Stories from Turkey

A 21-year-old man named Süleyman Gülsün died in Turkey after being treated for suspected Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever. The man lived in Evren village, Tokat, and was bitten by a tick approximately 10 days prior to his death. He was initially transferred to a hospital in Tokat before being moved to Sivas for further treatment. Despite medical efforts, the patient could not be saved.

A vessel with a broken rudder drifted toward the shore in the Bosphorus near Yenikoy during the night.

A vessel traveling from Russia toward Kocaeli nearly struck land near the Yeni Köy area of the Bosphorus. The ship managed to stop meters before impact. Rescue operations are currently underway with teams from the Directorate General of Coastal Safety deployed to the region. No negative casualties or immediate damage have been reported following the incident. The 147-meter cargo ship KAPPA ran aground near Yeniköy in Istanbul's Sarıyer district following a steering failure. The vessel was en route from Russia to Kocaelı when it drifted toward the shore. Maritime authorities have suspended two-way ship traffic in the strait due to security concerns. No fuel leaks have been reported from the vessel at this time. Coast Guard officials announced the situation before the ship could complete its passage through the Bosphorus. The vessel's rudder failed, causing it to drift near Yeni Köyü.

Turkish Health Minister Professor Kemal Memişoğlu attended a reception in Ankara celebrating Sierra Leone's national day. Memişoğlu stated that Turkey's approach to Africa is based on mutual solidarity and joint development. He expressed intentions to advance bilateral relations and noted that commercial volumes between the two nations have increased. The Minister also mentioned that a hospital project is expected to soon contribute to healthcare access for Sierra Leonean citizens.

Turkey's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure reported efficiency gains from the Avrasya Tunnel over nine years of operation. The tunnel has been used by 180 million vehicles since its opening. Minister Abdülkadir Uraloğlu stated the tunnel provided 250 million hours of time savings and 304,000 tons of fuel savings. Additionally, the tunnel reduced emissions by 139,000 tons, equivalent to the annual carbon sequestration of 5.5 million trees.

Authorities conducted a fourth wave of operations as part of a bribery investigation targeting the Tax Audit Board. Investigators are currently examining the mobile phones of previously detained suspects to gather evidence. Örstemir is currently attempting to secure acquittals in 18 active cases.

The Turkish Ministry of Trade has granted foreign trade capital company status to 10 additional companies. This brings the total number of such companies in the country to 103. This move follows previous regulatory actions to expand the number of entities operating under this specific trade designation.

The Turkish Ministry of Health has issued new regulations to expand the use of various therapy methods. Under the new rules, osteopathy and chiropractic practices can be performed by physicians and physiotherapists who hold certificates from GETAT training centers. Elderly care and home care technicians are also authorized to assist in these medical applications. The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry is implementing a regulation regarding food labeling. The measure targets the use of misleading terms such as 'village-made', 'natural', '100%', 'traditional', and 'medicinal' on industrial food products. This regulation aims to address issues where urban residents struggle to access genuine village products while industrial goods use these labels to mimic them. These include leech therapy, cupping, ozone therapy, and phytotherapy.

Turkish Confederation of Employee Unions (Türk-İş) President Ergun Atalay announced May Day celebrations will take place across Turkey. Programs will be held in various provinces ranging from Edirne to Çorum. This year's main event will be held in Edirne, whereas last year's event was located at Kartal Square in Istanbul. The celebrations will focus on the impact of economic conditions and income tax on workers. Labor unions in Turkey have announced programs for May Day celebrations across various provinces, including Edirne and Çorum. The Turkish Workers' Union will hold its central event in Edirne this year, moving from the Kartal Square in Istanbul where it was held last year. Turkish Workers' Union General President Ergun Atalay is scheduled to address attendees regarding the impact of economic conditions on workers.

A steel barrier fell during the controlled demolition of a 4-story building near Ulus Square. Three people were injured by the falling debris and transported to local hospitals. Emergency services, including fire and medical teams, were dispatched to the scene. The street where the building was located was closed to traffic as a precaution.