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In a nutshell: The grande dame of luxury London hotels, with a remarkable history and stellar service. Expect to be treated like royalty – for a price. The neighbourhood Only the heart of central London, my dear. Opened in 1889, London’s first luxury hotel is located on a bend of the River Thames on the Strand. Reached via Savoy Court – the only road in the UK where cars must drive on the right to enable guests to board and exit from the driver’s side of a car – this Grade II listed building benefits from being both perfectly situated for some of the city’s superlative attractions, while also transporting you to an altogether more magical place. It enjoys enviable access to some of London’s most popular cultural institutions, including the Royal Opera House, Somerset House, the National Gallery, the Courtauld Institute of Art and the National Portrait Gallery; and with a plum position in Theatreland, the Lyceum, Vaudeville, Adelphi, Duchess, Novello and Aldwych theatres are all just minutes away, in addition to the Savoy’s own namesake playhouse. The Victoria Embankment Gardens and Cleopatra’s Needle are situated at the rear of the hotel, while the South Bank and its attractions – including the Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre, Southbank Centre, Hayward Gallery and London Eye – are across the water. Read more on London travel: The best London hotels Where to shop and stay in London How to do winter in London right The vibe Opulent, old-school glamour without the stuffiness. Guests pass through the famous Art Deco front entrance before being ushered into the mahogany-panelled arrival hall, complete with marble columns, a black-and-white checkerboard marble floor, and plentiful vases of freshly cut floral displays. Luxury practically oozes from the walls, as does history; the roll-call of previous guests includes literary figures (Oscar Wilde, F Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain), former prime ministers (Winston Churchill), royalty (Queen Elizabeth II) and stars of stage and screen (Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Charlie Chaplin, Rihanna and Taylor Swift). The aesthetic is largely split between Art Deco and Edwardian, whether you’re sipping afternoon tea in the grand, light-filled Thames Foyer, complete with glass-domed atrium and winter garden gazebo, or quaffing fizz and celeb-spotting in the American Bar, London’s longest-surviving cocktail bar. Bed and bath The Savoy is home to 267 luxury guest rooms and suites decorated in a classic Edwardian or Art Deco style, ranging from Superior Queen Rooms, replete with marble bathrooms and bespoke Penhaligon’s toiletries, to the landmark Royal Suite (from £15,875 per night) designed by Gucci, whose founder worked at The Savoy as a luggage porter and lift boy as a young man. Many of the rooms feature outstanding panoramic views across the River Thames and South Bank that take in some of London’s most famous landmarks, including Big Ben, the London Eye and Oxo Tower. Suites include complimentary minibars, free-standing bathtubs and rainwater showers, Murano glass chandeliers, his and hers washbasins, chauffeur and butler services – and Boodles catalogues, in the event you fancy dropping six figures on some ice. Food and drink The American Bar is possibly one of the most famous hotel bars in the world, making a visit an essential element of any trip to London. Opened in 1893, its influence is global when it comes to the art of mixology, with celebrated bartenders creating the Hanky Panky, the White Lady, Prairie Oyster (as devoured by Sally Bowles in Cabaret) and the Moon Walk, Neil Armstrong’s bespoke concoction and first drink after his legendary trip to space. Famous patrons include Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill (a regular who kept his own bottle of whisky here), and F Scott Fitzgerald, while photographs of other acclaimed visitors can be found on the walls. Service is exquisite and discreet while the vibe is chic, with a pianist tickling the ivories. The newer Beaufort Bar, open Thursday to Saturday for champagne and cocktails, is the epitome of cocktail glamour, with black velvet furnishings, dim lighting and thousands of pounds worth of gold leaf on the walls. Dress up for this date night destination, which is also home to the original stage where George Gershwin performed the British premiere of “Rhapsody in Blue”. Competing with London’s culinary offerings is no mean feat, but the Savoy’s three restaurants – all of which are franchised to multi-Michelin-star awarded celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay – are more than fit for purpose. Specialising in shellfish and seafood, the River Restaurant is an absolute treat for pescatarians. The beef wellington – a house special – is also worth splashing out on, with juicy, tender meat encased in crisp and flaky pastry. Book a seat by the window and indulge in a seafood platter for the ultimate decadent dining experience. Described by Ramsay as the definition of “gourmet glamour”, the famous Savoy Grill’s sumptuous interiors – mirrored walls and plush velvets – have recently undergone a makeover to evoke the razzle-dazzle of the 1920s. Former regulars include the Queen Mother, Elizabeth Taylor, Noel Coward and Alfred Hitchcock; it’s also the place where Hollywood royalty, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, first set eyes on each other, with Leigh declaring then and there that she would marry Olivier. Hero dishes include lobster thermidor, Louet-Feisser oysters and duck a l’orange. Elsewhere, the more intimate Restaurant 1890 has just 26 covers and offers a modern French tasting menu that takes inspiration from influential former Savoy chef and culinary pioneer, Georges Auguste Escoffier. Located above the hotel entrance, try and bag a window seat for the ultimate people watching spot. Public areas Even the hotel’s lobby offers a sumptuous place to take the weight off your feet and soak up the atmosphere. Guests preferring to indulge further can head to the beauty and fitness centre. In addition to a range of treatments, such as massages and facials, resident and non-resident guests and members can take a dip in the 10m pool, equipped with a jet stream to swim against the current. The men’s and women’s changing areas also include a cosy sauna and steam room. A gym with weights and cardiovascular equipment is adjacent. Nuts and bolts Room count: 237 Freebies: Standard rooms provide complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks and two beers, while suites extend this to include welcome drinks and butler service (one item of clothing for pressing per guest). Wifi: Free. Extra charges: None. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability, with charges determined on a case-by-case basis. Disability access: There are three accessible Deluxe King rooms, which feature wheel-in-shower and accessible-friendly amenities. All dining and bar venues are accessible; staff are available to assist guests with step-free routes. Pet policy: Well behaved pets up to 20lbs are welcome within the Savoy’s suites and rooms for a daily charge of £25. They are also welcome at the River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay. Bottom line Best thing: The service is exceptional. That, and the sheer, unadulterated glamour, darling. Worst thing: The spa is on the petite side. Perfect for: A special occasion. Treat yourself – or someone else. It’s an unforgettable experience. Not right for: Large, noisy groups. Have some decorum! Instagram from: The dramatic red lift. London’s first electric lift was dubbed “an ascending room” by founder Richard D’Oyly Carte, with nervous passengers handed a glass of brandy to calm their nerves before entering. Its historic status, plus gold doors, red lacquer interior and leather bench for two make it an ideal place for posing. thesavoylondon.com Read more of our best luxury London hotel reviews Read More The best luxury hotels in London for a stylish city break The best spa hotels in London for pampering and indulgence Best boutique hotels in London 2022 How to do winter in London right Could a night at this ‘sleep retreat’ cure my insomnia? Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa, the ultimate secluded stay in the Scottish Highlands

By David Lawder MARRAKECH, Morocco U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday said her government, the International Monetary

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The Turkish Republic, founded from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire by the national independence hero Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, turns 100 on Sunday, October 29. Ataturk established a Western-facing secular republic modeled on the great powers of the time, ushering in radical reforms that abolished the caliphate, replaced the Arabic script with the Roman alphabet, gave women the vote and adopted European laws and codes. Turkey has, however, taken on a more conservative character under the two-decade-old rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose party has roots in the country's Islamic movement and who has become Turkey's most influential leader since Ataturk. The centennial offers Erdogan, re-elected for a third term in May, a chance to redefine the country and propel it into a new era he has dubbed “Turkey’s Century.” Here is a look at some of the republic’s greatest accomplishments, and controversial realignments as it embarks on its second century. Religious identity The secular vs. conservative debate remains one of the most contentious cultural divides in Turkey. Ataturk, the nation’s founding father, envisioned a secular country as a prerequisite to modernity. Over the decades, the separation of religion and state became a deeply ingrained ideology. The country went on to impose bans on headscarves in schools and public institutions, brought restrictions on religious education, adopted liberal policies on alcohol, and even converted the main Ottoman imperial mosque, the Hagia Sofia, into a museum. All these policies have been reversed under Erdogan, who has shifted the country toward conservatism. Now official functions open with prayers, the Directorate of Religious Affairs has been given a budget which dwarfs most ministries, the number of religious schools have increased and even Erdogan’s unorthodox economic policy of reducing interest rates - abandoned recently - was justified on religious grounds. “Ataturk was a ... top-down politician who believed in social engineering and he wanted to refashion Turkey as a secular, West-facing, European society," said Soner Cagaptay, an expert on Turkey at the Washington Institute and author of several books on Erdogan. "Erdogan, too, believes in top-down social engineering. While his method is similar to that of Ataturk, his values are almost the exact opposite.” Diplomacy The Western-oriented country joined NATO in 1952 and is officially a candidate to join the European Union - although the membership negotiations have now come to a standstill. Turkey’s interests generally aligned with those of Western countries for much of the 20th century. In recent years, however, Turkey has adopted a much more assertive foreign policy which aims to extend Ankara’s reach both regionally and worldwide. This new independent diplomacy is just as likely to pit Turkey against Western interests as it is to align with them. One recent point of tension between Turkey and the West has been in Syria, with Turkey frequently launching attacks against local Kurdish forces which Europe and the United States consider allies and Turkey considers as off-shoots of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. Turkey now controls large swaths of territory in Syria and speaks of creating a buffer zone along its borders with Syria and Iraq against Kurdish fighters. Following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, both Sweden and Finland decided to abandon their long-standing neutrality and join NATO. Yet Turkey became the main holdout against Swedish membership, accusing Sweden of being too soft toward the PKK and other groups outlawed by Turkey. Turkey’s new, pragmatic foreign policy also extends to its relations with Russia, a major trading partner. While most NATO countries took a strong stance against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, Ankara has maintained close ties even as it opposes the war. While impeding NATO’s cohesion, Turkey’s non-alignment does put it in a unique position where it can act as mediator in global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine. Cagaptay sees similarities in Ataturk's and Erdogan's goals of wanting to turn Turkey into a great power. But whereas Ataturk decided to embrace and copy policies of European powers of the time, Erdogan “has no interest in folding Turkey under Europe and believes he can achieve this on his own,” Cagaptay said. Defence industry Turkey faced arms embargos after its 1974 invasion of Cyprus following a coup by supporters of union with Greece, and over its military offensive against Kurdish groups. More recently the country was kicked out of a U.S.-led fighter jet program over its purchase of a Russian missile defense system that angered NATO allies. Restrictions on arms sales, however, are becoming less and less of a burden, because of Turkey’s burgeoning domestic arms industry. Turkish officials maintain that Turkey’s defense industry has grown from 20 percent domestic production to 80 percent. This “local and indigenous” production ranges from rifles and tanks to assault ships and a new fighter jet, Kaan, which is planned to fly in 2028. Turkey has also become a major exporter of arms, most notably its domestically manufactured combat drones. Turkish-manufactured drones have made it into the arsenals of many countries, including Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Poland and Azerbaijan. Bayraktar drones, owned and designed by the family of Erdogan’s son-in-law Selcuk Bayraktar, have proven particularly effective in the Ukraine war. Modernisation Ataturk’s reforms and drive to modernize helped pull Turkey out of the deep poverty it suffered when the Ottoman Empire collapsed. Today, the country is a member of the Group of 20 most developed nations. The Erdogan era has become synonymous with a far-reaching construction boom. Highways, bridges, tunnels, pipelines, airports, hospitals and countless residences have all sprung up around the country. This new infrastructure is such a source of pride and legitimacy for Erdogan's government that it is frequently brought up on the campaign trail. With Turkey actively encourages the construction boom, critics say the government has adopted a careless attitude toward its regulation. After a devastating earthquake in February, lax enforcement of building codes was blamed for the widespread destruction. Some of Erdogan’s more ambitious projects have also been points of political contention, from the giant palace built for the president in Ankara to smaller luxury palaces built around the country. His most ambitious proposal yet, a grand canal through Istanbul, has raised fears of harm to the environment and local ecosystem. Challenges Turkey's previous hundred years witnessed military coups, economic crises and a succession of often unstable governments. Today, it faces a host of unresolved issues, including the fight against Kurdish rebels, which has been going on for four decades and doesn’t look any closer to resolution despite daily military operations in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Turkey's assertive foreign policy means its relations with neighbors swing violently between friend and foe. The recent shift from a parliamentary system to a presidential one further eroded checks and balances, consolidating authority in the president’s hands. Its democratic backsliding, especially since a failed coup in 2016, frequently grabs international attention and seriously endangers its bid to join the EU. Transparency International ranks Turkey 101 out of 180 countries in corruption. Reporters Without Borders ranks Turkey 165 out of 180 countries in press freedoms, down from 149 the previous year. Last year, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Turkey 103 out of 167 in its democracy index, classifying it a hybrid regime between an authoritarian state and a flawed democracy. In addition to all this, its economy has been facing a serious downturn in recent years, with inflation in the high double digits. Most experts forecast that inflation will be further exacerbated by the high costs of reconstruction following the earthquake that killed 50,000 people. 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