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
Iran media, activists criticize Turkey's Kobani stance While Iranian authorities maintain strict red lines for national security issues, media reactions to Turkey's inaction in Kobani reveals Iran's tensions with Turkey over its Syria policy. Syria
Turkish Central Bank fails to combat inflation The governor of Turkey's Central Bank has done well in financial stability, but time is running out for him to control inflation. Turkey
Who will Turkey 'train and equip' in Syria? Turkey reportedly to train mostly Turkmen force, primarily to oppose Bashar al-Assad, not Islamic State; Al-Monitor Syria Pulse correspondents report on fighting in Aleppo and Daraa; Why did Assad dismiss his top security official? Syria
UN vote confirms Turkey's waning influence Ankara’s failure to win a seat on the UN Security Council adds grist to the mill of those who argue that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu have left Turkey with few friends in the world. Turkey
As US economy recovers, Turkey's falters As US economic indicators improve, emerging economies like Turkey's are increasingly concerned over the prospect of US rate hikes. Turkey
Turkey uses defense industry as political instrument The Turkish government uses the defense industry to build its foreign relationships and to improve domestic standing. Turkey
Turkey to train Syrian rebels, but at what cost? As talks continue for the use of Turkish bases in airstrikes against the Islamic State, Ankara agrees to train Syrian rebels in a move that increases the risk of Turkey’s Pakistanization. Syria
Turkey opens first case against oil smuggling with Syria A court started to hear the first legal case of oil smuggling, revealing the dilemma between national security and the fight against radical Islamists. Syria
Syrian regime takes advantage of coalition strikes While the world focuses on the Islamic State, the Syrian army is making significant gains in Damascus and Aleppo. Syria
Kurdish riots overshadow Fitch’s Turkey rating Deadly protests in Turkey over the siege of Kobani led to a shock at financial markets despite the good news of Fitch affirming the country’s investment grade. Turkey
Turkey’s first 'gay marriage' Two young men who exchanged marriage vows found that Turkey remains a long way from accepting same-sex marriage. Turkey
Erdogan's Syria policies spark riots in Kurdish cities Turkey’s Syria policies spark massive protests in Kurdish cities, with at least 30 protesters killed; no relief for Syrians in Homs and Aleppo; Jabhat al-Nusra attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon. Lebanon