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
In Turkey, Erdogan challenger attracts solid Kurdish support, a decisive vote Turkey’s opposition leader is likely to receive crucial Kurdish support in his bid to unseat Erdogan in the May 14 polls, but a victory for the opposition remains far from assured. Turkey
Interview US-backed Syrian Kurdish leader Mazlum Kobane says Turkey's attempt on life not the first Speaking exclusively to Al-Monitor, the commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would do "anything to reach power again" as Turkey prepares for elections next month. Mazlum Kobane SDF commander in chief
Sweden's NATO ratification likely to wait until after Turkey's elections As Finland becomes a NATO member, Sweden’s options are limited before the Turkish elections of May 14. Turkey
Drone strike targets US Syrian-Kurdish ally Mazlum Kobane, Turkey suspected Mazlum Kobane, the Pentagon’s chief ally in the fight against the Islamic State, was traveling in a convoy with US officials at the time of the strike. Turkey
Will Turkey’s conservative young women abandon Erdogan and AKP? The conservative women vote played an important role in bringing Erdogan’s AKP to power two decades ago. But according to polls, that segment of Turkish society is looking for alternatives as AKP became too conservative for their taste. Turkey
Russia's Lavrov in Turkey to discuss Syria, Caucasus, possible Putin visit Ankara is eager to see Lavrov's visit followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip on April 27 to inaugurate Turkey's first nuclear power plant, built and financed by a subsidiary of Russia's nuclear energy firm Rosatom. Turkey
Turkey’s earthquake victims face torture and abuse by security forces, rights groups say The lack of government oversight in areas destroyed by the earthquakes has only worsened the abuse committed by security forces. Turkey
Turkey shuts airspace to Sulaimaniyah flights, citing Kurdish militants The move is likely retaliation against ties between Kurdish militants and the Iraqi Kurdish Patriotic Union Party. Turkey
3 Syrians dead, 3 missing as Ukraine-bound ship sinks off Turkey's coast Rescuers are trying to reach three missing crew members of the Joe 2 ship, which had 14 crew on board. Turkey
Russia looks to reconcile Turkey, Syria as talks kick off in Moscow Russia seeks to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus amid four-way talks in Moscow. Turkey
Neck-and-neck race in Turkey between Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu Challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu is showing signs of closing the gap on incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Iraqi efforts underway to resolve Kurdish oil exports via Turkey Ankara, Baghdad and Erbil appear willing to negotiate a new mechanism after an international tribunal dealt a blow to Kurdistan’s drive to sell its oil independently. Turkey