Istanbul

A regional Turkish court qualified Istanbul?s iconic Emek Movie Theater as an historical and cultural heritage landmark on Jan. 13, a ruling that came too late as the building hosting the facility was demolished on May 2013, despite mass protests and social campaigns.

British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, a.k.a. the ?Naked Chef,? has not found what he had hoped for with his ?Jamie?s Italian? restaurant in Istanbul, which is seeking a suspension of bankruptcy from a court that has ruled for an injunction, according to sources.

Turkish Environment Minister ?dris Güllüce said the clause that would legalize already-constructed buildings, including a group of skyscrapers that have ruined the iconic panorama of Istanbul?s historic center and the controversial presidential palace in Ankara, by awarding them ?vested rights? status was removed from the omnibus bill.

An Istanbul prosecutor has demanded 13 life sentences in addition to 362 years in jail for four suspects, one of whom is on the run, in the case of a boat accident that took the lives of 27 migrants late last year.

Serkan Uyar, Do?an Odac?o?lu and Kerem Sinayi Çakan are under arrest in the case, while Afghan national Murteza Hashimi is still on the run.

The chairman of Serbia's Red Star basketball club has voiced his hope that there will be no negative incidents surrounding an upcoming Turkish Airlines Euroleague Last 16 game in Belgrade against Galatasaray, which comes after the murder of a Serbian fan in Istanbul on Nov. 21, 2014, when the sides last met.

An Istanbul court has issued an arrest order for two policemen involved in the inquiry into the killing of Hrant Dink, the Turkish Armenian journalist, as the case deepens. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an pledged his support to the preservation of historical artifacts on Jan. 12, vowing to closely follow their restoration and revival both at home and abroad.

The president's remarks came during an opening ceremony for the newly-restored sections of the Topkap? Palace Museum in Istanbul.

An Istanbul district municipality responsible for the area that includes the historic Grand Bazaar wants a say in the management of the market, which has been controlled by its craftsmen for around 555 years, as part of a renewal plan, daily Cumhuriyet has reported.

Local authorities in Turkey and UNESCO?s experts are engaged in ?solid dialogue? over Istanbul?s historic sites, which are on the world heritage list, says the organization?s director general. ?The world heritage committee is watching very closely what is happening, but we are not a punishment squad,?

The lone remaining suspect wanted in connection with a spree of terrorism in France -- Hayat Boumeddiene -- entered Turkey on January 2, a Turkish prime ministry source told CNN on Jan. 10.