Marmara Region

The powers of the local government have been increased over the historical peninsula of Istanbul, which is one of the most important area of cultural heritage for us. While the "elected" municipality's development and construction powers have been broadened, the powers of the "appointed" Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Board have been substantially trimmed.

Turkish artist Ahmet Güneştekin's artwork titled "Kostantiniyye," which was previously displayed at the Venice Biennale and exhibited outside a shopping mall in Istanbul, has been removed after reactions from people demanded for its removal. 

Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait was shut on Dec. 22 in order to rescue a transport ship that was stranded off the Yeniköy district early on Dec. 21. 

The Eurasia Tunnel, the first ever road tunnel underneath the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, opened partially to service early Dec. 22. 

The passages between the Kazlıçeşme district on the European side and the Göztepe district on the Asian side have one lane on each side due to security reasons, according to officials. 

A transport ship has been stranded off Istanbul's Yeniköy district on the Bosphorus Strait early on Dec. 21, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

The Panama-flagged ship Star Harmony was stranded after its north-south passage on the strait, while its helm was locked, according to the Directorate General of Coastal Safety officials.

A fire broke out on a sea bus traveling from Bursa to Istanbul on the morning of Dec. 16, prompting the evacuation of all passengers, Doğan News Agency has reported. 

The fire reportedly started in engine room of the sea bus named "Yıldırım Beyazıt" at 9:00 a.m.

Beki İkala Erikli, a famous Turkish author of self-help books, was killed in an armed attack in Istanbul by an unidentified female assailant on late Dec. 15, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Erikli, particularly well-known for her book "Living with Angels," was killed at the entrance of her office's building in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul at 8 p.m.

Beki İkala Erikli, a famous Turkish author of parapsychology books, was killed in an armed attack in Istanbul by an unidentified female assailant on late Dec. 16, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Erikli, particularly well-known for her book "Living with Angels," was killed at the entrance of her office's building in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul at 8 p.m.

Archaeological excavations carried out on the coast of the Küçükçekmece Lake in Istanbul's Avcılar district by Kocaeli University aim to shed light on the history of earthquakes in Istanbul. 

I was born in Istanbul's Beşiktaş district. I used to walk to my primary school from home along Barbaros Boulevard. I have been living in Maçka, in Beşiktaş, for many years. People sometimes wonder where I am from. Some assume I am from the Aegean city of İzmir, but no, I am from Istanbul, from Beşiktaş. My hometown is exactly this place, Beşiktaş, where the two bombs exploded.