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
Breaking | Last Updated: November 5, 2026, 3:56 pm 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
Where is Turkey’s place in strategy against IS? Turkey is absent from the Iraqi leg of the strategy to defeat the Islamic State, and stands no chance of any major role in the Syrian leg, too, as long as it remains obsessed with toppling Assad. Turkey
No sign of Turkey-Syria border reopening On March 9, Turkish authorities closed the Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa border crossings with Syria, a move some say may be linked to security measures ahead of Turkey’s parliamentary elections in June. Syria
Kurdish women’s movement reshapes Turkish politics A Turkish Sunni woman in her early 40s rises to the top of Kurdish and oppressed people’s political movement. Syria
Ankara sidelined on Syria Ankara has hardly any influence left over events in Syria and its goal of deposing President Bashar al-Assad is no closer now than four years ago, while the persisting conflict poses ever-increasing headaches for Turkey. Syria
What next for Iraq? The Islamic State may be routed in Iraq, but the question of what is next remains unanswered. Iraq
Arab countries hope to influence G-20 agenda An Istanbul economic forum highlighted Arab countries' aims to be included in the G-20 summit to be held in Turkey in November 2015. Turkey
Turkish independent women don't need to put a ring on it The stigma of being an old maid is slowly fading in Turkey. Turkey
Pakistan warns Turkey: Don’t make our mistakes The chairman of the Pakistani Senate's Defense Committee has cautioned that Turkey is repeating in Syria Pakistan's missteps in Afghanistan. Turkey
US 'working through' extent of support for Syrian rebels The resolution being considered by Congress does not address protection of vetted Syrian rebels against Syrian government forces; nuclear talks with Iran enter decisive phase amid challenges by Republicans in Congress; Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani determines fate of reconciliation in Iraq; Israeli election is verdict on Benjamin Netanyahu. Iraq
'Big Brother' to move into Erdogan’s palace President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is setting up a massive electronic surveillance center in his palace to monitor the entire county. Turkey
Turkey to support Mosul operation from sidelines Turkey will provide assistance to the forces organizing to retake Mosul from the Islamic State, but will not engage directly in military conflict. Iraq
Tulay Cetingulec on why she writes Al-Monitor contributor Tulay Cetingulec shares her thoughts on journalism. Turkey