"Clean & Release": Cruise Ship Crew Members "Happily" Collect Trash in Marmaris

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(DHA News Agency, 16 September 2026)

"What a nice break in the monotony of cruising the world." (!)

Crew members from the cruise ship MSC DIVINA, currently visiting 

the Marmaris district of Muğla, conducted a cleanup operation in the 

Aktaş area to raise awareness about environmental sensitivity. Teams 

from the Marmaris Municipality’s Cleaning Affairs Department also 

supported the initiative, which saw the participation of young crew 

members hailing from various parts of the world.

During the activity—organized to foster social awareness regarding 

the environment—the crew collected waste found in the Aktaş area. 

Barış Ünlü, the Cleaning Affairs Coordinator for Marmaris 

Municipality, also accompanied the team during the cleanup.

Captain to crew: "Other duties, as assigned."

The young crew members, who expressed a desire to contribute to 

environmental protection not only in their work zones but also in the 

cities they visit (!), highlighted the importance of environmental 

cleanliness and conveyed a message to citizens about the need to 

protect nature.

"Confiscate & (No) Release": Contraband Drugs and Guns Worth Million$ Seized in Mersin and Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 September 2026)

       The underside of cargo shipping.

350 kilograms of cocaine worth 1.5 billion TL (about $31 million!),

hidden beneath a dry cargo ship, were seized at the port of Mersin. 

Nine suspects were detained in connection with the incident.

As part of an investigation launched by the Mersin Chief Public 

Prosecutor's Office, teams from the Mersin Anti-Narcotic Crimes 

Branch and the Intelligence Branch conducted a coordinated operation. 

They determined that narcotics were to be retrieved—with the help of 

divers—from the underside of the hull of a dry cargo ship that had 

arrived at the port of Mersin from Brazil. During the operation, teams 

seized 350 kilograms of cocaine, valued at 1.5 billion TL, contained in 

12 packages hidden in the engine cooling water compartment beneath 

the ship's outer hull. 

Nine individuals—Ö.D.A., M.D., M.S., A.E., Y.T., B.B., E.B., E.Y., 

and O.G.—were detained in connection with the incident. Diving 

equipment and an underwater scooter were also seized during the 

operation. The suspects were taken to the police station for processing.

********************************************************

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 September 2026)

In an operation targeting arms trafficking conducted by Gendarmerie 

teams in Istanbul, 108 pistols with a market value of approximately 

15 million TL (about $308,000) were seized from the trunk of a taxi 

stopped in Eyüpsultan. Two detained suspects were arrested 

by the court.

Suspect seems familiar...

"Save & Release": Fallen Cow Rescued by Caring Humans, in Erzincan

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(İHA news agency, 13 September 2026)

         "Maybe these humans aren't so bad after all."

A cow that tumbled down a 250-meter precipice in the Üzümlü district 

of Erzincan was rescued alive after a six-hour operation.

The incident occurred around 16:30 in the Sarılar locality of the Üzümlü 

district. A report was made to the 112 Emergency Call Center stating 

that a cow had tumbled down a precipice from a steep slope. Following 

the report, teams from the Erzincan Municipality Fire Department were 

dispatched to the scene.

Firefighters don't discriminate.

A rescue operation was launched under the coordination of the fire 

department teams, with support from AFAD and Gendarmerie personnel.

After approximately six hours of dedicated effort, the animal, which 

had been stranded on the precipice, was successfully retrieved alive.

Once the necessary procedures (!) were completed, the rescued animal 

was transported to a safe area to be returned to its owner.

"Betroth & Release": Groom Labels Bride "My Maid", Much to Her Dad's Displeasure, in Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Telgraf.net website, 11 September 2026)

              Every picture tells a story...

In an incident that went viral on social media and reportedly took 

place in Ankara, a father flew into a rage upon seeing the wedding 

car his daughter was about to board after the ceremony; the car 

bore the inscription "Here comes my maid" on the back. (!)

Unable to stomach the idea of ​​his daughter—whom he had raised all 

these years—being labeled a "maid," the father-in-law confronted the 

groom. The argument reportedly escalated, leading the father-in-law 

to slap the groom. Bystanders intervened to break up the altercation 

before it could worsen.

The dispute over the "maid" label was eventually resolved amicably 

after the groom apologized, explaining that he had gone too far and 

intended the inscription merely as a joke. Meanwhile, social media 

users sided firmly with the father-in-law, commenting: "No father 

would accept such disrespect. A man calls his daughter 'my princess' 

at home, yet the groom calls her a 'maid'? No one would give their 

daughter to a moron like that."

Groom imagined his bride this way...

 

"Reattach & Release": Young Boy's Arm Saved by Team of Doctors, in Konya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Korkusuz Newspaper, 11 September 2026)

                          "There's the rest of  you."

15-year-old Muhammet Ali Şimşek, who suffered an injury to his 

right arm in a motorcycle accident in Afyonkarahisar, regained his 

health following an approximately eight-hour operation performed 

by specialists from three different medical fields in Konya.

The right arm of a 15-year-old boy, which was on the verge of being 

severed following a traffic accident in Afyonkarahisar, was saved 

through an approximately eight-hour surgery performed in Konya.

After learning that the right arm of Muhammet Ali Şimşek—who 

had been involved in a motorcycle accident about a month and a half 

earlier—might require amputation, his family conducted research 

and contacted Konya Farabi Hospital.

     Muhammet Ali has that "this is for real, right?" look.

Transferred to Konya without delay, Şimşek underwent surgery 

performed by a team comprising Cardiovascular Surgeon Prof.

 Dr. Ufuk Özergin (the hospital's deputy chief physician), Orthopedics 

and Traumatology Specialist Op. Dr. Yusuf Aksoy, and Plastic, 

Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgeon Op. Dr. Zikrullah Baycar.

Following the successful operation, which lasted approximately eight 

hours, Şimşek's arm—previously on the verge of detachment—

regained its functionality.

Op. Dr. Yusuf Aksoy told an Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter that the 

patient had been presented to them after an accident that left his arm 

nearly severed at the shoulder.

Stressing the importance of urgent intervention and multidisciplinary 

approach in such cases, Aksoy said, "The patient had a near-total 

amputation at the shoulder, multiple injuries to the elbow and hand, 

and a contaminated open wound on the knee of the same side. We 

quickly took the patient into surgery. Teams from plastic surgery, 

orthopedics, and cardiovascular surgery performed the operation 

together. The surgery lasted approximately eight hours and was 

successful. Post-operative monitoring and a multidisciplinary approach 

are crucial following such surgeries."

Prof. Dr. Özergin noted that the patient was discharged in good health, 

stating, "The key factor in the surgery's success was the simultaneous 

repair—without wasting any time—of the main artery supplying the 

arm, as well as the nerves, soft tissues, and bones, by a single team c

omprising three different medical specialties. This approach shortened 

the duration of the surgery and enabled the patient to use his arm 

comfortably without any loss of function."

Muhammet Ali's father, Mahir Şimşek, explained that his son's arm 

had been severely injured in the accident and, upon learning there 

was a risk of amputation, they had come to Konya after conducting 

their own research.  Expressing his happiness at his son's recovery 

following the surgery, Şimşek thanked the doctors.

"Rage & Release": Renter Shoots His Landlord Couple Dead, in Istanbul

 türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 11 September 2026)

     Conflict resolution at its worst.

In Maltepe, a tenant opened fire on his landlord couple following an 

argument. The couple lost their lives in the attack, while a lawyer 

present at the scene was seriously injured. The suspect was 

apprehended by special operations police.

The incident occurred around 13:10 in the Gülsuyu neighborhood. 

Allegedly, the tenant, Mehmet T. (63), opened fire on the landlord 

couple with whom he was arguing. Landlord Osman A. (61) and his 

wife Nursen A. (61) lost their lives in the attack, while a lawyer 

present at the scene, Emir Ali S. (29), was critically injured.

Following reports from bystanders, police, special operations teams, 

and medical personnel were dispatched to the scene. It was reported 

that the suspect, Mehmet T., resisted the teams and fired his weapon

from the building. The suspect was apprehended by special operations 

police.

He'll get much cheaper rent in jail.

In a statement regarding the incident issued by the Istanbul Governor's 

Office, it was reported that an argument between a landlord and a 

tenant escalated into a physical altercation on Thursday, September 10, 

2026, around 13:10, on Taşocağı Street in the Gülsuyu Neighborhood 

of Maltepe district. The tenant, identified as Mehmet T. (who has a 

criminal record comprising three offenses related to threats and verbal 

abuse), shot the landlord Osman A., the landlord's wife Nursen A., and 

a lawyer present at the scene, Emir Ali S.

Act fast! Flat available in Gülsuyu...

"Betroth & Release": Bride Stranded in Turkmenistan, While Turkish Hubby Tries to Get Her Back

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Alakayok.com website, 10 September 2026)

                               Married, with problems.

Volkan Özfiliz is striving to bring his wife, Sitova Rahmanova—who 

is stranded in Turkmenistan—to Türkiye; although her visa has been 

approved, she has not been granted an exit permit.

Volkan Özfiliz is making great efforts to bring his wife, Sitova 

Rahmanova, back to Türkiye from Turkmenistan, where she is currently 

stranded. Sitova Rahmanova, a Turkmen national who had settled in 

Türkiye in 2016, entered into a religious marriage with Volkan Özfiliz, 

whom she met in Istanbul. 

However (!), after her residence permit expired two years ago, she was 

sent to Azerbaijan following stays of four and a half months at a 

repatriation center in Ankara and five months at a center in Bursa.

Özfiliz traveled to Baku to be with the woman he loved and spent six 

months trying to arrange an official marriage. The couple finally 

married legally last April, and their marriage was also recognized 

by Turkmenistan. However, Rahmanova became stranded in 

Turkmenistan after returning there to renew her passport.

Stating that his wife has been unable to leave Turkmenistan for 

approximately four months, Volkan Özfiliz said, "Our family 

reunification visa has been approved. Despite this, Turkmenistan 

is arbitrarily refusing to allow my wife to leave." 

Appealing to Turkish authorities, Özfiliz cried out, "I have submitted 

requests to CİMER [the Presidential Communication Center] at least 

15 times, but I have received no response. I suffered three heart attacks 

last year due to this distress. There is no one listening to me."