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Reflections from our correspondents on the ground in the Turkish capital.
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Erdogan goes back to his ‘goofy movie’ routine as his central bankers hold rates
October 22, 2020
Actually, it’s a whole lot more serious than that for ordinary Turks suffering the vicissitudes of this elective dictator on the edge of the economic precipice. But watching the markets get confounded again has to have some comedy value.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Market makers cranking the “positive headlines” machine ahead of expected rate hike
October 21, 2020
Hit-and-run opportunities there may be. But even Turkish kids on the block would tell you Turkey’s official inflation rate is fake. Who wants to put that in their pipe of analysis and smoke it?
ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan, Trudeau and the killer drones
October 20, 2020
By banning military technology exports under pressure from campaigners, Canada’s PM has thrown a wrench in the works of Turkey’s drone programme. But regimes everywhere know there is no consistency in this morality, perhaps Erdogan's most of all.
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Erdogan fires his Russian missiles into a fog of confusion
October 17, 2020
Move may suggest Turkey’s leader is giving up on his pal clinging on to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and is exploiting the US’ present preoccupation with itself to get ahead of the game.
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Things are getting coarser on the borsa
October 15, 2020
Want to play? On October 18, Turkey’s president will board a drill ship to crank up the volume on his big deal gas discovery. There will be verifiable applause all round!