Ekrem

Less than a year after securing another term, Turkish President Erdogan's Justice and Development Party suffered its worst defeat in its 22-year history in Sunday's municipal elections.

All eyes were on Istanbul, where Ekrem Imamoglu easily won reelection and is increasingly cementing his place as Erdogan's political challenger.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation into an art exhibition at the ArtIstanbul Feshane culture and arts center following a complaint lodged by the Yesevi Alperenler Association.

The complaint accuses the exhibition of "openly inciting or insulting the public to hatred and enmity."

Mayors from 44 Balkan cities have arrived in Athens to attend the second gathering of the B40 Balkan Cities Network on Monday and Tuesday.

During Monday's session, the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, who hosted the network's inaugural meeting on November 29-30 1921, will deliver a report on the year of the presidency and transfer the presidency to Athens mayor Kostas Bakoyannis.

Veto Powers

Minutes prior to start of a UN Security Council meeting related to Russian ongoing invasion of Ukraine at UN headquarters in New York, USA, March 11 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

The mayor of Turkey's metropolitan Istanbul met Greek prime minister in Athens on Sept. 21. 

Ekrem Imamoğlu was received by Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion, the official seat of Greek prime minister.

He also held a meeting with Kostas Bakoyannis, the mayor of Athens, at the Athens City Hall.

A Turkish two-man team on Aug. 23 finished second in the first stage of Transquadra, considered one of the most challenging sailing races in the world.

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A floating tennis court has been built on the Golden Horn in Istanbul, and the opening match was conducted with the participation of the province's mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and his wife, Dilek İmamoğlu.

A debate in Turkey on whether to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque or keep it as a museum is being used to purse domestic political agendas, Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said on Thursday, during a discussion on the Delphi Forum.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has launched an online aid campaign calling on better-off residents to help financially troubled dwellers in paying their unpaid bills, as the coronavirus pandemic has strained many households in Turkey's largest city.

Food packages will be distributed to some 50,000 people in Istanbul as part of measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the city's governor has announced.

The recipients of the aid will be people who are over the age of 65 and those with chronic diseases, people who live alone and are not able to look after themselves, as well as low-income groups, said Ali Yerlikaya.