Stories from Turkey

Aselsan has developed a new physical interception system designed to counter mini and micro drones on the battlefield. The system is integrated onto armored vehicles and utilizes the Korkut system alongside particle-effect ammunition. This technology provides a cost-effective alternative for defending against high-density threats such as drone swarms. Aselsan has developed a counter-drone system capable of rapid reaction against threats like swarm UAV attacks. The system utilizes Korkut firing control algorithms and automatic target positioning to engage targets. It can be integrated into various platforms ranging from wheeled vehicles to fixed facilities. The system uses Atom 25 ammunition, which is programmed to detonate at a specific time in front of the target rather than requiring a direct hit.

Flooding has submerged 10 homes in a rural neighborhood consisting of 45 total households and a population of 161. Local authorities had previously issued warnings regarding meteorological conditions and water levels. AFAD teams are on-site monitoring the area and interacting with residents. Some residents remain in the area, though others had been previously evacuated. The water has reached a point where roads are no longer passable. AFAD teams are currently on-site managing the situation.

Two information technology staff members were released under judicial control following statements from a former chief physician.

Nine suspects have been arrested, including former Şerefal Bayraktı, a former mayor of Halifeti. Bayraktı previously served as a trustee mayor between 2017 and 2019 before being elected as the AK Party mayor in the 2019 elections. Fourteen suspects were released under judicial control following their statements.

Police in Istanbul detained a 17-year-old suspect following an armed attack that left a 17-year-old youth seriously injured. Police have apprehended the suspect, according to the report. A 17-year-old boy, Yusuf Arda Özere, is fighting for his life in intensive care following a shooting in Istanbul. The assailant was found with a weapon and fled the scene with three accomplices before being apprehended. One bullet struck the teenager, who was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Police have captured the attacker who fled with three others. Police conducting security inspections in Sultanbeyli, Istanbul, stopped a vehicle being driven by a 13-year-old child. The child's father was reportedly sitting next to him in the vehicle. The incident follows requests from the family of Rojvelat Kizmaz to reopen an investigation.

A driver in Istanbul's Büyükçekmece district was reportedly followed for an extended period by a group that threatened them. The impact caused the minibus to strike a barrier and come to a halt. The service minibus driver sustained injuries but is reported to be in non-life-threatening condition. A driver operating a public bus hit a middle school student in Istanbul during the morning hours. The student was attempting to cross the street using a pedestrian crossing with her mother. Security camera footage captured the incident, which occurred after the driver allegedly failed to stop at a red light. The student was struck while attempting to cross the road. Authorities are investigating a vehicle linked to the disappearance of university student Gülistan Doku, who went missing in Tunceli six years ago.

A court has decided to continue the detention of defendants involved in a corruption and bribery case concerning the Manavgat Municipality. The hearing has been postponed until May 12. Forty-one defendants, including former Manavgat Mayor Niyazi Nefi Karan, appeared before a judge for the fourth time in a corruption and bribery case. Prosecutors requested punishments for Karan and four others on charges of establishing a criminal organization, extortion, bribery, and providing unfair benefits. The case involves allegations of corruption and embezzlement within the Manavgat Municipality.

The nine-day Lale Festival in Karaman has concluded. Approximately 400,000 people visited the tulip fields during the event, setting a visitor record for Turkey's largest tulip field. The festival featured a wide variety of colors and scents.

The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism plans to transform a battlefield into a cultural to attract tourists. The site is noted for being a location where Alexander the Great weakened the Persians to establish rule over the Persian Empire. According to Professor Korpe, the battle is considered one of the most moments in world history. The area is expected to become a major tourist attraction soon.

A 2.5-year-old boy named Mustafa Kemal suffocated after eating fruit while outdoors with his grandfather in Altıkırşehir, Turkey. The child's grandfather provided the initial medical intervention before bystanders assisted. Emergency services were called to the scene to provide medical aid. The child is the son of Altıkırşehir First Instance Court Justice Commission President Hamza Türkler and Judge Berna Saçan Türkler.