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
NATO chief in Turkey, urges swift ratification of Sweden, Finland memberships In Ankara, NATO chief made first visit after the earthquake, and pressed for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance together. Turkey
Quake disaster delivers diplomatic silver lining for Turkey Post-quake solidarity has warmed Turkey’s ties with Greece, Armenia and Israel, but no thaw is seen between Turkey and Syria despite their common suffering from the disaster. Turkey
Analysis Will Turkey-Syria earthquake redraw the fault lines of geopolitics? As in previous decades and centuries, geologic rumblings could be followed by political upheavals in both countries. By Gilles Kepel
Earthquake orphans in Turkey, Syria face uncertain future Thousands of requests poured into Turkey’s Social Affairs Ministry to foster children who survived last week's quakes, but the ministry maintains that its priority is to reunite kids with families or relatives, if they can. Turkey
Top Armenian diplomat heads to Turkey for landmark visit Top Armenian diplomat will pay a rare visit to Turkey after two killer earthquakes. Turkey
Hero canines warm hearts as Turkey's earthquake rescue operations drop off Some 400 search and rescue dogs are still working to find survivors in Turkey, though such operations are winding down. Turkey
In Turkey, Israel's foreign minister meets Erdogan, promises earthquake aid Meeting with Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged and thanked Jerusalem for its assistance to the victims of the recent earthquakes. Israel
In Turkey, fears grow of Erdogan postponing elections as earthquake toll passes 30,000 As public anger over the government's earthquake response grows, speculation about the possible postponement of Turkey’s elections in May is heating up. Turkey
Massive earthquake cost to deepen Turkey’s economic woes The disaster response requires a significant increase in public spending to meet the needs of 13.5 million affected people and rebuild massive destruction, threatening to widen Ankara’s budget deficit. Turkey
Analysis Earthquake could shake up Turkish election Democracies face more pressure than dictatorships after natural disasters; Assad is content to continue rule amidst the ruins. By Week in Review
US military deploys more assets to Incirlik to aid Turkey earthquake response The US military is deploying more aid to its base in southeastern Turkey to assist after devastating dual earthquakes. Turkey
Syria to allow cross-border aid into areas outside government control Delivering assistance to Syria after the deadly earthquakes is complicated by the government's diplomatic isolation and tight control over aid access. Syria