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
Palestinians find respite from siege at Gaza’s ancient port Once an ancient trading hub, Gaza’s port now serves as a popular recreational location for local Palestinians wishing to forget the woes of living under siege. Palestine
What does Erdogan mean by 'Alevis without Ali'? In a fresh affront to Alevis, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started a polemic about “Alevism without Ali” in what analysts see as an attempt to Sunnify Alevis and ostracize those who resist assimilation. Turkey
Turkey's Central Bank governor pressured to resign Turkey's Central Bank lowered interest rates under political pressure, but this action could not satisfy Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Russia, Turkey agree on Gulen Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Moscow this week, where he found some common ground with the Russian government on Gulen, while continuing to disagree on Syria. Turkey
Obama ramps up on Syria The US president is giving new priority to the threat from terrorists in Syria, while calling for increased military support for opposition forces. Syria
Turkey’s opposition no match for Erdogan, AKP Despite Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s missteps, the lead opposition parties are in disarray, and there is no challenger to his bid for president, if he decides to run. Turkey
KRG risks isolation in Iraq by exporting oil through Turkey Erbil’s decision to export oil without consulting the Baghdad government could also increase Turkish leverage on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Iraq
Turkey’s Kurdish oil gamble Turkey’s sale of Iraqi Kurdish crude oil could backfire for Ankara and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Iraq
Turkey cracks down on drug cartels Turkey's intense crackdown on narcotics operations is delivering serious blows to criminal enterprises associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and European drug networks. Turkey
Gezi resistance anniversary recalls impact on Turkey On the first anniversary of the Gezi revolt, the bottom line is that it failed to transform into a political movement, but did manage to transform Turkey. Turkey
Rival Kurdish parties battle for power in Syria A series of tit-for-tat incidents has worsened relations between the Kurdistan Workers Party of Abdullah Ocalan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Massoud Barzani. Syria
Leviathan gas deal may be catalyst for Israel-Turkey reset Is the Turkish court’s decision to indict former Israeli army chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi for the Mavi Marmara flotilla raid part of the reconciliatory diplomatic ballet by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, eyeing the “Leviathan” gas field? Israel