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Erdogan Fires Trade Minister in Cabinet Reshuffle

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a statement in Ankara. Reuters
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a statement in Ankara. Reuters
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Erdogan Fires Trade Minister in Cabinet Reshuffle

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a statement in Ankara. Reuters
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a statement in Ankara. Reuters

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fired the country's trade minister Wednesday following allegations that her husband’s company received a tender to sell disinfectants to the ministry.

In a mini Cabinet reshuffle, Erdogan also split the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services into two and appointed new ministers to lead them, according to a decree published in the Official Gazette.

The president named Mehmet Mus, a prominent ruling party lawmaker, as trade minister to replace Ruhsar Pekcan, according to the decree.

According to The Associated Press, Pekcan's firing came after Oda TV news website reported that her husband’s company was chosen for the procurement of thousands of liters of disinfectants, allegedly worth 9 million Turkish Lira ($1.1 million), to the Trade Ministry. Pekcan denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the company had made the lowest bid.

Zehra Zumrut Selcuk, the former minister for family affairs, labor and social security, was replaced by lawyer Derya Yanik as minister for family affairs and by Vedat Bilgin — an advisor to Erdogan — as minister for labor and social security.

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Russia Says It Struck Military Infrastructure, Vessel in Ukraine

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, an emergency services personnel works to extinguish a fire following a Russian air attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, an emergency services personnel works to extinguish a fire following a Russian air attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
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Russia Says It Struck Military Infrastructure, Vessel in Ukraine

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, an emergency services personnel works to extinguish a fire following a Russian air attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, an emergency services personnel works to extinguish a fire following a Russian air attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

The Russian defense ministry said on Sunday its forces had carried out overnight drone strikes on logistics centers, port and transport infrastructure, as well as ‌communications centers ‌and vessels ‌that ⁠Moscow said were linked to ⁠the Ukrainian military.

The ministry said the strikes hit a data center in ⁠Kyiv, logistic hubs in the ‌Kyiv ‌and Odesa regions, ‌two drone storages in ‌Mykolaiv, headquarters of a naval base as well as of ‌the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and ⁠four ⁠military storages in the Kiliya port, and a cargo ship carrying military and dual-use goods to the port of Odesa.

Reuters could not independently verify the claims.

World

Separate Mass Shootings in South Africa Townships Leave at Least 27 People Dead

South African police officers during a raid in Johannesburg (Archive - Reuters)
South African police officers during a raid in Johannesburg (Archive - Reuters)
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Separate Mass Shootings in South Africa Townships Leave at Least 27 People Dead

South African police officers during a raid in Johannesburg (Archive - Reuters)
South African police officers during a raid in Johannesburg (Archive - Reuters)

Two separate mass shootings near South Africa’s two biggest cities killed at least 27 people, police said Sunday.

The South African Police Service said 17 people were killed Saturday night when eight suspects armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols opened fire at a bar in Wedela township, southwest of Johannesburg. At least 15 others sustained gunshot injuries in that attack, police said.

In a separate statement, police said 10 people were killed in a mass shooting at a store in Lwandle, near Cape Town, around 1 a.m. Sunday. Another 11 were wounded in that shooting. Police said they were searching for multiple suspects in that case also, though they didn't give an exact number, The Associated Press said.

The two shootings come just days after a mass shooting by three gunmen at a house party near the east coast city of Durban killed 11 people, including a pregnant woman.

No arrests had been made in the two latest mass shootings, police said.

South Africa has struggled with high rates of violent crime for years, but the series of mass shootings this week were shocking even to a country used to some of the highest violent crime rates in the world.

World

Security Increased at US Fairford Air Base in England

People use their cameras as a USAF B-1 bomber approaches to land at RAF Fairford airbase, used by United States Air Force (USAF) personnel, amid the US–Israeli conflict with Iran, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
People use their cameras as a USAF B-1 bomber approaches to land at RAF Fairford airbase, used by United States Air Force (USAF) personnel, amid the US–Israeli conflict with Iran, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
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Security Increased at US Fairford Air Base in England

People use their cameras as a USAF B-1 bomber approaches to land at RAF Fairford airbase, used by United States Air Force (USAF) personnel, amid the US–Israeli conflict with Iran, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
People use their cameras as a USAF B-1 bomber approaches to land at RAF Fairford airbase, used by United States Air Force (USAF) personnel, amid the US–Israeli conflict with Iran, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, March 17, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Security ‌measures at a US air base in southwest England have significantly increased in recent days, with roadblocks and armed police preventing access and emergency vehicles parked nearby, a Reuters witness reported on Sunday.

A spokesperson for the US Air Force ‌said they ‌were aware of the current ‌reporting ⁠but would not ⁠discuss specific force protection measures.

"The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure ⁠the safety and security of ‌our US ‌service members, civilians, contractors, and their ‌families," the spokesperson said.

"We constantly ‌assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, ‌our people and their families."

Britain said in July ⁠its ⁠armed forces were ready to protect the country from any attack after Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a warning not to allow US bombers to fly from Fairford.

Fairford, in Gloucestershire, has been used to launch operations against Iran during the Middle East conflict.