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 Turkey's economic, inflation policy hinges on upcoming local elections The outcome of Turkey’s March 31 local polls is likely to influence Erdogan’s decision on whether to enact the tough disinflation measures favored by the economic leadership. Turkey
Turkey hits back after Israel protests Erdogan's comments cursing Netanyahu The Israeli foreign minister told the Turkish president to “be quiet" after Erdogan said he was leaving Netanyahu "in the Lord's hands" at a Thursday election rally. Turkey
Turkey detains hundreds of Kurds for wearing ‘forbidden’ colors at Nowruz rallies The government's actions come ahead of nationwide elections in which the pro-Kurdish DEM Party is fielding its own candidates. Turkey
GCC, Turkey launch talks on free trade agreement According to the Turkish trade minister, the new free trade agreement will create one of the world’s largest free trade areas. Turkey
In surprise move, Turkey’s Central Bank hikes interest rates to 50% The move comes after the bank announced last month that it was pausing the hikes. Turkey
PKK claims to down 15 Turkish drones in Nowruz announcement The announcement comes one day ahead of the Kurdish New Year, or Nowruz, which is celebrated by millions of Kurds worldwide, and less than two weeks before Turkey's local elections that are due to be held nationwide on March 31. Turkey
PKK kills Turkish soldier in northern Iraq as Ankara threatens major offensive The militant group killed one Turkish soldier and wounded four others in northern Iraq, as Turkey threatened a major offensive to "annihilate" the Kurdish militant group by summer. Turkey
Turkey hands Meta $148K daily fine over antitrust violation Turkey’s competition watchdog also imposed an interim measure to suspend data-sharing between Instagram and Threads. Turkey
Baghdad's PKK ban marks win-win for Iraq, Turkey but warning to Iran The move could ease Turkey's military operations in northern Iraq while at the same allowing Baghdad to extend its presence and control over its territory. Turkey
Turkey hopeful on $1.4 billion reimbursement from US for F-35 deals Turkey can get its money back, Turkish defense officials say, as ties with Washington strengthen following Sweden’s admission to NATO and Ankara’s F-16 purchase. Turkey
Iraq bans PKK as security ties with Turkey gain momentum The decision comes after the high-level talks between Turkish and Iraqi officials in Baghdad. Turkey
Turkey, UK to begin trade deal talks in June The official talks, set to begin on June 10, were announced following a Thursday meeting between the countries’ trade ministers in London. Turkey