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
Tough days for foreigners in Turkey Five bomb attacks in major cities over the past six months have made life difficult for foreigners living in Turkey. Turkey
Istanbul residents retreat from public spaces following latest attack In the wake of the March 19 suicide attack in Istanbul, Turks are questioning why security vulnerabilities increase as police visibility and power increase. Turkey
What it's like to be a foreign journalist in Turkey Most foreign journalists in Turkey are reminded of the government’s power while trying to renew residency permits and press cards. Turkey
Are deserted streets, shops the new normal in Ankara? Gripped by fear and panic after an unprecedented string of bombings, Ankara’s residents are shying from streets and shopping malls, hurting the local economy. Turkey
Erdogan vows to punish thought crimes By introducing the concept of "unarmed terrorists," Turkey’s president is resurrecting the old concept of "thought crime" that he used to oppose. Turkey
How the PKK is entering energy wars The PKK has stepped up attacks on oil and gas pipelines in Turkey. Turkey
How terror attacks drive politics in Ankara Turkey is increasingly becoming the scene of Rojava-inspired Kurdish resistance. Syria
Will Israel throw Erdogan a lifesaver? The roles appear to have been reversed, with Turkey more keen on mending fences today than Israel. Israel
Will Israel, Turkey decide the fate of Gaza? Reports on a possible Israeli-Turkish agreement on the construction of a floating harbor off the Gaza Strip and that would be served from Turkish Cyprus rekindled internal Palestinian wrangling between Fatah and Hamas. Palestine
Qasem Soleimani defends Hezbollah In a rare speech, the head of Iran's Quds Force defended his country against accusations that it might be looking for trouble in the region. Saudi Arabia
Internal strife heats up in Turkey’s ruling party Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s fury at the release of two prominent journalists could be only the tip of the iceberg in a simmering power struggle. Turkey
Why Turks are skipping banks and keeping their gold at home Turkish banks hope to retrieve 5,000 tons of gold that Turkish citizens have accumulated since World War I, and return it to the economy. Turkey