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
First Turkey-Syria FM meeting in Russia agrees to work on refugees, terrorism Ankara, for its part, stressed the need for cooperation on the return of Syrian refugees, the top Turkish diplomat said ahead of Turkey's crucial elections. Turkey
Analysis Turkey Elections: Israel never saw Erdogan as an ally, unsure about Kilicdaroglu Turkey’s opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu had made several anti-Israel statements in the past, but might adopt a more pragmatic attitude toward Israel if he wins the election. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Iran FM in Russia to talk Syria-Turkey reconciliation while vowing to boost Assad's military Prior to the Moscow meeting, Tehran pledged readiness to equip Syria with the latest Iran-made weaponry, the shipment of which has been eased by the 2020 expiry of a UN arms embargo on the Islamic Republic. Iran
Turkey Elections: Absentee voting ends with record 51% turnout in 73 countries Absentee voting, which ended on Tuesday for nearly 3.5 million Turkish citizens registered abroad, saw record participation. Turkey
LISTEN: Turkey's efforts to terrorize Kurdish voters will fail, says Green Left Party candidate Ceylan Akca, a candidate for the pro-Kurdish Green Left Party, speaks to Amberin Zaman about expectations for this Sunday's presidential and parliamentary vote. Turkey
Turkey Elections: Violence, detentions mark last stretch to unseat Erdogan Turkish President Erdogan accused the opposition of provocation after an attack on a prominent opposition figure. Turkey
Analysis Turkey Elections: A Kilicdaroglu election win could overhaul Syria policy The opposition leader is seen as someone who would have more clout at the negotiating table with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, especially on migration and security issues in northern Syria. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Turkey’s first-time voters rally around opposition in crucial polls Many of the five million first-time voters, who have never seen a Turkey without President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 20 years of rule, express hope for a change in the crucial twin polls on May 14. Turkey
Women candidates in Turkey face growing hurdles across political spectrum Even as patriarchal attitudes fade, efforts to recruit candidates or put them at the top of party lists have fallen short due to the old boy network. Turkey
Turkey: In final elections stretch, Istanbul gears up for mega-rallies With only days to go until Turkey’s crucial elections, Erdogan and his top rival will rally their supporters in the country’s largest metropolis. Turkey
Turkey’s drones are killing Kurdish children in northeast Syria Turkey's drone campaign to undermine Kurdish rule in Syria continues unabated, with children paying a heavy price. Turkey
Erdogan slams Turkey's LGBTQ community, weaponizes homophobia ahead of vote Homophobia and transphobia have unprecedentedly taken a prominent stage in the campaign period ahead of Turkey’s consequential elections. Turkey