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
Iraqi Turkmen take up arms in Kirkuk Iraqi Turkmen, wary of gains by both Iraqi Kurds and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), have moved to create their own armed militia. Iraq
Iraq crisis hits Turkish economy Iraq is Turkey's second leading export market, but trade routes to Baghdad and farther south are currently blocked because of ISIS's capture of Iraqi territory. Iraq
Erdogan gets surprise presidential rival Academic Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the opposition’s joint candidate for Turkey’s presidential elections, has the potential to change the game. Turkey
Turkey's finance minister avoids politics, sticks to economy The visit of Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek to Lebanon aimed at building economic ties and avoiding more controversial foreign policy matters. Lebanon
Turkey avoids claims of 'hostage' crisis in Iraq The Turkish government is trying to downplay the ISIS detention of diplomats in Mosul. Turkey
Financial sector spurs Turkish economic growth Europe’s rising demand for Turkish exports is considered a positive sign for Turkey's economic forecast. Turkey
Turkey should close its border to ISIS The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has depended on the Turkish border for its operations in Syria; US Sen. Tim Kaine offers a blueprint for US-Egypt ties; Al-Monitor’s Year in Review and Back Channel. Iraq
Will Turkey and Iran find common ground in Iraq? Developments in Iraq, coming soon after a visit by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Turkey, might be forcing a change in Turkey's approach to jihadist groups. Iraq
Turkey paying price for jihadist highway on border The hostage crisis in Mosul is the boomerang effect of Ankara’s policy of opening its borders to jihadists. Iraq
Turkey's Greens protest Erdogan's airport plans The world's biggest airport is planned for Istanbul and will come at an ecological cost. Turkey
Foreign investors spark Turkish stock rally Defying expectations, foreign investors buy $705.59 million in Turkish shares in May. Turkey
Removal of Turkish flag stokes anti-Kurdish sentiments Turkey is in an upheaval over the removal of its flag from a military base. Turkey