While corruption cases and “absolute nullity” discussions were continuing in the CHP, the opposition within the party took action again. According to the information obtained, the opposition wing is making intensive contact with approximately 30 more MPs who were close to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the past and remained silent after Özgür Özel was elected as the chairman, to join their ranks. It is stated that telephone traffic and bilateral meetings have increased in recent weeks. It was stated that 13 current and 13 former MPs attended the secret meeting held in Ankara in February, which lasted 6.5 hours, and the emphasis on “purification from corruption” came to the fore. It is claimed that the policies followed by the party management since 2023 have divided the party, and more than 40 MPs have implicitly reacted to these policies. It is stated that many names remain silent due to disciplinary processes and pressure. While the opposition is preparing for a second meeting, it is aimed to increase participation. More than 40 current deputies are planned to attend the new meeting. Prominent opposition figures within the party include Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi, Mahir Polat, Orhan Sarıbal, Rıfat Nalbantoğlu, Sevda Erdan Kılıç, Hüseyin Yıldız, Hasan Öztürkmen and Deniz Demir.

The 54-year-old Sahil Sitesi, consisting of 1137 houses in Didim district of Aydın, where approximately 2,500 people lived, was inviting death. Sahil Sitesi, built 54 years ago in Mavişehir District, was giving SOS. While the concrete in the columns of some of the houses, called coffin buildings, was pouring spontaneously, even the irons of the columns where the plaster was poured were exposed. While citizens who were afraid could not even enter their homes, this situation created great anxiety and fear in the residents of the site.

CHP MUNICIPALITY DID NOT DECLARE A RISKY BUILDING

Urban transformation works have not been initiated for years regarding the coffin buildings, which have not been declared risky buildings by the CHP Didim Municipality until now. Since a 50+1 percent majority among the residents of the site could not be achieved, no steps were taken in terms of transformation. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change took action regarding the coffin buildings, where urban transformation works could not be initiated for years due to the CHP’s Didim Municipality not declaring them as risky buildings. Aydın Urban Transformation Directorate teams affiliated with the Ministry’s Urban Transformation Directorate declared the buildings in the Mavişehir district as ‘risky buildings that are not earthquake resistant’.

NOTIFIED WITH EMERGENCY CODE

Aydın Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change reported the situation to the ministry with the emergency code. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change also put the situation on the agenda with the emergency code. The Ministry soon sent a team to the Sahil Site in Mavişehir District, where the coffin buildings are located, to assess the situation. Core tests were carried out twice to measure the durability of the buildings. The Ministry kept a report regarding the buildings identified as risky buildings.

A FEMALE RESIDENT OF THE SITE APPLIED TO THE UNIVERSITY

An application was made to Pamukkale University for examination and evaluation by a woman named Güler Erat, one of the residents of the site where the coffin buildings are located. The application made by Erat to the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Engineering was evaluated and the earthquake performance of the building was determined within the framework of the assignment of the deanery. The 4-storey masonry building in Didim district was examined by university teams. The building was evaluated within the framework of the Urban Transformation Law No. 6306. The buildings were modeled using STA4CAD and SAP2000 programs and analyzed with the help of software. The questions in the application made by Güler Erat were answered based on the results obtained from these studies.

FAR BEYOND THE BORDERS

Güler Erat’s question: ‘Is it necessary to evacuate the building examined in accordance with the results obtained?’ The question has been answered. In the response, “The contribution of walls with insufficient shear strength to the storey shear strength should not exceed the limit of 35 percent according to the risky building determination principles and 40 percent according to the Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation. However, the results obtained have shown that these rates vary between 65 percent and 83 percent depending on the method and software used. These results have shown that, as a result of each examination, the building in question has been damaged far beyond the limits and is at risk of collapse. The process regarding the building is urban no. 6306. “It is progressing within the framework of the transformation law. It is clear that if this result becomes official and the processes are completed within the framework of Law No. 6306, the building will have to be evacuated. This stage is a matter of law and administrative processes rather than technical examination.”

OTHER BUILDINGS ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE THE SAME EARTHQUAKE PERFORMANCE

Erat also said, “Is it possible to say that the same results will be obtained for other buildings on the same parcel, based on the results found in this study?” posed the question. The question was answered as follows: “From a technical perspective, buildings located on the same parcel, on the same date, using the same construction techniques and materials and built on almost the same structural system plan should be expected to give identical earthquake performances as a result of a similar examination. The earthquake demands specified in the Turkish Earthquake Hazard Maps for the buildings in the region are identical. Therefore, similar results should be technically expected for other buildings. However, in order for this determination to be legally valid, detailed examination processes must be carried out for other independent sections as well.”

New details have emerged regarding the investigation launched against Uşak Mayor CHP’s Özkan Yalım and 11 people, who were detained in the hotel room where he stayed with his girlfriend in Arkara last Thursday, within the scope of the corruption and bribery investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

According to MASAK reports prepared within the scope of the operation initiated for crimes such as bribery, extortion and bid rigging, Yalım’s wealth was astonishing.

It was revealed that Yalım, who had a total of 34 vehicles and 114 real estate, transferred 33 vehicles and 83 real estate to his consultant Cihan Aras last year.

TRANSFERRED TO A CONSULTANT

According to the report, Yalım withdrew 34 million 125 thousand TL from his own account before the transfer process. After the withdrawal, consultant Aras deposited the money manually on the same day. Scenario transfers were also detected in the company’s shares; He transferred his shares in Yalım Petrol and Yalımlar Tekstil to Cihan Aras, and then the cash transfers were reflected in the system as “share transfer payment”.

In his banking transactions between 2018 and 2025, Yalım received transfers totaling 301 thousand TL and 20 thousand 864 euros; Foreign exchange outflow was recorded as approximately 327 thousand TL. According to MASAK data, 28 vehicles and 55 immovable properties belonging to Yalım Petrol, 5 vehicles and 28 immovable properties belonging to Yalımlar Tekstil were found.

While the suspects’ procedures were continuing, the second mobile phone hidden in the underwear of Yalım’s girlfriend SA, who was caught in a hotel room in Ankara, was decrypted. It was learned that the investigation was continuing while there were images and photographs of Yalım on the phone.

It was determined that Yalım’s other lover, AA, also worked in the municipality but received a salary even though he never went to work.

NO ONE CLAIMED IT

CHP, which set up a tent instead of questioning the allegations of corruption after the operation, did not get what it expected. The “support tent” established after Yalım, who is married and the father of three children, was detained while he was with his girlfriend in his hotel room, did not attract any attention. No one stood up for the disgrace. Sena UYANER/ SABAH

OPERATION DAY TERMINATION SCANDAL

It was claimed that one of the people detained in the investigation against UŞAK Mayor Yalım was a Bornova Municipality personnel and his employment contract was terminated on the day of the operation. AK Party Izmir Deputy Mahmut Atilla Kaya claimed that the person in question was a close friend of Yalım and was employed as an “bank teller” in Bornova Municipality, and called for those responsible to be held accountable. Ertan GÜRCANER/SABAH

Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President, addressed the participants on behalf of Türkiye at the International Zero Waste Day Commemoration Event held with the theme of food waste at the UN building in the USA:

Zero Waste is not a choice, it is an obligation. As Turkey, we supported this idea not only with individual efforts but also with institutional and social mobilization.

We will strive to ensure that the steps we take as Türkiye during the COP31 process are not limited to our own country, but spread from neighboring countries to Africa, from Asia to Latin America, and make a difference. We are together here today, not just for an event, but to protect the future of humanity and to remember respect for nature and our resources. Because we all know that the steps taken by Türkiye in the fight against Zero Waste and the climate crisis will shape the world of tomorrow. Zero Waste is a movement that rejects waste, protects resources, and prioritizes the future. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says about the Zero Waste Movement: “We took this approach as a mobilization, not a policy.” First Lady Erdoğan’s words, “Türkiye, with its high awareness of responsibility towards our common home, should guide all nations who want to implement Zero Waste” are very important. DHA

MESSAGE FROM EMINE ERDOĞAN

Video messages of Zero Waste Foundation Honorary President Emine Erdoğan and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres were also published in the program attended by UN officials, including Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasel, Vice President of the 88th Session of the UN General Assembly.

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli answered journalists’ questions after the opening ceremony of the 23rd Term Education and Training Year of his party’s Politics and Leadership School at the MHP Headquarters. Making evaluations on the question regarding the attacks of the USA and Israel against Iran, Bahçeli emphasized that the Republic of Turkey follows the developments in the region very closely. Bahçeli said:

REGIME CHANGE SHOULD START WITH ISRAEL

– Today’s political power, especially our President, and especially the Minister of Foreign Affairs, are making important contacts to ensure peace, silence the weapons and achieve peace. In the light of the evaluations they have made so far, thank God, although there are significant violent incidents and major conflicts in the surrounding area, they have preserved Türkiye in unity and solidarity with an understanding that keeps it out of the war for now.

– I wish success to today’s valuable administration, our President and our Minister of Foreign Affairs within the scope of the People’s Alliance.

– While silencing these weapons, I invite people who have described themselves as superpowers, but who are eager for regime changes that contradict the national will of each country, against their will, to respect humanity, democracy and the existence of countries. First of all, if there is to be a regime change, as I have stated many times in the past, this regime change must start with Israel, and Israel’s dark ambitions must end. We want efforts to be made to restore peace to the region and the world. The most important responsibility for this falls on the United States of America under today’s conditions.

– Answering the question about MHP Deputy Chairman İzzet Ulvi Yönter’s resignation from office, Bahçeli stated that Yönter asked for permission to focus on his academic career studies and said, “He asked for permission to focus on his academic career studies and to carry forward the doctorate title he has earned today.”

THE MEDIA HAS VERY IMPORTANT DUTIES

Pointing out that the US administration makes different statements every day and that the Turkish media presents these statements as if a new development will occur every day, Bahçeli emphasized that this leads to a mistake that will shake society’s confidence in peace. Bahçeli said, “Administrators, especially our esteemed media friends, should undertake the task of enlightening the society in the best way by discussing the facts. Otherwise, I hope that no mistake will be made by re-expressing what the head of a state does every day.”

At the meeting held by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO on March 25 in Paris, the capital of France, Türkiye’s progress in education in the last 23 years was praised by international participants. At the meeting, Deputy Minister of National Education Muhammet Bilal Macit explained Türkiye’s policies that increase inclusiveness in education, infrastructure investments and human resources reforms. OECD Education Director Andreas Schleicher stated that education targets are falling behind on a global scale, but some countries were able to reverse the process. Emphasizing that success is not a coincidence, Schleicher said, “There is no magic wand. Success depends on establishing consistent systems, using local resources correctly and integrating education with workforce policies.” UNESCO Deputy Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini also stated that the model put forward by Türkiye is not just a single reform and said, “There is a multi-dimensional approach from financing to teacher policies, from infrastructure to access. This brings lasting success.” In the evaluations made at the meeting, Türkiye’s policies that increase access to education, digitalization moves and steps towards equality of opportunity came to the fore. International participants pointed out that the steps taken by Türkiye towards establishing a sustainable and inclusive education system are instructive for other countries.