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
Can the Islamic State be defeated without Kurds? Turkey insists Rojava's People's Protection Units must be excluded from the fight against the Islamic State on the Menbic-Jarablus front. Syria
Private collectors fuel demand for looted Mideast antiquities Archaeological experts say social dislocation and terrorism are increasing the ability of organized gangs to traffic artifacts to clients in Europe, Asia and the United States. Yemen
Can Turkey break its Russian gas habit? With no end to bilateral tensions in sight, Turkey is making plans to significantly cut down Russia’s majority share of its natural gas supply. Turkey
Some Gazans fear Turkish generosity may come at high price Turkey’s crucial humanitarian aid and booming economic projects in Gaza could have hidden political motives. Palestine
Syrian refugees boost Turkish economy, but for how long? Syrian refugees provided a much-needed boost to the slowing Turkish economy last year, but their contribution is not expected to last. Syria
How Turkey seeks to kill two birds with one stone in Diyarbakir The air of secrecy surrounding an urban renewal project in Turkey’s largest Kurdish city sparks anxiety among local residents, already stripped of their homes amid devastating clashes between Kurdish militants and the security forces. Turkey
Why Erdogan can't end PKK war Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s personal agenda precludes a negotiated settlement with the Kurds, and a military solution remains just as out of reach. Turkey
West takes Erdogan to task over press freedom During the Turkish president's US visit, US President Barack Obama openly rebuked Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while Germany told him his undemocratic strong-arming won't work in Europe. Turkey
Is Turkey's lax oversight keeping PKK flush with funds? While the Turkish public is asked to mobilize against PKK terror, are the government’s efforts to curtail PKK financing and money laundering enough? Turkey
Military wipes its hands of Turkish politics Rumors and denials of a possible coup by the Turkish military are a symptom of the malignant political atmosphere in the country. Turkey
Syrian Kurds proceed with federal structures despite Turkish threats Washington gets the Erdogan treatment; Syrian Kurds establish federal institutions; Hamas closes Iranian charity. Palestine
Turkish bodyguards take Washington by force After assaulting a deputy in Ecuador, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards this time terrorize the media and protesters in Washington. Syria