Stories from Turkey

CHP Chairman Ozgur Özel announced during a parliamentary group meeting that he will not resign. He stated the party will continue its struggle until the ballot box. The announcement follows discussions regarding his political roadmap. The announcement serves as a roadmap for the party's future political actions. Özel said a commitment to winning elections through a village-by-village and city-by-city strategy. He vowed to fight for the ballot boxes until the end. Özel said a commitment to fighting for votes in every village and town.

The suspects face charges of publicly insulting law enforcement and inciting hatred and hostility toward the public. Each suspect could face up to five years in prison.

The Ankara Development Agency has completed the HB program process in Ankara. As of today, projects for 25 cooperatives and unions have begun implementation. The agency will also make repayable financing support available to investors under the Green Grain program during 2026. This development marks the transition of green transformation in Ankara from the planning stage to concrete investment. The program has a total size of approximately $400 million. The initiative aims to implement green transformation investments on a larger scale in Ankara using a support mechanism. The agency stated that green transformation is a critical element of global competitiveness for investors and entrepreneurs. The initiative features a grant program implemented across 81 provinces. The program is supported by 400 million dollars from the UFON over the next four years.

Core personnel appointments have been completed for a planned multinational NATO headquarters to be established in Turkey. Turkey has appointed several new officials to provincial leadership roles. Yakup Nevşehir, the former governor of Aydın, has been appointed as the governor of Ankara. Maksut Yüksek, the former governor of Konya, will serve as the Ankara Provincial Police Chief. Fahri Aktaş, formerly the Manisa Provincial Police Chief, has been appointed to Mersin, while the Mersin Provincial Police Chief will move to Siirt. Additionally, Mehmet Gokhan Zengin and Mehmet Levent Kepçeli have been appointed to general directorate roles within the Ministry of Interior. A presidential decree has resulted in several administrative changes across Turkey. Abdullah Küçük, the District Governor of Güngören in Istanbul, has been appointed as the Governor of Adıyaman.

A ceremony was held in Ankara to mark the anniversary of the Constitutional Court's founding. New member Şaban Kazdalı was sworn into office during the event. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the ceremony. Constitutional Court President Kadir Özkay said the importance of an independent judiciary in his speech. An investigation has been launched into a separate incident where a person's lifeless body was found near a riverbank. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a ceremony in Ankara marking the 64th anniversary of the Constitutional Court. The event included the swearing-in of Şaban Kazdal as a member of the Constitutional Court. Following the ceremony, Erdogan presided over a meeting of the AK Party Central Executive Board. During the event, newly elected member Şaban Kazdağlı took the oath of office.

Changan announced the Aeon 07 model has been released in Europe and will be manufactured at the Hundai Motor factory in Hizmet. The vehicle features electric drive systems delivering up to 107.8 kW, 147 PS of power, and 250 Nm of torque. The announcement underscores the company's commitment to local production and development. This production move aims to support local development and manufacturing, according to the source.

The Turkish Ministry of Trade has granted foreign trade capital company status to 10 additional entities. This brings the total number of such companies in the country to 103. This move aims to expand the number of entities authorized for international trade operations.

An eight-year-old child has been missing for three days after falling into a stream in Hakkari. Search efforts began on Sunday, but no trace of the child has been found yet. A guidance teacher reportedly advised the family to take specific precautions for their children, but the family allegedly remained indifferent to these warnings. The Ministry and the guidance teacher are looking to strengthen cooperation regarding such incidents. Search operations are underway for an 8-year-old child who fell into a stream in Hakkari on Sunday. Local residents are assisting teams in scanning the area along the stream. Teams are currently scanning along the stream from the point where the child fell.

The harvest season for 'Turfanda' potatoes, referred to as 'yellow gold,' has commenced in Adana, Turkey. Local producers reported that recent rainfall caused damage to some of the potato crops. The harvest involves collecting the produce into individual crates for distribution. The soil has turned red and potatoes were removed from the ground and placed into crates. The source noted that the expected yield from the potatoes will not be achieved. The 'Turfanda' potatoes, also known as 'Yellow Gold,' have begun being harvested and packed into crates. Transport costs are expected for moving the produce to regions like Antalya and Mersin. A man identified as 'Nejdat' was arrested last year in Izmir and sent to prison. Hundreds of debts from lands underwater have been reported. Farmers have begun working in sandy lands.

DNA profiles were extracted from fingernail samples obtained during the Çağlatu Altay murder investigation. Modern technology allows for DNA profiling even from ancient skeletons or decomposed remains, according to a report on the investigation into a young woman who disappeared six years ago in Gülistan. The case, initially treated as a suicide, has transitioned into a homicide investigation. While the death was initially reported as a suicide, the case has since transitioned into a murder investigation. The source noted that even after many years, DNA may be obtainable from remains depending on environmental conditions such as rainfall and soil organisms. The investigation is looking into a specific area identified as a void in the ground. Gendarmerie reports found oxidation and rust levels significantly above normal in the soil at the scene.