Constantinople

The Council of State has reversed a previous ruling permitting the Housing Development Organization (TOK?) to sell land along the coastal shore of Istanbul's Bak?rköy district even as the construction of five 16-story buildings nears completion. 

With its beautiful views of the glittering New Year's Eve fireworks over the Bosphorus and Istanbul's historic skyline, the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul invites all to enjoy its biggest party of the year.

A Russian warship which sparked controversy over its "provocative" passing through Istanbul's Bosphorus returned to the strait eight days later, this time with no soldiers holding missiles.

The Russian warship, named the Caesar Kunikov, passed through the Bosphorus on Dec. 14 after arriving from the Mediterranean Sea and passing through the Dardanelles Strait on Dec. 13.

At least 11 people were killed and four others were injured when a truck crashed into a passenger coach in Turkey's eastern Van province early on Dec. 12, police and the provincial governor said.

The coach passengers were teachers and students traveling from Van's Erci? district to the city center for an examination, Van Governor Ibrahim Ta?yapan said.

Young artist P?nar Partanaz's fifth solo exhibition, 'Look,' will open on Dec 12 at the Caddebostan Culture Center on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. She will present 30 modern works through Dec 21.

Turkey welcomes winter as first snowflakes fall

In Photos: Turkish Coast Guard rescues 65 migrants in the Aegean, including 13 children

The French Consulate in Istanbul sent a text message to warn its citizens in Turkey to avoid going near the Russian Consulate in Istanbul on Dec. 10, daily Hürriyet has reported. 

Noting that a protest was due to take place in front of the consulate, located on Istanbul's central ?stiklal Avenue, France called on its citizens to avoid the area to be safe. 

A Syrian woman is facing up to 12 years in prison after she was detained in an Istanbul airport for allegedly smuggling ancient coins.

Salwa Jerbakah, a 36-year-old Syrian woman planning to fly to Stockholm from Istanbul's Atatürk Airport, was stopped and searched by airport authorities on April 9, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Time magazine named German Chancellor Angela Merkel its 2015 "Person of the Year" on Dec. 9, noting her resilience and leadership when faced with the Syrian refugee crisis and turmoil in the European Union over its currency this year.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirta? and Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) co-chair Ertu?rul Kürkçü have made a surprise visit to northern Iraq, where the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is based.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu conducted phone conversations with U.S. Secretary State John Kerry and Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Attiyah late Dec. 8 to discuss regional developments, particularly Iraq, according to official sources.