The film titled “The Conquest 1453”, which began shooting at the beginning of 2009 and was also sponsored by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) will be released on February 17, 2012.

“The Conquest 1453”, directed by Faruk Aksoy tells the story of Constantinople (Istanbul)’s capture by the Ottoman Turks during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II. It stars Devrim Evin as Mehmet II, İbrahim Çelikkol as Ulubatlı Hasan and Dilek Serbest as Era. Fetih 1453 will be released in different countries during 16 February 2012, including United States, the United Kingdom, France, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Germany, Macedonia, Russia, Azerbaijan and several others.

The film is based on two main characters, Sultan Mehmed II, and Ulubatlı Hasan, a soldier believed to be the first person to have planted the Ottoman flag on the walls of Istanbul during the final assault on the city.

“The Conquest 1453″ was shot over a period of three years and cost an estimated $17 million – the highest ever in Turkish cinema history. The movie trailer itself took 1.5 months to complete and cost $600,000. The trailer was viewed by over 1.5 million people within 24 hours of its release.

The film will hit cinemas Feb. 17, 2012.

Mr. Kadir Topbaş, the mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, received Mr.Osama Ibn Sadiq Tayyib, the Chancellor of King AbdulAziz University (KAU) in his Saraçhane Municipal Office.

After the meeting held at the Municipal Palace in Istanbul, the mayor Mr. Topbaş made a statement to the reporters. He stated that Istanbul had a sister-city agreement with Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since 1984 and the relations between the two cities has reached the desired level in the last five years.

Mayor Mr. Topbaş noted that Istanbul Gas Distribution Inc. (İGDAŞ), a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has carried out a joint cooperation projects with Jeddah’s King AbdulAziz University and he continued as follows: “UGETAM that is one of the joint-venture of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul has been providing training and consultancy services for Saudi Arabia and establishing a natural gas engineering training center in the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Jeddah King Abdullaziz of Saudi Arabia. The company is preparing to launch a technopark project with the King AbdulAziz University and the dear Chancellor want our subsidiaries to participate in this technopark project. I will bring forward this issue to the next coordination meeting. We came to an agreement for the further development of our relations with Jeddah.”

After his statement, the guest chancellor toured the Municipal Council of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, he also received information concerning the work of parliament from mayor Mr. Topbaş. Mayor Mr. Topbaş accompanied his guest up to his car and thanked him for the visit.

During the bilateral meeting, Mr. Topbaş gave a book in which a number of the architect Sinan’s collection of works are included to the guest chancellor. The guest chancellor presented an electronic pen, which interprets the verses of the Qur’an to the Mayor.

The authorities of Istanbul Bus Operations Inc. (İOAŞ), a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan. Municipality (IMM) have announced a tender for 15-year lease of 250 buses that will operate within the city of Istanbul for public transportation.

The Istanbul Bus Operations Inc., a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan. Municipality (IMM) will put 250 new buses into service for public transportation within the context of fleet renewal project, which aims at providing a safe, efficient and affordable mass transport service to the public in Istanbul.

The tendering process will be done for both Anatolian and European side of Istanbul. The tendering process for 250 bus routes will take place on 25th-26th Jan. 2012.

Some specifications of Domestically-Manufactured Buses:

-The Euro 5 diesel engines
-The converting engines from diesel to natural gas and electricity
-The Low and flat base
-The Wheelchair ramps
-The number of sitting passengers in vehicle: 32
-The number of standing passengers in vehicle: 60
-The Audio alarm system
-The LCD-monitor information system
-Adjustable air-conditioning system (18-28c)
Internal / external security cameras

Auction date:25th-26th Jan. 2012

Mayor Topbaş who spoke in the award ceremony of “Existing is a Right, Love for Animals and Animal Rights,” program, said that “Existing rights of all living creatures are holy. The municipality has decided to close down the İstanbul-based Dolphinarium Dolphin Display Center when its contract expires in two years time.” Read the rest of this entry »

Mayor Topbaş who spoke in the “ThyssenKrupp Elevator Architecture Award”, explained that they will found Istanbul Disaster Prevention and Education Center. For the project, a piece of land of 27,000 square meters has been allocated.  Read the rest of this entry »

Mr. Kadir Topbaş, the mayor of Istanbul came together with the consuls general of fifty-four countries for breakfast in Istanbul today.
Mr. Kadir Topbaş, the mayor of Istanbul came together with the consuls general of fifty-four countries for breakfast in Istanbul today.

Topbaş gathered with the consuls general in order to have closer and warmer ties as well as to exchange ideas about activities regarding Istanbul.

Speaking with press reporters after the breakfast Mayor Mr. Topbaş said: “The future of each city and country depends on the each city and country in the world. The art of managing one’s affairs well is not acceptable any more. At the moment, everyone is in the same ship”.

The mayor further noted that the people would be seen a different kind of Istanbul at every corner in the near future. He said: “Three-thousand buses that can provide handicapped accessibility to accommodate those with disabilities, will be put into service next year”.

after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality set up crisis desk at AKOM (Disaster Coordination Center) after the earthquake in Van. The crisis management, started by directive of Mr. Kadir Topbaş, prepared a 26 people aid team.

With the second team, consisting of 42 fire station and rescue staffs, total 68 people will have been sent to Van. 13 vehicles were sent to help rescue works.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has announced a plan aimed at protecting the city’s most beautiful views by preventing illegal buildings and controlling construction.

The plan, dubbed the “silhouette mother plan,” was suggested by the Urban Planning Directorate and would initially focus on Istanbul’s historic peninsula, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn areas.

According to a report recently approved by Parliament, construction that may damage the areas will be restricted.

A wide range of regional research will be included as part of the plan. According to reports, until the plan is implemented, the structuring rights of housing plans in specific places will be limited.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mr. Nabel Marouf, the Ambassador of Palestine to Turkey, visited Mr. Kadir Topbaş, the mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) in his Saraçhane Municipal Office.

Mr. Nabel Marouf, the Ambassador of Palestine to Turkey, visited Mr. Kadir Topbaş, the mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) in his Saraçhane Municipal Office. Mayor Mr. Topbaş  expressed his satisfaction from the courtesy visit of Mr. Nabel Marouf.

Mr. Nabel Marouf thanked to Mr. Topbaş for his friendly attitudes and support for the Palestinian issue. He also  thanked to the humanitarian assistance and high sensitivity shown by the Government of the Republic of Turkey. He said that they proudly followed the developments taking place in Istanbul.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Topbaş gave a vase decorated with decorated with artistic calligraphy (tughra) to Mr. Nabel Marouf. Mr. Marouf presented a white marble slab inscribed with the “Surah Felak” to Mayor Topbaş.

Istanbulites choose new taxi design

The Taxi Design Contest, run by the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) which took the contest to a plebiscite, ended with İstanbulites choosing the B model as their new taxi design.
The vote took place on June 15-29 over the Internet and 340,000 people participated in the voting. The B model taxi received 41.2 percent of the votes. İstanbul residents have also chosen the designs for buses, trams and ferries in recent years.

The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Taxi Design Contest aimed to provide more comfortable services for the city’s residents. The new taxi design is geared towards including new technological developments and focuses on security and accident-prevention technologies as well accessibility features for the disabled. A municipal officer said the design will have characteristics specific to İstanbul.