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
Meet Sedat Onal, veteran diplomat named Turkey’s new ambassador to US Analysts argue Onal's appointment is also an indication of increasing influence for the country's top diplomat, Hakan Fidan. Turkey
Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter jet Kaan completes maiden flight Kaan's 13-minute flight, at an altitude of 8,000 feet and a speed of 230 knots, is being hailed as a milestone in Turkey’s efforts to maximize self-sufficiency in the defense sector. Turkey
Turkish lawyer detained over Sharia comments as Islamist-secularist debate flares In the run-up to nationwide municipal elections, the arrest of the lawyer for her comments has provoked a fresh maelstrom over the role of religion in public life. Turkey
Turkey detains 6 people suspected of spying on Uyghurs for China The suspects were rounded up in simultaneous raids in Istanbul for allegedly “collecting information” about prominent members of the Uyghur diaspora and their institutions based in Turkey. Turkey
Turkey to play 'important role' in sukuk market despite paused UAE deal Turkey has been looking to shore up financing to help it rebuild its economy after devastating twin earthquakes in 2023 killed more than 53,000 people and cost the country north of $50 billion. Turkey
How and why ISIS-K has resurged in Turkey The latest attack on an Istanbul church signals the militant group’s resurgence in Turkey. Turkey
Can Turkey, Iraq pull off 'Dry Canal' project? While experts believe the ‘Dry Canal’ project involving road and rail networks faces an uphill battle, the initiative seems to stand a better chance than its alternatives. Turkey
Sweden's Kurds pay price of NATO deal with Turkey It's increasingly clear that Sweden's sizable Kurdish population was the loser in the wrangling between Ankara and Stockholm over the latter's bid to join the NATO alliance. Turkey
Turkey says talks with US on local production of new F-16 ongoing Mutual quest for the swift delivery of the new F-16s increases the prospects of the Turkish co-production offer, an analyst believes. Turkey
Turkey, Greece formally join German-led defense shield project Turkey reportedly sought to join the initiative, announced by Berlin in 2022, earlier but didn’t receive an invitation. Turkey
Turkey’s Erdogan receives red-carpet reception in Egypt, calls Sisi 'brother' Libya, the Gaza war and bilateral ties are set to top Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's meeting during the first such visit since 2012. Turkey
Kurdish journalists harassed, detained ahead of key municipal race in Turkey The detentions come amid ongoing demonstrations across the majority-Kurdish southeast region in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the arrest of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party leader Abdullah Ocalan. Turkey