Opinion
COMMENT: Zelenskiy is increasingly monopolising power in Ukraine
In a surprisingly negative article for the normally pro-Ukraine The Economist, the magazine has heavily criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for monopolising power and undermining its democratic institutions.
“I am a political prisoner,” writes Istanbul mayor Imamoglu in Financial Times op-ed
"The global wave of democratic backsliding may have begun in Turkey. I believe the pushback will begin here, too," says chief political rival to country's long-ruling president Erdogan.
BERTRAND: Trump’s tariffs on China are the same as sanctions on Russia and will also fail
Fundamentally, the extreme tariffs on China are the exact same mistake as the sanctions on Russia and will have the same principal effect: to prove in the eyes of the world the impotence of the United States.
COMMENT: Could the US strike a deal to restart Nord Stream gas pipeline?
US President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to do business with Russia and tap into its vast raw material resources. But restarting the Nord Stream gas pipeline is the only US-Russian business project that looks viable.
ING: Is sell America Inc. now a thing?
US Treasuries are not behaving as a safe haven. They have cheapened versus the risk free rate, in a significant manner. The 3yr auction was a mess. There is now heightened nervousness ahead of the 10yr auction. Is 'sell America' a thing now?
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: The sheer comedy that is Turkey's opposition
Erdogan's trolls must have been splitting their sides as CHP leader got himself re-elected unopposed.
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Picula: Serbia will not enter EU while it sits on four chairs
Serbia's long path to EU membership remains uncertain under its current leadership, which “sits in four chairs”, according to the European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, Tonino Picula.
COMMENT: Trump’s secondary sanctions on Russian oil are a lose-lose proposition – Carnegie
“Just as certain classes of medication are sometimes in vogue and prescribed to help with all kinds of ailments, it seems that US President Donald Trump and his team have stumbled upon a magical remedy for all the world’s problems: tariffs.”
COMMENT: US tariffs set to squeeze European corporate earnings across multiple sectors – Fitch Ratings
US President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs on European imports – set at 20% for EU member states and 10% for the UK – are poised to curtail revenue and profitability growth across several corporate sectors in Europe, according Fitch.
ING: China opts for eye for an eye retaliation as Trade War 2.0 breaks out
As expected, China opted for a strong response, hitting back against the US 'Liberation Day' tariffs with a 34% across the board tariff on the US.
COMMENT: Reforms and enlargement must go together for the Western Balkans
If the EU cannot deliver progress in accession, it risks undermining the incentive for countries to continue reforming.
COMMENT: Could do better? Guardian resorts to tired “whirling dervish” clickbait and stale headline in Turkish “democracy” coverage
When today’s quality newspapers go into the ‘field’, you shouldn’t always get your hopes up.
COMMENT: Turkey's opposition targets ruling regime's illusion of market stability in Nikkei op-ed
Shadow economy minister says economic governance hollowed out with institutions reduced to managing appearances. “What persists is not policy. It is performance art for bond markets,” he adds.
HALLIGAN: Trump's tariffs are either madness or genius – it could go either way
Donald Trump has referred to tariffs as “the most beautiful word in the dictionary”. And now the US President has unleashed the most aggressive surge in American trade protectionism in almost a century.
ING: Trump’s Tariffs - Europe’s worst economic nightmare just came true
A US 20% reciprocal tariff on the European Union will hurt. It's worsened the eurozone's short-term outlook. Now, so much depends on European governments to push through with their planned fiscal stimulus and reforms to strengthen domestic economies.
BEYOND THE BOSPOROS: Regime panicky over opposition call for “No shopping day”
English rock band Muse, meanwhile, scrap Istanbul concert in solidarity with Imamoglu protesters.
COMMENT: Brazil’s Lula builds economic bridges across the Pacific
Brazil's President Lula boosted ties with Japan and Vietnam during his Asian tour last week, securing aircraft deals, beef markets and partnerships.
COMMENT: South Caucasus offers a potential diplomatic triumph for Trump
The new US administration wants to become the political team that ends the longstanding conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Emerging Europe risks being “cast adrift” from the West, think-tank warns
Ongoing geopolitical realignment accelerated by Trump’s return to office could plunge Emerging Europe into a cycle of instability and regional conflict, says a paper published by the ECFR.
BEYOND THE BOSPORUS: Damp squib
Turkey’s opposition seriously lacks imagination, as it showed today by moving the Free Imamoglu, Give Us Democracy street campaign to the periphery, much to the regime’s delight.