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Istanbul Blog

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Reflections from our correspondents on the ground in the Turkish capital.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Rulers have changed their game, dull rights defenders offer no riposte

November 8, 2025

As shown by Merz’s first visit to Turkey as German chancellor, the powers that be don’t pay a blind bit of notice to NGOs like HRW. Though they sometimes respond with a spot of pantomime.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Back of the net. Giant-killing as “rich kid” Ali Koc defeated by fox in the box Saran

September 26, 2025

Billionaire loses presidency of “Big four” club Fenerbahce. Unpopular figure subjected to language you wouldn’t even hear on a building site.

ISTANBUL BLOG: British lord tells complaining Brits to visit Turkish airport to taste real cost-of-living crisis

September 12, 2025

Turks hit back with a storm of “patriotic” response.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Turkey’s GDP data – believe it if you want to

September 1, 2025

The figures are laughable, but the media take them ever so seriously.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Anxious Americans look up “Erdoganomics” as “Trumpnomics” take hold

August 1, 2025

Will it be the Fed governor or the US president who’s remembered as the “stubborn MORON”?

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