Stories from Turkey

An extensive preparatory meeting was held in Ankara ahead of the fire season. The Ministry of Interior said coordination and a strong preparedness capacity to protect the nation's green spaces. Officials remembered forest martyrs lost in fires last year. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi and Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yümaklı met with governors from 30 provinces in Ankara. The meeting addressed forest fire risks affecting approximately 15 million hectares, representing 65% of Turkey's forest assets. Officials discussed the necessity of strengthening coordination to manage these sensitive areas. The session included representatives from provinces identified as high-risk for wildfires. The meeting focused on coordinating responses to forest fires. The meeting addressed concerns about forest fires, which are a major threat, especially as summer approaches.

The trial involving an alleged criminal organization is proceeding with the defense and witness testimonies of defendants not in custody. Prosecutors are seeking up to 450 years in prison for Aziz İhsan Aktaş for numerous crimes, and up to 337 years for former Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akbolat for 8 crimes. The defendants face a total of 42 charges including bribery and bid rigging. The case concerns bribery in the Manavgat Municipality in Antalya. A bribery case involving the Manavgat Municipality is proceeding, with investigations initiated following footage of bribes being accepted. An investigation was launched into bribery allegations, with footage showing the exchange of bribes. Yalova Police Chief Yılmaz Delen, who was the Tunceli Police Chief six years ago when Gülistan Dokun disappeared, was summoned as a witness.

Tunceli Public Prosecutor's Office issued arrest warrants for fifteen individuals. Those apprehended were brought before the courthouse. Among those detained are former Tunceli governor Tuncay Sonel, his son, and former bodyguard Şükrü Eroğlu. Gökhan Ertok is also among the arrested for allegedly deleting information from a SIM card. The suspects face charges including intentional homicide and evidence tampering.

A wildfire has broken out in a wooded area in Aydın, Turkey. Emergency teams are responding to the blaze, which is spreading quickly due to wind. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

A motorcycle was dragged by a car, then crashed into a crowd of people waiting at a bus stop in Istanbul.

Haberturk Radyo is broadcasting a public health message encouraging listeners to quit smoking. The message is attributed to the Turkish Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey is encouraging people to quit smoking for themselves and their loved ones. This is a dietary supplement, and consumers are advised to read the packaging information carefully.

Turkish President Erdoğan congratulated both teams following the championship match, stating that the victory provides a sense of accomplishment for all citizens. He said the importance of these achievements for the country's sports landscape, particularly for citizens with disabilities, demonstrating that success is possible through effort. The President's Cup Cycling Tour, one of Turkey's most prestigious races, has also commenced.

Consumer rights advocate Ergun Kılıç recommends collective action against companies that use consumer funds for over three months. He suggests that consumer organizations, in conjunction with the Ministry of Trade, can work to prevent such unfair practices. This approach aims to protect consumers from exploitative financial arrangements.

Fenerbahce Istanbul has become European champions for the second time in the Euro Cup 1 finals. Besiktas won the Euro Cup 3 Wheelchair Basketball championship. President Erdogan congratulated both teams on their victories.

Turkey's tourism sector is planning for growth in 2025 and 2026, expecting these years to be similar to 2025. In 2025, Turkey hosted 63,941,261 tourists. The first two months of 2026, prior to the war, showed a increase. The sector has updated its targets, previously anticipating a 5-10% increase.