Constantinople

In an effort to mitigate destruction in the event of a potential Marmara earthquake, around 1.5 million houses, with 600,000 classified as very urgent, require immediate renovation, according to Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Mehmet Özhaseki.

Locals, as well as foreign tourists, are thronging Istanbul's historical sites to make the most out of the long Eid al-Adha holiday, with particularly Eminönü, Hagia Sophia and Eyüpsultan witnessing a huge influx of visitors enjoying their time exploring the places and trying out traditional delicacies.

Newly-appointed Istanbul Governor Davut Gül has stated that the expected major earthquake in the city is their top agenda, saying that his office is working to "restructure Istanbul" to make it more resistant to tremors.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Istanbul increased by 19 percent from a year ago in the first five months of 2023 to around 6.3 million.

In May alone, 1.5 million foreign tourists arrived in the city, according to the data from the provincial directorate of culture and tourism. This marked a 7 percent increase in tourist arrivals compared with the same month of last year.

Feshane, a 190-year-old historical textile manufacturing plant and one of the landmarks of Istanbul, has opened its doors as "ArtIstanbul Feshane" to serve as a cultural and arts complex after five years of restoration work.

Istanbul's popular mayor is leading demands for a major change in the main opposition Republican People's Party - as another test in the form of local elections fast approaches.

The first and only screening of director Burak Çevik's new film "Forms of Forgetting" (Unutma Biçimleri), which had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin Film Festival, will be at Istanbul Modern Cinema on June 17, following which the film will remain hidden at Istanbul Modern for 14 years.

The UEFA Champions League final game that Istanbul hosted at the weekend has given a huge boost to the city's hotels and marks "a milestone" for the local tourism industry, says Müberra Eresin, the president of the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB).

The gendarmerie in Istanbul have confiscated a Hebrew Bible that is thought to be around 1,100 years as well as some coins from the Roman and Byzantine eras as part of an operation to stop the illicit trade of historical artifacts.

Gul said that 15,000 security officers have been deployed for the match on Saturday, the biggest football event in the European club calendar.

The final will be played in Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium, where 70,000 fans from all over Europe will attend the game as tens of millions watch on television or online.