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Reflections from our correspondents on the ground in the Turkish capital.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Critics seize on Turkey’s silence in face of Israel-Iran crisis
April 15, 2024
Shadow foreign minister “astonished” regional power Ankara has nothing to say. Observers think Erdogan officials fear derailing of attempt at economic recovery.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan drone boys become Forbes billionaires
April 12, 2024
To some, Selcuk Bayraktar is seen as the likely next Turkish president. But staying out of trolling spats over Israel “deliveries” might be good advice for young pretender to the throne.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Fenerbahce players walk out on Turkish football. The mafiosi are not about to join them
April 8, 2024
Country’s soccer fans used to seeing criminals sat in the first row of the VIP seats.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Social media swings from depression to mania on local election results
April 1, 2024
Erdogan “defeat” provides further illustration of how no-one even remembers what was said five minutes ago.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey to decide who will collect garbage in unglamorous local polls
March 29, 2024
The idea that Erdogan can be dislodged was crushed in last year’s general election. Despite the media fuss, let’s not kid ourselves.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Quick dive into Turkey’s monetary madness
March 3, 2024
How did the country’s policy rate become idle on the sidelines? Given the Turkish economic mess, several explainers are needed, but here’s one.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Here’s your F-16. Make mine an F-35
February 29, 2024
How Recep Tayyip Erdogan got himself into such a tangle trying to bag some fighter jets is quite the mystery.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Provincial party bigwig allegedly flees to France after hiring assassin who only shoots for the legs
February 19, 2024
Series of events perhaps a good reflection of the disintegration of Turkey’s Iyi Party.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey’s earthquake victims are thankful their homes collapsed, says urban planning minister
February 7, 2024
On first anniversary of disaster, Mehmet Ozhaseki explains to devastated families the quite amazing good fortune that has brought them new housing.
ISTANBUL BLOG: All hail Turkey’s new central bank governor!
February 5, 2024
No need to get squawkish, this guy is more hawkish.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Russian wheat importer Turkey becomes a wheat exporter
January 31, 2024
Curious development comes in a week where US senators ponder how oil products from Russia, exported via a shady Turkish terminal, ended up in American warships.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Central bank chief Erkan threatens legal fisticuffs over tabloid attack
January 19, 2024
She’d do better to remind everyone there’s no such time to waste in saving Turkey’s economy.