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
Battle lines shift in northern Syria Eyes are focused on the Syrian-Turkish border after the FSA factions and Syrian Democratic Forces launched their offensives, which points at an imminent final and decisive offensive against IS. Syria
What Turkey’s new Central Bank chief means for the economy In a first for Turkey, an Islamic finance professional has been named Central Bank governor amid questions of whether the appointment is linked to Erdogan’s war on interest rates. Turkey
Turkey plays both sides in Iran, Saudi conflict Does Turkey courting Iran and Saudi Arabia simultaneously mean Ankara is moving away from Sunni-based policies? Saudi Arabia
Why the PKK is so interested in Mosul The PKK is looking to join the Iraqi army and the Kurdistan Regional Government to liberate Mosul. Iraq
Turkey witnesses 'unprecedented onslaught on critical media' Since coming to power in 2002, Turkey’s ruling party has employed unprecedented means to expand pro-government media and curb critical media, acting in cooperation with crony businessmen and using public funds. Turkey
April showers bring … growing violence in southeast Turkey? Both the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers Party are feverishly preparing for expected heavy clashes in the spring. Turkey
Will government seize Turkey's largest bank? Isbank, Turkey's largest private bank, is seen as a government takeover target. Turkey
What’s in store for the future of journalism in Turkey? Cengiz Candar says he is retiring from journalism in Turkey in a farewell article published by Radikal on April 6 after the publication abruptly shut down. Turkey
The collapse of Iraq's Shiite alliance Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr co-opts popular reform movement; Erdogan’s bid for empowered presidency linked to war with PKK; Turkey feels pressure to intensify fight against Islamic State; Backlash over Egyptian government crackdown on media. Egypt
Pro-Erdogan media take precautions against Panama Papers Vladimir Putin and his supporters are not the only ones who see a CIA conspiracy behind the Panama Papers. Turkey
Why the Turkish government seized this Armenian church The Justice and Development Party’s rhetoric and legislation differ on the expropriation of Armenian churches in Sur, causing further frustration among locals and diaspora Armenians. Turkey
Are Amman-Ankara ties in crisis? Deep divisions remain between King Abdullah and President Erdogan, who have not met in more than three years. Jordan