Beşiktaş fans celebrate championship with a Bosphorus flotilla…

Views from 3 June 2017 Beşiktaş retain Turkish league title – News – UEFA.com UEFA.com–May 28, 2017 Beşiktaş have retained the Turkish title thanks to some sharply … the Black Eagles sealing their UEFA Champions League return next term

Meanwhile #istanbul now suffering a heavy snow storm… not seen for some years…

Bosphorus closed, flights cancelled, schools closed, traffic density %90 last evening… Fresh snowfall paralyzes Istanbul traffic, density at 90 percent  Forecast snowfall and cold weather have badly affected Istanbul’s rush-hour traffic, increasing the traffic density to up to 90 percent. Number of foreign tourists visiting Istanbul plunges for first time in 16 years Hurriyet Daily News The … Read more

Anything goes… Turkey extends state of emergency for the third time…

  Turkey extends state of emergency   Turkey’s state of emergency will be extended for another three months, the government said on Jan. 3. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş made the announcement following a cabinet meeting Journalist Ahmet Şık Back in Silivri After 5 Months Bianet :: English   Journalist Ahmet Şık was sent to Silivri Prison … Read more

Isis claimed #ReinaMassacre, the Tragedy Transcends Borders as many foreign nationals are among the victims….

Foreign nationals named among victims of Istanbul attack World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Jon Henley Seven Saudis, four Iraqis, two Indians, two Tunisians and one each from France, Syria, Israel and Belgium reportedly killed Istanbul: First Darkness, Then Terror NYT > Turkey by By KAYA GENC   The New Year attack reinforces a sense that this … Read more

Istanbul news roundup: “Istanbul’s housing prices decline amid oversupply

Murder in Istanbul BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Twelve men from the countries of the former USSR have been assassinated in Turkey, and there’s evidence that some of the hitmen were from Russia. Istanbul’s housing prices decline amid oversupply Hurriyet Daily News   Property prices have dropped up to 20 percent in several parts … Read more

İstanbul’s contribution to World Animal Day: “Tombili” cat’s sculpture… Istanbul news roundup…

Sculpture of Istanbul’s cat phenomenon ‘Tombili’ to be inaugurated on Oct 4 A sculpture created in memory of “Tombili,” the portly cat who became a social media phenomenon after being photographed posing on a sidewalk in Istanbul’s Ziverbey neighborhood, will be inaugurated on Oct. 4 on World Animal Day Tombili Returns to Its Neighborhood on World Animal … Read more

Neo-Ottomanism doesn’t help; Topkapı Palace kiosk in danger… Istanbul news roundup…

Large cracks detected in Topkapı Palace basement, prompting evacuation Parts of Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace are slated to undergo a major restoration worth around 10 million Turkish Liras after deep crevices were found in the treasury room of the Ottoman-era palace in July, causing its closure to tourists Demo in Istanbul over assault of woman who wore … Read more

“First Comic & Arts Festival in Istanbul” Istanbul News roundup…

First Comic & Arts Festival in Istanbul The Istanbul Comics & Art Festival (ICAF) will be held for the first time this year at the St. Joseph Social Club in the city’s Moda neighborhood Governor claims Istanbul is ‘among safest cities in the world’ Hurriyet Daily News Istanbul remains among the safest cities in the world, … Read more

Turkey’s “unexpected allies” in Europe: i.e. Former Swedish PM Bildt…

https://twitter.com/emeyersson/status/771822923380248576   https://twitter.com/emeyersson/status/771825629746520065 https://twitter.com/emeyersson/status/771820004098441216 https://twitter.com/emeyersson/status/638694707053371392 https://twitter.com/emeyersson/status/638694218827984896 Carl Bildt'in @ecfr'ı zamanında Gülen cemaatinden fon almaya çalışmış, bak şu işe! 🙂 (Teyitli bilgi) İlgilenenler, RT lütfen — Umut Özkırımlı (@UOzkirimli) September 2, 2016   Swedish Democracy Promotion in Turkey The news coming out of Turkey these days are bleak. Earlier this week, a fifteen-year-old boy, Berkin Elvan, passed … Read more

“Selfie takers flock to Istanbul’s third bridge, blocking traffic…and causing one fatal accident…Istanbul news roundup….

Selfie takers flock to Istanbul’s third bridge, blocking traffic Thousands of people flocked over the weekend to take selfies at the third bridge over the Bosphorus Strait, which was officially opened in a ceremony late on Aug. 26 bOOK | Stamboul Sketches: Encounters in Old Istanbul Mavi Boncuk Mavi Boncuk | STAMBOUL SKETCHES Encounters in Old Istanbul … Read more

The decline of Istiklal Street, Taksim… a piece by @140Journos

The piece is in Turkish and it is a photo-story of store closures in the once extremely lively İstiklal Street… In other Istanbul related news:  Historic tunnel in Istanbul to open to traffic again The Beylerbeyi Palace Tunnel, which was commissioned by Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II and constructed between 1829 and 1832, will be opened to traffic … Read more

Waiting for snow- which might be a heavy one… İstanbul news roundup…

Istanbul braces for snowfall ahead of New Year’s Eve Hurriyet Daily News The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) is bracing for a rapid drop in temperatures with the expectation of snow, as the municipality takes Christmas Mass continues in İstanbul, despite it all Today’s Zaman Earlier this week a Christmas tree that had been put up … Read more

Video: A Bosphorus trip back in 1928. Istanbul news roundup…

1928 Yılında İstanbul Boğazında Bir Gezinti…   Third bridge over Bosphorus to open first half of 2016: Minister Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım has said the third bridge over Bosphorus will likely open in the first half of 2016, either in April or May Uber faces hurdles in Istanbul Uber, an app-based and on-demand car service company, has … Read more

Turkey says no pullback in Mosul… 400,000 Syrians working unregistered in Turkey…

Turkey halts transfer of forces to Mosul, but no pullback: Foreign Ministry Turkey has halted the transfer of additional forces to the Bashiqa region of Mosul, but there has been no withdrawal, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said Dec. 8 In numbers: Turkey’s Syrian border security The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has shared information about its border … Read more

“A day out in Istanbul for disabled Syrian children… Istanbul news roundup…

A day out in Istanbul for disabled Syrian children A Turkish aid foundation organizes trips to Hagia Sophia and the Topkapı Palace for around 30 Syrian children aged between five and 12 Haydarpaşa Train Station, the romantic setting of Turkish movies This week marks the anniversary of the Haydarpaşa Train Station, which began its long and later … Read more