★ In the March 31 local elections, Turkish opposition prevailed in metropolitan, city, district mayoralties, and city councils in most provinces of Turkey. Also, Republican People's, the main opposition party, received more votes than the ruling Justice and Development of President Erdoğan.

  Here are some headlines from the world press:

  - Bloomberg: Turkish opposition says President Erdoğan is withholding billions from cities, Republican People's Party chair says he must release $1.8 billion in funding. Read more >> here <<

  - WION: Re-elected Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is being seen as the only serious challenger against strongman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his party.

  - German Marshall Fund: In Turkey, power begins to slip away from Erdoğan. More >> here <<

  - Committee to Protect Journalists: Turkish authorities attack, threaten, arrest several journalists during post-election unrest. More >> here <<

  - The New York Times: Turkey's Opposition Strikes Elections Blow to Erdoğan's Party.

  - PBS: Turkish opposition retains key cities in local elections, posing setback to President Erdoğan.

  - CNBC: Turkey's opposition stands in sweeping local elections victory over Erdoğan's party.

  -T he Times of Israel: Foreign Minister Katz: Turkish voters punished Erdoğan for attacking Israel.

★ In Turkey's predominantly Kurdish Van province, Abdullah Zeydan from the pro-Kurdish People's Equality and Democracy party received 55.48% of the votes. His opponent from the ruling Justice and Development Party received only 27.15%.

  However, the Justice and Development Party administration, through a judge in a different province, tried to cancel his win by claiming that he was involved in terrorism, disregarding a ruling by the Higher Election Board several months earlier that he could be a candidate.

  When the cancellation order arrived in Van, people of the province started protesting on the streets, and all the opposition parties sent delegations and lawyers to support what they called the "will of the people."

  Finally, the Higher Election Board intervened and reinstated Zeydan as the duly elected mayor. On April 5, Abdullah Zeydan and co-mayor Neslihan Şedal received official licenses from the province election board.

★ According to the Turkish daily Duvar, multiple district municipalities in Istanbul run by the ruling Justice and Development Party have held last-minute tenders and finalized procurements worth millions of Turkish liras before handing over their offices to the main opposition Republican People's Party administrations after the March 31 local elections.

  Tuzla municipality tenders included acquisitions for women's watches worth $56 thousand, garden supplies for $1.95 million, and gift baskets for $90 thousand. Also, it put up one of its real estate for sale on April 2 before the election board can instate the newly elected mayor from the opposition.

  In Üsküdar, before the opposition mayor took over, the previous ruling party administration finalized acquisitions, including 84,000 porcelain mugs worth $147,000 and pastries worth $60,000.

  During his inauguration on April 4, Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, said he assigned investigators to the acquisitions and would follow the process closely.

★ According to the daily Duvar, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party's position on Israel's war on Gaza is ambiguous.

  On the one hand, the party and its leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, condemned Israel and called to end the war repeatedly and on multiple diplomatic occasions.

  On the other hand, the government abstained from practical sanctions against Israel and has not responded to media reports or criticisms over its continuing trade meaningfully.

  On April 3, Dr. Taner Kamacı, a Turkish physician volunteering in Gaza, voiced the disappointment he heard from Gazans.

  Upon his return to Diyarbakır, a city in southeastern Turkey and his hometown, Dr. Kamacı gave a press statement. He said the Gazans were asking why the Turkish government was exporting produce, steel, and concrete while the Israeli government starved, killed, and demolished in Gaza. Read more >> here <<

★ According to the UNI news agency, a Turkish court arrested eight people for a fire that killed 29 people in a 16-story building in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul.

  The bottom floor of the building where the fire started hosted the Masquerade Club, which was under renovation.

★ According to VOA, al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-affiliate, claimed that it killed a Turkish aid worker in an attack in Somalia.

  The attack took place on the outskirts of Mogadishu as vehicles carrying Turkish and Somali aid workers and their security guards were heading toward a displaced persons camp to deliver food aid.

  A spokesperson for Somali police condemned the attack and said the aid workers targeted were delivering food to needy people fasting during Ramadan.

★ According to Bloomberg, there are 27 Turkish billionaires in this year's business magazine Forbes list.

  Among them are:

  Yıldız Holding's Murat Ülker with $5.1 billion and the richest person in Turkey,  

• Yıldız Holding's Murat Ülker with $5.1 billion and the richest person in Turkey,
• Kazancı Holding CEO Cemil Kazancı ($3.5 billion),
• Koç Holding's İpek Kıraç (3.1 billion) and Semahat Arsel (3 billion),
• Erdemoğlu Holding's İbrahim Erdemoğlu (2.8 billion).

  There are 2781 billionaires on the list

★ Airline Geeks website reported that Turkish Airlines is coming to Denver International Airport, and its nonstop service to Istanbul will be the airport's longest nonstop flight at 13 hours. It will pump over $50 million annually into the economy and create 350 new jobs in Colorado.

★ Whitehot Magazine carried an interview with Turkish artist Ayça Telgeren about her exhibition Broken Horizon at Galerist in Istanbul.

  The exhibition has her works featuring cut-outs, works on paper, videos, and sculpting.

  Ayça Telgeren was born in 1975 in Gölcük district in northwestern Turkey.

  She completed her BA and MA in Painting at Mimar Sinan Faculty of Fine Arts. Having participated in numerous exhibitions nationally and internationally, currently, the artist lives and works in Istanbul.

★ ArtDog Istanbul reports that 27-year-old Burak Yurdakul, known by the alias "Rakun," created wall paintings in many streets of Istanbul, especially in the neighborhoods of Suadiye, Caddebostan, Yeldeğirmeni, Hasanpaşa, and Erenköy in Kadıköy, has passed away.

  He has been creating wall paintings since age 15 using spray and acrylic paints.

★ CI, Contemporary Istanbul, announced that the third CI Bloom, with this innovative and dynamic atmosphere, will take place at Istanbul's ICEC Rumeli Halls between April 24-28.

  Organizers say that this year's fair will celebrate contemporary art, bringing together artists, galleries, and enthusiasts in the heart of Istanbul. Over 20 galleries from Turkey and abroad will participate.

  This year, CI Bloom will also introduce a large-scale digital art experience.

★ Wyandotte-daily had an article titled "7 Beautiful Places to Visit in Istanbul April 2024."

  It wrote:

  "Istanbul, a city steeped in history and culture, offers an array of mesmerizing destinations for travelers. From ancient monuments to bustling bazaars, Istanbul is a symphony of sights, sounds, and experiences. In April 2024, the city's vibrant atmosphere will be further enhanced by the blooming of colorful tulips, turning Istanbul into a picturesque tapestry."

  The article listed the following places to see there:

• Hagia Sophia: A Timeless Masterpiece
• Topkapı Palace: A Majestic Residence
• Grand Bazaar: A Shopper's Paradise
• Blue Mosque: An Azure Beauty
• Süleymaniye Mosque: A Architectural Masterpiece
• Dolmabahçe Palace: A Gilded Marvel
• Bosporus Cruise: A Scenic Adventure

  The article added that Istanbul is a melting pot of cultures, where the East meets the West. It said April, May, September, and October are the best months to visit.

  It also praised the excellent international and local transportation that Istanbul offers.

  It added that the local food is a culinary delight and pointed out there are many accommodations to suit every preference and budget.

★ Travel and Tour World website wrote that The International Istanbul Film Festival 2024, set against the historic and vibrant backdrop of Istanbul, beckons travelers and tourists alike to a cinematic celebration from April 17 to April 28, 2024.

  The article adds that the festival, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, offers from across the globe.

  It will have film screenings, award ceremonies, a forum discussing international collaboration and co-production, and seminars.

  ArtDog Istanbul reported that renowned German director Wim Wenders will come to the festival as the guest of honor. It will be his first visit to the megacity. 78-year-old Wenders has many awards from the Cannes, Venice, and Berlin film festivals and received Oscar nominations for many of his films.

★ According to ArtDog Istanbul, Erdal Beşikçioğlu, lead actor for Turkey's famous detective series Behzat Ç, won the municipal elections in Ankara's Etimesgut district.

  He ran as a candidate from the opposition Republican People's Party and became the new mayor.

  He wrested the mayoralty from the ruling coalition's extreme-right Nationalist Action Party.

★ According to the daily Turkiye, French pianist and composer Jacques-Laurent "Jacky" Terrasson will take the stage at Istanbul's CRR Concert Hall on April 12, 2024.

  Since the 1990s, he has been one of the most impressive pianists of modern jazz. He performed in Istanbul for the first time in 1994.

  Sylvain Romano on double bass and Lukmil Perez on drums will accompany Jacky Terrasson.

★ Turkish government started restoring four unusual rock formations called fairy chimneys in Turkey's Cappadocia region.

  Officials say the restoration will safeguard these natural wonders for the next 5000 years.

  A combination of rocks, ash, wind, water, and time formed the Fairy Chimneys. These unique rock formations of Cappadocia are like no others in the world. Over time, the column collapses. The basalt rock cap will fall and rest on a softer tuff rock layer.

  Smithsonian magazine writes that they were millions of years in the making. Read more >> here <<

  The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.