Historical geography

A private university is to be built on a previously protected forest area in the Beykoz district of Istanbul, after a construction firm received special permission from the Environment and Urbanization Ministry, opposing a decision made by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (?BB) to keep the area protected from construction.

Expect the unexpected! This can be the new catchphrase of Istanbul these days. Every other day we hear of a new place opening in an unusual corner of the city; there seems to be more and more facets of this ever-changing town to explore. 

A worker died at the construction site of a new Istanbul metro line on May 22, just one day after its groundbreaking ceremony with the participation of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topba?.

Adil Koluk?sao?lu, 32, died at the construction of the Mecidiyeköy stop of the metro line that aims to connect Istanbul's central exchange hub to the seaside neighborhood of Kabata?. 

The annual Istanbul International Arts & Culture (IST) Festival, curated by the arts and culture platform "Istanbul '74," is back in town from May 22 to 24, attracting some of creative industries' most famous international and national names to the city. 

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival appeared to be speedily backtracking on its earlier decision to pull a play by the controversial French writer Michel Houellebecq - on the grounds that it might offend Muslims.

Istanbulites take part in the 'Color-Up Run,' a 2-km run enlivened by colorful dry paint, organized as part of Beşiktaş Municipality's May 19 celebrations

A total of 190 migrants have been captured in multiple locations in northwestern Turkey.

Some 113 migrants consisting of Afghans and Syrians were captured in an operation by the Turkish Coast Guard May 14 off the coast of the Ayvac?k district in the northwestern Çanakkale province. The migrants were trying to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on a boat. 

People have different reasons to be in Istanbul. Some were born here, some came to the big city to study, some are desperate to leave, some are sorry to leave. Why are we here, really? This is the answer of a young man: "I am from a village on outskirts of Istanbul. My family lives in a place very far from downtown, in a village 50 kilometers away from Çatalca.

Dissident Turkish actor Levent Üzümcü has been sent to the High Disciplinary Court of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and is facing dismissal from the Istanbul City Theater over statements critical of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

Commenting on the news from his Twitter account, Üzümcü defined the motion as against the law.

Signals will be used to redirect bird migration routes away from the construction of Istanbul?s third airport north of the city, the owner of the company carrying out the project has said.