"Blackmail & Release": Businessman Threatened by "The Ugly Ones", in Istanbul

türkçe links to orginal Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 30 October 2026)

 Who wouldn't be scared to get a threat from these guys!?

Nevzat Aydın, the former owner of Yemeksepeti, has alleged 

that he received a threatening phone call following the 

emergence of news reports about him. 

Aydın filed a formal complaint, stating that after reports surfaced 

claiming he had paid 100 million TL (about $2 million) to have 

his son join inthe pre-match ceremony at a Trabzonspor-Beşiktaş 

game, he was contacted by an individual named K.A.—who 

claimed to be a member of a criminal organization known as 

"Çirkinler" (The Ugly Ones) (!)—who demanded 1 million euros. 

Aydın further stated that he was threatened with the killing of his 

child if he failed to pay the requested amount so he filed a 

complaint with the Beykoz Public Security Bureau, reporting that 

on October 28, around 6:00 PM, he received a call via a messaging 

app from a number with the Greek country code (+30). The caller, 

who identified himself as K.A.—a member of a criminal gang

 known as "Çirkinler"—demanded 1 million euros and threatened 

to kill his child if the payment was not made.

Handsome is as handsome does.

Aydın stated that the threats began after his son participated in 

the pre-match ceremony for the Trabzonspor vs. Beşiktaş game 

on October 22. Noting that the threats followed media reports 

alleging that he had paid 100 million TL to secure his son's 

participation in the ceremony, Aydın added that he reserves the 

right to take legal action against those who published these reports.

Hope his son isn't a Beşiktaş fan...

"Kung-fu & Release": Mini-Skirted Kick-boxer Gal Arouses Social Media, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Haber 500 website, 29 October 2026)

                                   All the right moves.

In the Esenyurt district of Istanbul, a highly unusual street 

fight was captured on a busy thoroughfare used daily by 

thousands of vehicles and pedestrians. A verbal altercation 

broke out—for reasons yet to be determined—between two 

women, one of whom was in the midst of traffic while the 

other was on the roadside.

The tension, which began in the middle of the road, quickly 

escalated from mutual insults and shouting into a physical 

confrontation. As the altercation intensified, drawing the 

bewildered gazes of nearby drivers and bystanders, the 

aggressive behavior of one of the women became the focal 

point for everyone present.

On a street that had effectively turned into a boxing ring—

with tensions remaining at a fever pitch—a sudden move by 

one of the women shifted the nature of the encounter. 

Disregarding the fact that she was wearing a pair of short 

shorts and high heels, she launched herself into the air toward 

the other woman. With an agility reminiscent of an action 

movie, she began delivering spinning kicks, continuing her 

assault to the utter astonishment of those watching.

Turns out it was just a promotional gimmick for this...

Bystanders mistook her for a professional fighter

As onlookers—struggling to intervene in the fierce street brawl—

watched in shock, the surprise of a man recording the scene on 

his mobile phone was clearly audible. Capturing the flying kicks 

on camera, he remarked to those around him, "She must be a 

kickboxer!"

Following an intense and unusual altercation, a woman—seen 

delivering spinning kicks—fled the scene rapidly, accompanied 

by another woman. It was reported that the other woman 

involved also left the area after sustaining blows; meanwhile, 

mobile phone footage capturing the incident spread quickly 

across social media, becoming a major topic of discussion.

"Betroth & (No) Release": Vehicular Hijinks Added to Marriage Proposal, in Erzurum

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(DHA News Agency, 28 October 2026)

                        "She better say "yes"!"

In Erzurum, Cenkay Şahin (28) and his friends arrived in a convoy to 

formally ask for a young woman’s hand in marriage, setting off 

fireworks and lighting flares in the neighborhood. While Şahin’s 

family went inside the house for the proposal, his friends—using a 

car that had been brought to the scene on a tow truck—spun the 

vehicle’s wheels, causing it to fishtail and sway. (!) Local residents 

watched the spectacle from their balconies.

Truck driver Cenkay Şahin and Aleyna G. (20), whom he met two 

years ago, decided to get married. Wanting to surprise his girlfriend, 

Şahin had his modified car loaded onto a flatbed tow truck and 

played her favorite song through the vehicle's sound system. 

Accompanied by a 14-vehicle convoy, Şahin drove from the Yenişehir 

district to the Kazım Yurdalan neighborhood—where his fiancée-to-be 

lives—with everyone honking their horns along the way. As Cenkay 

Şahin entered the street carrying flowers, followed by his family and 

the convoy, he and his friends lit flares and set off fireworks, illuminating 

the night. Local residents stepped out onto their balconies to watch the 

spectacle. 

Adding a new tradition to the hand-in-marriage proposal.

While the family went inside the house to formally ask for the 

bride’s hand in marriage, the groom-to-be’s friends made the car on the 

tow truck spin its wheels and rock back and forth. (!)

Cenkay Şahin said, “I met my girlfriend two years ago. To show her 

how much I love and value her—and to impress her—I brainstormed 

with my friends. We decided to head to her family’s home for the 

formal marriage proposal—a tradition known as ‘asking for the girl’—

with a motorcade. We took a modified car and loaded it onto a tow 

truck. Starting from the Yenişehir neighborhood in Erzurum, we 

traveled in a 14-vehicle convoy, passing through the Yunus Emre area, 

before arriving at her home. We lit flares, set up a special event, and 

even hired a photographer.”

Hopefully, the marriage will be sturdier than the balcony.

"I had to play the song that my girlfriend loves so much. We played it 

using the car’s sound system, and then we headed upstairs. Afterward, 

my friends made a bit of noise in front of the building; I would like to 

apologize on their behalf to the local residents for the disturbance. 

My girlfriend was very pleased with this surprise—she was deeply 

touched. In fact, people saw us from both the back and front balconies! 

She was so happy, and seeing her happy made me incredibly happy, too. 

Her family has given their blessing, and, God willing, we will hold our 

wedding as soon as possible," he said. 

Erzurum the center of the world for the happy couple.

"Pretend & Release": Suspect Feigned Fall, Stole Truck, But Hit Another Before Arrest, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 27 October 2026)

       "I've fallen and I can't get up!" - don't fall for it.

In Adana, a suspect who jumped in front of and climbed onto 

a light commercial vehicle—then stole it when the driver (!) 

stepped out—has been apprehended. 

On Kurtuluş Street in the Hurmalı neighborhood of the Seyhan 

district, 29-year-old Mustafa G. jumped in front of a light 

commercial vehicle (license plate 01 FFV 47) driven by 

42-year-old Seyithan O., forcing it to a stop before climbing 

onto it.

Seizing the opportunity when the driver stepped out of the 

vehicle, Mustafa G. got inside and fled the scene. Following a 

report, the Provincial Police Department’s Public Security 

Branch launched an operation to track down the suspect.

Mustafa Bey's short-lived acting career...

Authorities determined that the suspect, Mustafa G., had 

collided with a panel van (!) in the Meydan neighborhood 

while driving the stolen vehicle; he was subsequently caught 

on a side street following a pursuit.

Meanwhile, the theft was captured by a security camera. 

The footage shows the suspect lying across the front of the 

vehicle before getting in and driving away once the driver 

stepped out at a traffic light.

"Stress & Release": To Avoid the Usual Wedding Complications, Having a "Fake Wedding", in Uşak

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Yeni Asır website, 26 October 2026)

   Slogan: "For Fun Instead of Drama!"

A wedding in Uşak that’s taking social media by storm! It’s called a 

"Fake Wedding"—students hit the dance floor, with neither a bride nor 

a groom in sight! 

There’s no bride and no groom, yet the gold, the jewelry, and the 

festivities are all completely real! University students in Uşak have pulled 

off an ingenious event to bypass the soaring costs of weddings and the 

tension that often arises with relatives. Ömer Karahan, a columnist for 

*Günaydın*, explores all the intriguing details of this "Fake Wedding"—

which has set social media abuzz—in today’s column. Here is a look 

behind the scenes of this extraordinary celebration...

No mothers-in-law, no sisters-in-law, and no squabbles between the 

bride’s and groom’s families. There’s no keeping track of who gifted 

what, and no relatives ending up offended by the time the wedding 

wraps up! But there is cake, there’s *çiftetelli* (traditional folk dance), 

and there’s *halay* (line dancing). There’s even gold! And that’s the 

most fun part: at a typical wedding, you’re the one giving gold—but 

at this one, you might actually win some.

Unpleasant wedding murders like this will be avoided.

The gifts presented during the ceremonial exchange will be distributed 

via a raffle, with one lucky person walking away with a gram of gold. 

Given the current economic climate, it’s enough to make anyone wish, 

"I hope the same happens to me!" The event will take place on the 

evening of October 31st at Deniz Wedding Halls in Uşak, with tickets 

priced at 333 TL (about $6.50) per person. 

For groups of four or more, the cost is 300 liras. In essence, these 

young people started with a very simple yet creative idea: does someone 

actually have to get married in order to have a good time? They’ve taken 

all the enjoyable aspects of weddings while stripping away the stress, 

the expenses, and the endless, tiresome squabbles between families.

Among the special guests...

I think they’ve done a great job. What’s more, they’ve turned it into 

something truly entertaining by playfully poking fun at our traditional 

wedding culture. Who knows—perhaps before long, we’ll start seeing 

fake engagement parties and mock *kına gecesi* (henna nights) as well.

An "alternative" map of Uşak, just for the fake wedding!

"Flee & Release": Two Teenage Girls Fall to Ground When Bed Sheet Rips, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(DHA News Agency, 25 October 2026)

Off to a good start, but...

In Küçükçekmece, 16-year-old H.U.—who had returned home 

after escaping from a state-run care home—and her friend, 

16-year-old A.R., were seriously injured after a bedsheet they 

were using to escape from a third-story window tore, causing 

them to fall. Both girls were taken to the hospital, and it has 

been reported that one of them is in critical condition.

The incident occurred this morning on the third floor of a 

five-story apartment building on İkbal Street in the Gültepe 

neighborhood. Ö.U., who lost his wife some time ago, had 

previously placed his daughter, H.U., in a care home. 

According to reports, H.U. escaped from the facility today with her 

friend, A.R., and arrived at her father’s home. Upon discovering 

this, Ö.U. locked the two girls in a room to prevent them from 

leaving and notified the care home authorities. The girls then 

attempted to escape by lowering a bedsheet from the third-story 

window. 

...you gotta read the instructions first!

However (!), as they tried to climb down, the sheet tore; one 

girl fell to the ground, while the other landed on the roof of a 

coal shed.  Following a report, police and medical teams were 

dispatched to the scene. Paramedics provided initial intervention 

before transporting the girls to the hospital by ambulance. It has 

been reported that one of the girls, A.R., is in critical condition.

"Monkey Business & Release": Tiny Macaque Monkey, Named "The Strange One", Gets First-class Health Care, in Gaziantep

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Haberler.com website, 24 October 2026)

                        "The strange one"

A 3-month-old male macaque, which had been brought into 

Turkey illegally and subsequently seized in Afyonkarahisar, 

has recovered following treatment at the Gaziantep Wildlife 

Center. The young macaque, named 'Garip' (meaning 'the 

strange one') (!), has become the center's mascot; he will be 

kept under supervised conditions for 1.5 to 2 months 

to ensure he integrates well with other young macaques.

During inspections conducted by Nature Conservation and 

National Parks teams in Afyonkarahisar, a baby macaque was 

discovered in the possession of an individual; the animal was 

taken into protective custody and brought to the Gaziantep 

Wildlife Center.

Upon arrival at the center, it was determined that the infant 

macaque was struggling to feed and had concerning blood test 

results, leading to its admission to the animal hospital for 

treatment.

Veterinarians performed blood tests and ultrasound exams, 

and the macaque was kept in intensive care for a period. 

During this time, it received intravenous fluids, vitamins, and 

minerals; the infant responded positively to the treatment and 

began to feed once again.

"Garip" adjusting well to his mascot role.

Named "Garip" (meaning "strange" or "peculiar") by its caretakers, 

the young macaque was moved to a separate enclosure—where 

it can see other young macaques but cannot make physical 

contact—once its health returned to normal.

As the youngest macaque at the center, Garip will remain under 

observation for some time to ensure it can adapt to the other young 

macaques; plans are in place to integrate it into the group within 

1.5 to 2 months.

Celal Özsöyler, Head of the Wildlife Conservation and Veterinary 

Services Department for the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, 

told an Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter that the infant underwent a 

comprehensive health check upon its arrival at the center.

"We kept it (him!) in intensive care for a while"