★ On Wednesday at 12:49 in the afternoon, there was a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Istanbul. There was no damage to buildings, reports write. However, around 150 people received injuries from jumping from buildings.

  By 6 p.m., a total of 127 aftershocks had occurred, including one with a magnitude of 5.9. Additional aftershocks continued to rumble throughout the week.

  Istanbul and the rest of Turkey are prone to strong earthquakes. The earthquake brought discussions about building safety in Istanbul. Scientists warn that a magnitude 7.0 or stronger earthquake is expected to strike Istanbul, potentially causing massive material damage and resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths.

  ★Mobile communication networks suffered significant disruptions in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake that struck Istanbul, according to Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, independent outlet Bianet reported.

  The first 15 minutes following the quake saw widespread GSM network outages, which Uraloğlu attributed to a spike in voice calls rather than internet-based messaging. He urged the public to prioritize data services to avoid overloading the system in future emergencies.

  The minister also said that demand for transportation spiked as residents attempted to flee the city. Despite Uraloğlu's claim that airfare is subject to a government-imposed price ceiling, journalists reported significant increases in ticket prices following the quake.

  ★The earthquake brought conspiracy theories about the source of the seismic activity.

  On social media, people started writing that two U.S.-flagged ships and the HAARP system induced the seismic activity in the Marmara Sea off the coast of Istanbul.

  The Center for Combating Disinformation, a government office, refuted the allegations, stating that there is no scientific basis for the claims.

  According to Wikipedia, HAARP stands for High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program.

  ★On its 105th anniversary, Turks around the globe celebrated the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day.

  In 1927, the nascent Turkish Republic established the day to celebrate the opening of the first Turkish Parliament in Ankara, in the unoccupied remains of the Ottoman Empire, on April 23, 1920.

  Also, the Turkish parliament dedicated the day to the children, the future of the Republic.

  In the Bay Area, the Turkish American Association of California hosted an event in Palo Alto on Saturday, bringing together children from the Turkish community and kids from diverse backgrounds around the globe.

  Here are the highlights of the activities:

  -Special visits from Nene Hatun, Sabiha Gökçen, and Âşık Veysel

  -Brazilian Capoeira Dance – Elisa Maria Fernandes

  -Dance Around the World – Donna Franckel (Fun and engaging dance lessons from around the world for children!)

  -Katuri Korean Dance Company

  -KoKo De La Isla – Flamenco Dance Group

  -Silly Circus Show – Bri Crabtree (A beloved children's performer from the Bay Area! Instagram: @sillycircusshow)

  -Turkish Children's Choir

  -Uyghur Dance Group

  -Venezuelan Dance Group

  While the Turkish kids and their friends from other countries had fun here, in the Turkish capital Ankara, the Justice and Development Party administration of President Erdoğan tried to prevent a group of opposition people from rallying to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the independence war hero and the first president of Turkey.

★ According to the Turkish news agencies, police arrested five young people for shouting "Erdoğan without a diploma." Authorities sent the youth to a court for insulting President Erdoğan.

  In Turkey, many claim that Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan does not have a college degree, which is required to be a president.

★ On April 22, Alain Berset, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara.

  Mr. Berset became the highest-ranking European leader to make an official visit to Turkey after the detention and subsequent suspension of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19 and arrest on March 23.

  Following the meeting, Turkey's Presidency's Directorate of Communications released a statement that said regional and global issues were the topic of the discussions.

  The statement added that President Erdoğan conveyed the issue of "increasing racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia in Europe" and that a "strong voice" was expected from Europe against "Israeli aggression".

  However, the statement did not say whether Mr. Berset brought up the situation of Mayor İmamoğlu during the visit.

  European countries, including Turkey, established the Council of Europe after the Second World War to protect and strengthen pluralist democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

★ Selva Demiralp, a professor of economics at Istanbul's Koç University, evaluated the Turkish economy.

  She said the following:

  Driven by ongoing inflation worries, Turkish citizens responded to the central bank's latest policy interest rate hike by increasing their investment in foreign currency and gold as a protective measure.

  The savings in foreign currency increased by 13 percent, while savings in Turkish liras decreased by 8 percent.

  She added:

  "With the interest rate cuts that started in December and continued for three months, the policy rate had fallen from 50% to 42.5%. Today, it has risen again to 49%.

  "In other words, we are, in a sense, at the transformation we started with."

  Dr. Demiralp notes a noticeable increase in bankruptcies in 2025 compared to 2024, coupled with a rise in problematic consumer credits.

  On the positive side, she adds that the reduction in energy costs and a weaker U.S. dollar are favorable developments for the Turkish economy.

★ According to Bianet, severe frost resulting from a sudden temperature drop in early April significantly impacted fruit production across 36 provinces of Turkey.

  Niğde, a province that produces 600,000 tons of apples a year, will see a significant reduction in output this year, reducing exports and increasing unemployment in the province, a farmer said.

★ According to ArtDog Istanbul, "Vibe Istanbul," a documentary exploring underground electronic music in Turkey, was on the screen at Beyoglu Movie Theater as part of the Istanbul Film Festival.

  Saeed Nasiri and Nafise Motlagh are the directors of the movie.

  The documentary explores the cultural rebellion and quest for freedom that defined the post-1980 generations on the dance floor, featuring prominent figures in the Turkish music scene, including Mehmet Cavcı, Mercan Dede, Murat Uncuoğlu, Birol Giray, Mahmut Orhan, Dubfire, and Boris Brejcha.

  Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1979, Saeed Nasiri began his professional journey as a photojournalist, collaborating with Iranian and international news agencies within Iran.

  Subsequently, after residing in England, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria, he relocated to Istanbul in 2007 and co-founded Lorcaist Production.

★ The exhibition Sleeping Beauty, featuring works by Aslı Aydemir and Melike Kılıç, will open on April 29 at Istanbul's Gama Gallery.

  In an interview with ArtDog Istanbul, artists Aydemir and Kılıç explained that they use the expressive qualities of ceramic and paper to depict the fragile image imposed on women by societal pressure while simultaneously using these materials to reveal the hidden strength beneath.

  The exhibition will end on May 23.

★ Casa Botter, a historic mansion commissioned by Sultan Abdulhamit II for his Dutch tailor, has been meticulously restored and now functions partly as a vibrant art space.

  A new exhibition at Casa Botter features late Turkish artist Burhan Uygur's works.

  Uygur's works reflect his friendships with poets. He often depicts his friends' poems in his art.

  Burhan Uygur was born in 1940 in the Black Sea town of Tirebolu.

  His wife said about him, "He didn't like rules. He thought they limited him. But he was also disciplined. He didn't fit into a mold. He would go out at night as soon as he felt like it. Day and night didn't matter to him. I believe one can see this in his works."

  The exhibition will end on May 20.

★ Continuing its exhibition, "The Story Unfolds in Istanbul," Meşher hosts special screenings for theater and film enthusiasts. This week , they presented a 2019 recording of Frank Castorf's production of Bajazet.

  The screening was on Saturday, April 19.

  Bajazet is an Italian opera in 3 acts composed by Antonio Vivaldi in 1735.

  The story explores the fate of Bayezid I, the Ottoman Sultan, after his capture by the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur, also known as Tamerlane.

  Some information about the "The Story Unfolds in Istanbul" exhibition:

  Focusing on representations of Istanbul produced in different times and various literary genres from the 16th century to the present, the exhibition "The Story Unfolds in Istanbul" examines the imaginations of Istanbul in fictional works of Western literature, from fantasy stories to graphic novels, from science fiction to espionage stories.

  The selection, which centers on approximately 300 books from the Ömer Koç Collection, includes manuscripts belonging to authors, rare first editions, signed and dedicated books, along with various works such as engravings, paintings, sheet music booklets, films, posters, as well as published Turkish translations and newspaper clippings from different sources.

  Ebru Esra Satıcı and Şeyda Çetin are the curators of the exhibition.

  The exhibition brings together different representations of Istanbul, and visitors observe how the city is used as a background while witnessing how it inspires literature first and then other creative fields with its people, historical events, and culture.

  Drawing attention to the transitions between literary genres, the similarities and contrasts in representations, and the continuities and ruptures, the exhibition invites us to re-evaluate the assumed dichotomies such as past and present, fiction and reality, East and West, through the multi-faceted narrative it constructs.

  Meşher is a Vehbi Koç Foundation organization established in 2019. It hosts many different types of artistic and cultural exhibitions. Read more about Meşher >> here <<

  Vehbi Koç was a prominent Turkish businessman who founded the Koç Holding. Read more >> here <<

★ İş Sanat Kibele Art Gallery in Istanbul hosts the "Retrospective" exhibition of Prof. Rahmi Aksungur, one of the pioneers of Turkish plastic arts.

  In his bronze, wood, and stone works, Rahmi Aksungur employs the grid as both a structural foundation and an artistic mode of expression.

  The artist pushes the boundaries of traditional sculpture and draws inspiration from everyday objects, living beings, and mythological elements based on the relationship between space, environment, and scale.

  Through a unique visual language tailored to modern sculpture, Aksungur's works bridge the past and the future. The exhibition features approximately 70 sculptures spanning various periods of the artist's career, alongside sketches and drawings that offer insight into his creative process.

  The exhibition will end on July 14.

★ Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation's Pera Museum Film and Video Programs will take art lovers on a visual journey with a selection of films for Samih Rifat's "There's a Lot to Do" exhibition.

  The program "Photographer" brings the audience together with six films questioning the boundaries of seeing, recording, and interpreting.

  In addition to documentaries focusing on master photographers Sebastião Salgado, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Koudelka, and Bill Cunningham, featured in Rifat's photo book Between the Minds and the Black Sea, the program also includes two iconic fictional films from the history of cinema.

  The screenings will be between May 2-25.

★ Once again, Antalya Akra Jazz Festival is preparing to bring together the leading names of jazz and world music with art lovers.

  In its eighth year, the festival will feature performances blending contemporary jazz with funk, rock, Latin, soul, pop, and world music, alongside jam sessions, talks, and masterclasses.

  Among the artists at the festival are:

  -May 14: Ibrahim Maalouf & The Trumpets of Michel-Ange from France and Lebanon.

  Maalouf is a Grammy-nominated trumpeter known for blending jazz with Levantine musical elements. ​

  -May 17: Richard Bona from Cameroon/USA

  Bona is a Grammy-winning bassist and vocalist celebrated for his fusion of jazz, funk, and African rhythms. ​

  -May 21: Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter & SuperBlue from the U.S.

  Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling steps into a dynamic soundscape alongside guitarist Charlie Hunter and the genre-bending SuperBlue project.

  -May 23: Melody Gardot from the U.S.

  Known for her poetic sensitivity, Melody Gardot delivers a soulful fusion of R&B, blues, pop, and jazz.

  -May 24: Fatoumata Diawara from Mali.

  Diawara is a vocalist and guitarist who brings the spirit of Africa through her music. ​

  -May 28: Igor Butman, Fantine & Moscow Jazz Orchestra from Russia.

  Saxophonist Igor Butman leads the Moscow Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Fantine in a captivating performance.

  -May 30–31: Fazıl Say "50 Years at the Piano" & Ferit Odman from Turkey.

  Celebrated pianist and composer Fazıl Say marks his 50th year at the piano, accompanied by jazz drummer Ferit Odman.

  The Young Jazz part of the festival will feature emergent talents from Turkey. Among them are Alan Orchestra, Blue Kiss Collective, and Emre Berk Trio.

  The festival will be at Akra Antalya's open-air stage between May 14-31.

  Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast and the capital of Antalya province.

★ The exhibition "A Star Flowing in the Dark: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk" has begun to present 150 unpublished photographs of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the independence war hero and the first Turkish President.

  The exhibition presents these photographs to the public for the first time in Turkey.

  Apart from photographs, the exhibition brought together Atatürk's personal belongings, correspondence between him and important people of that period, telegrams, newspapers, magazines, periodical documents, and many objects from that period.

  Among the diverse collections are personal belongings, signed photographs of Atatürk intended as gifts, and captivating photographs by local and foreign artists.

  The exhibition is at the Gazhane Museum and will end on July 6.

★ Osman Hamdi Bey's long-lost painting "Preparing Coffee" will be offered for sale in London, England, on April 29.

  Experts expect the work to sell for 1-1.5 million pounds in the "Orientalist Art" auction at Sotheby's on April 29.

  The rare painting by Osman Hamdi Bey, one of the pioneers of Turkish painting, was known thanks to a black-and-white photo taken by Sebah & Joaillier, a photographer from the 19th century during the Ottoman period.

  Until recently, the work was in a private collection in Austria.

  Claude Piening, Senior International Expert for European Paintings at Sotheby's, said the work was a very unexpected rediscovery.

  Giving information about the painting's arrival in England, Piening said, "The painting was previously in collections in Georgia and Azerbaijan. It makes sense that the painting also reached Vienna from Istanbul via these countries. A gentleman I have known for many years suggested this painting to me. He had bought it a few years ago from someone else who had bought it from a European family that had owned it for almost 75 years."

  Drawing attention to the importance of the painting, which has resurfaced after many years and dates to 1881, when Osman Hamdi Bey was productive in painting.

  Piening noted that Osman Hamdi painted it on a small scale. He signed and dated it using the Roman alphabet. Piening says these show that Osman Hamdi made the painting for a European collection rather than a Turkish one.

  He adds, "I think it is a very, very beautiful painting because it depicts the setting in a very respectful way. Two women are washing their hands before serving coffee. You can see the coffee jug and cups waiting to be filled by them on the side."

★ According to Arkeonews.net, Mustafa Uysal, a treasure hunter in Turkey, claims he found the location of the first Council of Nicaea. He demands 50 million dollars to tell the authorities where it is.

  He says it is an underground city featuring a sarcophagus cemetery and intricate symbols adorning its long corridors.

  According to Wikipedia, the first Council of Nicaea was a Council of Christian bishops convened in the city of Nicaea, modern-day Iznik, Turkey, by the Roman Emperor Constantine I. The Council met from May until the end of July 325.

  The Council of Nicaea primarily convened due to a significant theological controversy among the Christian clergy in Alexandria that revolved around the fundamental questions of Jesus' nature, origin, and relationship with God the Father.