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
Erdogan’s New Chief Adviser is No Joke Prime Minister Erdogan's appointment of Yigit Bulut to focus on the transition to a presidential system has generated controversy and criticism. Turkey
European Court Presses Erdogan on Free Speech A landmark ruling by the European Court of Human Rights is putting pressure on Turkey’s prime minister to abandon his many libel cases against journalists. Turkey
Egypt's New Rulers Face Crisis With Ethiopia Over Nile Egypt has sent delegations to Ethiopia to push for a compromise on the dam project and sharing the Nile's waters. Egypt
Turkey’s Syria Policy in Shambles Over Support for Jihadists A host of misjudgments by the Erdogan government about Syria, including reliance on radical Islamists, has led to new headaches for Turkey. Syria
Turkey Needs Unified Vision for Middle East Turkey needs a unified approach for governance at home before it can rebuild its foreign policy. Turkey
Hamas Concerned About Tamarod Movement in Gaza Hamas is worried that the Egyptian “rebellion” movement will migrate to Gaza. Palestine
Turkey Between Interest Rates And Conspiracy Theories While Turkey was once praised as a "model" for the region, the recent economic woes facing Ankara and Erdogan’s insufficient response have shaken Turkey's perception in Arab countries. Lebanon
Syrian Kurds Reassure Turkey The leading Syrian Kurdish group claims it is not seeking to break away from Syria as tensions escalate with Ankara. Syria
Women at Forefront Of Egypt’s Revolutionary Wave The role of women in Egypt’s transition will be a barometer of progress and democratic change. Egypt
Turkey’s Kurdish Question Extends to Syria The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government is struggling with whether its interests are better served by jihadists or Kurdish groups controlling areas of northern Syria. Syria
The Rise of 'Cleric Militias' in Iraq In recent years, Iraq has witnessed a rise in militias led by Shiite clerics, with some fearing that Sunnis may soon follow suit, thus exacerbating the regional sectarian conflict. Iraq
The Struggle for Syrian Kurdistan Al-Monitor covers Syrian Kurdistan, the rebel siege of Aleppo, maids in Saudi Arabia and the Iraqi sex trade. Saudi Arabia