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
Ukraine war boosts Erdogan's 'new Atlanticism,' but for how long? Turkey’s westward focus may complicate, or complement, Ankara’s previous priority of Eurasia. Turkey
Analysis The Takeaway: Turkey thrust into spotlight amid Ukraine-Russia talks Turkey acts as mediator in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Israel is on high alert after a wave of terrorist attacks, how drones are revolutionizing the battlefield, and more. By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Andrew Parasiliti , Joe Snell
International, domestic groups ring alarms on human rights in Turkey Two reports, one from Amnesty International and another from Turkey’s Association of Journalists, have again drawn attention to Turkey’s deteriorating record on freedom of expression. Turkey
Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey yield respite but no ceasefire Turkey played host for the second time as peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine resumed today. Turkey
Possible closure of political party dampens Nowruz for Turkey’s Kurds Kurds see the case against the Peoples’ Democratic Party as the latest effort to undermine their place in society. Turkey
Will Ukraine crisis help Turkey dodge Western arms embargoes? Drawing on the role of Turkish drones in bolstering Ukraine’s defense, Erdogan has urged NATO partners to lift restrictions on military sales to Turkey. But US sanctions remain a tough row to hoe. Turkey
Turkish taxpayers outraged at cost of lira protection scheme Turkey’s Treasury faces a hefty bill from a controversial plan to defend the Turkish lira, even as the scheme has failed to make a major impact in reducing dollarization. Turkey
Erdogan gets no meeting with Biden at NATO Ukraine summit Despite reportedly intense diplomatic efforts, Turkey's president did not get to meet his US counterpart at today’s NATO summit in Brussels. Turkey
Will Turkey become haven for sanctioned Russians? Ankara is facing increasing pressure to comply with sanctions imposed on Moscow and to increase scrutiny on Turkish banks to make sure they don’t violate sanctions. Turkey
Wave of expulsions shakes Turkey’s tiny Protestant community Dozens of foreign Protestant missionaries have been forced to leave Turkey based on intelligence reports classifying them as security risks. Turkey
Emirati and Turkish businesspeople discuss bilateral trade, investment The meeting between the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Turkey’s ULUSKON business federation occurred in the context of rapprochement between the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. Turkey
Turkey, Netherlands patch up relations amid Ukraine crisis Arriving for a top-level visit in Ankara after years of tense relations, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says he would like Turkey to join sanctions against Russia but understands Ankara’s unique position. Turkey