Historical geography

The biggest defense industry fair in the Eurasian region will be held until May 8 in Istanbul's TUYAP Fair and Congress Center

Local shopkeepers who beat a group of May Day activists in Istanbul have said that the police thanked them for their vigilant action.

"We are Muslims and they are terrorists," one shopkeeper told daily Hürriyet on May 2.

Within the scope of Istanbul's Bosphorus University's Psychological Consultancy Symposium, a graduate of the university, psychologist Cenk Erdem, will give a conference on "Horror Cinema" at the university's Ayhan ?ahenk Hall on May 2 at 3:30 p.m.

The housing prices in Istanbul?s Bosphorus neighborhood of Be?ikta? jumped 24.7 percent in one year, the highest increase of any district in the city, according to March figures released by real estate information company REIDIN.

Istanbul and Ankara offer a variety of attractions this week, from concerts by German indie rock band The Notwist and American tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander to a food festival offering the different cuisines of Turkey. Istanbul's Miniaturk hosts activities for children

The United Nations and the Republic of Turkey officially launched the new Istanbul Regional Hub on April 23 in a move that made the intercontinental city "the second global diplomatic center after New York," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu said.

Opposition leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu released his party?s election manifesto on the weekend, summing up the economic picture as this: 

Turkey went down to 19th place from 17th place in the list of leading economies in the world. Because its income per capita for the past six years could not cross $10,000, it has fallen into the ?medium income? trap. 

How many of you have ever stopped to reflect deeply about the true value of living in a glorious city like Istanbul in your lifetime?

While launching on April 15 the ruling Justice and Development Party?s (AK Parti) campaign for the June 7 general election, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu did not vow any ambitious projects, such as a third bridge over the Bosphorus, a gigantic third airport for Istanbul, or a ?crazy?

?Stamboul Sketches: Encounters in Old Istanbul? by John Freely (Eland, 208 pages, £12.99)