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
Syria Crisis Prompts Turkey's New Openings to Its Alevis Turkey’s new liberalization package for its largest religious minority is linked to Syria. Syria
Obama’s Syria Policy Has Potential For Breakthrough on War Al-Monitor’s analysis and coverage of US policy toward Syria. Syria
Israel-Egypt Forge New Ties Over Sinai The United States is no longer the glue between Israel and Egypt. Egypt
How Did Turkey Lose Egypt? Statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the coup in Egypt have set back Egyptian diplomacy and popularity with the Egyptian street. Egypt
Court Case Reveals Turkey Arms Flow To Syrian Rebels The transfer of Turkish weapons to the Free Syrian Army is documented in a court case in Hatay. Syria
Turkish Opposition Builds Bridge to Egypt Two prominent diplomats affiliated with the Republican People's Party are trying to repair ties between Ankara and Cairo. Egypt
Turkey’s Syria Border on Edge A first-hand account of Turkey’s Syrian border suggests that Turkey continues to provide sanctuary for both rebels fighting the Syrian government and Kurdish forces alike. Syria
Turkey’s Influence Divides Yemenis Turkish influence in Yemen, which has continued since Ottoman times, has proven to be a divisive topic among the Yemeni public. Yemen
Are Protests on Rise Again in Turkey? Turkey may risk a new wave of unrest if the government fails to address the grievances of minorities. Turkey
Turkish Alevis Refuse 'Sunnification' Shiites and Alevis in Turkey continue to struggle for rights and recognition. Turkey
A Death Provokes Anti-Government Protests in Turkey The Arab Alawite community of Antakya holds the government responsible for the unprecedented tensions in their once peaceful town after Ahmet Atakan’s death on Sept. 9. Turkey
Turkey's Kurdish Road MapLosing Direction The PKK has suspended its withdrawal of militants from Turkey, casting doubt on the fate of the peace process. Turkey