Türkiye Orders 83 Arrests Over Online Praise for School Shootings

Mortuary vans are parked in front of a hospital morgue, after a deadly shooting at a school, in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, April 16, 2026. REUTERS/Ensar Ozdemir
Mortuary vans are parked in front of a hospital morgue, after a deadly shooting at a school, in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, April 16, 2026. REUTERS/Ensar Ozdemir
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Türkiye Orders 83 Arrests Over Online Praise for School Shootings

Mortuary vans are parked in front of a hospital morgue, after a deadly shooting at a school, in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, April 16, 2026. REUTERS/Ensar Ozdemir
Mortuary vans are parked in front of a hospital morgue, after a deadly shooting at a school, in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, April 16, 2026. REUTERS/Ensar Ozdemir

Turkish police said on Thursday they had ordered dozens of arrests for people accused of posting controversial content on social media after two deadly school shootings this week.

"Arrest orders were issued for 83 individuals found to have engaged in posts and activities praising crime and criminals and negatively affecting public order, and legal action has been taken against them," the police said in a statement.

Funerals will be held on Thursday for nine people killed when a 14-year-old opened fire at a school in Türkiye, sending shock waves across the country.

The attack in the southern province of Kahramanmaras was Türkiye's second such incident this week in a country where such shootings have been rare.

The funerals will be for eight children aged 10 and 11 and a 55-year-old teacher, the local authorities said.

Police said Thursday that the teenager had referenced US mass killer Elliot Rodger in a photo on his WhatsApp profile.

"Initial findings from the investigation revealed that the perpetrator used an image on his WhatsApp profile referencing Elliot Rodger, who carried out an attack in the United States in 2014," the police said in a statement.

Rodger -- a 22-year-old American-- killed six people on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, before taking his own life.

Rodger explained in a video released before his crime that the attack was "punishment" for the women who had rejected him.

The 14-year-old who carried out Wednesday's shooting died at the scene, officials said, though it was not clear how his death happened.

The father of teenager, identified as a former police inspector, was arrested on Wednesday and taken into custody, the police said.

"Digital media seized during searches of the perpetrator's home and his father's vehicle have been confiscated and are currently being analyzed," the police said.

"Based on initial findings, no link to terrorism has been established. This appears to be an isolated act."



Iran's Top Negotiator: No US Deal Without Tangible Results

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, right, shakes hands with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir during their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 23, 2026. (Hamed Malekpour/ICANA via AP)
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, right, shakes hands with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir during their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 23, 2026. (Hamed Malekpour/ICANA via AP)
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Iran's Top Negotiator: No US Deal Without Tangible Results

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, right, shakes hands with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir during their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 23, 2026. (Hamed Malekpour/ICANA via AP)
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, right, shakes hands with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir during their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 23, 2026. (Hamed Malekpour/ICANA via AP)

Iran will not accept any agreement ending its conflict with the US unless there is certainty that the Iranian people's rights ⁠are secured, top negotiator ⁠Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Sunday according to state media.

"There ⁠is no trust in the enemy's words and promises. Our only criterion is to achieve tangible results before we fulfill our commitments in ⁠return," ⁠he added after taking an oath as the re-elected speaker of parliament alongside its presidium.

Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump said he had secured guarantees from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons.

Trump has said his priorities for any deal include stopping Iran from any nuclear weapon development and re-opening the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.


Ukraine Says it Received New IRIS-T Launcher from Germany

FILED - 26 May 2023, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Ueberlingen: An Iris-T missile defense system stands on the premises of Diehl Defense in Ueberlingen. Photo: Christoph Schmidt/dpa
FILED - 26 May 2023, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Ueberlingen: An Iris-T missile defense system stands on the premises of Diehl Defense in Ueberlingen. Photo: Christoph Schmidt/dpa
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Ukraine Says it Received New IRIS-T Launcher from Germany

FILED - 26 May 2023, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Ueberlingen: An Iris-T missile defense system stands on the premises of Diehl Defense in Ueberlingen. Photo: Christoph Schmidt/dpa
FILED - 26 May 2023, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Ueberlingen: An Iris-T missile defense system stands on the premises of Diehl Defense in Ueberlingen. Photo: Christoph Schmidt/dpa

Ukraine received a new Iris-T air defense launcher from Germany on Saturday, President Volodymyr ⁠Zelenskiy said on ⁠Sunday, asking for more ⁠provision of air defense ammunition.

"We also need missiles for air defense systems to have sufficient capabilities ⁠to ⁠repel Russian attacks," Zelenskiy said on Telegram.

On Sunday, Ukraine's military said it had struck Russia's Saratov oil refinery overnight, causing ⁠a large fire ⁠to break out at ⁠the facility.

The military said in a post on Telegram that it had also hit the ⁠Lazarevo ⁠oil pumping station in Russia's Kirov region.


Japan Rejects 'New Militarism,’ Accuses China of Rapidly Arming

Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's defense minister, speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia
Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's defense minister, speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia
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Japan Rejects 'New Militarism,’ Accuses China of Rapidly Arming

Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's defense minister, speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia
Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's defense minister, speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Caroline Chia

Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Sunday rejected accusations of "new militarism" by Tokyo and criticized China for rapidly expanding its military with little transparency, underscoring mounting tensions between the two countries.

China continues to increase its defense spending at a high level, Koizumi said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, adding: "China's external approach and military activities are matters of serious concern for Japan and the international community at the same time."

Rebutting criticism that Japan was embracing new militarism, he said: "Think about it. There's a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such ⁠weapons, and yet ⁠Japan is labelled 'new militarism'?"

Koizumi said Japan's record since World War Two "speaks for itself", citing its adherence to international law and commitment to the United Nations Charter, alongside efforts to uphold a "free and open international order."

In May, China's foreign ministry called on Asia-Pacific countries to be vigilant and "jointly resist the reckless actions of Japan's neo-militarism".

At the Singapore forum, Chinese delegate Major General Meng Xiangqing also criticized Japan.

"I deeply doubt whether ⁠a country that has not thoroughly eradicated the toxic legacy of militarism is qualified to talk extensively about defense cooperation on international occasions, and whether it can win the trust of the international community, especially the Asian countries it once invaded," he said.

Ties between Japan and China sank to their worst level in years after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a Japanese military response.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory, over the objections of Taipei's government.

Koizumi said he was "sad" he could not meet his Chinese counterpart at the dialogue, Asia's premier defense forum, but insisted Japan remains open to ⁠engagement. "We keep ⁠the door open," he said, reaffirming Japan's commitment to dialogue with China and other regional players to foster stability.

For the second year running, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun has given the free-wheeling Singapore security meeting a miss, skipping opportunities to meet his counterparts.

Koizumi said Japan is "determined" to play a new role in defense equipment cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and aims to tangibly strengthen deterrence in the region.

"We seek a region that can stand against coercion. We seek a region that is not misled by falsehoods. We seek a region that is not influenced by pressure," he said.

In April, Tokyo unveiled its biggest overhaul of defense export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.