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
Most Turks Do Not Support Erdogan's Syria Policy According to a recent poll, only 27.4% of Turks support their prime minister's Syria policies. Syria
In Libya, Militias Rule The collapse of Libya’s intelligence and security sectors requires urgent reform. Turkey
Women Will Decide Extent Of Turkey's Religiosity Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been using religious symbols in his rallies, giving the wrong impression internationally and raising concerns about Turkey's religious turn. Turkey
Turkey’s Deepening Polarization A recent poll shows declining support for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and AKP policies. Turkey
Erdogan’s Hubris Syndrome Is there a strategy behind Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s polarizing, hard-line policies? Turkey
Obama Should Invite Iran's Rouhani to Geneva The election of Hassan Rouhani as president of Iran might present an opening for a political solution to the Syria war. Israel
Exclusive: I Saw Nasrallah in Qusair The Hezbollah secretary-general’s mysterious visit to Qusair may not have been his first. Lebanon
Erdogan Cheered, Criticized In AKP Stronghold A crowd rallies for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a show of force against the protests, but not without a sense of apprehension even in one of his party’s main strongholds. Turkey
Iranian Kurdish Struggle Linked to Turkey, Syria Iran is not admitting that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps units are operating in Syria. Syria
Erdogan Places Blame for Protests On International Conspiracy Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would be better served by focusing on governance, and not blaming foreign or other interests for Turkey’s problems. Turkey
Russia Sees Turkey Through Its Own Lens As long as Russia-Turkey relations stay calm, Moscow has no comment. Turkey
Erdogan, Embattled at Home, Popular With Syrian Refugees Erdogan's Syrian policy is fuelling anti-government feelings, but among Syria's refugees he remains a hero. Syria