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
Breaking | Last Updated: November 5, 2026, 3:56 pm 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
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Shaping more than clay: Turkish artists redefine ceramics on world stage Dogs, drama and dumplings: what's hot in Turkish art, TV and food this week. By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Turkey-France rivalry disrupts US-led mediation between Damascus, Syrian Kurds Ankara is pressuring Damascus to cancel talks in Paris, fearing French support will tilt negotiations in favor of the Kurds, regional officials told Al-Monitor. Turkey
Turkey’s Fidan visits Syria as Ankara pushes SDF to disarm: What to know The top Turkish diplomat’s visit to Damascus comes as Ankara ramps up pressure for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to lay down arms. Turkey
Turkey turns up heat on SDF to disarm as US Syria envoy returns to Damascus While Turkey demands that the SDF disarms, Washington is trying to revive stalled talks between Kurdish forces and the new Syrian government in Damascus. Syria
Turkey arrests youth delegate over Council of Europe address: What to know The youth activist’s arrest adds to Ankara’s growing isolation as Turkey faces suspension from Europe’s top human rights body. Turkey
Fears mount over fate of missing Turkmen dissidents in Turkey The pair vanished after being released from a Turkish deportation center, prompting concerns they were abducted or secretly returned to Turkmenistan. Turkey
Somalia’s Puntland releases Turkey arms cargo ship: What to know Talks between Turkey and Puntland follow the seizure of a military cargo ship amid simmering disputes over authority with Mogadishu. Turkey
Turkey names new army chief in unexpected reshuffle While official releases cited staffing shortages as the reason, it has been roughly a decade since a Turkish chief of staff has retired before completing a full four-year tenure. Turkey
Kurdish militants return abducted Turkish agents as fragile peace push continues The handover is seen as a confidence-building measure, as Erdogan seeks a deal with militants to secure Kurdish support for extending his presidency beyond 2028. Turkey
Greece threatens to block Turkey from EU loans over Aegean, Cyprus tensions Greece and Cyprus oppose Turkey’s participation in the EU’s SAFE program over long-standing disputes, even as other EU powers including Germany and Italy deepen defense ties with Ankara amid shifting regional alliances. Turkey
Turkey’s inflation falls to four-year low of 33.5%: What to know Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said on X that annual inflation had fallen to its lowest level in 44 months. Turkey
Analysis Can Turkey dismantle PKK, push SDF integration while rewriting rules in Syria? Ankara hopes for the PKK's disarmament and the SDF's integration under Damascus, but skepticism and risks remain. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security