Bridge closures cause traffic chaos in Istanbul

DHA Photo

Istanbul residents faced traffic chaos today after the Fatih Sultan Mehmet (FSM) Bridge and Haliç Bridge were partially closed for repair work this morning, daily Hürriyet reported.

The closures caused long delays, and traffic was almost stopped in some locations.

Traveling the 23 kilometers between the FSM Bridge and İstoç neighborhood in Bağcılar district now takes 140 minutes instead of the 20 minutes under normal conditions, according to reports.

Passengers who tried to use public transport had to jump over barriers to reach vehicles due to closed side roads.

Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu reportedly apologized to Istanbul residents for the traffic jams. (Hurriyet Daily News)

Fire breaks out on Istanbul island housing Halki Seminary

Hürriyet photo

Firefighters were struggling to contain a fire that broke out on Istanbul's Heybeliada today, daily Hürriyet reported.

The fire was burning out of control but the flames did not pose a threat to the Halki Seminary, the mayor of Istanbul's Adalar district has told the broadcaster NTV.

The flames were reportedly spreading quickly due to strong winds, which also hampered firefighting efforts.

The fire reportedly started in a forested area on the island.

The Halki Seminary has been hit hard by the political turmoil between Turkey and Greece. In 1971, Turkey decided to bring all private institutions of higher education under state control. The Fener Greek Patriarchate opposed the decision, in consequence of which the seminary was shut down.
(Istanbul-Hurriyet Daily News)

Top 10 guide to Çukurcuma, Istanbul

Istanbul's antiques district, Çukurcuma, is now home to novelist Orhan Pamuk's new Museum of Innocence – explore its winding streets with our top 10 guide to its shops, cafes and restaurants

Know a great place in Çukurcuma? Add it to the comments below

Orhan Pamuk's Museum of Innocence in Istanbul

Museum of Innocence
This wine-red 19th-century townhouse has become part-museum, part-art installation, part-novel brought to life. Pamuk conceived the project as he was writing the novel of the same name and he's filled 83 wooden boxes with collected and commissioned works of art relating to each chapter – items the characters would have seen, worn, or owned over the last decades of the 20th century when the novel is set. But it's not just a study of obsession and the mementos of a doomed love affair between the novel's protagonists. With the aid of cutting-edge technology blurring fiction and documentary, it's a chronicle of Istanbul at a time of great cultural changed. Click through our picture gallery of the museum here.
• Çukurcuma Caddesi, Dalgiç Çikmazi 2, +90 212 252 9738, masumiyetmuzesi.org, open Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm, Friday 10am-9pm, entrance 25TL (about £8.50) for adults, £3.50 for students

As the sign says, this bric-a-brac emporium is aimed at "the slightly deranged collector seeking identifiable memories'', and it's a sensory overload for even the most seasoned forager. With stock spilling out on to the pavement it's clear that the owner of this extraordinary shop, A. Karaca Borar, is a consummate collector. In the house-cum-shop's bathroom, you might find a marble Ottoman washbasin next to a mass of rubber ducks. Vintage clothes are stacked alongside collections of toys, plastic gnomes, wooden hands and other miscellany. If you can't find it here, it probably doesn't exist.
• Faikpaşa Caddesi 6/1, +90 212 252 2527, fleaworks.com, open daily 11am-6pm (closed 13-17 June), prices from around £3.50

A La Turca
A visit to Erkal Aksoy's A La Turca kilim house is like wandering around a delightful ethnographic museum – with price tags. A hoarders' heaven, this beautiful four-storey townhouse is filled with his global finds, displayed with the know-how of a skilled interior designer. There's plenty to covet if you can afford it and it's worth exploring even if you can't: the colourful, tightly woven antique kilims, rolled up and stored on bookshelves, the Ottoman embroidery draped over a chair (which is also for sale) and countless decorative objects. Don't forget to head down into the basement for stacks of green-glazed Tokat pottery.
• Faikpaşa Caddesi 4, +90 212 245 2933, alaturcahouse.com, open Monday-Saturday 10.30am-7.30pm and by appointment, prices on request

Hall Istanbul
New-Zealand born interior designer, Christopher Hall, has been living in Istanbul for the past 12 years. His eponymous shop – open since 2003 – mixes antiques with his own contemporary designs. He works in stone, iron, steel, glass, linen, cotton, wool and wood and is inspired by the wares of the neighbouring junk shops, the influence of the city and Islamic form. You'll find some of his bronze and marble furniture in this chic showroom, along with more portable objets d'art, lighting, ceramics and textiles. Most pieces are beyond the pocket of the average visitor but a few small decorative objects start from around £30.
• Faikpaşa Caddesi, +90 212 292 9590, hallistanbul.com, open Monday 2pm-7pm, Tuesday-Saturday 10am-7pm

Leyla Seyhanli
This wardrobe-sized boutique is piled floor to ceiling with an eccentric collection of vintage clothes, hats and hat boxes, handbags, wall hangings and embroidered textiles. A good rummage will reveal Ottoman-era silk pillowcases hand sewn with gilded thread, embroidered linen towels and Anatolian velvet table cloths, ornate traditional kaftans, turn-of-the-century silk blouses and 1950s taffeta party dresses. Always the genuine article, it's become a popular stop for collectors and Seyhanli also lends costumes and accessories to the Turkish film industry.
• Altipatlar Sokak 6, +90 212 293 7410, open Monday-Saturday 10.30am-6.30pm, prices range from around £30 to £160

Leila Butik
Virtually everything in this small, whitewashed boutique is a quirky, fun, one-off design. Different designers supply the store with everything from fascinators to ornately decorated heels, cute little prom dresses to hand-printed T-shirts, crazily patterned tights and leggings to customised straw hats. It also stocks jewellery from Anatolian-influenced crocheted necklaces to plastic brooches and, for men, vintage sunglasses and unique trilbies.
• Hayriye Caddesi 18, +90 212 245 3365, leilabutik.com, open Monday-Saturday 11am-8.30pm, prices from around £5

Holy Coffee
With its sofas, armchairs, bookshelves and art-covered walls, a Holy Coffee break is like stepping into someone's living room. Just a year old, it's become the cafe of choice for locals, ex-pats and visitors thanks to its relaxed vibe and its hands-on Turkish owner, Arzu, who is more than happy to offer her tips on the city. The smell of freshly baked cakes and biscuits wafts from the kitchen, and soups, sandwiches and salads are also on offer. Drink the homemade bitter lemonade alfresco on a hot day – the coffee is excellent too.
• Hacioğlu Sokak 1B, +90 212 243 6869, Holy Coffee's facebook page, open Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm

Cukurcuma Köftecisi
Traditional Turkish fare is served at this family-run lunch venue next door to Holy Coffee, complete with wooden tables and chairs and walls adorned with kitsch art and portraits of Atatürk. It's a paradise for carnivores, with all manner of köfte (meatballs) and şiş (skewers) sizzling on the grill, served with a carb overload of chips and Turkish pilaf rice. But there are also daily specials such as soups, stews and freshly made salads. Fridays and Saturdays are fry days, when you can sample the sublime courgette, aubergine and cauliflower fritters.
• Hacioğlu Sokak 1A, +90 212 245 0833, cukurcumakoftecisi.com, open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner

Münferit
Award-winning interior design duo, Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Cağlar – better known as Autoban – gave Münferit a retro feel with marble-top tables, smoked-glass mirrors and wood panelling. But the vintage aesthetic belies a menu filled with thoroughly modern meze, such as black couscous topped with sprigs of grilled calamari, baby octopus skewers and, for dessert, the irresistible sage ice-cream with plum sauce. Wash it down with some thrice-distilled Beylerbeyi Raki, Turkey's potent anise-flavoured spirit produced by the owner's family, or one of the inventive martinis and mojitos. On balmy evenings, you can dine alfresco on the terrace before it's transformed into a dance space.
• Yeni Carşi Caddesi 19, +90 212 252 5067, munferit.com.tr, open daily 7pm-2am, main courses around £14

House Hotel Galatsaray
The first hotel project from the owners of Istanbul's trendy House Café chain has turned a dilapidated 19th-century building into a design buff's dream with help from Autoban. Spread over four floors, the 20 rooms combine old-world charm with innovative design – lofty ceilings, ornate plasterwork and polished parquet floors, with sleek, custom-made furniture and rainforest shower cubicles in the middle of the bedroom. The top-floor lounge bar, with its open fire, large brown Chesterfields and panoramic views is the perfect place to relax post-sightseeing.
• Firuzağa Mahallesi, Bostanbaşi Caddesi 19, +90 212 252 0422, thehousehotel.com/the-house-hotel-galatasaray, from €139 for a deluxe suite on a B&B basis. If you prefer the idea of an apartment, studios with The House Apart start from €80 per night and one-bedroom apartments start from €100, including two breakfasts at The House Café on Istiklal Caddesi (Sarah Gilbert-Guardian)

Greek 'Führer' vows to ‘take back İzmir' after Istanbul

A member of the extreme right Golden Dawn party holds a flag bearing their party's logo during an election campaign rally. REUTERS photo

The leader of the Greek extreme right-wing Golden Dawn party, Nikos Mihaloliakos, has promised to “take back İzmir" a week after saying his party wanted “Istanbul back."

Mihaloliakos, nicknamed the "Greek Führer," said they would take back Turkey's Black Sea region as well during a party rally yesterday in the city of Thessaloniki, daily Milliyet reported.

"We will take back Istanbul, İzmir and the Black Sea," Mihaloliakos said during the rally while addressing accusations of racism that have been directed at his party. "Yes, we are nationalists and racists. We are not hiding that."

Mihaloliakos also criticized the mayor of Thessaloniki for wanting to name a street after modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who was born in Thessaloniki in 1881 when the city was still under Ottoman rule. (From online dispatches-Hurriyet Daily News)

Istanbul in search of logo for 2020 Olympic bid

Hürriyet Photo.

Istanbul is looking for a logo in its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and wants the public to help decide.

Istanbul's 2020 bid committee said today it has posted five logos on its website as part of a poll in the next week.

Ottoman tulip design is the main theme in four of the logos, while the fifth uses a colorful, traditional tile-art design.

Hasan Arat, head of the 2020 bid, says in a statement on the committee's website that the logo will help Turkey promote its "dream" of hosting an Olympics that spans Europe and Asia.

Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid were shortlisted by the IOC last month. The host of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games will be announced on Sept. 7, 2013 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
(Ankara-The Associated Press)

Istanbul’s traffic measured

The longest recent traffic jam in Istanbul lasted for 72 hours on the Atatürk Bridge.

People in Istanbul spend on average two and a half times more time in traffic when trying to return home from work between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. compared to normal hours, according to a recent study.

Conducted by Yandex, the study shows that the total length of traffic jams in Istanbul during rush hours was 1,100 kilometers, which is twice as long as the distance between Istanbul and İzmir.Jams tend to be located in city center in the mornings and during the daytime, and move to the suburbs in the evenings, the survey says. The longest recent traffic jam lasted for 72 hours on the Atatürk Bridge, which is located on the Golden Horn, in April 2012.

Traffic jams increased by 0.5 percent in the spring compared to the winter in Istanbul, the surveys adds.

Meanwhile, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, one of the two bridges connecting Istanbul’s Asian and European sides, will be partially closed between June 18 and Sept. 17 for roadworks.
(Istanbul-Hürriyet Daily News)

Use of fireworks forbidden in city by new regulations

AA Photo.

The Istanbul Environment and Urban Planning Directorate has forbidden fireworks starting from July 1.

The directorate has restricted the use of fireworks at ordinary occasions such as weddings and parties because of the noise pollution in the city. Starting from July 1 only silent fireworks will be permitted in the city. Traditional fireworks will only be used on official occasions such as holidays. Fireworks will be used only at official holiday celebrations, official openings and the official opening ceremonies of associations. The new regulation will forbid unnecessary noise pollution in the city.

After July 1 people will be only able to use silent fireworks with special permission. The new regulations also forbid the use of silent fireworks after 10 p.m. (Istanbul-Anatolia News Agency)

Maddona in Istanbul; Welcomed with red carpet

A private plane carrying Madonna landed at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport. The singer, who will be giving a concert in this city after some 19 years, left the airport on a red carpet…

The world-renown singer Madonna arrived in Istanbul at about 8.30pm local time on Tuesday as part of her World Tour of concerts. The American singer will be giving a concert in Istanbul on 7 June after some 19 years.

Madonna came to Istanbul from Abu-Dabi with her children, and was welcomed at the airport with a red carpet. 3 planes brought the American singer’s team to Turkey, along with dancers and musicians of 200.

Madonna’a plane was set to land Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian part of Istanbul, but it grounded at Ataturk Airport after obtaining permission. (DHA-İHA)

Turkish women protest plans to curb abortion

Hundreds of abortion rights demonstrators have started protesting against plans by Turkey's Islamic-rooted government to curb abortion, which critics say will amount to a virtual ban.

Many women carrying banners that read "my body, my decision" gathered in Istanbul's Kadikoy district on Sunday in the latest and largest pro-abortion rights protest in the country.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called abortion as "murder" and his government is working on legislation reportedly to ban abortion after four weeks from conception, except for emergency abortions.

It is presently legal in Turkey up to 10 weeks from conception. (Ankara-The Associated Press)

Yandex giving Istanbul traffic info on LED boards

Yandex also features a detailed traffic map of Istanbul on its website.

Russian Internet search engine Yandex has begun posting real-time traffic information on 12 LED boards it has placed around Istanbul, daily Hürriyet reported today.

Yandex has collaborated with Outdoor TV to erect LED boards on Kadıköy Rıhtım Avenue and at Taksim Square, Beşiktaş Square, Mecidiyeköy Square, Bakırköy Freedom Square, as well as other key locations.

The boards display the real-time speed of traffic on main roads that connect to the junction at which the board is located. The information, which reaches a total audience of 2 million every day, is displayed every two minutes for 15 seconds. (Hurriyet.com.tr)

PM announces construction of giant mosque in Istanbul

The mosque on Çamlıca Hill will be visible from all parts of Istanbul, says Erdoğan. DAILY NEWS photo, Hasan ALTINIŞIK

A 15,000 square-meter mosque will be built on a tract of land in Istanbul’s Çamlıca district, and will be visible from all parts of the city, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced.

“We are going to build a mosque over 15,000 meters square next to the broadcasting tower in Çamlıca. The planning work is nearing completion. I believe the bulldozers will begin working within two months. This giant mosque in Çamlıca was designed so as to be visible from all parts of Istanbul,” Erdoğan said late May 29, while speaking at the opening ceremony of a traditional handicrafts center in the nearby district of Kandilli.

Foundations General Director Adnan Ertem, Istanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, Police Chief Hüseyin Çapkın, Üsküdar Mayor Mustafa Kara and Emine Erdoğan, the prime minister’s wife, also attended yesterday’s ceremony.

The mosque complex will also include facilities underneath the building for traditional crafts, such as “hat” (Turkish calligraphy) and gilding, Erdoğan said. “In other words, just as there used to be madrasahs next to [mosques] in the past, our architects have undertaken to design something similar in this contemporary setting.”

Earlier in the day Erdoğan attended the re-opening of the newly renovated Fatih Mosque and the Mahmut I Library in Istanbul, on the 559th anniversary of the city’s conquest by Ottoman forces. The renovation of these historic buildings took 4.5 years to complete and cost about 24 million Turkish Liras, Erdoğan said.

“Our job is not yet finished. The restoration of the madrasahs on Akdeniz and Haliç Avenues is also beginning. Once they are completed, together with all the landscaping work in the vicinity, this region will be transformed into a very different [area],” Erdoğan said.

Other high-ranking figures attended the ceremony as well, including Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, European Union Minister Egemen Bağış, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş and Fatih Mayor Mustafa Demir. (ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency)

Istanbul hosts hello kitty

This airplane shows the face of Hello Kitty, Japan’s popular animation figure. REUTERS photo

The Japanese company, Sanrio, plans to open a 3,000 square-meter Hello Kitty World store in Istanbul with a $15 million investment, according to a company press release.

Hello Kitty World sells a large range of products including dolls, stickers, greeting cards, clothes, accessories, stationary, purses and home appliances based on a cartoon figure created in Japan in the 1970’s.

The firm’s annual turnover is about $6 billion, the press release said. The investment decision is expected to be revealed later in this month. (Hürriyet Daily News)

NATO’s anti-piracy ship arrives in Istanbul

NATO flagship HNLMS Evertsen, which will take command of the organization’s counter-piracy mission in the Indian Ocean anchored in Istanbul yesterday morning. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL

NATO flagship HNLMS Evertsen, which will take command of the organization’s counter-piracy mission in the Indian Ocean anchored in Istanbul yesterday morning.

Commodore Ben Bekkering of the Royal Netherlands Navy and commanding officer of the standing NATO Maritime Group 1 said he was pleased to head to the region to take over the duty of Turkey’s TCG Giresun Frigate led by Rear Admiral Sinan Azmi Tosun, who is currently conducting the anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding regions.

Attacks decreasing

“We will meet them in the Indian Ocean at the beginning of June to conduct the duty for the second six months of the year,” Bekkering said during a press conference on board the Evertsen yesterday.
Bekkering said they had attained their aims when asked about the success of NATO operations in the Indian Ocean.

“We saw that the number of attacks went down rapidly. It was more than 10 now it’s two in a certain time of period,” he said. However Bekkering added that a combination of efforts from the United Nations and the European Union is intended to manage the problems in Somalia, which has no police forces.

‘Fighting piracy makes a difference’

German Frigate Rheinland-Pfalz also accompanied the Evertsen. Lt. Cmdr. Navigating Officer Heinrich Grosheim said they not only fight against pirates but also they conduct rescue operations.

“We rescued 425 Egyptian refugees from offshore Libya in March and managed to transfer them from Libya to Tunisia safely,” Grosheim told the Hürriyet Daily News. Lt. Cmdr.

Karen Gelijns of the Evertsen staff also said they were looking to make a difference in the region by fighting piracy.

The ship will stay in Istanbul until May 26, and its second stop will be the southwestern province of Muğla’s Marmaris port from where it will sail through the Indian Ocean. (ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News)

Bridge chaos in Istanbul

Locals and foreigners in Istanbul wait for hours in traffic jams after a bridge closure. AA Photo

Istanbul residents faced traffic chaos on the way home yesterday after the middle section of Istanbul’s Haliç Bridge over the Golden Horn was temporarily shut down after sections connecting the bridge to the E-5 highway broke off at around 9:15 a.m.

“There is nothing to fear. Maintenance work is underway on the bridge. Only the wedge came loose, and it will be repaired today. [The middle section] will be opened to traffic tomorrow,” said Mehmet Karaman, the top regional highways director, who also arrived on the scene to gather information about the incident.

Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu told reporters that the repair work was expected to finish late yesterday. Istanbul traffic was still jammed as the Hürriyet Daily News went to print late yesterday.
Access to the busy area of Mecidiyeköy in Şişli remained restricted as vehicles were forced to use the other two open lanes while road maintenance personnel from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality arrived to repair the bridge.

The middle section of the bridge, also known as “the Old Haliç,” rose seven to eight centimeters above the level of the connecting highway after screws on the barriers came loose and broke off, according to reports.

Officials advised drivers to either take the TEM highway or the coastal road as a detour as the breakdown led to a huge traffic jam over the E-5 highway in the direction of Mecidiyeköy.
Meanwhile, an engineer from Japanese-based IHI company also inspected the Haliç bridge.
A subcontractor firm subsequently issued orders for two jacks capable of lifting 500 tons each in response to the engineer’s directives.

The jacks will reportedly be placed on the two legs of the bridge and lift them up simultaneously, while officials have already begun laying asphalt over the bridge as an interim solution.

The bridge will be reopened to traffic after the work is completed, and the bridge’s legs will also be reinforced some time thereafter as a permanent solution, according to reports. (ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News)

Blast at Istanbul University caused by noise bomb

DHA photo

An loud blast shook the law faculty building at the Istanbul University campus today. The source of the blast was located near the restrooms inside the faculty building.

An investigation by the police revealed that a noise bomb was detonated in a ladies' restroom in law faculty building as a group of students prepared to make a press statement outside.

Three students in the vicinity were stunned by the blast, with one suffering a minor injury to her ear. They said they did not need to go to a hospital after they were calmed down by their friends.

An argument started between the group outside the law faculty and campus security after the blast. The argument degenerated into a scuffle between the two sides as police was called in. Six students were detained. (ISTANBUL hurriyetdailynews)

Bond back to Istanbul on it’s 50th anniversary

The shootings, which also takes place on the roof of Grand Bazzar is said to damage the building. Director Sam Mendes said nothing has damaged. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL

Director Sam Mendes and film stars Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe and Ola Rapace attended a press conference in Istanbul on April 29. Craig says Istanbul and Bond had a close relationship for years

James Bond has once again returned to Istanbul for “Skyfall”, the latest film in the longest running movie series, which celebrates half a century of legendary spy action this year, Director Sam Mendes said Sunday according to AFP.

Mendes, producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, along with film stars Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe and Ola Rapace attended spoke to the press at the Çırağan Palace Kempinski hotel on April 29. “Bond has had a close relationship with Istanbul... It has been 49 years to the day since Bond was last here,” said Craig, who took over the Bond character in 2006 with “Casino Royal,” according to AFP.

“Skyfall,” the 23rd film in the Bond series, is being filmed in several locations in Turkey, between the southern province of Adana and the southwestern coastal town of Fethiye, as well as in Istanbul’s historical Grand Bazaar. Istanbul was chosen as the venue for “Skyfall” to mark the 50 year anniversary of the legend in “the favorite city of Ian Flemming”, the British author who invented “James Bond” in 1953, said Broccoli. “We wanted to be here because it is the most magnificent place. It is an incredible city. I can’t get enough of it,” said Mendes, who spoke to the press in Istanbul after more than 100 days of shooting “Skyfall” in Turkey. Bond may even have a car chase scene on the very epitome of Istanbul, the Bosphorus Bridge, Mendes said, hinting that the city may continue to appear in forthcoming Bond movies.

“We are here for 20 days and we have experienced the best time we’ve had during the shootings. Istanbul is the best city of Turkey,” said Mendes, adding that Turkish people were very friendly towards them.

Mendes also said Craig is a very talented actor and the best actor to play Bond in the new generation.
Crag said this is his second visit to Istanbul. “This is beautiful city. But on the other hand, we had a great time in Fethiye,” he said.

There were many difficult and dangerous scenes to film for the movie according to Craig. “We need to take care of the protection and we used stuntman.”

Mendes said each city they filmed in was different. “We are more into what the city gave to us. The cities that we made the shootings in are very different.” When asked about the damages done by the film crew in the Grand Bazaar, Mendes said they were minimal. “The only damage that was made was on the glass plate that we made.” Responding to a question on whether they will portray Turkey like Iran Craig said the city stands alone. “Istanbul is Istanbul and we do not show it like any other country or city. We will show Istanbul as it is. Do not worry this is a great city,” he said.“Skyfall” is expected to be released in late 2012. Additional reporting from AFP and AA. (ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News)

Exploring Istanbul in novels

A new book recently published by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s cultural organization, Culture Inc, entitled ‘Türk Romanından Bir Demet Istanbul’ (A Selection of Istanbul from the Turkish Novel), includes descriptions of Istanbul selected from 25 Turkish novelists

The cultural arm of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Culture, Inc., has published another work as part of its ongoing efforts to promote the city of Istanbul.

The next work “Türk Romanından Bir Demet Istanbul” (A Selection of Istanbul from the Turkish Novel) pulls together unforgettable descriptions of Istanbul from 25 19th- and 20th-century Turkish novelists.
In the preface of the book, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbaş expresses hope that readers will find themselves able to imagine what Istanbul was once like with the selected writings. The book aims to awaken the spirit of those historical times in the mind of the reader and conceptualize human relations once again.

The selection of works to include was carried out with the advice of Professor Dr. İskender Pala under the editorship of poet and writer Ekrem Kaftan.

Among the works are Namik Kemal’s “Intibah,” Mahmud Ekrem’s “Araba Sevdası” (The Love of the Automobile), Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil’s “Mavi ve Siyah” (Blue and Black), Ahmed Hamdi Tanpınar’s “Huzur” (A Mind at Peace) and Peyami Safa’s “Canan.”

Language has changed

The choice of selected passages is quite interesting, although it seems a bit strange that a number of the readings had to be either simplified or translated into modern Turkish. It makes one realize that today’s Turk can barely understand the Turkish of a hundred years ago as the language has changed so much.

Turkish and English translations are given side by side in the book, but it is very sad that once again the municipality has not had a native English speaker edit the translations. Of course the English reader will be able to gain a general understanding of the works and, if necessary, can look to the Turkish for a more exact meaning. Still the poor translation detracts from the professional quality of the book.

The book also contains black-and-white images of unforgettable scenes in Istanbul, such as views of the Bosphorus, society and the city’s architecture. Many of these are engravings from the 18th and 19th centuries along with a few “modern” depictions that are thought to be by Count Amadeo Prezioso, the Italian painter who lived in Istanbul in the second half of the 19th century. Unfortunately, there is no list of illustrations provided.

Türk “Romanından Bir Demet Istanbul” is available at the municipal bookstore and other main bookstores in the city. (hurriyetdailynews)

Textile factory catches fire in İstanbul, visible from all parts of city

Smoke from fire that broke out at a textile factory in Zeytinburnu, İstanbul, was visible from all parts of the city on Monday morning.

A blaze broke out at around 8:30 a.m. at a textile factory located in Zeytinburnu's Çırpıcı neighborhood. It is still unknown how the fire started. Shortly after the flame broke out, it spread to other buildings nearby.

Some people suffered from smoke inhalation and had to receive medical attention from paramedics on the scene; however, there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries. Efforts to completely contain the fire are still ongoing as numerous firefighters were sent to the scene. (Cihan)

US ready for bilateral meeting with Iran in Istanbul: EU

The U.S. delegation at crunch talks here Saturday between Iran and six world powers on Tehran's nuclear program is open to a bilateral meeting with Iranian counterparts, two European sources said.

"The Americans are open to the idea of meeting the Iranians," one Western diplomat from a European country participating in the talks in Istanbul said. "All countries have expressed interest for bilaterals," said E.U. spokesman Michael Mann. (hurriyetdailynews)

World powers 'satisfied with constructive atmosphere' in Iran nuke talks in Istanbul

A new round of nuclear talks between Western countries and Iran in Istanbul were “constructive” so far, “different from the previous meeting," an E.U. diplomat has said, adding that the parties were discussing the “core issues.”

“We are satisified with the constructive atmosphere in last two and half hours, compared to the last time when they did not engage in talks, saying they had preconditions. That was not the case this time. There was a discussion this time about the issues,” Michael Mann, spokesman for E.U. Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, told reporters today on the sidelines of the meeting in Istanbul.

P5+1,(six world powers - the United States, Russia, China,Germany, France and Britain ) met senior Iranian officials for the first time in 15 months for talks aimed at calming deepening tensions over Tehran's nuclear program.

Asked if E.U. sanctions aganist Iran has played a role on Tehran to resume talks in its nuclear program, Mann answered positively and said, “We believe our sanctions are justified in the light of what IAEA [International Atomec Energy Agency] has achieved.”

“We have a twin-track approach, which involves discussions and sanctions, so we think it is an effective policy,” Mann added.

Following lunch, P5+1 members would have bilaretal talks with Iranian representatives later in the day, the spokesperson said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also held a bilateral talk with Ashton and was having a meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.

The last time Iran met with the P5+1, in Jan. 2011 in Istanbul, the talks went nowhere, as Tehran refused to broach the nuclear issue.

"What we are here to do is to find ways in which we can build confidence between us and ways in which we can demonstrate that Iran is moving away from a nuclear weapons program," Ashton said in a statement today.

Jalili met Ashton at a dinner yesterday and told the E.U. represenhtative that he hoped the major powers would "win the Iranian nation's trust in this round of negotiations," as reported by Iran's state television. (hurriyetdailynews)