Turkey
COMMENT: A stable Syria could become a major energy hub
It’s been a pipe dream for decades, but with the fall of the Assad regime a stable Syria means a pipeline connecting Qatar to Turkey is possible, which would connect the gas fields of the Middle East to Europe.
US “scrambles” to respond to Turkish-backed Syria offensive targeting partner force Kurds
Israel has also spoken out in defence of Kurdish forces that were instrumental in defeating Islamic State caliphate.
Qatar-Turkey-Europe gas pipeline ambition could be back on following fall of Assad
Plan was rejected by Syria 15 years ago as, according to some observers, Damascus moved to protect ally Russia’s interests.
ISTANBUL BLOG: After “conquering” Damascus, Erdogan turns his eye to the Kurds
US controls eastern Euphrates airspace. Will Trump White House return mean Kurdish forces lose their air cover? In wider picture, fears Syria will become “second Afghanistan” are all too real.
SYRIA BLOG: Putin joins George W Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” club
Given the fall of the Assad regime, the Russian leader’s 2017 victory address at Russia’s Syrian air base of Hmeimim is set to age very badly.
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As jubilant Syrian refugees in Turkey celebrate Assad downfall, analysts wonder what comes next in power vacuum
Ankara, meanwhile, already criticised for trying to use chaos as cover for attacks on Kurds as it tries to change map in its favour.
Erdogan sets Damascus as final target for “rebels” advancing in Syria
Since his regime’s hailing of its “reconquest” of Aleppo, Turkey’s leader has been in no mood to talk peace.
ISTANBUL BLOG: As Syria rancour rises, Putin deadpans “congratulations” to Turkey on nailing 50% official inflation
The golden rule is that whoever does business with Erdogan eventually pays through the nose. Russia’s leader is no exception to this rule.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Has Turkey “re-conquered” Aleppo?
HTS militia that led attack dwells near Turkish border under Erdogan regime patronage, while FSA was directly established by Ankara. And both are not Syrian “rebels”, they are foreign mercenaries.
203 Turkish university programmes accept candidates with negative central exam scores
Inflated higher education admissions help disguise reality of severe unemployment.
UN plastic pollution talks collapse as volume of waste escalates
The failure of recent global talks in Busan, South Korea, to produce a landmark treaty to combat plastic pollution, has underscored the complexities and challenges of addressing one of the planet’s most pressing environmental and climate issues.
Garanti concludes autumn season for Turkish banks’ syndicated loan renewals
In this cycle, 371-day, 734-day and 1,101-day tranches have emerged as a new phenomenon.
The world has passed peak per capital CO₂ emissions, but overall emissions are still rising
The world has passed peak per capital CO₂ emissions, Our World in Data reported on December 3. However, emissions overall continue to rise.
Turkey releases official November inflation at 47% y/y
A rate cut on December 26 remains a clear possibility.
ISTANBUL BLOG: How smugglers give the lie to Simsek's "golden glamour"
Finance minister’s hailed fixing of current account gap might be said to lose its sheen when Turkey’s hidden gold imports are considered.
Turkish manufacturing slump continues in November but shoots of recovery seen, shows PMI
Firms confident of increased workloads ahead taking on staff, survey indicates. Waning inflationary environment brings slowest increase in output prices in five years.
Turkey launches tender to export 0.1mn tonnes of durum wheat
A former wheat importer, Russia’s Black Sea neighbour now a wheat, barley, gas and oil exporter on re-exports of Russia products to overcome Ukraine War sanctions.
ISTANBUL BLOG: How Ankara’s American embassy came to stand on “Ataturk” land illegally granted by Erdogan
In neat parallel, new Turkish House consulate in New York beset by FBI bribery investigation.
Turkey enters technical recession with 3Q official GDP release
Statistical institute has "done the job". Odds shorten on December bringing a rate cut.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Stupid as it gets
Turkey’s main opposition chair asks for spymaster’s help in preventing Gulenist infiltrations.