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 grapples with policy change on Syria Ankara's complex ties with Moscow, the political cost of Syrian refugees and looming elections are all dictating dialogue with Damascus on Ankara, but it has yet to come up with a plan to proceed. Turkey
Turkey cuts interest rates as Erdogan continues to defy economic wisdom President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to lower interest rates to stimulate economic growth as inflation runs rampant in Turkey. Turkey
Turkey, Israel to dispatch ambassadors in diplomatic renewal Israeli Prime Minister Lapid and Turkish President Erdogan agree on phone that the decision to return ambassadors and consuls general to Israel and Turkey will lead to new steps, including the upcoming convening of the Joint Economic Commission in Israel in September. Turkey
'Normalization' with Assad is the new normal in Turkey Comments by Turkey's foreign minister hinting at normalization with Damascus drove hundreds of Syrians across Turkish-occupied areas of northern Syria to stage demonstrations. Turkey
Money inflows of unknown origin headed for record in Turkey As Turkey’s current account deficit continues to widen in the coming months, foreign currency inflows of unknown origin might end up covering more than 70% of the gap. Turkey
Tracker: ships carry grain from Ukraine to Middle East Ships have left Ukraine for Turkey, Iran and elsewhere since the agreement between Ukraine and Russia on safe passage through the Black Sea. Turkey
Turkish official says slow pace of Armenia normalization designed to avert disappointment Ankara has said both sides are focused on confidence-building steps to be taken “one at a time.” Turkey
Turkey’s current account gap widens, with no respite in sight for the lira The Turkish lira is likely to tumble further in the coming months as the country’s current account gap threatens to grow beyond $40 billion by the end of the year. Turkey
Turkey makes peace bid with Chechen leader As Ankara finesses relations with Moscow, top Turkish officials have quietly met with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov after years of chill marked by a string of murders of Chechen exiles in Turkey. Turkey
Kurdish diva brokenhearted but resolute in face of language discrimination in Turkey The "brutal" quashing of Kurdishness in Turkey continues to be state policy — even in entertainment. Turkey
Russia offers Erdogan economic lifeline Gas payments in rubles will help Turkey reduce its foreign-currency demand. Turkey
Fourth Turkish drilling ship begins energy exploration in Mediterranean Past Turkish energy exploration activities took place in waters claimed by Greece and Cyprus, leading to significant tensions. Turkey