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, Israel agree to strengthen defense ties Israeli defense chief stressed stability in the Eastern Mediterranean during his landmark visit to Ankara amid lingering tensions between Turkey and Greece. Turkey
Turkey’s LGBTQ community alarmed over Erdogan’s ‘family’ vision Rights activists in Turkey fear a rise in homophobic discrimination and hate crimes as Erdogan vocally stigmatizes the LGBTQ community. Turkey
Turkey’s Central Bank raises inflation forecast yet again Turkey's central bank governor has raised the inflation estimate for the fourth time in a year as prices hit a 24-year high. Turkey
Siege tightens around Turkey’s critical newsrooms ahead of election Government opponents fear Ankara will use all of its means to stifle unfavorable news and public debate ahead of crucial elections next year. Turkey
Turkey detains head of medical association on terror charges Sebnem Korur Fincanci was detained for allegedly disseminating "terrorist propaganda" a day after a political ally of the government demanded her Turkish citizenship be revoked and the Turkish Medical Association be closed down. Turkey
Orthodox schism shakes Turkish Riviera A major rift in Orthodox Christianity compounded by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has driven a wedge into a growing Orthodox community on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Turkey
Turkey ramps up pressure on Kurdish journalists with mass detentions The detentions are part of a campaign against journalists working for outlets that report on rights abuses, particularly in the Kurdish-majority southeast. Turkey
Syrian man sentenced in Turkey for burning two alive under Islamic State A Turkish court has sentenced a Syrian man for ordering the burning executions of two Turkish nationals in 2016, but many aspects of the grisly murder remain in the dark. Turkey
Turkey's infamous Diyarbakir prison empties for museum makeover Diyarbakir prison, a symbol of torture and oppression for decades in Turkey, has finally closed to be made into a museum, but some activists see whitewashing on its bloodstained walls. Turkey
Next British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's views on Middle East The Conservative statesman has expressed fairly mainstream views on Israel, Iran and other regional issues. Israel
Can Erdogan pull up his sagging support? Unlike previous polls that suggest steady decrease for Erdogan and his ruling party, a recent poll shows the tide may have been turned. Turkey
Turkey’s Central Bank ducks soaring inflation to cut rates again Despite the highest inflation in 24 years, Turkey’s Central Bank has made its third interest cut ahead of elections next June. Turkey