Tuesday, September 22 News Digest

✧ Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi stated that the school in Manisa where the attack took place is classified among first-degree high-risk schools, and that a watchman and a groundskeeper were on duty at the school. Emphasizing that external security and environmental inspections are carried out by the public order, narcotics, and children's branch directorates, Minister Çiftçi expressed that school security cannot be ensured solely by physical and police measures, and that families must strictly monitor their children's internet habits and the security of licensed firearms at home (noting that in this incident, the firearm registered to the mother was taken from the grandfather's house).

❗️ It was reported that the attack, carried out with a rifle by 9th-grade student H.O. in front of İnci Üzmez Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the Turgutlu district of Manisa, occurred at around 08:00. Following the attack, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, along with Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi, traveled to Manisa and stated in a joint press release that a school security protocol, which had been worked on for about three months, was signed yesterday.

✧ Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi made statements regarding the armed attack near a school in Manisa that targeted children and left 11 children injured. Minister Çiftçi stated that the condition of 3 children who have come out of surgery remains critical and they are being treated in intensive care, while 1 of the other injured has been discharged, and the condition of the other children visited in the hospital is good. It was noted that the weapon used in the attack was registered to the mother and the child took the weapon from his grandfather's house; it was also announced that both administrative and judicial investigations are being carried out meticulously, and psychosocial support teams have been assigned by the Ministry of National Education.

✧ 16-year-old B.İ., who killed his mother with a pistol and injured his cousin in the Sapanca district of Sakarya, was arrested by the on-duty criminal judge of peace after his procedures at the police station. It was reported that the health condition of his injured cousin, H.T., who is still receiving treatment at the hospital, is being monitored.

✧ A new development has occurred in the investigation reopened in 2026 regarding the suspicious death of former Turkish intelligence (MİT) officer Kaşif Kozinoğlu in Silivri Prison in 2011. Former intelligence officer Enver Altaylı, previously convicted in a FETÖ case, was arrested by the penal judge of peace on charges of "instigating deliberate murder" as part of the ongoing investigation. The investigation, which also targets former prosecutors who previously decided to close the file, as well as prison officers, medical personnel, and other suspects from that period, continues in depth.

✧ In the case heard by the Büyükçekmece 21st Criminal Court of First Instance at Marmara Closed Prison, Ekrem İmamoğlu made his defense against the accusations of allocating a vehicle belonging to his private company to the municipality free of charge and having its expenses covered by the municipal budget during his tenure as the Mayor of Beylikdüzü. İmamoğlu stated that he provided public savings by offering his own vehicle for free instead of renting a high-cost one, and that the lawsuit filed lacks legal basis and is a process driven by political motives. During the hearing, he also made criticisms regarding the judicial system and trust in justice.

✧ Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, US President Donald Trump claimed that he has ended 8 wars since taking office thanks to the relationships he built with leaders and his use of tariffs as a tool of pressure. Emphasizing that they will never allow Iran's nuclear program and terrorist activities, Trump drew attention to the operations carried out and stated his belief that they could reach an agreement with Tehran after the midterm elections. Expressing that he would also end the Russia-Ukraine war swiftly in his speech, Trump further announced that an agreement had been reached with Denmark regarding Greenland and that a rapid military base would be established on the island.

✧ In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, US President Donald Trump announced that he has renamed artificial intelligence as "super intelligence," and stated that they will not restrict but rather encourage this technology, which he noted would be even bigger than the Industrial Revolution. In his speech, Trump also reiterated his messages towards Iran, reminded that he had ended 8 wars, touched upon the steps regarding the Russia-Ukraine war and Greenland, and emphasized that the economic and military power of the US is at its peak.

✧ President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan published a get-well message on his social media account regarding the armed attack carried out near a high school in the Turgutlu district of Manisa, in which 11 students were injured. Conveying his get-well wishes to the students affected by the incident, their families, teachers, and the entire education community, Erdoğan stated that the incident is being meticulously investigated by the relevant units and that all necessary precautions have been taken by the security forces.

✧ VakıfBank General Manager and former Halkbank General Manager Osman Arslan, whose travel ban to the US was lifted after the Halkbank case was dropped, went to New York after many years. Attending the program where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed Turkish businesspeople and investors, Arslan drew attention with the photos he took at the event after meeting with Hamdi Ulukaya, Hamdi Akın, Ali Kibar, and TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.

✧ The Ankara 34th High Criminal Court announced its verdict in the case regarding the suspicious death of Sema Esen, known as Aleyna Çakır, in 2020. The court sentenced defendant Ümitcan Uygun to 4 years in prison for "encouraging suicide and strengthening the decision to commit suicide," while acquitting him of the charge of "maltreatment." While Uygun's lawyer, who claimed during the hearing that his conscience was clear and that he did not cause any woman's death, requested an acquittal, the victim's family and lawyers reacted against the decision.

✧ A male body was found on Davutlar Beach in the Kuşadası district of Aydın. Following the examination by police and medical teams, it was determined that the body belonged to Rıza Muslu, a 59-year-old businessman and construction company owner in Söke, who had been reported missing by his family the day before.

✧ In a statement made to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) within the scope of the legal process regarding Vanet (VANGD), Metro Holding announced that it has filed a criminal complaint against certain Vanet shareholders, officials of Tera Portfolio Third Equity Umbrella Free Fund, and board members of Tera Portfolio, Tera Financial Investment Holding, and Tera Investment. It was stated that the criminal complaint, which was assigned to the Organized Crimes Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, also includes individuals alleged to have collected extraordinary proxies in past general assemblies and was carried out in accordance with the relevant articles of the Capital Markets Law.

✧ US President Donald Trump took to his social media account to harshly deny claims that the military's ammunition stocks were depleting, stating that they possess far more ammunition than needed and have maximized production capacity. On the other hand, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that they are open to possible talks with Iran, but their fundamental goal is that Tehran must never possess nuclear weapons.

✧ Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a telephone conversation. According to a statement from the Kremlin, the leaders discussed the latest situation in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, as well as the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the face of the worsening picture in Yemen. During the call, it was emphasized that there is no alternative to political and diplomatic means in resolving crises in the Middle East, while the importance of maritime transit security in international waterways was also among the notable topics. Additionally, Putin congratulated the Crown Prince on Saudi Arabia's Founding Day, and the two leaders expressed their satisfaction with their cooperation in political, commercial, and economic fields.

✧ At the COP31 Climate Summit to be hosted by Turkey in Antalya, the rapidly increasing energy consumption and carbon footprint of artificial intelligence will be among the priority agenda items. Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum emphasized in a statement during Climate Week in New York that governments must establish rules for AI and tech companies must run their data centers on clean energy. While the COP31 Presidency works on political commitments and pilot projects to enhance AI's contribution to climate goals, Turkey also announced a new "35x35" electrification target, which envisions increasing the share of electricity in global energy demand to 35 percent by 2035.

✧ The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) reacted to attempts by Members of the European Parliament to "hide" frozen Russian assets from Euroclear vaults by transferring them to a new EU mechanism. Stating that this move would undermine trust in EU institutions and end the Global South countries' confidence in the European financial system, the SVR warned that "one way or another, the thief will be punished," and noted that Brussels aims to complete this process before the 2027 elections.

✧ Speaking at a forum in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that their official inquiries regarding the status of Russian citizens in relation to the poisoning incident in Salisbury, UK, have been left unanswered, and said that London has taken their citizens "hostage." Lavrov emphasized that information requests and offers of legal assistance based on international conventions have been ignored by British authorities.

✧ A settlement has been reached with Garanti BBVA in the investigation conducted by the Competition Board regarding the labor market. In its statement to KAP, the bank announced that the investigation was completed with a settlement and that it agreed to pay an administrative fine of approximately 1.55 billion liras.

✧ In the fund investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding transactions in the capital market, detained Pusula Portfolio manager Serdar Turhan, Tera Investment Holding Chairman Emre Tezmen, and managers Alper Öztürk, Emre Alkin, and Kerem Alkin were arrested by the court to which they were referred. The investigation, where 4 people were previously arrested and judicial control measures were applied to 51 people, continues to be expanded.

Quote of the day: