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
How this Kurdish agency breaks news, taboos The journalists of Turkey’s only all-female media outlet, the Kurdish agency JINHA, challenge male dominance in both their society and their profession, braving the harsh realities of a war-torn region. Turkey
Erdogan intensifies assault on independent media US State Department calls on Turkey to respect "democratic values"; Israel considers Erdogan a "lost cause," sees Putin winning "on all counts." Israel
Is Turkey's plan to stop flow of refugees legal? Turkey's offer to the European Union to stop the flow of refugees to Greece is compelling — but is it legal? Syria
Is the EU really ready to commit to Turkey? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is feeling his oats as he renegotiates his deal with the European Union. Syria
How one sultan's harem is another's school Emine Erdogan's praise of the Ottoman harem as a school has disturbed and baffled Turks. Turkey
After seizing Zaman newspaper, what's next for Turkey? Not just a few newspapers like Zaman, but the entire Turkish media is under threat by the current regime in Turkey. Turkey
Turkish military struggles to find new recruits The Turkish Armed Forces has to overcome serious structural problems, including inadequate recruitment, before switching from a conscription-based military to a fully professional force. Turkey
Does Erdogan believe he's on a mission from God? Increasingly cornered and isolated both at home and abroad, Turkey's president is seeking to boost his public support by placing God directly at the center of his Islamist oratory. Turkey
Why some Turkish women are boycotting women-only taxis A number of women have welcomed Turkey’s first women-only cab, but many activists reject the new service as further gender segregation in public life. Turkey
Davutoglu attempts to get back to zero problems with Iran Analysts warn that an unpredictable harsh statement by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could undermine Davutoglu’s efforts to gain a piece of the Iranian pie. Syria
Why is Erdogan wary of women? Women find creative and cheerful methods to circumvent bans on International Women’s Day parades, promising to celebrate their day to the fullest in the streets. Turkey
Why Turkish women are opting out of the workforce A deeply patriarchal culture, work environments unfavorable to a healthy balance with family life and internalized gender roles keep many women in Turkey uninterested in taking advantage of opportunities to work. Turkey