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
Syrian Kurdish commander slams US response to Turkish attacks as US diplomats evacuated from Syria The United States' top ally in Syria warned that unless Washington and the Kremlin push back more firmly Turkey will launch a ground offensive against his forces that will further undermine the battle against the Islamic State. Syria
Turkish fact-checkers shine light on misinformation as crucial elections approach Teyit has been working for six years to interpret sometimes wild claims made in news media and online. Turkey
Top Turkish, Swedish, Finnish diplomats to talk NATO enlargement Turkey, Sweden and Finland will hold a new round of talks for the Nordic accession to NATO, but Ankara appears to be waiting for more from the Nordic states. Turkey
Erdogan-Sisi handshake sparks backlash from Turkey's Islamists President Erdogan’s about-face on Egypt sparked backlash from some Turkish Islamists ahead of critical June elections. Turkey
US again tries to thwart Turkish invasion of northern Syria Erdogan says military operations are "just beginning" against Syrian Kurdish groups, while teasing possibility of talks with Assad. Turkey
Culture Artists from Middle East stand out in women-dominated Venice Biennale This year’s edition of the world’s longest-running art show corrects a history of gender inequality by putting female artists at its center. Turkey
Erdogan says meeting with Syria's Assad is 'possible' The Turkish president adds that "there is no resentment or bitterness in politics." Turkey
Turkey’s strikes in Syria put US troops in danger, Pentagon says A Turkish drone strike on a top Kurdish commander’s headquarters came within 130 meters of US troops in Syria on Tuesday. Turkey
Analysis The Takeaway: Syria's Kurds turn to US as Turkey threatens ground operation Plus, a look at Iran's enrichment activities, twin bombings in Jerusalem and the detention of another US citizen in Saudi Arabia. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Deepening poverty fuels mass school dropout in Turkey Children are dropping out of school at unprecedented rates in Turkey, activists warn, as the social toll of the country’s economic turmoil deepens. Turkey
Earthquake in Turkey highlights questions over disaster preparedness Wednesday's earthquake in Duzce has rekindled memories of quakes that struck Turkey in 1999, worrying many about future disasters. Turkey
Missing legal, tech safeguards worry Turks as elections loom Few legal safeguards exist to prevent the Turkish authorities from restricting internet access on election day, experts say, as the opposition scrambles to devise contingency plans. Turkey