Başakşehir

A public prosecutor is set to challenge the lenient prison sentence handed to İbrahim Keloğlan, who was convicted of fatally killing a cat named Eros on New Year's Eve in Istanbul, a verdict that led to his release.

A man who kicked a cat to death is facing a retrial as a local court overturns his reduced sentence for fatally abusing the animal amid public outcry.

With Istanbul grappling with a worsening water crisis due to drought, the water levels in three out of the ten dams supplying water to the country's largest city have plummeted dangerously, falling nearly 3 percent, according to data from the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ).

The Directorate of Migration Management has refuted claims that all 39 districts of Istanbul are closed to new residence permits for foreigners, clarifying that the ban is still limited to only 10 districts.

Within the scope of preparation for the major earthquake expected in the Marmara region, 500,000 of the 1.5 million risky residences in Istanbul will be rebuilt on-site, and satellite cities of 500,000 residences will be established on both sides of the megacity to relocate the rest, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum has announced.

Nearly 4,000 suspects have been caught in the operations carried out in 11 districts of Istanbul since the new year against suspects found to be involved in the drug trade.

“It is common knowledge that the wives and children of [jihadist] Free Syria Army (FSA) members live in İstanbul’s Başakşehir district”

Foreigners can no longer apply for a residence permit in eight of Istanbul's districts, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has announced.

Over 225,000 people have applied for the housing project, which aims to help low-income citizens own houses and tackle problems regarding property prices and rents, on the first day of its launch, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum has said.

"Applications for land and industrial workplaces will be made between Oct. 10 and Nov. 7," Kurum said.

Air pollution in several districts of Istanbul has reached "dangerous levels" in recent days, according to official figures, prompting concern among experts.