Stories from Turkey

A vehicle with failed brakes crashed into numerous cars in Izmir, including a police vehicle. Reports indicate there are both fatalities and injuries resulting from the accident. The incident occurred in Izmir, Turkey.

Prosecutors have requested aggravated life sentences for two defendants in the murder trial of Sedef Güler. The victim's body was found wrapped in a carpet with hands and feet tied, discovered in the sea. The victim's mother stated she does not want to lose faith in justice. A third defendant, Yiğit Hüseyin Ayvalık, is currently a fugitive. The public case against the fugitive has been separated and will proceed independently. The victim was reportedly killed and her body was wrapped in a carpet and thrown into the sea. Güler, aged 24, disappeared two years ago while leaving home for a job interview.

Istanbul ranked 20th among global cities in a report by Canadian consultancy Resonance Consulting. The city received high marks for economy, tourism, and quality of life. The report identifies Istanbul as a global attraction point at the junction of Europe and Asia.

Turkish shipowner Talip Uzunkaya has disappeared, according to reports. The disappearance involves a prominent figure in maritime trade, shipping, and intercontinental logistics.

Turkey plans to deposit retirement bonuses into accounts gradually during the second half of May. The announcement follows recent seismic activity in the Doluduğa region. Experts are currently evaluating whether these tremors indicate a larger earthquake risk. The Turkish Grand National Assembly is considering a new law to regulate rent increases and prevent arbitrary hikes. The regulation aims to stop excessive increases by millions of homeowners and tenants. Under the proposed law, non-transparent expenditures will be audited by ministry-affiliated inspection firms. The bonus amount will remain at 4,000 lira without any increase. This announcement follows inquiries regarding whether the 16 million retirees would receive a raise. The statement was made ahead of the AK Party Group Meeting.

Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan announced that Kurban Bayramı bonuses will be 4,000 lira. The minister stated the amount will match the previous Ramadan Bayramı payments. This announcement was made prior to the AK Party Group meeting.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure signed a protocol with the Ministry of Health today regarding celiac disease. The document requires school canteens and dormitory dining halls to provide gluten-free products and services for students with celiac disease. This measure aims to ensure nutritional support for affected students. Money will be transferred to the seller's account only after the title deed transfer is completed. If the transfer fails, the system will automatically refund the pending amount to the buyer. The application is scheduled to begin on July 1. Additionally, the education requirement for motor vehicle trade authorization has been lowered from high school graduation to primary school graduation. Turkey will introduce a mandatory authorization requirement for property management companies to formalize the sector.

A new team has been established to analyze a mobile phone related to the Rojin Kaba investigation. The device had previously been sent abroad for forensic examination. Authorities believe that successfully decoding the phone could lead to a new stage in the investigation. The focus remains on the case file itself rather than specific individuals at this time.

Six people have died following a multi-vehicle collision, according to reports from NTV Radyo. Emergency responders including 112 teams, police, gendarmerie, and AFAD rescue crews are on the scene. Some individuals remain trapped inside vehicles as rescue operations continue.

An investigation into a missing girl in Erzurum has taken a new step as the Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested all digital footprints across Turkey from the date she disappeared. This follows claims by a lawyer that police filed reports stating no security footage existed, despite a six-hour recording being discovered during a JASAT investigation. Prosecutors aim to identify suspects suspected of tampering with evidence through the analysis of these digital footprints. The move aims to identify individuals who may have tampered with evidence. The Ministry of Justice is reportedly conducting a meticulous investigation into the matter. Police previously reported a lack of footage at a cafe, but six hours of video were later discovered during the investigation.