Türkiye

Türkiye, Russia, Iran and Syria will establish a joint center in northern Syria to monitor the developments in the region, the Turkish defense minister has informed and stated that talks between Ankara and Damascus for the normalization of ties will continue, urging the latter to be more realistic in its demands.

"With the strength I have derived from affection, I have spent my whole political life to serve our nation. I became Mayor of Istanbul, Prime Minister and President of Türkiye, but I have never given up this quest, this determination,"President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on May 19.

Türkiye's external assets increased by 0.5 percent from the end of 2022 to amount to $307.6 billion as of March, according to the data from the Central Bank.

The country's liabilities against non-residents fell by 5.4 percent over the same period to $555 billion.

Türkiye has seen one of its most exciting presidential elections with the two strongest candidates current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nation Alliance's candidate and Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in a neck and neck race.

Presidential and parliamentary elections have begun at 8 am local time.

"As of now, all measures for healthy and secure elections have been taken by the Supreme Election Board [YSK] and its election committees in the provinces and districts," YSK head Ahmet Yener told the journalists on May 12.

Türkiye aims to boost its revenues from service exports to $125 billion this year, says Ahmet Bolat, the head of the Services Exporters' Association (HİB).

"We are expecting a strong contribution to export revenues from the travel, tourism, education and health services," said Bolat, who is also the chairman of Turkish Airlines' Board and Executive Committee.

Some 60 million Turks will cast their votes on May 14 to elect their 13th president and the 600-seat parliament in an election that many describe as the most critical one not only for Türkiye but also for the wider region.

Türkiye's automotive industry boosted its export revenues by 11 percent on an annual basis in the January-April period to $11.3 billion, the Automotive Industry Exporters' Association (OİB) has said.

Passenger car and bus, minibus exports registered double digit growth in April, according to Baran Çelik, board chair of the OİB.

The oil reserves found in the southeastern Gabar area are big enough to meet 12 percent of Türkiye's needs, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez has said.

The daily production capacity at the Gabar field will be around 100,000 barrels, Dönmez said, adding that the output will increase to some 180,000 barrels.

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced a fresh discovery of a new oil reserve in the country's eastern region.