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's blurred red line on Russia With recent scuffles between Moscow and Ankara, further instability threatens the Middle East conflict; but will either country really push things that far? Syria
Iran's military bulks up with new Russian tanks Tehran plans to purchase T-90 tanks from Russia, but is it enough to strengthen the Iranian military? Saudi Arabia
Turkey goes from zero problems to nothing but problems in the region Ankara’s recent political and strategic mistakes have resulted in an anti-Turkish alliance in the Middle East that looks to Moscow for support. Iraq
Ocalan silent as Kurds' fight for self-rule rages on The Kurds fighting in Diyarbakir may end their revolt if ordered to do so by Abdullah Ocalan, but the Turkish government has not allowed the imprisoned Kurdish leader any visitors since April, perhaps calculating that the endless self-sacrifice being demanded of ordinary Kurds will turn them against the PKK. Turkey
After Paris summit, will Turkey warm up to climate change? Turkey will need to work harder to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the aftermath of the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris. Turkey
Turkish Kurds flee 'self-rule' neighborhoods Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast is sliding deeper into chaos as residents flee neighborhoods devastated from clashes between the security forces and Kurdish militants. Turkey
As both sides rattle sabers, is Turkey on verge of civil war? Armored and aerial Turkish security forces and the PKK appear to be gearing up for a major offensive in the southeast, evacuating civilians, forbidding doctors from leaving and expanding morgues. Turkey
Turkey’s joint front with Sunni Arabs, Kurds Ankara is developing a joint front with the Sunni Arabs and Kurds, and refuses to withdraw its troops from the Mosul area. Iraq
Turkey misfires in Iraq Turkey’s military deployment near Mosul provokes widespread opposition and sends Russia-Turkey ties into a further downward spiral; Turkey’s Kurds face "unrealistic prospect" for democracy; Barzani on the spot as a result of KRG alignment with Turkey; Russia slams Saudi hosting of Syrian opposition. Saudi Arabia
US presidential candidates speak out on Syria The leading US presidential candidates have differing positions on Syria, combating the Islamic State and the admission of Syrian refugees to the United States. Jordan
Turkey prepares for Trump presidency Many Turks believe Donald Trump will become the next US president, and that his animosity toward Muslims and other minorities represents not just popular but also official American views. Turkey
4 ways Russia could retaliate against Turkey Russia is mulling its limited options for dealing with Turkey without hurting itself in the process. Turkey