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
Will 'Democratization Package' Restore Erdogan’s Reputation? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s democratization package should help Turkey’s international standing, as long as it is implemented correctly. Turkey
Erdogan's Democratization Package A 'Silent Revolution' Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan considers his democratization proposal essential to Turkey’s role as a democratic and free society. Turkey
Turkey Polls Oppose AKP Once Again The Justice and Development Party (AKP) risks being labeled an “elitist” party, ignoring the preferences of its voters in foreign policy. Turkey
What Does Erdogan’s Democratization Package Offer Kurds, Minorities? Will the democratization package solve Turkey’s key issues? Turkey
Iran and Turkey Have DifferencesOn Syria, But Not a Crisis Iran's ambassador in Ankara, Alireza Bikdeli, says if the Iranian and Turkish differences on Syria were between two other countries, it would have led to serious problems. Turkey
Erdogan’s Democracy Package Gets Cool Reception The AKP’s long-anticipated reform package has produced mixed reactions in Turkey, while EU circles remain cautiously optimistic. Turkey
Turkish Court Investigates Syrian Jihadist Use of Chemicals Turkish prosecutors have indicted a Syrian opposition figure with links to Jabhat al-Nusra's attempts to manufacture chemical weapons. Syria
EU Awaits Turkey’s Reform Plan EU officials privately have doubts about Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s reform plan and express concerns about freedom of the media. Turkey
What is Turkey’s Role In Syria’s Islamic Opposition? Experts in Ankara question Turkey’s policies as al-Qaeda-affiliate Syrian rebel groups declare goal of establishing a Sharia-based state. Syria
Can Turkey, Iran Cooperate on Syria? Working with Iran could help end Turkey’s growing isolation over the Syrian civil war. Syria
New Information Indicates Kidnapped Syrian Bishops Still Alive The two Syrian bishops kidnapped in April are still alive, according to new information, and Turkish authorities may be working to secure their release. Lebanon
Erdogan’s Family Policy Conservative, But Not Islamist The Turkish prime minister's family policies are more nationalist than Islamist. Turkey