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
Local movie blockbusters break revenue records in Turkey The path of democracy will influence the future of the Turkish film industry. Turkey
How Turkey is losing a top trade partner Turkey is experiencing a serious but underreported crisis with its biggest export market in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Turkey grants Syrians right to work, but is it too little, too late? Ankara has finally granted Syrians the right to work in a belated move to stop more highly qualified refugees’ flight to Europe. Turkey
The AKP's strange bedfellows When Dogu Perincek, the leader of the ultra-left and ultranationalist Patriotic Party, announces a "united front" with Turkey's ruling AKP, one should see why. Turkey
Biden calls for 'change of attitude' by Turkish government US Vice President Joe Biden says Turkey is setting the wrong example for the region. Syria
Behind Turkish checkpoints The town of Silopi in southeastern Turkey has been devastated by monthlong clashes between the security forces and Kurdish militants, with local residents blaming both the government and the rebels for the destruction. Turkey
Why did Turkey ban a Brazilian cartoonist? Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff talks to Al-Monitor about his cartoons depicting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which are now banned in Turkey. Turkey
What’s next for the Syrian regime? The Syrian regime forces, with the help of the Russian air force, have managed to take over the strategic town of Salma, thus getting closer to the Syrian-Turkish border. Syria
Turkey breaks new ground in southeast reconstruction Ankara will be entering potentially hazardous territory in its unprecedented plans for reconstruction in the Kurdish southeast. Turkey
Turkey issues new Friday prayer directive A government directive allowing public employees to take time off from work for Friday prayers has sparked questions about the future of Turkey’s secular system. Turkey
Is the KRG heading for bankruptcy? Iraq’s Kurds warn that unless Washington rides to their financial rescue, they cannot sustain their fight against the Islamic State. Iraq
Will Turkey's government start paying priests and rabbis? Non-Muslim religious leaders in Turkey cannot agree on whether to back efforts to get their personnel on the state payroll, which already supports the country's Muslim clergy. Turkey