Süleyman Soylu

Prolonged drought is having an increasingly negative impact on agricultural production in Türkiye, with dry days increasing and the soil becoming increasingly dry.

With an average age of farmers estimated at 58, Türkiye, as in the rest of the world, is facing an aging crisis in the farming and agriculture sector, an expert has warned, suggesting that incentive policies to encourage young people living in cities to return to villages and engage in farming practices are need of the hour.

Following a voting session in the Turkish parliament, the heads of specialized commissions have been determined, with former ministers taking leadership positions in commissions relevant to their respective fields.

During the general assembly meetings, the commissions convened to select the members of the Presidential Council.

This year's heavy rains in May and June, particularly in Central Anatolia, have disrupted farmers' calendars. Prolonged rains in some regions and sudden and heavy rains in others have pushed back the harvest calendar for crops such as barley and wheat by an average of two weeks.

As the parliament prepares to commence its duty next week, the agenda is expected to include a limitation on house rent increases and a one-time tax-free right to purchase mobile phones and computers for young people, local media has reported.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday named diplomat and intelligence officer Hakan Fidan as foreign minister as he announced the cabinet for his new five-year term.

General Yasar Guler takes over the position of defense minister.

Türkiye on May 29 has marked the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul on its 570th anniversary with a series of events in the Turkish metropole.

Istanbul was besieged 28 times throughout history before its conquest in 1453 by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II.

Over 53 million people on May 14 dropped their votes in more than 190,000 ballot boxes set up across the country for the elections.

The number of voters imprisoned and convicted of negligent crimes was over 50,000.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the cornerstone ceremony for the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway in Sremska Raca, Serbia, 8 October 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/KOCA SULEJMANOVIC

They sent messages over the weekend via social media, and paid visits and joined meetings and political rallies in Turkey itself.

A group attacked Nation Alliance vice presidential candidate and İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's election bus with stones during his rally in the eastern province of Erzurum on May 7, as some of those who attended the rally were injured.

İmamoglu said that a maximum of 300-400 "instigated people" organized the attack, but the police did not interfere with these people.