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
Is Ankara putting out false information about peace rally bombings? Despite ample intelligence warnings, the bombers of the Ankara peace rally were able to accomplish their mission, assisted not only by security failures and negligence but also by the political climate. Syria
Is it time for a surge in Syria? A group of current and former US officials concludes that current US policy toward the Islamic State is not working, and that more needs to be done in both the diplomatic and military spheres to end the Syrian civil war. Iraq
Terror in Turkey Unless Turkey changes priorities, it will be more vulnerable to Islamic State attacks. Turkey
Turkey’s plane project hits turbulence Technical, economic and political problems threaten TRJet, Turkey’s first passenger plane. Turkey
Once-frosty Erdogan warms up to NATO Russia’s military intervention in Syria is forcing Turkey's president to acknowledge he needs NATO. Syria
PKK declares unilateral cease-fire, hopes the 10th time's a charm Heeding calls by Kurdish politicians and civil society, the PKK announced a unilateral cease-fire ahead of the Nov. 1 elections, but Ankara continues to target the militants. Turkey
Why is Turkey's government choosing to protect itself instead of its citizens? The Turkish government is so busy trying to protect itself, it might be neglecting to protect its citizens adequately. Turkey
Amnesty International accuses Kurdish YPG of war crimes Amnesty International is accusing the autonomous Kurdish administration in northern Syria of committing war crimes. Syria
Turkish parties large-handed in election pledges The election pledges of Turkish parties strain the limits of both the imagination and the budget. Turkey
Tough times ahead for Turkey's economy Warned about their mounting foreign debts, Turkish companies are having problems finding external financing. Turkey
Netanyahu weighs more aggressive action as Hamas leader backs 'intifada' The Israeli prime minister is under pressure from the Israeli right as Israeli-Palestinian violence escalates; Syrian Kurdish leaders back Russian intervention to battle the Islamic State. Palestine
US to arm Syrian Kurds, rebel groups fighting IS The Pentagon will pause its beleaguered Syria train and equip program to instead provide arms and air support to Syrian Kurdish and Arab rebel groups already fighting the Islamic State. Syria