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 looks to import gas from Turkmenistan, test exports to Bulgaria Turkey and Turkmenistan are working on a gas deal that will likely extend to Europe in a bid to reduce Western dependency on Russian gas. Turkey
Culture Rabbis forge special bond in Islamic world Istanbul-based Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States connects Jewish communities in some 20 predominantly Muslim countries and regions across Africa, Asia and Europe, in an effort to enable them to sustain their faith and thrive in their homelands. Turkey
Europe’s top court reprimands Turkey for jailing philanthropist Today’s decision by Europe's top rights court on Osman Kavala, who has kept behind bars for four and a half years in pre-detention and sentenced to life, inches Turkey closer to suspension of its voting rights or even membership in the Council of Europe. Turkey
Ukraine’s Turkey ambassador: strategic ties intact but public unhappy over Turkish stance on Russia Turkey's ambassador to Kyiv has been summoned to voice Ukraine's displeasure over its grain stolen by Russia and shipped to Turkish ports. Turkey
Turkey, Israel initial accord to pave way to resume El Al flights to Turkey A new aviation agreement would pave the way for Israeli airline companies’ flights to Turkey, which were suspended due to security concerns in 2007. Turkey
Turkey under pressure to crack down on Russian shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain Ukraine’s growing pressure on Turkey to act against Russian shipments of “stolen” Ukrainian grain highlights the importance of establishing a safe export corridor under UN auspices. Turkey
Turkey’s media watchdog warns against LGBTQ song as crackdown continues Turkish pop star Mabel Matiz's “Copshop,” a song that tells the story of a gay man tortured in a police station, dovetails with a month-long government crackdown on LGBTQ groups and activities during Pride month. Turkey
Turkey blocks VOA, Deutsche Welle in pre-election media clampdown The ban came after the websites failed to apply for licenses that would allow government to oversee their content. Turkey
Syrians adapt to tumultuous Turkish environment In the decade-old Turkish diaspora, thousands of Syrians have started businesses that fill niches in Turkey and open up new export markets — but economic and political challenges are rising. Turkey
Turkey’s runaway inflation soars to near 79% The Turkish government’s continued failure to stabilize the battered lira raises the prospect of inflation topping 100% in the fall. Turkey
Turkish opposition seeks to challenge Erdogan at his own game Turkey’s opposition, which has long failed to put up a coherent attitude to the government’s foreign policy, is now turning to a hawkish rhetoric that Erdogan himself might envy. Turkey
Not so fast: Erdogan still holds cards on NATO bids by Sweden, Finland If conditions are not met, Turkey's president says it is "out of the question" that the Turkish parliament will take up Sweden and Finland's NATO membership issue; avoiding a further US-Turkish meltdown; is Syria invasion on hold? Turkey