Iran Warns Nationals about Visiting Turkey during New Year’s Eve

As the Turkish police tightened security in the countdown to New Year’s Eve one year after a gunman killed 39 people in Istanbul [Constantinople], the Iranian Embassy in Ankara warned nationals to avoid unnecessary trips to the country or stay away from crowded and insecure areas.

Turkey: Suspicious bag found in Taksim Square

A suspicious bag seen in Istanbul’s Taksim Square caused panic on April 28. Police have cordoned off the area.

Turkey: Hundreds of protesters held over May Day rallies

A total of 203 illegal protesters have been detained in Istanbul as May Day demonstrations were held, the city's governor has said.

At least 120 detained on Gezi protests anniversary

Around 120 people have been detained in Istanbul as police intervened to disperse protester groups gathered to mark the anniversary of last year's Gezi Park protests, said Istanbul Police Chief Selami Altınok late Saturday.
Speaking to reporters at Istanbul's Taksim Square, he said four police officers were wounded including a deputy police chief.
One of the officers were injured by bullet while the deputy police chief was wounded by a molotov cocktail thrown by protesters.

Turkish PM, Tayyip Erdogan, warns youth to ignore Taksim anniversary

Turkish police were already mobilising to face down marches announced for today.

It comes as opposition sympathisers mourn the death of a 64-year-old Turkish woman, who had fallen into a coma, during a crackdown on protesters in December.

"One year later, people, including so-called artists, are calling for demonstrations, but you, Turkey's youth, you will not respond to the call," Mr Erdogan told a crowd of a thousand young people in Istanbul.

Turkish deputy prime minister denies remarks on 'Jewish diaspora'

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay has denied media reports that he blamed the Jewish diaspora for the Gezi unrest.

Atalay’s press office said in a written statement today that the minister had not used such an expression.

“There are some circles that are jealous of Turkey’s growth. They are all uniting, on one side the Jewish diaspora,” Cihan News Agency quoted him in a video as saying on July 1 in the Central Anatolian province of Kırıkkale in an earlier report.

Before the statement from Atalay’s office, the Turkish Jewish community issued a press release on its website, saying they were trying to obtain more information about the remarks with regard to the details, meaning and content.

Landmark Greek Orthodox church in Taksim seeks respect, new façade

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Vercihan Ziflioğlu (hurriyetdailynews.com)
 
Sometimes, only a careful pair of eyes can pick out Hagia Triada, a landmark Greek Orthodox church on Istanbul’s Taksim Square, which is enveloped by restaurants, cafes and shops, some of which are reportedly illegal. Its courtyard, once a peaceful spot at the starts of the country’s busiest street, is now filled with the noise of power generators and occasionally the smells of food.

The structures around the 133-year-old church, however, might now be removed, if Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gets his way as part of a controversial redevelopment plan for Taksim Square that has sparked fury in Istanbul and beyond. While somewhat welcome, the June 2 announcement caught the church off-guard.