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 Gul Alternative to Erdogan Turkey’s president has positioned himself as a unifier following the Gezi Park protests. Turkey
The Jihadist Threat in Egypt's Sinai The threat from violent Islamic groups in the Sinai has only worsened since the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi. Egypt
Kerry’s Best Kept Secret On the Middle East The US uses its “invisible hand” for the latest mini-breakthrough in Israel. Palestine
Ankara Warns Against Kurdish Autonomy in Syria While the Kurdistan Democratic Union (PYD) takes control of Syrian territory close to the Turkish border, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warns Kurds against declaring an autonomous Kurdistan. Syria
Turkey Adds Fuel to Fight Of Iraqi Kurds for Independence Despite Turkey’s age-old fear of Kurdish independence in contiguous regions near its border, energy ties are growing between Turkey and Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Iraq
New Religious Campaign Targets Baghdad's Cafes Authorities in Baghdad have begun to encroach on personal freedoms, closing cafes even when they only serve coffee and tea after Ramadan fasting is over. Iraq
Reality Check For Egypt’s Revolution The co-founder of Egypt’s Al Dostor, National Association for Change and El Ghad Parties argues that the new government is on the right path of compromise. Egypt
No Longer 'Sick Man,' Turkey Is Lonely, Tired Just as it was branded as the “sick man of Europe" in the 19th century, Turkey is now called the “lonely man of Middle East,” spelling serious consequences for the entire regional system. Turkey
Iraqi MP: Maliki, Barzani Close to Solving Oil Dispute Rapport between Baghdad and Erbil seems relatively warm as the two governments continue to settle oil disputes. Iraq
Erdogan's Symbolism Might Spell Trouble With Arabs A series of statements and actions by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and AKP members could sound ominous if their symbolism is understood. Turkey
Maid in Saudi Arabia Human trafficking and abuse of domestic workers continue in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia
Why Turkey Has 'Anti-Capitalist Muslims' İhsan Eliaçık, the group's leader, believes that the Islamic duty is not just caring for the poor, but overthrowing the capitalist “system” that he thinks makes them poor. Turkey