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
'Décolletage' Reveals Secular-Islamist Divide in Turkey The cleavage debate in Turkey has overwhelmed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s democratization reform package. Turkey
TV Presenter in Turkey Loses Job Over Cleavage After AKP spokesman Huseyin Celik objected to TV presenter Gozde Kansu’s décolleté dress, her contract was suspended, raising eyebrows over Turkey's human rights record. Turkey
Turkey Goes Ballistic for China The whole episode has become an oxymoron of noisy speechlessness. Turkey
Pass the Sugar: Turkey, Middle East Need a 'Tea Party' The region needs more openness and dialogue, and less conspiracy, around its tea culture. Turkey
Israel's Ties With Greece No Substitute For Alliance With Turkey Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu develops relations with Greece knowing that, though beneficial to Israel, they cannot replace the strategic alliance with Turkey. Israel
Turkish Court Confirms Military Coup Attempt In a historic ruling, the Supreme Court of Appeals in Ankara upholds the heavy prison sentences to top ex-officers accused of attempting to oust the government in 2003. Turkey
Sex Trafficking Open Secret In Northern Cyprus A lawmaker reignites a debate on white-slavery trafficking in Turkish Cyprus, where the smoke screen of the “Las Vegas” myth obscures abuse and suffering. Turkey
Syrian Kurdish Leader Urges Turkey To End Support for Salafists Saleh Muslim, co-chairman of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, had messages for Ankara in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor. Syria
Three Reasons Why Turkey Is So Polarized The ruling Justice and Development Party can bridge the gaps by not responding to the provocations of the Kemalists. Turkey
Erdogan's Frustration Shows Over Syria Deal The Turkish prime minister is questioning John Kerry's praise of Syria’s compliance to date with UN Security Council Resolution 2118. Syria
Natural Gas Resources May Be Backstory in Syria War The Syria war, like many of the region's other conflicts, has an important oil and gas angle. Lebanon
Women's Film Festival in Gaza Touches on Sexual Taboos The Gaza-based women's film festival has daringly screened films addressing women's issues that are considered taboo in this conservative society, including sexuality and harassment. Palestine