Turkey
Turkey agrees to take its hands off Germany’s kebab
Ankara’s EU food heritage bid to regulate marinades and ban veal in the doner founders.
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Spymaster tells Istanbul audience MI6 forged relationship with Syria’s HTS in 2023
Over in New York, country’s president, ex-Al Qaeda man al-Sharaa, is interviewed on-stage by a former CIA chief.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Back of the net. Giant-killing as “rich kid” Ali Koc defeated by fox in the box Saran
Billionaire loses presidency of “Big four” club Fenerbahce. Unpopular figure subjected to language you wouldn’t even hear on a building site.
EU’s influence declines in its neighbourhood as China and Russia gain ground
Chinese presence growing in Western Balkans, while Russia makes gains in Turkey, shows new index developed by wiiw, Bertelsmann Stiftung and ECIPE.
Trump lavishes praise on Erdogan in White House meeting and suggests Turkey stop buying Russian oil and gas
Some big military and civilian aircraft deals may be in the making, but the deal-making remains behind closed doors.
EBRD says geopolitics, tariffs and China competition weigh on Emerging Europe growth
Development bank downgrades 2025 forecasts for Central and Eastern Europe citing weak external demand, rising debt and the impact of US tariffs.
COMMENT: Today world will watch as Trump meets Erdogan and does not mention his dismantling of Turkey’s democracy
As an analyst warns of a “near police state”, the president’s rival pleads from his jail cell for democrats everywhere to take an interest.
Word leaks of $43bn US-Turkey LNG deal ahead of Trump-Erdogan meeting at White House
Agreement would cover imports through 2045.
Erdogan accused of securing Trump White House meeting with promise to buy 300 Boeing jets
Opposition leader Ozel launches scathing attack on Turkey’s leader for joining “Trump’s team” even as Israel “sets Palestine on fire with US backing”.
Turkey’s e-imports soar to 12 times e-exports
Numbers highlight Turkish consumers’ growing appetite for low‑cost overseas platforms such as China's online marketplace Temu and e-commerce fast fashion giant Shein.
Erdogan secretly hosted Donald Trump Jr. at Istanbul palace, claims opposition leader
Meeting took place even amid outrage at White House plan to disperse Gaza Strip Palestinians to countries including Turkey, Ozgur Ozel tells rally.
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Performance postponed. Hotly anticipated “CHP” trial pushed into October
Every Turk up and down the country has an opinion on what Erdogan is up to.
“They are bankrupting hope in this country” – Imamoglu issues warning ahead of fateful day for Turkish democracy
“I’m so free in my 12-square-metre cell that it would make those in their palaces burst with envy,” he says ahead of big protest in Ankara.
ISTANBUL BLOG: British lord tells complaining Brits to visit Turkish airport to taste real cost-of-living crisis
Turks hit back with a storm of “patriotic” response.
Erdogan officials seize one of Turkey’s last independent broadcasters, announce corruption probe
Action comes in same week as moves against opposition and lawyers.
Turkey blocks access to Grok’s X account
Move comes in wake of Ankara court's zapping of tweets from AI chatbot seen as directing insults at country's leader Erdogan.
Turkey delivers another 250-bp rate cut largely in line with expectations
Move comes ahead of moment of truth in political showdown set to trigger a very shaky second half of September.
Turkey sells $2bn eurobond amid scuffles at opposition’s Istanbul HQ
Investors’ appetite for paper seemingly not dimmed despite turbulence caused by what critics say is a regime operation to shut down any potential for real democracy.
BEYOND THE BOSPOROS: Ozel, the opposition “genius” who keeps playing right into Erdogan’s hands
CHP leader can call congresses, “move the HQ” and appeal to the courts all he likes. There’s just one problem – there is no law in Turkey.
First Istanbul IPO since February as Dof Robotik sells 29% stake
No more listings expected until BIST-100 index achieves a new Turkish lira-based record and liquidity improves.