ISTANBUL

Future Party leader Ahmet Davutoğlu and DEVA party leader Ali Babacan

Three opposition parties have agreed to merge under a single "umbrella party" to consolidate their political presence and streamline parliamentary efforts, media reports have said.

From left to right, Pervin Buldan, Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Ahmet Türk.

A delegation from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) is scheduled to visit Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed PKK leader serving life on a prison island off Istanbul, for the second time next week.

A global mobility analytics company has ranked Istanbul as the most traffic-congested city in the world for 2024.

Intrix's Global Traffic Scorecard revealed that drivers in Türkiye's largest metropolis spent an average of 105 hours in traffic throughout the year. This represents a significant 15 percent increase in traffic delays compared to 2023.

The 32nd Istanbul Jazz Festival, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), will take place from July 1 to 18.

The underground marvels of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, encompassing tunnels, vaults, passageways and a three-chamber tomb, are soon to be unveiled for public visits following extensive restoration and cleaning.

The Greek Patriarchate of Fener in Istanbul on Jan. 6 organized a ceremony for the Epiphany celebrations, one of the Orthodox Church's most important holidays, commemorating Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed the country's unwavering commitment to peace in Gaza, stating that the country will persist in its efforts "until we get results."

The judges on Jan. 6 held the first trial of the ISIL suspects accused of carrying out a deadly attack on a church in Istanbul nearly a year ago.

Two masked men executed the attack on Jan. 28, 2024, during Sunday service at an Italian church in the Sarıyer district, killing a 52-year-old man. The attack was claimed by ISIL-K shortly afterwards.

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has held discussions with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) following a rare visit to Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed PKK leader serving life on a prison island off Istanbul.

Türkiye's real estate market showed remarkable growth in 2024, with property sales reaching 3,065,872, a 3.9 percent increase from the previous year.

This surge in activity has significantly boosted government coffers, with deed fees soaring to 96.13 billion liras, marking a 60 percent rise from 2023.