Sezen Aksu

Turkish pop singer Sertab Erener will take the Eurovision stage after a 21-year hiatus. The singer, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 with her song "Everyway That I Can," which was Türkiye's first and only victory in the event, has been invited to this year's contest in Malmö, Sweden, on May 7 and 11.

At a meeting of a decision-making body of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) earlier this week, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and party officials discussed the virtual world Metaverse, with the president demanding a comprehensive study on the matter.

Turkish singer Sezen Aksu performing in Amsterdam December 2005. Photo: EPA/RICK NEDERSTIGT

"Sezen Aksu will never walk alone," the intellectuals said in an open letter and added that they were watching President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's targeting of Sezen Aksu, which violated freedom of expression.

Bahar Korçan, Turkey's well-known fashion designer who opened the country's first fashion design office in 1993, died on Nov. 11 at the age of 57. 

The designer, who made clothes for Turkey's many acclaimed artists, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016 and had been under treatment since then.

Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, a famous Turkish actor, adopted a donkey foal from the Work Animals Rescue Foundation's (WARF) farm in Istanbul's Beykoz district on March 29.

Rome-based Turkish director Ferzan Özpetek's latest film "La Dea Fortuna" (The Fortune Goddess) was promoted at a press screening.

A special screening was held at the Quattro Fontane cinemas in the Italian capital Rome for the 13th feature film in Özpetek's career, which is a romantic drama.

A Turkish singer who shot to fame in the 1970s claims eating kebabs every day keeps her looking young.
Ajda Pekkan, who turns 72 in February, said in addition to regular workouts, cosmetic surgery and anti-ageing spas, dining on meat and fish protects her youthful complexion.
Speaking to local media, Ajda said: “I am always very careful about what I am eating.

June 16 will be the 100th day of the beginning of the hunger strike of two jailed educators, Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça, in protest at being dismissed from their posts through state of emergency decrees. 

"Semih has become so thin. He is having difficulty even walking," said Semih Özakça's wife, Esra Özakça, who herself has also been on a hunger strike for the last 24 days. 

Not only does she have an excellent voice, but she also has a charming style focusing on powerful melodies with highly emotional lyrics. So, whenever she releases new material, we all know that we are going to have some more beautiful sad love songs.

Following Fahir Atakoğlu's latest release "Live at Umbria Jazz," the 17th album in his vast catalogue of music, the Fahir Atakoğlu Trio will perform at three venues on the East Coast of the U.S. this month.