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
More unmarried couples living together in Iran Younger Iranians are beginning to break old taboos by cohabitating without marriage. Turkey
Five reasons 2014 could be tough year for Erdogan While 2013 was an annus horribilis for Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), 2014 could be worse. Turkey
Ankara suspected of arming jihadists in Syria Turkish security discovered a truck full of weapons en route to Syria, creating yet another controversy for the Erdogan government. Syria
What you should know about Turkey's AKP-Gulen conflict The recent AKP-Gulen split in Turkey has surprised many in the country and turned old allies into enemies. Turkey
Turkey: What to expect in 2014 Al-Monitor presents an in-depth look ahead at the key political dynamics and events likely to define Turkey in the coming year. Turkey
Is Erdogan’s survival detrimental to Turkish democracy? The Turkish prime minister is using his executive powers in what seems a desperate effort to alter the legal system to protect himself and his government against further corruption allegations. Turkey
Does Erdogan's attack on judiciary reflect his view of Turkish democracy? The Erdogan government's evasion of the corruption investigation increases the risks to Turkey's unity and peace. Turkey
Turkey's Kurds want explanation, apology for Roboski massacre The emotional estrangement of Turkey’s Kurds has deepened over Ankara’s failure to bring to account those responsible for the killing of 34 Turkish Kurdish youths in 2011 and the continued imprisonment of Kurdish members of Turkey's parliament. Turkey
Turkish corruption probe hurts foreign relations Following its corruption scandal, Turkey's relations with Arab states, the United States and Europe have undoubtedly been affected, though no immediate foreign crisis has arisen. Turkey
Nedim Sener focuses on Cemaat role in Turkey scandal Nedim Sener, an investigative journalist who documented the police misconduct that potentially led to Hrant Dink’s murder, is speaking against the Cemaat. Turkey
Erdogan criticizes, undermines huge corruption investigation The Turkish government has enacted a flurry of measures to thwart a massive corruption investigation, threatening fundamental norms of democracy. Turkey
Ex-soccer player's resignation a turning point for the AKP The resignation of Istanbul Deputy Hakan Sukur, one of Turkey’s all-time best strikers and a Gulenist, from the AKP seems to have come right in time for the all-out war between the government and Gulen movement. Turkey