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
Russia to host Turkey, Syria, Iran diplomats on Wednesday Senior Turkish, Syrian, Iranian and Russian diplomats are set to meet to advance the stalled rapprochement between Ankara and Damascus. Turkey
MidEast freedom rankings: Syria worst, Tunisia in decline, says Freedom House Syria remains to be the least and Israel the best performing country when it comes civil and political freedoms while the biggest one-year decline has been observed in Tunisia. Turkey
Erdogan’s challenger faces delicate balancing act to win over Turkey's Kurds The compromise that salvaged Turkey’s opposition bloc from collapsing this week lays the ground for enlisting Kurdish support as well, but not without fragilities and risks on the way. Turkey
Turkey’s election races officially begin as Erdogan sets vote for May 14 The country’s executive presidential system will be the focal point of the campaigning period. Turkey
Turkey, Sweden and Finland agree to more talks on NATO accession President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman and foreign affairs adviser Ibrahim Kalin, who took part in Thursday’s talks, described the meeting as “positive.” Turkey
Turkey’s earthquake victims at heart of International Women's Day marches The earthquakes that ravaged 11 provinces in southern Turkey also amplified the socio-economic inequalities between men and women in the region. Turkey
Turkey, Syria, Iran to hold 'technical talks' in Russia next week The technical meeting is aimed at achieving progress in the stalled high-level dialogue process between Ankara and Damascus. Turkey
Iran's top diplomat to visit Turkey in post-disaster diplomacy The top Iranian and Turkish diplomats are also expected to discuss the Syrian, Nagorno-Karabakh and bilateral files during their meeting. Turkey
Support for Kilicdaroglu grows among Turkey’s wider opposition Having been nominated by six-strong bloc, other parties indicate support for Kemal Kilicdaroglu in May presidential election Turkey
Turkey's earthquake victims hit by exorbitant rent spikes, topping 60% Turkey’s Justice Ministry is working on a draft amendment that would introduce jail terms of two to five years for landlords gouging prices in times of natural disasters. Turkey
Turkey summons US ambassador over top general's Syria visit Washington's top general Mark Milley met with senior American commanders, but not with Kurdish officials, US officials said. Turkey
Anti-Kurdish racism stains soccer pitch in western Turkey The attacks raised the specter of inter-communal violence ahead of watershed elections that are due to be held on May 14 Turkey