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
Abu Dhabi’s ADQ in talks with Turkey to build railway for trade corridor Amid increasing cooperation between the two countries, an alternative trade corridor is planned linking Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Turkey
Citing Turkey’s absence, Azerbaijan skips EU-sponsored talks with Armenia in Spain Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev skipped peace talks between the two countries after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan backed out due to illness. Turkey
Turkey's Fidan declares all PKK, YPG facilities in Syria, Iraq 'legitimate targets' High-level and open threats by Turkey have ramped up fears of a fresh escalation in northern Syria between Turkish forces and Syrian Kurdish groups that Ankara deems terrorists. Turkey
Azerbaijan eyes Iran, Armenia borderlands after 'voluntary' exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh The fall of the Nagorno-Karabakh government after 30 years could empower Turkey and weaken Iran. Turkey
Turkey expands crackdown, airstrikes against PKK as Erdogan lashes out at West The Turkish Defense Ministry said 16 new targets, including caves, bunkers and warehouses in the northern Iraqi regions of Metina, Hakurk, Gara, Qandil and Assos, were destroyed in the strikes. Turkey
UK, Turkey in talks about third railway project The project follows the UK government underwriting financing in July to support the construction of a 286-kilometer high-speed electric railway in southern Turkey. Turkey
Turkey’s annual inflation exceeds 61% in September Month-on-month consumer prices slightly eased to 4.75% in September, down from 9.09% in August. Turkey
Does Ankara attack mark strategy shift for Turkey's PKK? The attack inside Turkey has prompted worries over Washington's partnership with Syrian Kurds. Turkey
Targeting Tesla factories, Turkey and Saudi Arabia tempt Elon Musk with compelling offers The Middle East could help fuel Tesla’s global expansion as countries race to become the next destination producing electric vehicles for the world’s most valuable automaker. Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
PKK claims bomb attack in Turkey’s capital that injured 2 police officers The attack happened just as the parliament returned from recess and was expected to take on Sweden’s NATO bid. Turkey
Turkey’s new UNESCO sites: City of King Midas, wooden mosques Among the sites awarded the “world heritage” designation is the ancient city of Gordion, which was once ruled by Midas — the king with the golden touch. Turkey