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
Turkey, Iran influence Iraqi Kurdistan politics The post-election politics of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is subject to relationships among Iran, Iraq and Turkey. Iraq
Turkey close to deal with China for anti-missile system Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Defense Industries says they are 90% done on the agreement purchasing an anti-missile system from China, but notes that there still could be a political decision to abort the agreement. Turkey
Turkey may investigate military’s burning of Kurdish villages The Turkish government may launch an investigation into the destruction of Kurdish villages by state military forces in southeastern Turkey in the 1990s. Turkey
Turkey’s draft constitution appears dead The deadlock in the Turkish parliament does not come as a surprise and may foreshadow even more polarization. Turkey
Erdogan rules out general amnesty for PKK Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied that he implied he was considering a general amnesty when he said in Diyarbakir that the prisons be should emptied. Turkey
Erdogan-Barzani 'Diyarbakir encounter' milestone Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for the first time ever, says "Kurdistan." Iraq
Can Sarigul, the hope of Turkey's left, unseat Erdogan? Some leftist commentators see Mustafa Sarigul as the best hope for the Turkish left, while others believe he is a mere 'hostage' in Erdogan's hands due to corruption allegations. Turkey
Israel, Egypt, Gulf fear US betrayal Israel has become part of an unexpected alliance with the Gulf countries, Egypt and Jordan, all disappointed by the US administration's lack of Middle East understanding. Egypt
An atmosphere of peace, not of farewell Kurdistan Region of Iraq President Massoud Barzani joined Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a historic visit to Diyarbakir. Iraq
Turkey’s Alevi question The government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to heal old wounds with Turkey’s Alevi community, while stepping back from sectarian regional policies. Iraq
Kurds divided over Syrian autonomy The Democratic Union Party (PYD) is proceeding with its plans for a transitional government in the Kurdistan region of western Syria, despite the opposition of the Kurdish National Council and Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani. Iraq
AKP, Gulen community in open war The war between the AKP and its former de facto partner, the Gulen community, is heating up amid reports of government plans to shut prep schools, a sector where Gulenists are hugely influential. Turkey