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
The AKP, Ibn Khaldun and The New 'Desert Tribes' of Turkey Medieval Muslim thinker Ibn Khaldun provides insight into the evolution and prospects for the AKP. Turkey
Turkey’s Middle East Policy Lies in Shambles While Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan may still have some admirers in the "Arab street," he may be losing the admiration of many of the region’s leaders. Egypt
Is Turkey Backpedaling on Syria? Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has signaled that Turkey hasn't fully decided to join the coalition of the willing against the Syrian regime. Syria
Turkey’s Kurds Seek Forgiveness For 1915 Armenian Tragedy Turkey’s Kurds are taking responsibility for their role in the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians in 1915. Turkey
Palestinian Women Hope To Gain Divorce Rights Activists are pushing for Gaza to join the West Bank in an initiative that will allow women to divorce without their husbands' permission. Palestine
Political Disputes Delay Lebanon’s Gas Projects In light of Lebanon’s governmental vacuum and developments in neighboring Syria, certain parties want to delay the bidding process for exploration rights to the country’s offshore gas fields. Lebanon
Erdogan Wants the Olympics Troubled at home and abroad, Turkey’s prime minister hopes for an Olympic win for Istanbul that can provide a much-needed antidote to his political woes. Turkey
Factional Politics Limit Effectiveness of Lebanon Army The Lebanese Armed Forces are well trained and armed, but handicapped by Lebanese politics. Lebanon
Turkey’s Stairway to A Democratic Heaven The crumbling, concrete street stairs in an Istanbul alley have become the latest battleground for the colorful pluralism of society and the “gray” authoritarianism of politicians in Turkey. Turkey
Veteran Journalist, AKP Official Clash Over Egypt The former managing editor of daily newspaper Hurriyet clashes with Huseyin Celik, deputy chairman of the AKP, over Egypt. Egypt
Turkey's Role Limited In Syria Crisis Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu justify their tough approach to Syria, but may not have much of a role in de-escalating the crisis. Syria
Is Turkey-PKK Peace Process At a Dead End? The Sept. 1 deadline for the second stage in the Kurdish peace process is about to expire, without progress. Turkey