic election could move up as Erdogan calculates President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking a favorable vote schedule as he fights to extend his 20-year rule. Turkey
US slaps sanctions on Islamic State network in Turkey The US Treasury Department designated four individuals and two entities accused of enabling the terrorist group’s recruitment and financial transfers. Turkey
Erdogan presses for 'concrete steps' in Syria during call with Putin President Erdogan tells his Russian counterpart Putin that the Syrian government needs to be "constructive" for "concrete results" in Syria. Turkey
First call between Turkish, Israeli FMs overshadowed by Ben-Gvir Turkey's foreign minister told his newly appointed Israeli counterpart that the Israeli security minister's visit to the Jerusalem holy site was "unacceptable." Turkey
Turkey’s overtures to Assad all about crushing Syrian Kurds’ autonomy Turkey’s security establishment remains immutably opposed to the consolidation of any form of Kurdish autonomy in Syria that would mirror Kurdish gains in neighboring Iraq. Turkey
Turkey's inflation slows most in December in a boost to Erdogan Facing crucial elections in spring, the Turkish government is trying to take credit for curbing inflation, even though the steep decline in the annual rate owes mostly to a favorable base effect. Turkey
UAE, Saudi, others condemn Israeli minister’s visit to Jerusalem holy site Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif could hurt the new far-right Israeli government's relations with Arab states and Turkey. Israel
Turkey airs rare public criticism of China's treatment of Uyghurs Turkey is openly criticizing China's treatment of the Uyghur minority as more tension emerges between Huawei and its Turkish partner telecom operator Turkcell. Turkey
Turkish, Syrian FMs could meet soon as diplomatic thaw gains steam The top Turkish diplomat said Saturday that he could meet with his Syrian counterpart in mid-January. Turkey
Turkey, Syrian government may cooperate on the ground Turkey is considering cooperating with the Syrian government in rebel-held Syrian territories after the first high-level talks between Turkey and the Syrian government in Moscow this week. Turkey