A groan went out from Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet Square after hundreds of hopeful Turks heard the announcement on Saturday that Tokyo had been chosen to host the 2020 Olympics.

Hundreds looked stunned after having waited hours for the decision to be announced live from Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Istanbul, a city of some 15 (m) million, was competing against Madrid and Tokyo to showcase the games.

This was Istanbul's fifth bid.

International Olympic Committee members chose Tokyo through a secret ballot vote after having watched the three final presentations.

The crowd was ecstatic when just over an hour before the final announcement they watched the IOC declare that Istanbul had beaten out Madrid to reach a final round of voting against Tokyo.

But when the final announcement was made after 11 p.m. In Istanbul (2000 GMT), a brief sound of disappointment gave way to silence and the crowd quickly dissipated.

Tokyo had defeated Istanbul 60-36 in the final round of secret voting.

Turkey, an early favourite, seemed to falter in June when the government clashed violently with protesters.

Istanbul's bid may also have been hurt by a string of doping scandals among Turkish athletes and the uncertainty of neighbouring Syria's civil war.

One Istanbul resident said the repeated rejection for Istanbul in its fifth bid was difficult to take.

"They just don't want to give it to us," Rafet Pacali said. "Next time hopefully, if it's meant to be."

Another resident was still happy that the bid itself put Istanbul in the spotlight.

"In a way I'm kind of happy because the whole world was watching us. It was down to Tokyo and Istanbul. All eyes were on us, so in a way it was still advertising us," said Gul Uygur.

A Japanese student had mixed feelings about the announcement.

"I want Istanbul win. But I'm Japanese, so, you know. Yes, I'm happy," said Suguru Akayike, a Japanese exchange student who has been living in Istanbul for five months.

Istanbul's bid was hit hard by the anti-government protests in June and a slew of doping scandals among Turkish athletes. The proximity to the conflict in Syria was also cause for concern.

Istanbul's failed bid was a blow to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had flown to Buenos Aires to make the case straight from the Group of 20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Erdogan had argued that a successful Olympic bid for Istanbul would make it a first for a predominantly Muslim country in a city linking the continents of Europe and Asia.

AP TELEVISION

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Wide giant screen showing International Olympic Committee (IOC) President announcing Tokyo as winner of the 2020 Olympic bid, pan left to disappointed audience

2. Various of disappointed audience

3. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Rafet Pacali, Istanbul resident:

"I think this is a game, they just don't want to give it (the Olympiad) to us. The world sees us differently, it changes at the last minute. We kind of knew it but we still came and waited. Next time hopefully, if it's meant to be."

4. Wide of audience chanting (Turkish) "Turkey! Turkey!"

5. SOUNDITE (Turkish) Gul Uygur, Istanbul resident:

"In a way I'm kind of happy because the whole world was watching us. It was down to Tokyo and Istanbul. All eyes were on us, so in a way it was still advertising us."

6. Various of Istanbul supporters waving flags

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Suguru Akayike, Japanese student:

"It's so complicated. Because I wanted Istanbul to win. But I'm Japanese, so, you know. Yes, I'm happy, I'm happy but I wanted Istanbul to win."

8. Wide of audience

9. Mid of child in audience waving flags

The new mayor of Istanbul said Friday he was prepared against any attempts by the government to restrict his powers while emphasising his willingness to work with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In a news conference to international media in Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu said the government had already put into practice new regulations to bypass the mayor in appointments to municipal companies and give authority to municipal assemblies where Erdogan's party has majority.

The mayor said such practices were against the current local governance laws.

"We are prepared even for the most risky situations," Imamoglu said.

Days before the elections, Erdogan hinted that the judiciary could investigate Imamoglu, who belongs to the opposition Republican People's Party.

The mayor said he'd chart his path calmly if an investigation were launched.

But the president quickly congratulated the mayor on election night and struck a somewhat cooperative tone in a speech from Japan Thursday, saying his party would support "realistic projects to the benefit of Istanbul."

"Right now I am the Metropolitan Mayor of Istanbul and Mr. Erdogan is President. I think we can contribute great things to this country and the city by coming to an agreement," Imamoglu said.

The newly-minted mayor also said that top on his agenda were plans to address the issues of refugees living in Istanbul.

Over half a million Syrian refugees live in the city.

Imamoglu was elected mayor for a second time Sunday after Turkey's electoral board annulled the results of the March 31 polls in Turkey's largest city.

He beat his opponent, the government candidate Binali Yildirim, with more than 806,000 votes.

Istanbul - 28 June 2019

1. Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor, arriving at news conference

2. Cutaway of camera

3. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul Mayor:

"We are prepared, we are prepared even for the most risky situations. But let me express this: I am hoping that they don't. My expectation is that the quality of politics in Turkey is experienced in the highest way."

4. Cutaway of reporters

5. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul Mayor:

"We have the capacity to announce to the public at every moment and every situation that we demand to work and produce together. I don't think it's rational to reject this without necessity or reason. Right now I am the Metropolitan Mayor of Istanbul and Mr. Erdogan is President. I think we can contribute great things to this country and the city by coming to an agreement."

6. Wide of news conference

7. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul Mayor:

"We will look at the humanitarian aspect, we will look at the peace aspect and at the end of the day, we will work hard on the issue that refugees return home."

8. Cutaway of reporters

9. Wide of news conference

The opposition party's mayoral candidate in Istanbul says he's confident that the result of a recount of votes in the city will confirm his victory.

Ekrem Imamoglu also renewed an appeal to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to help end the standoff.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Imamoglu said Erdogan's ruling party has the right to appeal the vote but criticised what he says is an unprecedented move in Istanbul for a recount of votes that were deemed invalid.

In a major upset for Erdogan, Imamoglu won the tight race for Istanbul in Sunday's local elections.

Erdogan's party has contested the results, alleging irregularities.

A recount of votes in 11 Istanbul districts was underway Thursday.

Istanbul - 4 April 2019

1. Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul mayoral candidate during interview

2. Cutaway of Imamoglu

3. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul mayoral candidate:

"It looks like it will end in our favour by a margin of approximately 18,000 to 20,000 (votes)."

4. Close of pin

5. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul mayoral candidate:

"(The fact that) votes that were deemed invalid in Istanbul are all being recounted is a move against previous practice."

6. Cutaway of Imamoglu's hands

7. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul mayoral candidate:

"I requested that he (Erdogan) contribute to the election process and intercede as soon as possible for the (results) to become clear."

8. Cutaway of Imamoglu's hands

9. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul mayoral candidate:

(Referring to the possible waning of the ruling party's grip on the country's politics) "These kinds of changes in politics are a beginning but not a result. In order to achieve a result you need to be successful during the process. Therefore, there has been a change in Istanbul but our responsibility is big, we must definitely be successful. If this success is achieved, which we believe it will be, we're sure it will be, then changes in the political climate (in Turkey) may be cemented."

10. Various of Imamoglu billboards outside campaign headquarters

TURKEY ART

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTIONS: AP CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 4:29

SHOTLIST:

++FIRST AVAILABLE WEDNESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2017++

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Istanbul - 20 September 2017

1. Various of gnome and rubber dinghy, part of work by American artist Stephen G. Rhodes focusing on migrant crisis

2. Various of exhibition visitor viewing artwork titled "Wilkommen Assumption: Or the Private Propertylessness" by Rhodes installed in an historic Turkish bath

3. Pan to the artwork which is about the migrant crisis

4. Wide of the dome of the bath, artwork beneath it

5. Close of water falling as part of installation

6. Visitor walking through installation

7. Mid of plastic child heads installation being exhibited in historic Turkish bath

8. Wide of the entrance of one of the exhibitions

9. Close of black bags reading (Turkish and English) "A good neighbour"

10. Wide of Bige Orer, Istanbul Biennial's director, in Istanbul Modern Art Museum

11. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Bige Orer, Istanbul Biennial's director:

"The 15th Istanbul Biennial is curated by duo artists Elmgreen and Dragset. And we are celebrating 30 years and the 15th edition of Istanbul Biennial in 2017. This Biennial titled "a good neighbour", it brings together the different art practices from different regions and different generations. We have 56 artists in total and 30 of them produced new works for the Biennial. They came to Istanbul many times, both for their research and the production and installation of their work."

12. Wide of South African artist Kemang Wa Lehulere's artwork titled "Conference of the Birds"

13. Close of papers on ground as part of Lehulere's installation

14. Mid of Lehulere's work, visitors passing

15. Various of Turkish artist Ali Taptik's photo work titled "Friends and Strangers" being exhibited during Istanbul Biennial

16. Close of sign reading (Turkish) "Ali Taptik, on each stairwell, Friends and Strangers, 2017"

17. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ali Taptik, Turkish artist:

"As I said, being a part of Istanbul Biennial is very important, especially to be able to work with the support of an institution is very important. Istanbul is the city where I was born, raised and live, so I have been dreaming about being invited to Istanbul Biennial for years. I am very happy that this happened this year."

18. Wide of the exhibition in Istanbul Modern Art Museum

19. Tracking view of a visitor taking a picture and walking around the exhibition

20. Wide of the exhibition

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Gary Simmons, visitor:

"It's a breath of fresh air, I love it. I just enjoyed being in the space, and experiencing the colour and the diversity of materials that people used, that's fantastic. I loved the one with the post-it notes, and I think, I have been taking photos of the man hole covers and I used the same for that piece of art which I thought was fantastic."

22. Various of artwork titled "Continuouslessness by British-Polish artist Kasia Fudakowski's, being exhibited in a former Greek Primary School, one of the exhibition locations

23. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Bige Orer, Istanbul Biennial's director:

"Who is the good neighbour? Does a good neighbour have a more extended family than yours? Is a good neighbour your friend on social media? Is a good neighbour somebody from a neighbouring country? We asked those questions with the aim of having different approaches to the concept of the neighbour. Basically, everyone is a neighbour and everyone has a neighbour. So we believe that both the topic of this Biennial and the exhibition can interact with us easily."

24. Various of exhibition

25. Mid of the door to the exhibition in historic Turkish bath

26. Wide of the exhibition in historic Turkish bath

LEADIN:

Istanbul is hosting Turkey's most important contemporary art event.

This year the Istanbul Biennial is running under the theme of 'a good neighbour' with art that explores the migrant crisis, cultural diversity and environmental changes.

STORYLINE:

The nightmarish artwork of American artist Stephen Rhodes' is on display at this historic Turkish bath.

Titled "Wilkommen Assumption: Or the Private Propertylessness", it focuses on the migrant crisis.

The installation is part of the Istanbul Biennial.

It's Turkey's most important contemporary art event and this year has attracted 56 artists from 32 different countries.

Their work is being exhibited at six different locations across the city including the Istanbul Modern Art Museum, a former Greek primary school, and the Turkish bath.

This is the 15th edition of the Biennial and the artists are bound together with one idea: the concept of "home", "belonging" and "neighbour".

South African artist Kemang Wa Lehulere is one of a number of international artists showing at the event.

But there is home-grown talent too.

Ali Taptik's photo work titled "Friends and Strangers" is here.

He says being part of the Biennial is very important for him.

"Istanbul is the city where I was born, raised and live, so I have been dreaming about being invited to Istanbul Biennial for years. I am very happy that this happened this year," he says.

Around half-a-million Turkish and international visitors are expected to see the exhibitions in 2017.

"It's a breath of fresh air, I love it. I just enjoyed being in the space, and experiencing the colour and the diversity of materials that people used," says Australian visitor Gary Simmons.

The theme is "a good neighbour" and the artists involved have many different interpretations of that idea.

The migrant crisis, environmental changes, and cultural diversity are among the topics they have explored.

"Who is the good neighbour? Does a good neighbour have a more extended family than yours? Is a good neighbour your friend on social media? Is a good neighbour somebody from a neighbouring country?" asks Bige Orer, Istanbul Biennial's director.

"We asked those questions with the aim of having different approaches to the concept of neighbour."

The Istanbul Biennial opened on 16 September and runs until 12 November 2017.

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++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE++

Turkish authorities have imposed a temporary blackout on distribution of any material concerning the aftermath and investigation of the bombing in Istanbul today, they say, due to the ongoing inquiry and security issues.

This affects ALL news coverage in online print, photos and video being sent back into Turkey.

Clients are advised to seek their own legal advice if they intend to transmit material already supplied by the AP and ongoing news coverage of this specific attack and its aftermath, back into Turkey.

This has been the AP's guidance in previous instances after the Turkish government imposed such a blackout a few hours into an unfolding attack.

People living in Istanbul say they are having to get used to deadly attacks being a feature of daily life in the Turkish city.

A day after Tuesday's car bomb that killed 11 people and wounded 36 others, several local residents spoke to The Associated Press about the attack - the fourth to hit Istanbul this year.

“It has kind of become normalised", said shop owner Hasan Donmez on Wednesday morning.

There was no immediate responsibility claim for Tuesday's blast but Turkey has witnessed an increase in violence linked to Kurdish rebels and Islamic State group militants.

Hours after the explosion, police detained four suspects for their possible involvement in the attack, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Authorities imposed a news blackout preventing media from reporting details of the investigations, citing concerns over security and police and forensic efforts to investigate the attack.

++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE++

Turkish authorities have imposed a temporary blackout on distribution of any material concerning the aftermath and investigation of the bombing in Istanbul today, they say, due to the ongoing inquiry and security issues.

This affects ALL news coverage in online print, photos and video being sent back into Turkey.

Clients are advised to seek their own legal advice if they intend to transmit material already supplied by the AP and ongoing news coverage of this specific attack and its aftermath, back into Turkey.

This has been the AP's guidance in previous instances after the Turkish government imposed such a blackout a few hours into an unfolding attack.

People living in Istanbul say they are having to get used to deadly attacks being a feature of daily life in the Turkish city.

A day after Tuesday's car bomb that killed 11 people and wounded 36 others, several local residents spoke to The Associated Press about the attack - the fourth to hit Istanbul this year.

“It has kind of become normalised", said shop owner Hasan Donmez on Wednesday morning.

There was no immediate responsibility claim for Tuesday's blast but Turkey has witnessed an increase in violence linked to Kurdish rebels and Islamic State group militants.

Hours after the explosion, police detained four suspects for their possible involvement in the attack, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Authorities imposed a news blackout preventing media from reporting details of the investigations, citing concerns over security and police and forensic efforts to investigate the attack.

++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE++

Turkish authorities have imposed a temporary blackout on distribution of any material concerning the aftermath and investigation of the bombing in Istanbul today, they say, due to the ongoing inquiry and security issues.

This affects ALL news coverage in online print, photos and video being sent back into Turkey.

Clients are advised to seek their own legal advice if they intend to transmit material already supplied by the AP and ongoing news coverage of this specific attack and its aftermath, back into Turkey.

This has been the AP's guidance in previous instances after the Turkish government imposed such a blackout a few hours into an unfolding attack.

Istanbul - 8 June 2016

1. Sun rising above mosque

2. Woman at window making phone call

3. Turkish flag outside house

4. Pan from mosque to park

5. Various of people sitting in park

6. Tilt up on local shop owner Hasan Donmez sitting inside the park while talking on the phone

7. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Hasan Donmez, shop owner:

“It has kind of become normalised (referring to attacks in Turkey). People and politicians got used to the terror everywhere - in Istanbul, in Ankara, in Izmir, in the East, in the West."

8. Various of people walking along street

9. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Canan Ozgur, banker:

“Young people are dying, police officers are dying, civilians are dying. Actually there is nothing to say. But this is this county’s (Turkey’s) faith. Because we elected the authorities and we brought them there. That’s because we have nothing to say right now. It is very sad. I hurt so much.”

10. Tilt up from paper featuring image of aftermath of Tuesday's bomb attack to another paper with headline reading (Turkish) "A car bomb terror, 11 martyrs, 36 wounded, 3 critically"

11. People walking past newspaper stand

12. Man buying newspaper

13. Newspaper headline reading (Turkish) "Five bomb in five months"

14. Newspaper headline reading (Turkish) "An apparent massacre"

15. Newspaper headline reading (English) "Car bomb kills at least 11 in central Istanbul", tilt up to man taking paper out of newspaper stand

16. Newspaper headline reading (English) "Turkey says fight against terrorism to continue to the end after Istanbul blast"

17. Newspaper headline reading (Turkish) "Mean attack"

The mood among opposition supporters in Istanbul is one of jubilation, mixed with worry, as their apparent narrow win in mayoral elections could be overturned after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's governing party challenged the results, prompting a recount.

In an unexpected setback to the president, the opposition appeared to have won Sunday's tight race in the city, the country's financial and cultural capital where Erdogan himself rose to power as mayor.

Joy over candidate Ekrem Imamoglu’s razor-thin win has given way to concerns after the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, contested results in all of Istanbul’s 39 districts, alleging fraud and demanding a recount of votes deemed invalid.

Electoral authorities, whose independence opposition parties have questioned in the past, allowed recounts in at least 18 districts.

A senior AKP official on Thursday said the gap in votes had now further narrowed to around 19,000 - from around 25,000 announced on Monday.

The AKP has put up posters around Istanbul featuring pictures of Erdogan and the AKP's candidate, former prime minister Binali Yildirim, and thanking residents for their support - a move that many regard as a premature declaration of victory.  

Yildirim himself had declared victory on Sunday, before acknowledging that Imamoglu had a narrow lead.

Imamoglu himself tweeted on Friday he was leading by 18,742 votes.

His backers denounce what they see as two sets of rules for the ruling party and the opposition, recalling that similar appeals by their secular Republican People's Party were derided and rejected in past elections.

Meanwhile, opposition parties’ appeals for at least two tightly contested races elsewhere were also rejected.    

In Istanbul’s fashionable Cihangir neighbourhood, 60-year-old antique dealer Huseyin Guney expressed concerns that victory would be wrested away from the opposition.

"If Imamoglu has won justly, if it has been fated... If it isn’t, and if other avenues are pursued, our country’s image will really be shaken," he said.

Media organs close to Erdogan have claimed that AKP votes were stolen as part of an alleged "coup" against the ruling party, whereas international observers said the election was not fair.

Imamoglu, a 49-year-old former businessman and the little-known mayor of the Istanbul district of Beylikduzu, led a good-humoured campaign during which he promised to build bridges in the highly polarised city.

He even visited Erdogan in Ankara and asked for his vote too.

But he drew ire among AKP officials for signing a visitor's book at the mausoleum of Turkey’s founder in Ankara as "The Mayor of Metropolitan Istanbul" before the election results are finalised.

Istanbul - 4 April 2019

1. Various of people walking on a bridge over the Golden Horn, banners of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and ruling AK Party's Istanbul mayoral candidate Binali Yildirim (Turkish) 'Thank you Istanbul'

2. Woman sitting on the shore of the Golden Horn, Haghia Sophia in the background

3. Traffic on a street

4. Billboard of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and ruling AK Party's Istanbul mayoral candidate Binali Yildirim (Turkish) 'Thank you Istanbul'

5. Saban Ozmen's upholstery shop

6. Close of door 'Ozantik chair upholstery'

7. Saban Ozmen upholstering a chair

8. Close of staple gun

9. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Saban Ozmen, Istanbul voter:

"People are fed up. I don't know, someone new brings excitement. I think he'll (referring to Ekrem Imamoglu) work (for the city.) The others thought they had settled by staying so long (referring to ruling AK Party.) It's not how it should be. A new excitement is necessary, someone who's willing to work. People have rights and I think that was being exploited."

10. Ozmen upholstering an ottoman

11. Close staple gun

12. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Saban Ozmen, Istanbul voter:

"Everyone must show respect. I think he (Imamoglu) will be successful at the job. May it bring good fortune. God willing there will be no unrest."

13. Various of Huseyin Guney outside his antique shop

14. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Huseyin Guney, opposition supporter:

"If Imamoglu has won justly, if it has been fated, it (Istanbul's mayorship) should be given to him. If it isn't, and if other avenues are pursued, our country's image will really be shaken. After all it's a local election and (Erdogan) still runs the country."

15. Various of people walking on the street

16. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Erhan Celik, AK Party supporter:

"Whatever comes out of the vote, a full democracy is always the best for us, we defend a full democracy. Irregularities occur in elections, they have occurred, are occurring, and there are mechanisms against this and those will be set in place. But for example I didn't approve of what Imamoglu did: signing Ataturk's (mausoleum) visitor's log as 'mayor.' He could have waited a few more days, if it's his right (the mayorship.) Because you are nothing until you are given the (formal) mandate."

17. Wide of voter Semih Gokdemir having tea

18. Close of table

19. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Semih Gokdemir, Istanbul voter:

"As I said, change is always good. The five-year process (length of mayoral mandate) will bring many things. During that time we'll have the opportunity to re-evaluate, favourably or unfavourably. But I believe that changes, different perspectives, will always move a place forward because competition is important. Monopolies are always problematic. At least now there's an environment of competition. We'll see the favourable and unfavourable aspects in the days to come but it's a hopeful situation for us."

20. Various of marine traffic on Golden Horn

Brushstroke by brushstroke, Seyhan Arman gets ready to perform in one of her plays during Istanbul's Pride Week.

She's a 37-year-old transgender woman who makes a living writing and performing.

Arman, who hails from southern Turkey, says she always felt "different."

"Being an actress is what saved me. Basically, there was a path designed for me as Seyhan regarding gender identity. Acting freed me from that," she told The Associated Press.

For several years, Pride Week in Istanbul attracted tens of thousands of participants including Arman, making it one of largest gatherings celebrating gay, lesbian and transgender rights and diversity in the Muslim world.

That suddenly changed two years ago, when authorities, citing security concerns, banned gay and transgender pride events, chasing away shocked participants trying to converge on central Taksim Square with tear gas and water cannons.

The reversal, activists say, coincides with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shedding his reformist past, taking an increasingly authoritarian line and raising Islam's profile in the officially secular country.

Up to 100,000 people took part in a march in 2014, making it one of the largest LGBTI (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and /or Intersex) Pride events in a Muslim nation.

The following year, authorities banned parades in a surprise move citing public order and dispersed the crowds.

In 2016, the events were again banned amid a spate of deadly attacks blamed on the Islamic State group or Kurdish militants.

Still, LGBTI activists tried to converge on Taksim leading to skirmishes with police.

Organisers believe that the celebrations in 2015 and 2016 were banned because they coincided with Islam's holy month of Ramadan.

Turkey's LGTBI community is braced for another confrontation with police during Sunday's Trans Parade March which has been banned by the Istanbul governor's office.

June 25 also coincides with the Muslim Eid holiday and also comes as Turkey is under a state of emergency following last year's failed coup attempt, which allows authorities to ban public gatherings.

The post-coup state of emergency has aggravated conditions for LGBTI individuals.

The emergency powers have been used to sack more than 100,000 people from government jobs - among them thousands of academics including a large number of whom were minority rights defenders.

"The fact that the existing government is not making necessary changes to the constitution (in favor of LGBTI individuals,) and the fact that there is negative discourse against us, may encourage people who are already (trans) phobic," said Arman.

Unlike other Muslim countries, homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey.

However, lesbian, gay, transgender activists say they lack legal protections and face widespread social stigma in the nation that is heavily influenced by conservative and religious values.

Deniz Sapka, a transgender woman originally from the southeastern Turkish province of Hakkari, is concerned about the lack of legal protection for her community.

Sapka is not her real surname but an alias she uses to maintain privacy.

She requested her face not be revealed to avoid recognition by family members.

"We can't fight (for the community's visibility) that much because the state is not developing new policies in this regard (LGBTI rights) and because there is no legislation (prohibiting) discrimination, no fundamental rights and freedoms," said the 27-year-old who works in the non-profit sector.

The Turkish government insists that there is no discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation, and that existing laws barring discrimination on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity or religion protect all citizens.

It also insists that perpetrators of hate crimes are prosecuted.

In his early years in office as prime minister, Erdogan worked to advance minority rights as part of efforts to join the European Union.

"Violence and discrimination against us starts at birth. It starts in the family, continues at university, continues at work," said Sapka, who describes life as a LGBTI individual in Turkey as an uphill battle.

"The state of emergency affected us greatly like it affected everyone else. But on the other hand, we are people who always experience a state of emergency. We have been experiencing these difficulties since birth."

Istanbul - June 20, 2017

1. Various of transgender woman Seyhan Arman getting ready for theatre performance, applying make-up

2. Pair of shoes

Istanbul - June 15, 2017

3. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Seyhan Arman, transgender woman:

"Being an actress is what saved me. Basically, there was a path designed for me as Seyhan regarding gender identity. Acting freed me from that."

FILE: Istanbul - June 23, 2013

4. Various of pride march, participants with rainbow flags

FILE: Istanbul - June 26, 2016

5. Various of tear gas, scuffles at pride event

FILE: Istanbul - June 19, 2016

6. Wide of police officer tearing down LGBTI banner

7. Wide of people, some holding rainbow flags, walking, chanting

8. Mid of anti-LGBTI (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and /or Intersex) protester waving rainbow flag, wanting to burn it

Istanbul - June 20, 2017

9. Various of Arman on stage performing a play during Pride Week

Istanbul - June 15, 2017

10. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Seyhan Arman, transgender woman:

"The fact that the existing government is not making necessary changes to the constitution (in favour of LGBTI individuals) and the fact that there is negative discourse against us, may encourage people who are already (trans) phobic."

Istanbul - June 20, 2017

11. Various Arman putting on make-up

Istanbul - June 15, 2017

12. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Seyhan Arman, transgender woman:

"One way or another, we will continue to exist because we have been struggling for our existence for such a long time. Even if everything changes today in Turkey, our lives won't be perfect. We'll still be struggling."

Istanbul - June 15, 2017

13. Various transgender woman Deniz Sapka making tea and washing dishes in her kitchen

14. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Deniz Sapka, transgender woman: (++Identity concealed/ shot in silhouette++)

"We can't fight (for the community's visibility) that much because the state is not developing new policies in this regard (LGBTI rights) and because there is no legislation (prohibiting) discrimination, no fundamental rights and freedoms, in general working life is problematic."

Istanbul - June 23, 2017

15. Various of rainbow flag adorning US consulate in Istanbul

16. Close of rainbow flag in a bar near Taksim Square

17. Wide of flag in bar

Istanbul - June 15, 2017

18. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Deniz Sapka, transgender woman: (++Identity concealed/ shot in silhouette++)

"Violence and discrimination against us starts at birth. It starts in the family, continues at university, continues at work. Our friends who are forced to work as sex workers face this (violence and discrimination) at their places of work because they don't have a safe working environment. Of course, the state of emergency affected us greatly like it affected everyone else. But on the other hand, we are people who always experience a state of emergency. We have been experiencing these difficulties since birth."

Istanbul - June 23, 2017

19. Various of boats on the Bosporus

Binali Yildirim, the former prime minister and close associate of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who lost to Republican People's Party (CHP)'s Ekrem Imamoglu in the initial March 31 vote, has had the unusual burden of explaining to voters why the election is being repeated as well as why they should vote for him.

The 63-year-old politician running as the joint candidate of Erdogan's conservative and religious Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Turkey's main nationalist MHP party, is the last person to hold the post of prime minister after a 2017 referendum expanding the powers of the president abolished the premier's office.

Yildirim served as parliament speaker for less than a year before standing for the post of mayor.

He has projected the image of a reluctant candidate thrust to the candidacy by Erdogan and appears unable to convey a strong message.

His main task has been to try and convince traditional AK Party voters, who stayed away from the polls on March 31 to apparently punish the ruling party over an economic slump, rising food prices and other grievances, to cast their votes this time around.

As a former transport minister, Yildirim has pointed at his record of improved Istanbul infrastructure and services and has pledged uninterrupted service to Istanbul residents.

In a bid to regain Kurdish votes in the city, Yildirim visited Turkey's mainly Kurdish-inhabited city of Diyarbakir, insisting Kurds had enjoyed unprecedented freedoms and democracy under the AK Party's 17-year rule.

Istanbul - 14 June 2019

1. Binali Yildirim campaign banners, reading (Turkish) 'Ispark parking one hour free / We did it and we'll do it again'

2. Various of campaign van, sign reading (Turkish) 'We did what we said we would and we'll do it again'

3. Banner with portrait of Yildirim and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right), reading (Turkish) 'Part-time job opportunities for our youth / We did it and we'll do it again'

4. Campaign van parked by banner, ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) flags hanged along trees

5. Supporters waving Turkish and AKP flags

6. Various of billboard, reading (Turkish) 'Free 10GB internet for youth/ We did it and we'll do it again'

7. Billboards, reading (Turkish) Left: '8,000 Turkish Lira support for those getting married / We did it and we'll do it again'; Right: 'Childcare centres in 300 neighbourhoods; We did it and we'll do it again'

8. Close of billboard

9. Woman walking past AK Party and opposition billboards

Istanbul - 13 June 2019

10. Yildirim surrounded by people

11. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Binali Yildirim, ruling party candidate for Istanbul mayor:

"We'll punish them at the polls on June 23. All right? We have to own the polls in a determined way. Look, this time I won't accept any excuses. Everyone will protect the polling station they will vote and will not allow our votes to be pinched."

Istanbul - 11 June 2019

12. Various of Yildirim with his supporters

13. Yildirim stopping by a farmer's market, supporters chanting, UPSOUND (Turkish) "Mayor Binali. The mayor of Istanbul, Mayor Binali. "

14. Various of Yildirim shaking hands with his supporters

15. Man talking to women at a campaign stand, UPSOUND (Turkish) "We have to bring him to the top, altogether. Just like we've gathered here."

16. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Yildiz Sevinc, 52 year-old Yildirim supporter:

"He knows Istanbul's problems and we trust him and believe that he'll solve them. We support him."

Istanbul - 13 June 2019

17. Yildirim with his supporters at a campaign stop

18. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Binali Yildirim, ruling party candidate for Istanbul mayor:

"We're holding elections for Istanbul and we'll determine Istanbul's next five years. We want all our compatriots to fulfill this democratic responsibility, (democratic) right."

19. Yildirim surrounded by supporters

20. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Binali Yildirim, ruling party candidate for Istanbul mayor:

"Istanbul is an important city. Istanbul has important needs. We have a lot of important things to do for Istanbul."

Istanbul - 15 June 2019

21. Various of AK Party campaign tents

22. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Tas, 75 year-old Yildirim supporter:

"One of Mr. Binali's (campaign) promises is (to solve) Istanbul's traffic problem. With his previous projects he has significantly alleviated Istanbul's traffic problem and with his current and future projects, it'll be alleviated even more."

23. Various of people bundling Yildirim and Erdogan pamphlets

24. Close of pamphlet, reading (Turkish) 'We did what we said we would and we'll do it again'

The joint candidate of the opposition, for the pro-secular Republican People's Party, or CHP, and the nationalist Good Party, Ekrem Imamoglu served as mayor of Istanbul for just 18 days before the March 31st election that resulted in his stunning win was annulled and his mandate was revoked.

Instead of boycotting the re-run, the CHP decided to mount a new fight for victory which it believes was snatched from Imamoglu's hands.

The 49-year-old former contractor and district mayor is now casting the repeat election as a fight for Turkish democracy.

The soft-spoken politician is leading a campaign promising conciliation and an end to divisions in the highly polarised country and has said he wants to be the mayor of all of Istanbul's 16 million residents.

But he has also signalled that he would expose corruption within the municipality, which has been led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party and its Islamist predecessors for 25 years.

He maintains that the governing party squandered the city to make its inner circle rich and is promising social policies to lift a quarter of Istanbul residents from poverty.

With Turkey's media almost entirely dominated by pro-government outlets, Imamoglu has had to lead a grassroots campaign, walking the streets of Istanbul to reach out to voters.

He has also had to fight off attacks by pro-government media and fake news.

Opinion polls suggest that Imamoglu is a few points ahead of his rival, due in part to sympathy votes.

His popularity has soared so much that many now tout him as a possible candidate to run against Erdogan in presidential elections currently set for 2023.

Istanbul - 13 June 2019

1. Various of opposition candidate for Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu emerging from a campaign bus amid smoke, waving to supporters

2. Supporters waving flags and cheering

3. Close of a woman making a heart sign with her hands

Istanbul - 10 June 2019

4. Pan right of crowd at Imamoglu campaign rally

5. Low view of Imamoglu, UPSOUND (Turkish): "I'm crying out from here. I am coming to make Istanbul habitable for 16 million people! Sixteen million! Sixteen million!"

6. Crowd cheering, UPSOUND (Turkish): "Mayor Ekrem! Mayor Ekrem!"

7. Group of men sitting, Cemil Caliskaner giving V for Victory sign

8. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Cemil Caliskaner, ruling AK party supporter:

"They (referring to the ruling party) made him lose an election he had won (referring to Imamoglu in March 31st elections). He's won that election and they made him lose it. And as an AK (ruling Justice and Development) Party supporter, out of spite, I will now vote for Imamoglu."

Istanbul - 14 June 2019

9. Wide of Imamoglu election billboards

10. Two Imamoglu's billboards, left reading: (Turkish) "We will unite; we will integrate; we will reconcile", right reading: (Turkish) "We are this city's greater majority"

11. Wide of street with Imamoglu billboards and ruling party candidate Binali Yildirim billboards on the right

Istanbul - 17 June 2019

12. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, opposition candidate for Istanbul mayor:

"This election is to repair, to treat the oppression of democracy, the mistake against democracy, (this) conspiracy."

Istanbul - 14 June 2019

13. Man holding a banner with Imamoglu's campaign slogan, reading: (Turkish) "Everything will be great"

14. Close of Imamoglu's merchandise

15. Man waiting at a bus stop, Imamoglu graffiti on the wall behind him

16. Close of the graffiti, reading: (Turkish) "Everything will be great"

Istanbul - 17 June 2019

17. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ekrem Imamoglu, opposition candidate for Istanbul mayor:

"I believe the people of Istanbul will give the necessary response to this injustice at the polls as a result of their belief in democracy. And God willing, the victors will be Istanbul and democracy."

Istanbul - 15 June 2019

18. Various of Imamoglu banners, reading: (Turkish) "Everything will be great"

Istanbul - 10 June 2019

19. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ozge Kaya, Ekram Imamoglu supporter:

"The reason (we're voting for Imamoglu) is because we don't want the AK Party anymore. We are fed up. We're really tired of them. And we see Ekrem Imamoglu as a solution and that's why he has our vote."

Istanbul - 15 June 2019

20. Various of Imamoglu campaign tent and people approaching it

Istanbul - 14 June 2019

21. Imamoglu's banners in the street

22. Various of big banner hanging from the top of a building, with Imamoglu making the heart sign with his hands, reading (Turkish) "If there's Imamoglu, there's hope"

LEADIN:

A policeman who was ousted from Egypt has opened a restaurant in Istanbul, making Egyptian food for other Egyptians.

He has however caused controversy for choosing a political sign as the name of his restaurant.

STORYLINE:

The four fingered hand gesture of Rabaa, a sign that first appeared in 2013 after Egyptian government forces forcibly cleared a pro-Muslim Brotherhood sit-in at the Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque in Egypt.

The raid left hundreds dead, security forces among them. The sign became a way of commemorating the dead.

It became popular amongst the Muslim brotherhood and supporters of the deposed former president Mohamed Morsi. To raise four fingers means Rabaa (fourth in Arabic).

However this is not a political institution in Egypt - it's a restaurant in Istanbul.

After the military coup many Egyptians supporting the Muslim brotherhood became wanted for political cases and escaped to countries such as Turkey.

One such person was Mohamed Salah who used to be a policeman in Egypt

He escaped to Sirinevler, one of the most famous districts for Egyptians in Istanbul.

However discovering there was nowhere for Egyptians to find food from their country he decided to open a restaurant, and that's how Rabaa originated.

As well as making traditional Egyptian dishes such as koshary and mombar he tries to cater for all Arab customers.

"Well the workers in the restaurants are Egyptians, Syrians and one Palestinian brother but most of them are Syrians. However the criteria of hiring them is not their nationalities, but the priority is for Arab workers because most of our customers are Arabs. Of course, I bear in mind the Turkish customer. He comes to my restaurant and he finds the food and drink he likes, such as Ayran (a Turkish yoghurt drink)," he says.

Salah lost his job as a policeman in Cairo after the authorities found out that he opposed the military coup. He came to Turkey one year ago and ran a smaller restaurant until now. He says he chose the name Rabaa for his new restaurant because he thinks it reflects a human story.

"As for the restaurant's name, I believe the Rabaa Sign is a symbol of humanity and a beautiful icon that one likes to belong to."

However some visitors to the restaurant are suspicious of the politically charged name.

"In the beginning I objected to the name as I saw it as an exploitation of the cause. In my view it is a way to attract a certain type of people who represent the majority here in Istanbul by giving the restaurant a name they like. After a while I realised this is OK", says Islam Hagras, an Egyptian Arabic teacher living in Istanbul.

But whatever people's feelings about the name, the restaurant has enabled Egyptians to feel like they're dining back in their home country, as Salah's wife Om Assel explains.

"In general Egyptians like to feel that they are eating homemade food. They want to feel that they are in a family home eating homemade food."

Istanbul, Turkey - 19 January 2017

1. Rabaa political sign outside Rabaa restaurant

2. Wide of Rabaa restaurant

3. Rabaa political sign inside Rabaa restaurant

4. Mahmoud Enany, Egyptian student living in Istanbul sitting in Rabaa restaurant

5. Overhead of his bowl of Egyptian food (Fata and Molokhia)

6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mahmoud Enany, Egyptian student living in Turkey:

"Recently the number of Egyptians living here has significantly increased. They faced the problem of finding a restaurant which serves Egyptian food, so the opening of the restaurant was a good thing for all Egyptians here and even the non-Egyptians."

7. Mid of Mohamed Salah, Owner of Rabaa restaurant and ousted Egyptian police officer living in Turkey

8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohamed Salah, Owner of Rabaa restaurant and ousted Egyptian police officer living in Turkey:

"Well the workers in the restaurants are Egyptians, Syrians and one Palestinian brother but most of them are Syrians. However the criteria of hiring them is not their nationalities, but the priority is for Arab workers because most of our customers are Arabs. Of course, I bear in mind the Turkish customer. He comes to my restaurant and he finds the food and drink he likes, such as Ayran (a Turkish yoghurt drink)."

9. Mohamed Salah with a Syrian worker in the kitchen

10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohamed Salah, Owner of Rabaa restaurant and ousted Egyptian police officer living in Turkey:

"As for the restaurant's name, I believe the Rabaa sign is a symbol of humanity and a beautiful icon that one likes to belong to. Regarding the cuisine, we serve a variety of Egyptian street food such as koshary (pasta and rice topped with chickpeas, lentils, special tomato sauce and fried onion), mombar (stuffed beef sausage) and the like. I am planning to add pizza and pastry to the menu beside the pasta with bechamel sauce. The Egyptian families feel like they're at home when they come to the restaurant."

11. Various of Egyptian worker serving food in restaurant

12. Islam Hagras, an Egyptian Arabic teacher in Istanbul, looking at phone at the table

13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Islam Hagras, an Egyptian Arabic teacher in Istanbul:

"Actually the restaurant is good and the idea itself is even better than the food and its quality. Eating Egyptian food in Istanbul somehow takes you home. We claim that we hate Egypt but that is not right. The truth is that we come to the restaurant and eat koshary and mombar to remember Egypt."

14. Various of Hagras eating koshary

15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Islam Hagras, an Egyptian Arabic teacher in Istanbul:

"In the beginning I objected to the name as I saw it as an exploitation of the cause. In my view it is a way to attract a certain type of people who represent the majority here in Istanbul by giving the restaurant a name they like. After a while I realised this is OK. If I wanted to support a certain cause I would name something after its name. However personally if I was starting my own project I would not name it after a cause I support. But others have their choices too."

16. Mid of delivery motorcycle outside Rabaa restaurant

17. Mid of worker inside restaurant

18. Close of Koshary dish

19. Close of steam coming out of food pot

20. Chef Rashed cooking at stove

21. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Chef Rashed, Syrian working in Rabaa restaurant:

"My name is Chef Rashed. I have been working in this field for 15 years. I have wide experience in eastern and western cuisines, including the Egyptian cuisine."

22. Chef Rashed cooking at stove

23. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Om Aseel, wife of restaurant owner Mohamed Salah:

"In general Egyptians like to feel that they are eating homemade food. They want to feel that they are in a family home eating homemade food."

24. Various of Om Aseel cooking

LEAD-IN:

Leading motor brands are doing their best to dazzle potential customers at the 2015 Istanbul Autoshow.

Organisers think it could be the biggest show yet, while exhibitors are hoping a recent rise in Turkey's car sales could mean the auto industry is set for a booming year.

STORY-LINE:

The last word in luxury.

Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche - they're all here at the Istanbul Autoshow.

The year's theme is "New Wonders of the World", and more than 60 new car models are on show for the first time in Turkey.

The Istanbul Autoshow is one of the largest automotive shows in Turkey, Europe and Middle East, and looks set to grow.

This year organisers hope there will be 800,000 visitors over the show's 10 days, compared to 570,000 visitors at the last edition in 2012.

Thirty-seven exhibitors are showing off their designs in the 14 exhibition halls - that's a total of 500 different models.

The total indoor area stands at around 120,000 square metres.

The Istanbul show is competing in size with its famous counterparts in Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris and Tokyo.

It's preparing to become 'international' for its next edition in 2017, following the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) quality standards.

"It will be, we hope, 800,000 visitors in this show 2015," says Burak Gurses, the Project Marketing Coordinator at Tuyap Fairs and Exhibitions - the organisers of the car show.

"I think about a three percent of this, it will be 24,000 foreign visitors. It is not bad, it is the passing (past) year for us, it is a very critical year for us to be international."

The Istanbul show is family oriented and the majority of its visitors are Turkish.

But the organisers hope that up to three percent of visitors this year will be from abroad, compared to one percent in 2012.

"(Foreign visitors) are coming from mostly Europe, yes. We have many customers from Middle East, Russia, some of them are Asia. But most of them are European. Because you know the brands, are many brands are from Europe," says Gurses.

Egyptian visitor Marwan Abdulmajid is here on business.

He works in the textile sector and is taking his Egyptian customer to the show on their day off.

"So I am now in Istanbul because I'm working for our customers, okay. So I am coming here to see some of different cars. And I love I think cars always but sometimes we don't have time to see these beautiful cars. So that's it. We are now in the exhibition with my customers."

Figures from Turkey's Automotive Distributors Association showed a decline year-on-year in automotive sales in 2014, but earlier this year there were signs that things are picking up.

The Turkish Automotive Manufacturers Association recorded sales rising by 6.8 percent in January compared to the same month the previous year.

European company SEAT, the Spanish subsidiary of the German Volkswagen Group, says its sales in Turkey have increased by 112 percent from January to April this year.

SEAT, which partners with Dogus in Turkey, sold 12,700 units in the country in 2014, up from 11,100 units in 2013.

"Basically it's an appropriate moment for the SEAT brand to be here in the Istanbul motor show. The Turkish market has developed rapidly into a stable market of growth. Basically if you come here it is an exciting place to be. In the moment Turkey is developing so fast, the city is just amazing," says Jurgen Stackmann, the chairman of SEAT.

Middle East companies are also heading to Turkey to try their luck at expansion.

SellAnyCar, a United Arab Emirates company with headquarters in Dubai, offers car evaluations for second hand sales.

It's opened four branches in Turkey in the last year and Dealer Acquisition Executive, Bahar Cava, thinks there's room for more.

"Our centre is in Dubai, first in Dubai, then in Turkey we have four branches here," she explains.

"Three of them are in Istanbul and one of them is in Ankara. And then we are going to open many other branches in other cities."

Istanbul Autoshow 2015 is being held from May 22 to 31 at Tuyap Fair and Congress Centre, in Beylikduzu, a district in the European suburbs of Istanbul.

Istanbul, Turkey - 21 May 2015

1. Wide of visitor getting into a Porsche at the Istanbul Autoshow 2015

2. Close-up of model

3. Mid of visitor getting out of car

4. Mid of visitors looking at Porsche

5. Wide of yellow Porsche

6. Wide high angle of car with visitors crowded around

7. Mid of two models by car

8. Pan of exhibition hall

9. Wide of cars and visitors

10. Mid of Tuyap Project Marketing Coordinator, Burak Gurses, looking at exhibition hall

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Burak Gurses, Project Marketing Coordinator at Tuyap Fairs and Exhibitions:

"It will be, we hope so, 800,000 visitors in this show, 2015. And let me, I think about three percent of this, it will be 24,000 foreign visitors. It is not bad, the passing (past) year for us, it is a very critical year for us to be international."

12. Wide of red Porsche

13. Mid of model talking to visitor

14. Wide of Porsche stand

15. Mid of cars and visitors

16. Wide of visitors taking pictures of cars

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Burak Gurses, Project Marketing Coordinator at Tuyap Fairs and Exhibitions:

"(Foreign visitors) are coming from mostly Europe, yes. We have many customers from Middle East, Russia, some of them are Asia. But most of them are European. Because you know the brands, are many brands are from Europe."

Istanbul, Turkey - 25 May 2015

18. Wide of Tuyap exhibition centre

19. Wide of visitors coming out of exhibition

20. Wide of Bentley car and model

21. Close-up of model

22. Detail of wheel on Bentley

23. Detail of car decoration

24. Mid of car with model

25. Mid of two Egyptian visitors

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Marwan Abdulmajid, Egyptian visitor:

"So I am now in Istanbul because (I'm) working for our customers, okay. So I am coming here to see some of different cars. And I love, I think cars always but sometimes we don't have time to see these beautiful cars. So that's it. We are now in the exhibition with my customers."

Istanbul, Turkey - 21 May 2015

27. Wide of car at SEAT stand

28. Wide of stand

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Jurgen Stackmann, Chairman, SEAT, subsidiary of the German Volkswagen Group:

"Basically it's an appropriate moment for the SEAT brand to be here in the Istanbul motor show. The Turkish market has developed rapidly into a stable market of growth. Basically if you come here it is an exciting place to be. In the moment, Turkey is developing so fast, the city is just amazing."

30. Mid of car and model, visitors taking pictures

31. Close up of model

32. Wide of stand of UAE-based company 'SellAnyCar.com'

33. Close-up of Bahar Cava, dealer acquisition executive at SellAnyCar.com

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Bahar Cava, SellAnyCar.com Dealer Acquisition Executive:

"Our centre is in Dubai, first in Dubai, then in Turkey we have four branches here. Three of them are in Istanbul and one of them is in Ankara. And then we are going to open many other branches in all of our other cities."

35. Mid of black Lamborghini car with a model

36. Close-up of model

37. Wide of Lamborghini stand with cars

LEAD-IN:

Jewels of all shapes and sizes are wowing gem lovers at the Istanbul Jewellery Show.

Delicate diamonds and chunky gold necklaces are just some of the expensive items on show.

STORY-LINE:

A replica of Istanbul's Anatolian Fortress is the most eccentric and expensive piece at the Istanbul Jewellery Show, where Ottoman inspired pieces attract businessmen from Middle East and the rest of the world.

The golden Anatolian Fortress is valued 8 million USD.

It took 2 months to design and build the golden fortress, which is made of a total of 2,000 pieces of 24 karat gold.

The golden Anatolian Fortress is 60 centimetres (23.6 inches) high, 1.30 metres (51 inches) long and width 1.10 metres (43.4 inches).

The designers are from the Istanbul Gold Refinery company, who in previous shows in Istanbul have made a name for eccentric pieces.

Oktay Asker, Istanbul Gold Refinery product manager, says the piece weighs 200 kilos (440 pounds) and 10 artisans finished it in 20 days.

The second most expensive piece at the show is a golden mirror valued at 5 million USD.

The mirror, designed by Aylin Gozen, is inspired by nature and Art Deco and it includes dragonflies, butterflies and other nature inspired decorations - all made of diamonds, brilliants, emeralds, sapphires and rubies.

Gozen says: "The cost of the mirror that I designed is 5 million USD, including precious stones and brooches on it."

The mirror is part of an installation together with necklaces inside golden bird cages remembering Women's Day, according to its designer Aylin Gozen.

For this edition, celebrities have gathered at the show.

One of them is Caner Tanriverdi, who was elected Turkey's Best Model of the World 2014, a competition held in Turkey to select an unknown new candidate for modelling.

Tanriverdi, wearing a tradition Ottoman Emperor war dress, presented another of the most expensive pieces at the exhibition: a golden Ottoman sword inspired in Mehmed the Conqueror valued 400,000 USD.

The designer of the sword is Turkish jewellery company owner and designer Tekin Seyrekoglu.

The 40th Istanbul Jewellery Show March edition opened its doors on Thursday and is expecting 7,000 visitors for all around the world, according to organisers.

The four day event occupies more than 60,000 square metres (645,835 square feet) of exhibition space in 6 halls at the CNR Expo, also known as Istanbul Fair Centre.

For the current March edition over 1250 local and overseas exhibitors from 27 countries are displaying their products including fine gold jewellery, pearl, silver, diamonds and precious stones jewellery, and watches.

Another celebrity attending the exhibition was Spanish-Dutch actress turned designer Yolanthe Sneijder-Cabau.

Sneijder-Cabau is also famous for being the wife of Dutch soccer player Weley Sneijder, who joined Turkey's Galatasaray soccer team in 2013.

"I was born in Spain, and my mother is from Holland so I lived in Holland actually all my life. Then I moved back to Spain with my husband (soccer player Wesley Sneijder), and I went to Italy for four years, and now I live in Turkey for two years. And all the cultures and everything I went through inspired me to make this collection," she explains.

Ayhan Guner, Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association says the trend is for pieces that can be worn both on special occasions and in daily life.

"This year jewels are for people to use them the whole day. They can always be purchased not only for special occasions, but to be worn all day long. They are really fashionable now," he says.

According to the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association, the total exports for jewellery, gold, watches and precious stones increased 41 per cent to USD $ 3.1 billion.

The Eurasian country is also the world's second biggest exporter, following Italy.

The Turkish association figures show that the main customers are United Arab Emirates, followed by Iraq, United States and Russia.

But according to Ayhan, some of those countries' demand is slowing down, while countries in South East Asia are showing an increasing interest in Turkey's jewellery.

Turkey is also the third biggest producer of gold jewellery, after Italy and India, according to figures from the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association.

The jewels are on display until Sunday March 15 at the Istanbul CNR Expo Centre.

AP TELEVISION

Istanbul - 12 March 2015

1. Various of golden replica of Istanbul Anatolian Fortress, made of 2000, 24 karat gold pieces, by Istanbul Gold Refinery, valued 8 million USD

2. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Oktay Asker, Istanbul Gold Refinery product manager:

"This product (Istanbul Anatolian Fortress) is just for showcase. It weights 200 kilos (440 pounds) and 10 artisans finished it in 20 days. It costs 8 million USD."

3. Low angle of mirror by FD Diamonds, made of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphire s, valued 5 million USD

4. Close up detail on mirror

5. Tilt up of installation including mirror and jewels inside bird cages

6. Mid of mirror and bird cage containing necklace by FD Diamonds made of diamonds, valued 5,000 USD

7. Close up of a dragonfly figure on the mirror made of precious stones

8. Low angle necklace by FD Diamonds made of diamonds, valued 20,000 USD

9. Wide of mirror and cages installation with designer Aylin Gozen

10. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Aylin Gozen, Designer and member of World Diamond Council:

"The cost of the mirror that I designed is 5 million USD, including precious stones and brooches on it."

11. Various of Emperor's Sword designed by Tekin Seyrekoglu Jewellery, symbolises the sword of Mehmed The Conqueror while he conquered Constantinople, weight 8 kilos (17 pounds), length 125 cm (49 inches), valued 400,000 USD

12. Mid of best model of Turkey 2014 Caner Tanriverdi (centre) holding the sword and designer Tekin Seyrekoglu in a ceremony

13. Close up of hand holding the sword

14. Close up of Tanriverdi and a woman

15. Mid of Spanish-Dutch actress and designer Yolanthe Sneijder-Cabau, wife of soccer player Wesley Sneijder

16. Close up of Sneijder-Cabau

17. Mid of Sneijder-Cabau with bracelets she designed

18. Close up of Silver Park bracelets designed by Sneijder-Cabau, valued 40 USD each

19. Mid of Silver Park bracelets designed by Sneijder-Cabau

20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yolanthe Sneijder-Cabau, Spanish-Dutch actress and designer:

"I was born in Spain, and my mother is from Holland so I lived in Holland actually all my life. Then I moved back to Spain with my husband (soccer player Wesley Sneijder), and I went to Italy for four years, and now I live in Turkey for two years. And all the cultures and everything I went through inspired me to make this collection."

21. Wide of corridor at the jewellery show

22. Mid of visitors

23. Various of three necklaces by Aris made of diamonds valued each over 100,000 USD

24. Mid of a seller at Aris stand showing a set of jewellery made of black diamonds valued in total over 100,000 USD

25. Various of set of jewellery composed of necklace, earrings and ring

26. Mid of Ayhan Guner, Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association meeting with visitors

27. Close up of Guner

28. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Ayhan Guner, Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association:

"This year jewels are for people to use them the whole day. They can always be purchased not only for special occasions, but to be worn all day long. They are really fashionable now."

29. Close up of ring by ON Diamonds made of 17 karat tanzanite and 6 karat diamonds valued 48,411 USD

30. Mid of ON Diamonds seller showing ring

31. Wide of Bag Jewellery stand showing pieces of gold jewellery

32. Close up of Bag Jewellery necklace made of 75 grams gold 21 karats gold - valued at 3,200 USD

33. Close up of bracelet by Bag Jewellery made of 150 grams 21 karats gold - valued at 7,000 USD

34. Detail of bracelet

35. Mid of model showing huge necklace by Yeteroglu Jewellery made of gold 14 karats weight 2,5 kilos valued 150,000 USD

36. Close up of golden sign of peace by Yeteroglu in necklace made of gold 14 karats 350 grams valued over 25,000 USD

37. Mid of necklace and sign of peace

Crowds have been lining the streets of Istanbul to watch a parade marking Republic Day.

The Republic of Turkey was founded 91 years ago by soldier-tuned-politician Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

It came as the country emerged from its imperial days under the Ottoman Empire, following its collapse during World War I.

Pomp, ceremony and stamping feet.

Bands parade through the streets of Istanbul.

This parade is marking the 91st anniversary of the foundation of modern Turkey.

On 29 October 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a military officer who fought against the British in Gallipoli, founded the modern Turkish Republic - which would be based on democracy, secularism, nationalism and equality for women.

Mehmet Karli, Professor of law at Galatasary University says Mustafa and his followers "changed the political system."

"On the 29th of October, they declared the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, therefore, the end of the Ottoman Empire and the end of the Ottoman Dynasty. But of course, the declaration of Republic, and following reforms, the republican reforms, they are not solely, they are not only about a change of governmental system," he adds.

But reforms brought in by the pro-Islamic Justice and Democracy Party (AKP), which has been in power for more than a decade, have left some in society questioning whether values of the Republic of Turkey have been eroded.

"There is a certain reaction within certain sections of society as against the policies of the present government. AKP has been in power for the last 12 years, and it has become clear that they are promoting different values than the ideals of Republic," says Karli.

"The ideals of Republic, I just tried to describe them, secularism, westernisation, equal role for the women, a peaceful and pacifist policy in its region and respecting the equality of other states in its region, and all these things. Those were the republican ideals, and a lot of people feel that those ideals are under attack by the AKP government."

Dignitaries salute the crowds gathered here in Istanbul including 1st Army Commander, Salih Zeki Colak; Istanbul's governor, Vasip Sahin; and Istanbul's mayor, Kadir Topbas.

AP Television

Istanbul, Turkey - 29 October 2014

1. Wide of march, band from air force academy

2. Close-up of boots marching

3. Pan left across march, pull out

4. Mid of audience

5. Mid of marching band of Kuleli Military High School

6. Close-up of faces, Commander of the 1st Army, Salih Zeki Colak (left); Istanbul governor, Vasip Sahin (middle); Istanbul mayor, Kadir Topbas (right), in background

7. Wide of march of students from naval high school

8. Close-up of boots marching

9. Various of infantryman

10. Various of tanks

11. Wide of students from Istanbul High School marching

12. Close-up of students

13. Mid of military brass band

14. Wide of marching band of Fatih Female Anatolian Religious Vocational High School

15. Mid of marching band of International Fatih Sultan Mehmet Religious Vocational High School

16. Mid of march of Turkish World Research Foundation

++NIGHT SHOTS++

17. Various of Mehmet Karli stood on balcony of office

18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mehmet Karli, Professor of law, Galatasary University:

"Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his followers, they changed the political system in Turkey 91 years ago, and on the 29th of October, they declared the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, therefore, the end of the Ottoman Empire and the end of the Ottoman Dynasty. But of course, the declaration of the Republic, and following reforms, the republican reforms, they are not solely, they are not only about a change of governmental system."

19. Cutaway of hands

20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mehmet Karli, Professor of law, Galatasary University:

"There is a certain reaction within certain sections of society as against the policies of the present government. AKP has been in power for the last 12 years, and it has become clear that they are promoting different values than the ideals of the Republic. The ideals of the Republic, I just tried to describe them, secularism, westernisation, equal role for the woman, a peaceful and pacifist policy in its region and respecting the equality of other states in its region, and all these things. Those were the republican ideals, and a lot of people feel that those ideals are under attack by the AKP government."

21. Various of audience at parade

22. Wide of Commander of the 1st Army, Salih Zeki Colak (left); Istanbul governor, Vasip Sahin; Istanbul mayor, Kadir Topbas saluting the crowds from a military jeep

INTERNATIONAL MODEST FASHION WEEK TAKES OFF IN TURKEY

Turkey's first International Modest Fashion Week has opened in Istanbul, attracting designers and models of conservative wear from around the world.

The two-day event kicked off Friday (13 MAY 2016) with models showcasing a bright palette of breezy garments and kaleidoscopic headscarves at a historic train station.

Organizers said 70 designers are taking part in the event which is hosted by Modanisa, an online retailer of Muslim fashion based in Turkey.

"Istanbul Modest Fashion Week is the biggest modest fashion event in Istanbul," says Franka Soeria - an organizer, consultant and international director of the event.

"We are going to gather 70 brands in Istanbul. Not only brands, we have bloggers and sponsors, buyers, media, everybody is going to be here. We expect around 10, 000 people coming to the event in two days."

Soeria, who is from Indonesia and also a fashion writer, has noticed a lot of interest in Turkish modest fashion.

"Everybody is curious about Turkey, because people say it's a big market. Yes, but not too many international modest fashion people know what is it about," she explains.

"The first time I came to Turkey I didn't know that Turkey has really good modest fashion. So I was writing in my column, I said, 'You need to come to Turkey, you need to see,' and everybody was asking, 'Is there any international modest fashion event in Istanbul or in Turkey?' And I said, 'Unfortunately not yet.' So that's when this idea came. I'm so excited because everybody waits already."

Modanisa CEO Kerim Ture says the aim of the event is "to create a mainstream fashion out of modest fashion and to energize the Islamic communities to produce for the Muslim women."

Istanbul, 13 May 2016

1. Various shots fashion show

Istanbul, 9 May 2016

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Franka Soeria, organizer, consultant and international director of Istanbul Modest Fashion Week:

"Istanbul Modest Fashion Week is the biggest modest fashion event in Istanbul. We are going to gather 70 brands in Istanbul. Not only brands, we have bloggers and sponsors, buyers, media, everybody is going to be here. We expect around 10,000 people coming to the event in two days."

Istanbul, 13 May 2016

3. Wide shot Franka Soeria thanking the audience during the first show

4. Medium shot Soeria thanking the audience UPSOUND (English): "We hope it's going to be the global platform of modest fashion."

Istanbul, 9 May 2016

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Franka Soeria, organizer, consultant and international director of Istanbul Modest Fashion Week:

"Everybody is curious about Turkey because people say it's a big market. Yes, but not too many international modest fashion people know what it is about. The first time I came to Turkey, I didn't know that Turkey has really good modest fashion. So I was writing in my column, I said, 'You need to come to Turkey, you need to see,' and everybody was asking, 'Is there any international modest fashion event in Istanbul or in Turkey?' And I said, 'Unfortunately not yet.' So that's when this idea came. I'm so excited because everybody waits already."

Istanbul, 13 May 2016

6 . Various shots fashion show

Istanbul, 9 May 2016

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Franka Soeria, organizer, consultant and international director of Istanbul Modest Fashion Week:

"There is a group, they say, 'OK, modest fashion is not Islamic enough,' or whatever. What I know is by the time you choose the fabric of your hijab or by the time you choose the color of your abaya, you're already doing fashion."

Istanbul, 13 May 2016

8. Various shots fashion show

Istanbul, 9 May 2016

11. Various shots Modanisa CEO Kerim Ture and Soeria during a meeting

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Kerim Ture, Modanisa CEO:

"It's gathering the world here to create a mainstream fashion out of modest fashion and to energize the Islamic communities to produce for the Muslim women."

Istanbul, 13 May 2016

13. Various shots fashion show

LEADIN

Gold is the star attraction at the Istanbul Jewellery Show.

Jewellers say more people are buying it as a safe investment at a time of political and economic turmoil in Turkey.

STORYLINE

The most expensive piece at the Istanbul Jewellery Show dazzles under the show's lights.

This 12.5 kg ingot made of 24 carat gold by the Istanbul Gold Refinery is valued at 500,000 US Dollars.

Jewellers here say gold buying is on the up as people see it as a safe investment at a time of political and economic turmoil in Turkey.

It comes as recent terror attacks have damaged the value of the Turkish Lira and the wider jewellery sector, in a country which has long been the main exporter of jewellery in the Middle East.

Kaan Gozum, Sales Manager at Nadir Doviz, says he's noticed a huge spike in sales of gold bars especially:

"There is more or less 25 per cent of increase in selling gold, gold bars of 22 carats, as far as I know", he says.

It's no surprise visitors to the show are also drawn to this eye catching Trojan Horse, covered in 5 kilograms of gold and valued at 200,000 US Dollars.

"It (the Trojan horse) took 3 months to be finished by 8 to 10 workers", explains Izzet Yilmaz, Manufacture Manager of the Istanbul Gold Refinery.

In the jewellery hall, the star of the show is a ring called The Energy of Life and Love, by Zen Diamonds. It's valued at 275,000 US Dollars, the most expensive piece of jewellery at the exhibition.

"It has a 7 carat stone in the centre and about 200 stones, 200 diamonds on the sides. Here you can see, it is about one carat and it totals 8 carats", says Zen Diamonds Communications Manager, Sinem Aksoyler,

One of the more unusual pieces at the show is a 1.75 kg scarf made of gold by LIgora Gold, valued at 60,000 US Dollars.

But not all that glitters is gold in the world of Turkish jewellery.

Figures from the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association show that exports showed a 7.4 per cent decrease in value in 2016 as foreign investors were made uneasy by terror attacks and political upheaval.

Ayhan Guner, Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters' Association, says turmoil in the country has also had an impact on the local market but not manufacturing:

"Local market has decreased by 30 per cent since last year. But manufacture hasn't been affected. Last year manufacture only decreased 8 to 9 per cent compared to the previous year. In terms of manufacture, the market hasn't been affected, so this year there has been an increase of 42 per cent. But regarding the local market, investors have been feeling uneasy for a little while".

In terms of trends that emerged from this year's exhibition Guner says the younger generation and their tastes are now the main focus:

"The new generation prefer to use casual products in their daily life. They don't use jewellery which would be worn at a wedding. Today everybody buys jewellery they can use in their daily life", he says.

The Istanbul Jewellery Show is a twice a year event which draws around 800 exhibitor brands from the Middle East, Europe and Asia. It's on until 19 March at Istanbul's CNR Expo.

Istanbul, Turkey - 16 March 2017

1. Close of two gold ingots by Istanbul Gold Refinery: (left) 24 carat gold ingot 12.5 kg (valued 500,000 US Dollars), (right) 24 carat gold ingot 1 kg (valued 40,000 US Dollars)

2. High angle of gold ingots

3. Mid of refinery worker pointing at gold ingots in glass case

4. Mid of gold ingots in display case

5. Wide of Nadir Doviz stand and Sales Manager Kaan Gozum meeting visitors

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kaan Gozum, Sales Manager, Nadir Doviz:

"There is more or less 25 per cent of increase in selling gold, in gold bars and in 22 carats, as far as I know."

7. Wide of Trojan Horse by Istanbul Gold Refinery, covered in 5 kilograms of gold and valued at 200,000 US Dollars

8. Tilt down of Trojan Horse

9. Mid of Trojan Horse head

10. Close of Trojan Horse head

11. Wide of Trojan Horse

12. Wide of visitors having photos taken with Trojan Horse

13. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Izzet Yilmaz, Manufacture Manager of Istanbul Gold Refinery

"It (the Trojan horse) took 3 months to be finished by 8 to 10 workers. It is covered by 5 kilograms of gold. Its price is approximately 200,000 US dollars."

14. Close of The Energy of Life and Love ring by Zen Diamonds, made of 200 diamonds (8 carats) and valued at 275,000 US Dollars

15. Mid of ring by Zen Diamonds

16. Hands holding up ring by Zen Diamonds

17. Mid of woman putting ring on finger

18. Close of ring

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinem Aksoyler, Zen Diamonds Communications Manager:

"It (the ring) has a name, and it is The Energy of Life and Love. It has a 7 carat stone in the centre and about 200 stones, 200 diamonds on the sides. Here you can see, it is about one carat and it totals 8 carats."

20. Various of visitors at Istanbul Jewellery Show

21. Mid of several jewellery pieces by Atasay Jewellery

22. Close of necklace by Atasay made of 83 carat diamonds and 18 carat gold, valued at 100,000 US Dollars

23. Close of hands holding necklace

24. Mid of hands holding necklace

25. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Zuhal Ozcan, Marketing Manager of Atasay Jewellery:

"We have prepared a necklace as Atasay. It is decorated with 83 carat stones and 18 carat gold. We worked on this necklace for two months. During the process, we chose the whitest diamonds in order to enhance its brightness. Therefore we designed this necklace with the most special stones."

26. Low angle of Gold Scarf by Ligora Gold, made of 22 carat gold, weight 1,75 kg, valued at 60,000 US Dollars

27. Close of scarf

28. Mid of scarf

29. Wide of diamond sellers and customers at Lizay Jewellery

30. Mid of sellers and customers

31. Mid of hands showing ring by Lizay Jewellery, made of 2.50 carat diamonds, valued at 26,000 US Dollars

32. Close of ring

33. SOUNDBITE (English) Yeliz Serbes, owner of Lizay Jewellery:

"This is a five-stone diamond ring, it has all diamonds on it, it is almost 2.50 carats. It has H.B.S. (Antwerp brand), 2 diamond quality and its price is 26,000 (US) dollars."

34. Close up to necklace by Zen Diamonds made of green emerald and white diamonds valued at over 20,000 US Dollars

35. Mid of necklace

36. Mid of several sets of jewellery by Zen Diamonds

37. Mid of necklace by Zen Diamonds made of blue sapphire and white diamonds, valued at over 20,000 US Dollars

38. Close of necklace

39. Wide of Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association, Ayhan Guner meeting with visitors in a hall

40. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ayhan Guner, Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association:

"Local market has decreased by 30 per cent since last year. But manufacture hasn't been affected. Last year, manufacture only decreased 8 to 9 per cent compared to the previous year. In terms of manufacture, the market hasn't been affected, so this year there has been an increase of 42 per cent. But regarding the local market, investors have been feeling uneasy for a little while. I think we will get over these issues. I hope it keeps going this way. Terror is the worst thing in Turkey. We don't want terrorism anywhere in the world."

41. Wide of jewels on display at Zen Diamonds

42. Close of necklace by Zen Diamonds inspired by Ottoman design, made of 3 carat rose cut diamonds, valued at 8,000 US Dollars

43. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ayhan Guner, Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association:

"The new generation prefer to use casual products in their daily life. They don't use jewellery which would be worn at a wedding. Today everybody buys jewellery they can use in their daily life."

44. Various of female musicians

LEADIN

Gold is the star attraction at the Istanbul Jewellery Show.

Jewellers say more people are buying it as a safe investment at a time of political and economic turmoil in Turkey.

STORYLINE

The most expensive piece at the Istanbul Jewellery Show dazzles under the show's lights.

This 12.5 kg ingot made of 24 carat gold by the Istanbul Gold Refinery is valued at 500,000 US Dollars.

Jewellers here say gold buying is on the up as people see it as a safe investment at a time of political and economic turmoil in Turkey.

It comes as recent terror attacks have damaged the value of the Turkish Lira and the wider jewellery sector, in a country which has long been the main exporter of jewellery in the Middle East.

Kaan Gozum, Sales Manager at Nadir Doviz, says he's noticed a huge spike in sales of gold bars especially:

"There is more or less 25 per cent of increase in selling gold, gold bars of 22 carats, as far as I know", he says.

It's no surprise visitors to the show are also drawn to this eye catching Trojan Horse, covered in 5 kilograms of gold and valued at 200,000 US Dollars.

"It (the Trojan horse) took 3 months to be finished by 8 to 10 workers", explains Izzet Yilmaz, Manufacture Manager of the Istanbul Gold Refinery.

In the jewellery hall, the star of the show is a ring called The Energy of Life and Love, by Zen Diamonds. It's valued at 275,000 US Dollars, the most expensive piece of jewellery at the exhibition.

"It has a 7 carat stone in the centre and about 200 stones, 200 diamonds on the sides. Here you can see, it is about one carat and it totals 8 carats", says Zen Diamonds Communications Manager, Sinem Aksoyler,

One of the more unusual pieces at the show is a 1.75 kg scarf made of gold by LIgora Gold, valued at 60,000 US Dollars.

But not all that glitters is gold in the world of Turkish jewellery.

Figures from the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association show that exports showed a 7.4 per cent decrease in value in 2016 as foreign investors were made uneasy by terror attacks and political upheaval.

Ayhan Guner, Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters' Association, says turmoil in the country has also had an impact on the local market but not manufacturing:

"Local market has decreased by 30 per cent since last year. But manufacture hasn't been affected. Last year manufacture only decreased 8 to 9 per cent compared to the previous year. In terms of manufacture, the market hasn't been affected, so this year there has been an increase of 42 per cent. But regarding the local market, investors have been feeling uneasy for a little while".

In terms of trends that emerged from this year's exhibition Guner says the younger generation and their tastes are now the main focus:

"The new generation prefer to use casual products in their daily life. They don't use jewellery which would be worn at a wedding. Today everybody buys jewellery they can use in their daily life", he says.

The Istanbul Jewellery Show is a twice a year event which draws around 800 exhibitor brands from the Middle East, Europe and Asia. It's on until 19 March at Istanbul's CNR Expo.

Istanbul, Turkey - 16 March 2017

1. Close of two gold ingots by Istanbul Gold Refinery: (left) 24 carat gold ingot 12.5 kg (valued 500,000 US Dollars), (right) 24 carat gold ingot 1 kg (valued 40,000 US Dollars)

2. High angle of gold ingots

3. Mid of refinery worker pointing at gold ingots in glass case

4. Mid of gold ingots in display case

5. Wide of Nadir Doviz stand and Sales Manager Kaan Gozum meeting visitors

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kaan Gozum, Sales Manager, Nadir Doviz:

"There is more or less 25 per cent of increase in selling gold, in gold bars and in 22 carats, as far as I know."

7. Wide of Trojan Horse by Istanbul Gold Refinery, covered in 5 kilograms of gold and valued at 200,000 US Dollars

8. Tilt down of Trojan Horse

9. Mid of Trojan Horse head

10. Close of Trojan Horse head

11. Wide of Trojan Horse

12. Wide of visitors having photos taken with Trojan Horse

13. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Izzet Yilmaz, Manufacture Manager of Istanbul Gold Refinery

"It (the Trojan horse) took 3 months to be finished by 8 to 10 workers. It is covered by 5 kilograms of gold. Its price is approximately 200,000 US dollars."

14. Close of The Energy of Life and Love ring by Zen Diamonds, made of 200 diamonds (8 carats) and valued at 275,000 US Dollars

15. Mid of ring by Zen Diamonds

16. Hands holding up ring by Zen Diamonds

17. Mid of woman putting ring on finger

18. Close of ring

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinem Aksoyler, Zen Diamonds Communications Manager:

"It (the ring) has a name, and it is The Energy of Life and Love. It has a 7 carat stone in the centre and about 200 stones, 200 diamonds on the sides. Here you can see, it is about one carat and it totals 8 carats."

20. Various of visitors at Istanbul Jewellery Show

21. Mid of several jewellery pieces by Atasay Jewellery

22. Close of necklace by Atasay made of 83 carat diamonds and 18 carat gold, valued at 100,000 US Dollars

23. Close of hands holding necklace

24. Mid of hands holding necklace

25. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Zuhal Ozcan, Marketing Manager of Atasay Jewellery:

"We have prepared a necklace as Atasay. It is decorated with 83 carat stones and 18 carat gold. We worked on this necklace for two months. During the process, we chose the whitest diamonds in order to enhance its brightness. Therefore we designed this necklace with the most special stones."

26. Low angle of Gold Scarf by Ligora Gold, made of 22 carat gold, weight 1,75 kg, valued at 60,000 US Dollars

27. Close of scarf

28. Mid of scarf

29. Wide of diamond sellers and customers at Lizay Jewellery

30. Mid of sellers and customers

31. Mid of hands showing ring by Lizay Jewellery, made of 2.50 carat diamonds, valued at 26,000 US Dollars

32. Close of ring

33. SOUNDBITE (English) Yeliz Serbes, owner of Lizay Jewellery:

"This is a five-stone diamond ring, it has all diamonds on it, it is almost 2.50 carats. It has H.B.S. (Antwerp brand), 2 diamond quality and its price is 26,000 (US) dollars."

34. Close up to necklace by Zen Diamonds made of green emerald and white diamonds valued at over 20,000 US Dollars

35. Mid of necklace

36. Mid of several sets of jewellery by Zen Diamonds

37. Mid of necklace by Zen Diamonds made of blue sapphire and white diamonds, valued at over 20,000 US Dollars

38. Close of necklace

39. Wide of Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association, Ayhan Guner meeting with visitors in a hall

40. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ayhan Guner, Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association:

"Local market has decreased by 30 per cent since last year. But manufacture hasn't been affected. Last year, manufacture only decreased 8 to 9 per cent compared to the previous year. In terms of manufacture, the market hasn't been affected, so this year there has been an increase of 42 per cent. But regarding the local market, investors have been feeling uneasy for a little while. I think we will get over these issues. I hope it keeps going this way. Terror is the worst thing in Turkey. We don't want terrorism anywhere in the world."

41. Wide of jewels on display at Zen Diamonds

42. Close of necklace by Zen Diamonds inspired by Ottoman design, made of 3 carat rose cut diamonds, valued at 8,000 US Dollars

43. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Ayhan Guner, Chairman of the Turkish Jewellery Exporters Association:

"The new generation prefer to use casual products in their daily life. They don't use jewellery which would be worn at a wedding. Today everybody buys jewellery they can use in their daily life."

44. Various of female musicians

LEAD IN:

From multi sensory lighting to 3D printed clothing, tech inspired designs are the focus of Design Week Turkey.

The four day event is a first for Istanbul and is already attracting international designers.

STORY-LINE:

Design Week Turkey opened its doors on Wednesday (19th October 2016) kicking off with the world renown Italian lamp designer, Patrick Rampelotto famed for his trophy lamps.

Other international names as Finnish designer Minna Parikka and London-based designer and architect Daniel Widrig, who worked with the late Zaha Hadid, are also exhibited.

Widrig is bringing its 3D printed space inspired steel chairs to the exhibition. Parikka is participating in conferences.

But an influx of new designers are bringing the novelties to Istanbul's very first design week.

Marco Stefanelli, from The Boxer Design in Turin, is the designer of "Multisensory Design Lamp."

"This lamp is made of cedar wood and resin. Multi-sensory design because we watch it, of course it is a lamp, we touch it, we sit on it also. But to manage, to turn on and turn off this lamp we have to touch it. Like this."

The lamp is valued 165,000 US dollars.

Amr Ezzeldinn, is the Egyptian co-founder architect of Ezgat, Milano, and designer of 3D print fashion clothes. He believes visiting traditional shops will soon be a thing of the past.

"This is a 3D printed dress, ok? Which we are pushing the boundaries to discover how the clothing of the future will be. So basically there will be a scanner, you can scan your body, to understand the measures, send the measures, and the scan after that will send you a model in which fits exactly your body, and you can buy it from your home, print it and wear it," he says.

But costs would need to be a little less exclusive if he wanted to break into the mass market. Right now each item of clothing is unique and costs on average 3,300 US dollars

Ezzeldinn hopes that the more popular 3D printed clothing gets, the cheaper it will become.

German designer Lilien Stenglein has brought her smart yoga suit to Istanbul. Stenglein is the designer and founder of Lilien Finess Design, Germany, producing yoga Electrocouture designs.

"The yoga suit for the Digital Yogi, the specialty for this yoga suit is that it actively helps to open up the chakra points and it has special smart textiles incorporated which are highlighted with the only created laser cutting mesh so we are using a lot of technology," she says.

The suits are tailored and made using silver - prices are anything up to 2,700 US dollars.

According to the organisers, a total of 40 international designers are participating in the exhibition with their products or through conferences, together with more than 50 Turkish designers.

"Istanbul is a unique platform. Istanbul is bringing the ideas from Eastern culture and Western culture. It really really connects every part, I mean, from North to South from East to West. So in design perspective you can see a lot of different and unusual consumer attitudes," says Sertaç Ersayin, President, Industrial Designers Association of Turkey

The most popular Turkish designers are working on furniture and coffee machines, according to the Industrial Designer Association of Turkey.

Design Week Turkey is being held at the Lutfi Kirdar Exhibition Centre in Istanbul from October 19 to 23 2016.

Istanbul, Turkey, 19 October 2016

1. Close up to a lamp made of trophies designed by Patrick Rampelotto, whose lamps are valued around 1,000 US dollars

2. Wide of lamps by Rampelotto

3. Close up to a lamp by Rampelotto made up of trophy

4. Wide of Rampelotto's stand at the Design Week Turkey exhibition

5. Close up to Rampelotto's lamp

6. Wide of lamps hanging on a wall

7. Close up lamps

8. Wide of "multisensory" lamps by The Boxer Design

9. Close up "multisensory" lamp by Marco Stefanelli (The Boxer Design)

10. Mid of lamps by Marco Stefanelli

11. Mid of designer Marco Stefanelli switching on "multisensory" lamp

12. Close up to hands switching on lamp by touching

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Marco Stefanelli, The Boxer Design, Turin (Italy) designer of "Multisensoring Design Lamp":

"This lamp is made of cedar wood and resin. Multisensory design because we watch it, of course it is a lamp, we touch it, we sit on it also. But to manage, to turn on and turn off this lamp we have to touch it. Like this."

14. Wide of 3D "Spacestream" chair by Daniel Widrig design studio, made by steel, RC 6 Research Project (with Stefan Bassing, Someen Hahm, Wenjian Yang, Shaoru Wang, Shan Zhen, Mengying Li)

15. Close up to Spacestream chair

16. Wide of Daniel Widrig's chair

17. Mid of 3D fashion dress design by Amr Ezzeldinn

18. Close up of 3D fashion design by Ezzeldinn

19. Wide of mannequins wearing Ezzeldinn's 3D fashion designs

20. Close up mannequins

21. Low angle of mannequin

22. Mid of Ezzeldinn with mannequins

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Amr Ezzeldinn, Egyptian co-founder architect of Ezgat, Milano (Italy), designer of 3D print fashion clothes:

"This is a 3D printed dress, ok? Which we are pushing the boundaries to discover how the clothing of the future will be. So basically there will be a scanner, you can scan your body, to understand the measure, send the measures, and the scan after that will send you a model in which fits exactly your body, and you can buy it from your home, print it and wear it."

24. Mid of mannequin with 3D printed dress

25. Wide of mannequins

26. Close up to Kanin Ludvig Lofgren design of a rabbit

27. Mid of rabbit

28. Wide of yoga suit Digital Yogi made of fabric and silver, valued each on about 2,700 US dollars

29. Tilt down of yoga clothes

30. Wide of yoga clothes designer Lilien Stenglein

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Lilien Stenglein, designer and founder of Lilien Finess Design, Germany, producing yoga electro-couture designs:

"The yoga suit for the Digital Yogi, the specialty for this yoga suit is that it actively helps to open up the chakra points and it has special smart textiles incorporated which are highlighted with the only created laser cutting mesh so we are using a lot of technology."

32. Wide of Fashion designs using traditional arts crafts by Turkish designer Sebnem Gunay

33. Close up to Gunay's dress detail using traditional Turkish technique Needle lace

34. Close up to Gunay's dress detail using traditional Turkish technique Needle lace

35. Mid of Gunay's dresses using Turkish traditional needle lace

36. Mid of dress by Turkish designer Neslihan Comez using traditional glass blowing technique

37. Close up to dress

38. Wide of dresses by Tugce Demiran using traditional Turkish passing thread

39. Mid of dress by Demiran

40. Wide of corridor at exhibition

41. Close up to mannequins

42. Wide of children's bed with car shape by Çilek Design Hub

43. Wide of car-bed

44. Mid of car-bed

45. Wide of president of Industrial Designers Association of Turkey Sertaç Ersayin

46. SOUNDBITE (English) Sertaç Ersayin, President, Industrial Designers Association of Turkey:

"Istanbul is a unique platform. Istanbul is bringing the ideas from Eastern culture and Western culture. It really really connects every part, I mean, from North to South from East to West. So in design perspective you can see a lot of different and unusual consumer attitudes."

46. Close up to a Turkish coffee machine design

47. Wide of coffee machine stand

48. Wide of Bosphorus

49. Wide of Istanbul skyline overseeing the Bosphorus