Current news in turkey 2018
Here are some of the major news stories in Turkey in 2018:
Economy and Finance
- Turkey's economy faced significant challenges in 2018, with inflation reaching 24.5% in October, the highest level in 15 years. The lira currency also experienced a significant decline in value, losing around 30% of its value against the US dollar.
- The Turkish government implemented a series of measures to stabilize the economy, including raising interest rates and imposing capital controls.
- The country's foreign exchange reserves fell to around $100 billion, a significant decline from around $130 billion in 2017.
Politics
- The Turkish government continued to face criticism over its human rights record, with concerns over the treatment of political opponents, journalists, and minority groups.
- The country's relations with the European Union (EU) deteriorated in 2018, with the EU criticizing Turkey's human rights record and the country's decision to hold a referendum on expanding the powers of the presidency.
- The Turkish government also faced criticism over its military intervention in Syria, with concerns over the humanitarian impact of the conflict and the role of Turkish-backed militias.
Syria and the Middle East
- Turkey continued to play a significant role in the Syrian conflict, with its military intervening in the country's north to push back against Kurdish forces and Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
- The country also faced criticism over its treatment of Syrian refugees, with concerns over the conditions in refugee camps and the lack of access to education and healthcare for many refugees.
- Turkey's relations with the United States deteriorated in 2018, with the two countries disagreeing over the role of Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIS and the US decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.
Justice and Corruption
- The Turkish government faced criticism over its handling of the investigation into the 2016 coup attempt, with many opposition parties and human rights groups accusing the government of using the investigation to crack down on political opponents.
- The country's judiciary also faced criticism over its handling of corruption cases, with many cases being dropped or dismissed due to lack of evidence.
- The Turkish government also faced criticism over its handling of the case of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. The Turkish government accused Saudi Arabia of covering up the murder and demanded justice for Khashoggi's family.
Other News
- Turkey's relations with Greece improved in 2018, with the two countries agreeing to normalize their relations and cooperate on issues such as migration and energy.
- The country also faced criticism over its environmental record, with concerns over air and water pollution and the impact of climate change on the country's agriculture and tourism industries.
- Turkey's football team had a successful year in 2018, reaching the semifinals of the World Cup in Russia and winning the UEFA Nations League.
These are just a few of the major news stories in Turkey in 2018. The country faced many challenges and controversies throughout the year, and its relations with the international community were often strained.