Turkey
Fitch keeps eye on Turkey’s reserves to assess impact of Imamoglu unrest
Says state has capacity to manage current level of volatility.
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.
Israel accuses Turkey of trying to turn Syria into protectorate
Steps up airstrikes in warning to Damascus not to allow entry into country of forces hostile to Jerusalem.
Most Turkish export sectors escape with Trump tariff of 10%, but automotive to contend with 25%
Ankara will point to near-balanced trade with US as it appeals for exemption.
Turkey’s official inflation dips to 38.10% in March
Softer-than-expected figure suggests sell-off in lira hasn’t exerted significant upwards pressure on consumer prices, says analyst.
Turkey reportedly moving to take control of Syria’s T4 air base
Israeli sources brief they are opposed to the move and "we will not allow any threat to our operational freedom in the air".
Contraction in Turkish manufacturing has lasted full 12 months, March PMI data shows
Inflationary pressures remained marked. Firms had to contend with ongoing impacts of currency weakness.
Turkey transfers arrested Swedish journalist Medin to infamous Silivri prison
Reporter finds himself in the same facility as Ekrem Imamoglu.
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.
Turkish prosecutors investigate calls for “Imamoglu” boycotts of companies in “Erdogan circles”
Jailed rival to president has urged millions to join the rejection of targeted firms "with discipline and self-devotion".
Turkish opposition leader hits out at UK’s Starmer and British Labour Party over thin support for jailed Imamoglu
Lack of backing from Western countries added burden for those aiming to keep up the momentum of protest.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Macron calls Erdogan to wish Eid Mubarak to Islamic world
Days earlier, French leader took aim at Turkish government for carrying out "systematic attacks" on freedoms. And referred to some mysterious "democratic path".
Swedish journalist who came to Turkey to cover Imamoglu protests arrested over old insults allegedly directed at Erdogan
Kaj Joakim Medin also faces trial for membership in "terrorist" organisation claimed by prosecutors.
Hundreds of thousands attend “Freedom for Imamoglu” Istanbul rally
"With every move he makes against me, Erdogan shows he is someone who runs away from elections and is afraid of his opponent," jailed politician tells crowd via read-out letter.
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.
Istanbul under unprecedented siege, says Turkey’s Nobel prize-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk in Guardian op-ed
Notes: “In my 50 years living in Istanbul, I have not seen as many so-called security measures on the streets as I have over the past few days.”
COMMENT: Jailed Istanbul mayor Imamoglu writes op-ed for The New York Times
“Democracy’s fate depends on the courage of those who refuse to remain silent when institutions crumble,” he writes from his prison cell.
COMMENT: Europe’s outlook improves as Trump makes Ukraine conflct progress
European leaders are alarmed at the increasingly warm relations between US President Trump and Putin, but economists are encouraged as even a “quick and dirty” ceasefire deal to the Ukraine conflict will buoy flagging CEE economies.
Detained photojournalist says Turkey wants to make it impossible to send protest images to world
Day nine of demonstrations also brings detention of Ekrem Imamoglu’s lawyer.
Romania offers to monitor Black Sea ceasefire alongside Bulgaria and Turkey
Interim President Ilie Bolojan says Romania has a strategic interest in continuing to support Ukraine.