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
Turkey and EU attempt to re-energize ties Despite their half-century of hot-and-cold relations, Ankara and the European Union are trying to mend fences for Turkey's EU membership bid. Turkey
Syrian FSA fades in shadow of Saudi-backed opposition front This week, the United States and the United Kingdom suspended nonlethal aid to the Syrian opposition, fearing equipment could fall into the wrong hands. Saudi Arabia
Hezbollah escalates rhetoric against Riyadh While Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia have been at odds for months over their opposing positions in the Syrian war, Hezbollah has recently escalated its rhetoric, directly accusing Riyadh of waging open warfare against the party. Saudi Arabia
Kurdish peace process is on knife edge — again Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members kidnapped four Turkish soldiers on Sunday only to release them early Monday; this has caused people to question the progress of talks with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Iraq
Omani rejection of GCC union adds insult to injury for Saudi Arabia The Omani stance may force the kingdom to pause in its regional policies. Saudi Arabia
Will Russia play the Kurdish card? Russia’s connections to the region’s Kurdish communities present both opportunities and risks for Moscow’s interests in the Middle East. Syria
Turkish fighter jet: Rolls Royce ambitions with Rover resources? Turkey may seek to boost its defense industry with a program to build its own fighter jet. Turkey
Erdogan getting hit in AKP-'Cemaat' war Critical news of the AKP-Cemaat war leaked to the media on the eve of elections strains Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Turkish journalist charged with espionage The Turkish Prime Ministry, National Security Council and the National Intelligence Organization all filed criminal cases against the daily Taraf and its staff writer Mehmet Baransu for publishing a highly classified state document. Turkey
Syrian Kurds discuss differences over Geneva II At the core of Syrian Kurd differences is tension between Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Massoud Barzani and Kurdistan Workers Party leader Abdullah Ocalan. Iraq
Turkey's highest court boosts credibility by watershed ruling A landmark ruling by Turkey's Constitutional Court is causing discomfort within the ruling Justice and Development Party. Turkey
Turkish anarchists turn to Kemalism Turkish youth, whom Ataturk referred to as the guardians of the republic, have turned him into an unlikely anti-establishment symbol, challenging not only Islamists but also the secular opposition. Turkey