"Fleece & Release": American Tourist Charged $160 for 5-minute Taxi Ride, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 3 June 2026)

  "Hmmm, 5-minute ride, $160 bucks...sounds expensive..."

American social media streamer Andrew Greald Rencourt, who attended 

a concert by world-renowned musician Travis Scott in Istanbul the 

previous day, took a taxi from Karaköy to his hotel around 1:00 AM 

after the concert. Allegedly, Rencourt paid the taxi driver, Hayrettin Arğuç, 

7,300 TL (about $160)  for a five-minute ride (!).

Rencourt, who was live streaming during the journey, uploaded the entire 

video to his social media. Following the backlash to the video shared on 

social media, an investigation was launched. The taxi driver, Hayrettin 

Arğuç, was taken into custody and subsequently brought to the Istanbul 

Courthouse. 

                  Hayrettin  Arğuç: "You talkin' to me?!"

In his statement, Arğuç said, "Rencourt asked me for cash. He wanted me 

to pay via POS machine. Because I gave the passenger $100, I charged 

7,300 Turkish Lira via POS machine. I didn't defraud anyone." In the 

prosecutor's request for arrest, it was stated that Hayrettin Arğuç's defense 

was aimed at escaping punishment, that the distance traveled was 

5 kilometers, and the fee to be paid was at most 300 lira. Arğuç, who 

was referred to the Magistrates' Court, was arrested for 'fraud' and 

sent to prison.

"Paint & Release": Smurfs Cured Her Epilepsy; Now They Adorn Garbage Containers, in Bodrum

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 2 June 2026)

Living in Bodrum, Muğla, Meryem Sebile Gündüz (19), a graduate of the 

Fine Arts High School, overcame her childhood epilepsy and various 

health problems through painting. Bringing her art to the streets, Gündüz 

initiated a visual transformation in the district by painting garbage 

containers (!).

Meryem Sebile Gündüz continued her struggle with epilepsy, which she 

contracted in childhood, and various subsequent health problems through 

painting. Over time, she overcame her illnesses. Bringing her art to the 

streets, Gündüz began painting the municipality's containers with 

cartoon characters and animal figures. 

Gündüz's work attracted attention in the district and on social media. 

With the permission of the municipality, she has painted 8 containers to 

date. Gündüz, who stated that she enjoys drawing, said, "I came across 

the 'taking a trash container' trend on social media, where some people 

shared their work with the note 'I'm taking it because it has sentimental 

value.' After this trend, I got this idea. I took my paints and went out into 

the street. I also uploaded a video of my first drawing. This video became 

a trend. After me, I saw that many people were doing and sharing similar 

works."

Gündüz, who said that she had a meeting with Bodrum Mayor Tamer 

Mandalinci after he saw her videos on social media and contacted her, 

and that he offered his support, stated, "We met and discussed the details. 

He said he wanted to support me. I started my work with the permission 

of the municipality. I usually paint cartoon characters from my childhood." 

Gündüz said that some people approached her with prejudice because she 

was painting garbage containers, but added, "However, over time I also 

met people who supported me. There were even people who sat next to 

me and painted with me. I am doing it with great pleasure now. I aim to 

color not only containers but also walls and streets in the future."

Gündüz said, "Until four years ago, I had epilepsy, and I overcame it. 

Painting has always been a source of morale and motivation for me. 

I realized that I could achieve things. There were times when I was 

excluded because of my illnesses. However, because I loved my talent 

and was eager to create in this field, I never gave up, I persevered. 

Perhaps this is the reason why I am healthy today. In addition, I have 

overcome other illnesses that can be overcome with morale. At the root 

of all of them was my talent and effort. Now I think that I can achieve

things and reap the rewards of my labor. I will not give up, I will 

continue, and you should too. Chase your dream."

"Revolve & Release": Film Set With "Kaaba" Look-alike Draws Moslem Pilgims, in Kocaeli

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 1 June 2026)

                               Transplanted sanctity.

In Çayırova district of Kocaeli province, a set for the film "İslamiyet'in

Doğuşu" (The Birth of Islam) has been erected and includes a black cube 

that resembles the Kabe (Kaaba) in Mecca, to the extent that citizens

are encircling the cube to perform "tavaf", the ceremony of going around

the Kaaba at Mecca (!). 

Workers on the set playing music are being scolded by citizens for 

disturbing the "sanctity of the Kaaba".  One worker lamented that 

"We were listening to music while working. A man came and told us to 

turn off the music, saying this place was sacred. Then he called the police. 

We built this place, and now they're performing the pilgrimage."

The resemblance is uncanny...

E

Another worker related that "Sometimes we take off our undershirts 

because of the heat. We get reactions like, 'How can you do that in a 

place like this!' This isn't real, it's a model. There are some very strange 

people here."

A lot less expensive than going all the way to Mecca.

"Backfire & Release": He Shot at a Snake But Ricochets Injured 5 People Instead, in Siverek

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 31 May 2026)

Police sketch of H.Ö. in action...that's E.Y. in back of him.

In  Siverek district of Şanlıurfa province, H.Ö. (56) tried to kill a snake

he spotted in his garden with his hunting rifle, but he wounded 5 people,

including 3 children, instead (!). 

The incident occurred in Üstüntaş village.  When H.Ö. shot at the snake

the ricochets hit R. Ö. (59), E.Y. (31), Y.B. (4), M.S.Y. (4) and F.E. (6). 

The injured individuals were taken to Siverek State Hospital - all are

said to be in good condition. H.Ö. was taken into custody, and an inquiry

into the incident has been initiated. 

"Hide & Release": Sacrificial Cow Dodges the Knife, After Falling in Old Dynamite Pit, in Gümüşhane

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Tek Haber Agency website, 29 May 2026)

"Plan? What plan?...heh heh heh."

A sacrificial cow that went missing eight days ago after separating 

from its herd in Köse district of Gümüşhane was found in a dynamite 

storage pit belonging to an old dam construction site. The animal, 

which was rescued from where it was trapped with the help of an 

excavator, was determined to have survived for days by drinking only 

rainwater.  Having lost weight , the cow was spared from the Feast of

Sacrifice "festivities" (!). 

The cow ,belonging to Ömer Faruk Kesler, a livestock breeder in the 

district, went missing after straying from its herd. Kesler searched for 

days, with the support of Gendarmerie teams, but the search in the 

forested and mountainous areas yielded no results. Despite having a 

bell around its neck, the animal's cries went unheard for days. It was 

eventually found in an old construction site near where it disappeared.

A shepherd grazing his herd in the area noticed the sound, leading to 

the discovery of the animal in a dynamite storage pit. The cow, which 

had survived for eight days without food, relying only on rainwater, 

prompted a rescue operation.

                           Lives to graze another day.

The walls of the warehouse were demolished with the help of an excavator 

called to the scene, and the cow was safely removed from where it had 

fallen. The moments when the freed animal immediately began grazing 

on the grass, and the rescue process itself, were captured on the cell phone 

cameras of onlookers.

Livestock breeder Ömer Faruk Kesler, who was reunited with his animal 

after a search, expressed his happiness with these words:

“We searched everywhere for days. We looked everywhere, near and far. 

But this was fate. We found it near us. I'm sure it went through very difficult 

times. Thank God we found it. Because it was so thin, we gave up on 

sacrificing it.”

"Meat & Release": Where's The Beef?! Stolen in Traffic!, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 29 May 2026)

        Mobile butcher shop...and five-finger discount.

In Adana's Yüreğir district, Ümit Ö. jumped onto the back of  Bekir

Ç.'s truck and stole 40 kilograms of meat (!) when the truck stopped

at a red light. Ümit Ö. then fled with the meat on the motorcycle

belonging to his accomplice Coşkun S. 

However (!),  police reviewed surveillance video from the scene

and nabbed the two meat thieves. During their questioning at the police 

station, the suspects allegedly said, "We barbecued some of the meat 

and sold the rest." Following the proceedings, Ümit Ö. and Coşkun S. 

were referred to the courthouse and subsequently arrested by the court.

Heading to the slammer with tummies full of BBQ. 

"Alice & Release": Instead of a Rabbit Hole, She Fell Into a Well, in Konya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 28 May 2026)

        Feride hanım in...and then out of Wonderland.

In Konya's Ereğli district, Feride Ballı (55) fell into an empty well.

Her relatives notified police and rescue teams arrived to extract her from

the well after a 1.5-hour effort. She was taken to Ereğli State Hospital

for treatment of  some minor wounds suffered in the fall.