Author: Daily Sabah With AA

Istanbul residents will continue to face high living costs, even after death, as the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) has announced plans to raise cemetery fees starting in 2025. The new tariff, approved by the IBB Council, sets the price of vacant burial plots in the city between TL 7,152 ($204) and TL 111,632 ($3,194), depending on the designated group. During the December meeting, the council discussed the funeral service and cemetery fees for 2025. The new rates, effective from Jan. 1, 2025, include free services such as funeral homes, wooden coffins and transportation of the deceased outside Istanbul. Key changes…

Between 2002 and 2024, the number of restoration, exhibitions and landscaping projects for cultural assets undertaken by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism reached 2,511. According to information obtained by Anadolu Agency (AA), the ministry has not only continued restoration efforts for cultural assets but also repaired structures damaged in the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, including buildings allocated to the ministry. While the number of such projects in the decade before 2002 was approximately 250, the figure rose to 2,511 between 2002 and 2024. In the aftermath of the earthquakes, the ministry spent TL 3 billion (approximately…

An investigation has been initiated after several individuals reported being defrauded of millions of Turkish lira through a fraudulent scheme that promised high returns on stock investments via social media platforms. The suspects, using sophisticated tactics to gain the trust of their victims, allegedly reached out through WhatsApp groups and fake investment applications, all while pretending to offer genuine financial advice. The scam started when the suspects contacted victims via social media, offering advice on high-profit stocks and promising substantial financial gains. The fraudsters, posing as trustworthy investment advisors, suggested that individuals could easily profit by following their recommendations. These…

Riyad Avlar, a former Turkish detainee at Syria’s notorious Sednaya Prison on the outskirts of Damascus, says the deposed Assad regime can be held accountable for its crimes if critical records of the prison can be preserved. The call comes as vital Assad regime documents have vanished following the regime leader’s escape to Russia, effectively ending his family’s 51-year brutal rule. These documents are critical for obtaining details of atrocities and holding perpetrators responsible. In an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA), Avlar, who is also a co-founder of the Association of Detainees and Missing Persons at Sednaya Prison, highlighted the…

A report by the EU’s law enforcement agency Europol exposes how the PKK terrorist group profits from drug trafficking and human smuggling in Europe. Europol’s 2024 EU Terrorism Situation and Trends Report released on Thursday highlighted that ethno-nationalist and separatist terrorist groups, including the PKK, remain active in the European Union. The report mentioned that PKK members and cells in EU countries continue their fundraising, recruitment, training and propaganda activities throughout the year. “Most of the funds raised for the PKK are believed to originate from apparently legitimate activities (donations, events, membership fees, sales of goods and media products etc.),…

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers, set to take place across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, will be held on Friday. Türkiye, placed in Pot 2, will learn their group during the draw at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. A total of 54 countries will participate in the draw, which will determine 12 groups – six with five teams and six with four teams. Türkiye will be placed in a four-team group due to their play-off match with Hungary in March for promotion to League A of the UEFA Nations League. The first matches in the…

Kenan Şebin, president of the Turkish Curling Federation, hailed the current season as the best in the country’s history. Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), he reflected on the impressive achievements of the ongoing season and outlined ambitious goals for 2025. Şebin praised Türkiye’s remarkable progress in curling, highlighting the team’s success at the European Championships across all categories. Despite being a federation for just 11 years and having only one Olympic facility, Türkiye’s women’s team ranks among the top 10 globally, and the mixed doubles team is in the top 17. Şebin emphasized the achievement, considering the centuries-old curling traditions…

The Houston Rockets edged past the Golden State Warriors 91-90, propelled by a stellar performance from Alperen Şengün. The Turkish international recorded a “double-double” with 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals, making him the game’s top scorer. His contributions were vital in securing the win, which sent the Rockets into the Western Conference semifinals. In a dramatic finale, Jalen Green sank two crucial free throws with just 3.5 seconds left, clinching the victory for Houston. The Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga led his team with 20 points, while Stephen Curry added 19, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the…

Şeyhmus Erginoğlu, affectionately known as “Uncle Şeyhmus,” has spent nearly three decades planting trees and advocating for a greener environment. His tireless dedication earned him the prestigious “Special Award” from the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay), a recognition he calls a milestone in his lifelong mission. The 70-year-old environmentalist from the southeastern province of Mardin received the award during the “4th Red Vest International Volunteer Awards” ceremony held on Dec. 8 at the Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul. Kızılay also organized a local ceremony in Mardin to celebrate Erginoğlu’s achievement. Speaking at the event, Erginoğlu expressed his gratitude and reflected on…

For two years, 8-year-old Zilan Patır attended school alone in the remote Doruklu hamlet of Van’s Gevaş district in eastern Türkiye. This year, her solitude ended as a new classmate, Barış Arvas, joined her, marking a joyful new chapter in her education. Living 80 kilometers (49.71 miles) from Gevaş in the Daldere neighborhood, Zilan previously had no peers to share her classroom experience. With only a single teacher, Cihat Yakut, guiding her education, Zilan advanced to second grade on her own. This year, Barış started school, becoming her first classmate, and bringing a newfound sense of companionship. “I no longer…