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
Erdogan and Biden may meet at NATO's US summit in July, ambassador says Amid widening differences over Gaza, Turkey postponed in April the Turkish president’s visit to the White House that was planned for May. Turkey
Putin meets Fidan, 'fully supports' Turkey’s aspirations in BRICS The first bilateral meeting between Putin and Fidan saw the Russian leader embrace Ankara's interest in joining the BRICS as a counterweight to the West. Turkey
Turkey’s Fidan holds talks in Russia ahead of BRICS summit Fidan’s attendance at the BRICS+ summit comes at a time when Turkey’s dismay with the European Union is growing over pending resumption of the modernization of the Customs Union Treaty. Turkey
Turkey extends flight ban on Iraq's Sulaimaniyah airport for 6 months The extension of the ban indicated that Ankara and the Iraqi Kurdish party controlling Sulaimaniyah had yet to resolve their differences. Turkey
Analysis After Modi's win, can Turkey-India ties grow despite Kashmir, IMEC differences? Turkish officials and experts believe there is room for the two countries to expand cooperation despite their differences. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
In Turkey, Qatar defense chief says no plans to expel Hamas The Qatari minister’s remarks came in response to increasing reports that the Gulf state is considering shuttering Hamas’ political headquarters in Doha. Turkey
US welcomes Turkey’s signing $23 billion F-16 jets deal Turkey's inking of the deal indicates that Ankara and Washington have agreed on the terms of the purchase and see an opportunity in exploring other avenues. Turkey
Syrian Kurds postpone local elections amid US disapproval, Turkish threats The prevailing consensus is that the Biden administration’s opposition was the main driver of the postponement. Syria
China’s EV giants target Turkey as trade wars intensify Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Have Turkey, China hit reset button on Uyghurs as Fidan visits Xinjiang? Experts say Beijing and Ankara skillfully managed the contentious Uyghur issue during the Turkish diplomat's China visit, but Fidan's messages might raise eyebrows in the West. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Outrage as Turkish court hands Kurdish mayor 20-year prison sentence There is widespread anger in Turkey's Kurdish-majority city of Hakkari after its democratically elected mayor was handed a nearly 20-year prison sentence. Turkey
In China, Turkey’s Fidan says he plans to attend BRICS meeting in Russia The top Turkish diplomat says his country explores new opportunities with BRICS Turkey