The news of wildfires and heat waves have been coming from all across the world but in particular the Mediterranean Coast has really been hit hard from Italy to Greece well in West Asia the Mediterranean part Syria and Turkey were hit as well. locals have been scrambling to find affordable ways to survive temperatures as high as 40 degrees celsius lining up to fill water containers purchasing ice blocks to help cool down are all efforts that seem to be in vain.

Wildfires scorch Syria and Turkey, huge losses for Tourism, agriculture

Large areas of the Mediterranean are sweltering under an intense summer heatwave. The dry conditions have led to severe wildfires in multiple nations in Europe Asia & North Africa. Firefighters are battling to put out blazes across the region, from Portugal, To Italy, And Algeria. Forests are burning in at least nine countries across the Mediterranean And Turkiye is the latest country to feel the wrath Russian amphibious planes were roped in to tackle fires in the city of Antalya.

Wildfires spreading across Mediterranean nations, Turkiye feels the wrath

US President Joe Biden's administration will move ahead with the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in consultation with Congress, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday, a day after Ankara gave the green light for Sweden to join NATO.

US to move ahead with transfer of F-16 jets to Turkey

Turkey's has seen a major shift in its approach towards managing sky-high inflation. For the first time in nearly 3 years, the country's central bank has hiked its interest rates. The lending rate has been hiked from 8.5% to 15%. That's a massive 6.5 percentage point rise, which is lower than what analysts expected but it is significant as it is the first rate hike since December 2020.

Turkey's central bank hikes rate to 15%

Turkey's Lira continues its downward spiral despite a forecast by Goldman Sachs warning of a significant weakening of the currency, the lira has surpassed expectations, plunging to new lows against the u.S. Dollar. The U.S. Investment Bank at the weekend projected that the lira still had room to plunge further to deeper lows of 23 against the greenback in three months, compared to a previous estimate of 19 against the dollar. But it has zoomed past Goldman’s forecast to stand above 23 against the dollar — all within the span of a few days.

Turkey's Lira surpasses Goldman Sachs predictions

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to take the oath of office and start his third presidential term Saturday following his latest election win.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to start new term

Erdogan has won Turkey's crucial elections. India's relationship with Turkey nosedived after the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir when Erdogan spoke critically about the decision at the UNGA plenary. On the other hand, Pakistan has identified with Turkey as a model state with a 95% Islamic population. Let's take a look at how Erdogan's re-win will affect the South Asian Region

What Erdogan's win means for South Asia

<p>As NATO countries push for Sweden's membership into the bloc, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is all set to visit Turkey on 3-4 June 2023. A statement by the alliance said that&nbsp;Stoltenberg is visiting the Middle-Eastern nation to&nbsp;attend the inauguration ceremony for the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara on Saturday, 3 June.</p>

<p>In addition to attending the ceremony, the NATO chief will also hold bilateral meetings with President Erdogan and with senior Turkish officials, the statement added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indian-scientists-discover-62-plants-that-can-live-without-water-in-western-ghats-599626">Indian scientists discover 62 plants that can live without water in Western Ghats</a></p>

<p>The Turkish president was re-elected last week and will head the government for yet another five-year term, defeating main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Secretary-General will also have bilateral meetings with President Erdogan and senior Turkish officials.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-2611-attack-accused-tahawwur-rana-challenges-extradition-to-india-599609">US: Mumbai 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana challenges order of his extradition to India</a><br />
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US has been pushing Turkey to remove hurdles and endorse Sweden's bid to join NATO. NATO Secretary General who was in Oslo for the bloc's foreign ministers' meeting said, "There are no guarantees but it's absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by then."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The next NATO summit will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 11-12, 2023.&nbsp;Stoltenberg said that Sweden is "within reach" to join the summit in time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There are no guarantees but it's absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by then," Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo on the eve of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting to prepare for the summit.</p>

<h2><strong>Hungary, Turkey yet to ratify Sweden’s NATO&nbsp;joining&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Though Finland formally joined the military alliance in April, Sweden is still struggling in its bid for membership. Turkey and Hungary are the only two member countries yet to ratify Sweden's membership bid. While raising the issue of Kurdish militants, Turkey is still in opposition to Sweden's membership in the bloc.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Hollywood star Bruce Willis' daughter Tallulah talks about her father's daily battle with dementia</strong></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs earlier said that there are&nbsp; ample "grievances" that need to be addressed before Sweden's admission is ratified.&nbsp;As per reports, Budapest is not moving forward with its support for Sweden over its criticism of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's record on democracy and the rule of law.</p>

<h2><strong>Sweden&nbsp;calls on Turkey, Hungary for ratification&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom on Thursday called on Turkey and Hungary "to start the ratification of the Swedish membership to NATO".</p>

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As NATO countries push for Sweden's membership into the bloc, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is all set to visit Turkey on 3-4 June 2023. A statement by the alliance said that Stoltenberg is visiting the Middle-Eastern nation to attend the inauguration ceremony for the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara on Saturday, 3 June.

As NATO countries push for Sweden's membership into the bloc, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is all set to visit Turkey on 3-4 June 2023. A statement by the alliance said that Stoltenberg is visiting the Middle-Eastern nation to attend the inauguration ceremony for the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara on Saturday, 3 June. In addition to attending the ceremony, the NATO chief will also hold bilateral meetings with President Erdogan and with senior Turkish officials, the statement added. Also Read | Indian scientists discover 62 plants that can live without water in Western Ghats The Turkish president was re-elected last week and will head the government for yet another five-year term, defeating main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The Secretary-General will also have bilateral meetings with President Erdogan and senior Turkish officials. Also Read | US: Mumbai 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana challenges order of his extradition to India US has been pushing Turkey to remove hurdles and endorse Sweden's bid to join NATO. NATO Secretary General who was in Oslo for the bloc's foreign ministers' meeting said, "There are no guarantees but it's absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by then." The next NATO summit will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 11-12, 2023. Stoltenberg said that Sweden is "within reach" to join the summit in time. "There are no guarantees but it's absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by then," Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo on the eve of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting to prepare for the summit. Hungary, Turkey yet to ratify Sweden’s NATO joining Though Finland formally joined the military alliance in April, Sweden is still struggling in its bid for membership. Turkey and Hungary are the only two member countries yet to ratify Sweden's membership bid. While raising the issue of Kurdish militants, Turkey is still in opposition to Sweden's membership in the bloc. Watch | Hollywood star Bruce Willis' daughter Tallulah talks about her father's daily battle with dementia × Meanwhile, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs earlier said that there are ample "grievances" that need to be addressed before Sweden's admission is ratified. As per reports, Budapest is not moving forward with its support for Sweden over its criticism of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's record on democracy and the rule of law. Sweden calls on Turkey, Hungary for ratification Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom on Thursday called on Turkey and Hungary "to start the ratification of the Swedish membership to NATO". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

NATO chief to visit Turkey, push Erdogan for ratification of Sweden’s bloc membership

<p>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan winning the Turkish presidential runoff has turned out to be a bad news for the ailing Turkish lira. Bloomberg reported that the lira fell 0.6 percent to a record low of 20.10 per US dollar on Monday.</p>

<p>Wall Street analysts see more weakness ahead, with foreign investors fearing further alienation under the Erdogan regime. Analysts at US banking giant Morgan Stanley has warned that the lira may slide 29 percent to reach 28 per dollar by the end of the year. Other analysts too are not very optimistic about the lira.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We expect a shift in economic policies toward orthodoxy later in the year. This may be better for growth in the short term but will likely push the currency down further, stoke inflation and curb the economy’s long-run prospects," Bloomberg quoted economist Selva Bahar Baziki as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In fact, three big factors spell more trouble for the Turkish lira in the future.</p>

<p>The country continues to face&nbsp;a very high rate of inflation, with the annual inflation standing at 43.68 percent in April 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Turkish central bank's net forex reserves has fallen into negative territory for the first time since 2002, standing at $-151.3 million on May 19.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The country's unusual monetary policy, ad-hoc policy measures and heavy government intervention&nbsp;have not helped the lira either.&nbsp;The Turkish central bank had slashed its benchmark rate by 5 percent in 2021 and 2022, after calls for rate cuts from Erdogan. The monetary policy has defied&nbsp;traditional monetary policy,&nbsp;running&nbsp;against a global trend of rising borrowing costs.</p>

<p>The weak lira, which has&nbsp;lost 44 percent&nbsp;in 2021 and 30 percent&nbsp;in 2022, has forced foreign investors to flee Turkiye. According to a Bloomberg report, total foreign holdings of Turkish stocks and bonds has decreased by about 85 percent, or nearly $130 billion, in the last decade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Erdogan, who has won a historic 5-year term which will extend his tenure till 2028, has promised an economic team that would restore Turkey's "international credibility". His party manifesto for the&nbsp;presidential election has focused on a more orthodox economic approach.</p>

<p>This would would mean undoing years of unusually low-interest rates and increasing state intervention. If Erdogan does not change his track on economy, the lira will continue to depreciate against global currencies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</p>


President Recep Tayyip Erdogan winning the Turkish presidential runoff has turned out to be a bad news for the ailing Turkish lira. Bloomberg reported that the lira fell 0.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan winning the Turkish presidential runoff has turned out to be a bad news for the ailing Turkish lira. Bloomberg reported that the lira fell 0.6 percent to a record low of 20.10 per US dollar on Monday. Wall Street analysts see more weakness ahead, with foreign investors fearing further alienation under the Erdogan regime. Analysts at US banking giant Morgan Stanley has warned that the lira may slide 29 percent to reach 28 per dollar by the end of the year. Other analysts too are not very optimistic about the lira. "We expect a shift in economic policies toward orthodoxy later in the year. This may be better for growth in the short term but will likely push the currency down further, stoke inflation and curb the economy’s long-run prospects," Bloomberg quoted economist Selva Bahar Baziki as saying. In fact, three big factors spell more trouble for the Turkish lira in the future. The country continues to face a very high rate of inflation, with the annual inflation standing at 43.68 percent in April 2023. The Turkish central bank's net forex reserves has fallen into negative territory for the first time since 2002, standing at $-151.3 million on May 19. The country's unusual monetary policy, ad-hoc policy measures and heavy government intervention have not helped the lira either. The Turkish central bank had slashed its benchmark rate by 5 percent in 2021 and 2022, after calls for rate cuts from Erdogan. The monetary policy has defied traditional monetary policy, running against a global trend of rising borrowing costs. The weak lira, which has lost 44 percent in 2021 and 30 percent in 2022, has forced foreign investors to flee Turkiye. According to a Bloomberg report, total foreign holdings of Turkish stocks and bonds has decreased by about 85 percent, or nearly $130 billion, in the last decade. Erdogan, who has won a historic 5-year term which will extend his tenure till 2028, has promised an economic team that would restore Turkey's "international credibility". His party manifesto for the presidential election has focused on a more orthodox economic approach. This would would mean undoing years of unusually low-interest rates and increasing state intervention. If Erdogan does not change his track on economy, the lira will continue to depreciate against global currencies. (With inputs from agencies)

No relief for Turkish lira as it fall to record low after Erdogan's victory

Voters will head to polling booths once again in Turkey, as the nation will experience its first-ever runoff election for the president. Voters will decide whether the incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan extends his rule into a third decade or the opposing candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu secures a historic win.

Turkey elections: Voters to head to polls again in Turkey's first-ever runoff

Turkey Elections 2023: Runoff to decide if Erdogan's rule will enter a third decade

Turkey’s top intelligence agency claimed on Tuesday to have arrested multiple members of an alleged Israeli Mossad's spy ring, the second time in less than a year that Istanbul says it has discovered an espionage network organized by Israel’s Mossad.

Israeli Mossad spy ring discovered in Turkey, 11 arrested - Report

Turks will vote on Sunday in one of the most consequential elections in modern Turkey's 100-year history, which could unseat President Tayyip Erdogan after 20 years in power and halt his government's increasingly authoritarian path.

Turkey votes in pivotal elections that could end Erdogan's 20-year rule

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a final election campaign rally in Istanbul on Saturday. Turkey will hold its general election on 14 May 2023 with a two-round system to elect its president, while parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously.

Presidential elections in Turkey today, Erdogan faces toughest challenge ever

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held final election campaign rally in Istanbul on Saturday. Turkey will hold its general election on 14 May 2023 with a two-round system to elect its president, while parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously.

Turkey election: President Erdogan caps election eve with 3 rallies, slams opposition

Turkey Election: President Erdogan In tight Electoral race

Turkey Election: Erdogan faces toughest challenge ever

Watch #WIONWideangle | TURKIYE ELECTIONS: ERDOGAN. ECONOMY. EARTHQUAKES. Turkiye’s economy has been sloping aggressively. With sky-high inflation, Lira’s value rapidly declining, & a cost-of-living crisis- Will people give Erdogan the chance to steer its economy toward stability?

Turkey's economic crisis woes

Watch #WIONWideangle | TURKIYE ELECTIONS: ERDOGAN. ECONOMY. EARTHQUAKES. #Turkiye saw its most devastating earthquakes this year in February. With 45,000+ people dead, damages in billions of dollars and widespread homelessness- Who will the quake survivors vote for?

Turkey's earthquake response

An air of anti-incumbency builds around Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as most opinion polls show him trailing behind rival candidate Kilicdaroglu. Will Erdogan be able to retain his office or will the tremors of the quake shake his political ambitions? Ghadi Francis gets you the story.

Turkiye decides its future | The West Asia Post

The withdrawal of minor presidential contender Muharrem Ince could ultimately bolster the chances of top opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Sunday's election could spell trouble for incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey election candidate drops out, putting Erdogan at risk

Turkiye will go to presidential and parliamentary polls in four days. His government faces public anger after massive earthquakes hit Turkiye. Will the May 14 elections end Erdogan's 20-year hold on Turkiye?

Gravitas | Turkiye polls: Will Erdogan be ousted?

Nearly 800,000 people voted in polling stations abroad as overseas voting started for Turkish citizens last week. The number is far high than some 350,000 people who went to the polls in the same period during the 2018 elections.

Turkish elections abroad see record-high turnout

As Turkey gets ready for the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections in mid-May, politicians have adopted a low-key approach to attract voters, avoiding colour, song and dance, or drama, the reason being the devastating earthquake in February that left more than 50,000 people dead in the country’s 11 southeastern provinces.

Turkey elections: A closely-fought cliffhanger on the cards

Truce is the big word in West Asia. On The West Asia Post we have been reporting all big engagements, the thaws in decades-old frosty ties. This week, Russia hosted a four-way dialogue aimed at restoring ties between Syria and Turkiye. Ghadi Francis brings you the full report.

Can Russia broker Syria-Turkiye truce?

The political atmosphere is heating up in Turkiye. Erdogan's chief rival has started making moves. He has come out in defence of the Kurds and accused the President of stoking tensions for political gain. Ghadi Francis brings you the full report on this week's The West Asia Post.

The West Asia Post: Turkiye readies for crucial polls

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on may 14. With Erdogan in power for 20 years, the elections could be Erdogan's biggest challenge as the country still reels under the aftereffects of the devastating earthquake last month.

The West Asia Post: Turkey to hold elections on May 14

Sweden's Foreign Minister said that Turkiye not approving its bid to join NATO, is something Sweden did not want but was prepared for. On Friday, Turkiye decided to ratify Finland's application but not Sweden's. Sweden says it is only a matter of time before the membership bid is accepted.

Turkiye contemplates NATO membership for Sweden, approves Finland

On The West Asia Post with Ghadi Francis: +Growing rift between Saudi Arabia & UAE +West bank tense as violence escalates +Crisis deepens for Israel's Netanyahu +U.S. Defence secretary's Iraq visit +Schoolgirls 'poisoning' mystery in Iran

The West Asia Post: Growing rift between Saudi Arabia & UAE

The 14th of may elections in turkey are seen as the most consequential in the republic's 100-year history. The opposition has named a joint candidate for presidency in - 74-year-old, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is head of Turkey's second biggest party, Klichdarolu aims to emerge from Erdogan's shadow - who is the longest-serving leader of turkey. The opposition has vowed to reverse many of Erdogan's policies on economy, civil rights and foreign affairs. WION'S Eric Njoka speaks to professor Muzaffer Senel, a commentator and lecturer at the Istanbul kultur university, about Kilicdaroglu's chances.

Turkey elections: Biggest test for Erdogan

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