The New Nation - Internet Edition

Children theatre festival

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

“Children are future of the country. Their mental development is very urgent for their physical development. Drama can help them to provide such kind of development. With this realisation Peoples Theatre Association (PTA) started its journey on January 1, 1990. It provides parallel education for the children for their psychological development. As a result, they (children) can explore their knowledge and education through drama,” said Liaquat Ali Lucky, actor, Presidium Member of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, Secretary General of PTA and Director of Loko Natyadal, at the 9th National and 1st International Children and Youth Theatre Camp at Shawkat Osman Memorial Auditorium of the National Public Library in the capital.

The fortnight festival was concluded on June 20. Over six thousand enthusiastic child actors from all across the country participated in the festival. Over one hundred members of PTA staged plays. The organisers claimed it as the biggest festival of its kind in the country.

The theatre festival began at the same venue aimed at promoting secular spirit and sound atmosphere for proper grow up of the children.

Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury inaugurated the biggest theatre event for children on June 6.

The PTA organised the festival in association with SIDA, Swedish ITI, Art Venture and ActionAid.

Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Former Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, Ramendu Majumdar, International Theatre Institute worldwide Vice President, M Hamid, President of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, eminent theatre professional SM Mohsin, Golam Quddus, General Secretary of Sammilita Sanskritk Jote, and eminent actor Asaduzzaman Noor addressed the inaugural function.

Rasheda K Chowdhury said, “This festival and theatre camp will encourage children to promote themselves in future. We had such atmosphere during our childhood, but we could not ensure that for our children. We must do it.”

Prof Zillur said, “Cultural activities can help a child in growing up mentally. This festival will create such an opportunity for children.”

A total of 125 children’s theatre troupes from different parts of the country as well as from India participated in this mega event of children’s theatre. The show started at 4.30pm every day.

Besides Bengali children, ethnic minority and underprivileged child actors performed at the festival. Moreover, two troupes from India staged plays.

Through dramatic presentations the child actors addressed different social issues such as discrimination and child rights. A few plays emphasised on ethics and morality. Many plays featured pure entertainment for children.

Besides children, the parents attended the festival as well. In this sense the festival had an impact on the society as a whole, as the parents also realised the necessity for better care of their offspring. To encourage the child actors the leading actors and singers of the country also attended the performances.

A youth camp, an ethnic minority camp and a seminar were also included. Moreover, enthusiastic children performed dance recitals at the festival.

Eminent educationist Mustafa Nurul Islam was present as chief guest at the closing ceremony on June 20.

Theatre personalities Ataur Rahman, SM Mohsin and Jhuna Chowdhury were special guests on the occasion. The discussion was presided over by Liaquat Ali Lucky, secretary general of PTA.

The main attraction of the closing ceremony was the award giving ceremony. A total of 102 child actors were given the 'Manchakuri’ award.

'Manchamukul’ award went to Gulnar Ferdaus Sultana and 'Manchoshena’ award went to Yasmin Ali. Pradip Newazi received best playwright award for children’s plays and Deepankar Dipan received the best director award.

Best organiser award and best oraganisation awards went to Tariquzzaman Tarique and Bandhumahal Shilpi Shangstha, Gazipur respectively. For his contribution to children’s education, artist Hashem Khan received the prestigious Children Theatre Award.

Treats for the feet

Farizaa Sabreen

Feet tolerate the load of our body's full weight, but many of us neglect to take care of them. Many women feel embarrassed to wear sandals due to their ugly feet.

Keep your feet healthy and beautiful, because, it only takes a few minutes of your day. With a simple routine, you can have pretty feet all year round.

Exercise is very important for your feet. Walk barefoot on grass stimulate your feet. A pedicure in a month is not enough. You need to take care regularly. Moisturize your feet regularly. Pedicure has become the essential extravagance in beauty world.

There's nothing better than a relaxing footbath to wash away the stresses of the day. A footbath is a wonderful way to reinstate your feet.

Sit back, relax and let your feet soak in warm water for around 15 minutes. Add a little salt and shampoo to the bucket and soak your feet for 10 minutes. Scrub heels with a pumice stone. Lastly, massage in foot cream and go to bed feeling relaxed!

If you have corns, ingrown toenails and athlete's foot consult your doctor.

Some shoes look fabulous, but they are not always good to your feet. Choose your shoes carefully and pick the right size and comfortable one.

Clean off old nail polish using a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover. Cut nails straight across using toenail clippers. File for smoothing any rough edges. Apply a clear base coat to help keep your nails from absorbing the pigments from the polish, two coats of colour and a clear topcoat.

By taking care of your feet, you'll improve your overall world of beauty.

You wear it or not, but you should agree jewelry for feet looks great. We wear rings, bangles, bracelets, earrings, necklaces or chains so why not anklets or toe rings?

Wear a toe rings or anklet and you're sure to get some attention. It's a great way to show off your beautiful feet, too.

Feet adornment has achieve a new height. Now, there is some jewelry that can perk up your feet. Jewelry decorated feet adds allure and a little seductive touch to your feet.

You can wear it at office, home and even at party. Choosing foot jewelry is fun when there's so much sterling jewelry.

When people will look down at your toes, you'll feel proud. There's nothing elegant than some gleaming foot jewelry.

You become astonished to see the wide range of innovative and attractive foot jewelry is in the market. They come in almost all materials, like, plastic, bead, rubber, precious and semi-precious stones and in vibrant and matching colours with your attire.

Choose the right one, which suits with your personality. Woman of all ages like to wear this type of feet jewelry. But teenagers like it most.

Toe rings range in price from Tk. 15 to Tk.150; anklets run from Tk.20 to Tk.200.

The next time you slip a few toe rings on and look down to admire how attractive they make your feet look.

Toe rings are current fashion accessories. They are common now, and delicately appealing. The rings come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You will definitely like them all and couldn't make up your mind to buy which one is the best.

When you wear a toe ring, show your new pedicure or emphasize your neat toes. Egyptians like to decorate their feet with exquisite jewelry. The Western world get familiar with toe rings in the mid-1960s, when travelers to India and the Middle East brought the fashion back to the United States with them. Some Hindu women, a toe ring is more than just an ornament. Because, it symbolizes the sacredness of the marital bond and it is her wedding ring.

Anklets adds punch and drama and you can mix them up. Multicoloured anklets just make your feet more attractive.

Anklet is analytic of the fashion trends. They can be suitable with saris, salwar-kamiz as well as skirt-tops or trousers.

Anklets are common and popular in our country from many days. It is originated in the Middle East, though ankle jewelry has been worn throughout history in many societies. Dancers in the Pacific Rim islands often wore anklets of small shells and coins when they performed.

The sound of the anklet is erotic and touchy. One cannot, but fell in love with the sweet sound of anklet. The charming anklet is also a great gift for your spouse.

Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a necessary part of the human diet. Our bodies cannot make Vitamin C, nor to they store vitamin C and so it's essential that you get some vitamin C every day. Interestingly our inability to create Vitamin C is a genetic defect that developed sometime in the past and spread through the human population.

It's important for its role in the production of collagen in the body. Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in the body and it's a big part of cartilage, ligaments, teeth, and bones. It's also responsible for skin elasticity and strength. Without Vitamin C our body can't effectively make Collagen and thus our tissues grow weak and easy to damage, leading to a condition known as Scurvy. You can die from this but it's unlikely to develop with today's diet. Vitamin C is also a part of the production of dopamine, noradrenalin and adrenaline in the nervous system. Dopamine is critical for the brain's ability to control movement and a lack of dopamine will give symptoms similar to those shown in Parkinson's disease. It's the chemical that helps us to experience pleasure. Whenever we do something good, like eating, the brain will release a little dopamine into the body as a form of positive reinforcement. A lack of it is thought to play a role in many neurological disorders.

Noradrenalin, a.k.a. Norepinephrine plays a large role in the brains ability to focus and concentrate and it's used in combination with other chemicals to treat ADHD. Noradrenalin is a transporter of Dopamine in the brain and doctors use it to treat patients with Depression.

Adrenaline, a.k.a. Epinephrine is a part of the body's fight or flight response and when the brain releases it your heart rate increases, pupils dilate and blood sugar level increases. Large doses of this chemical over time can suppress your immune system, luckily the brain usually knows when and how much to secrete.

Lastly but not least Vitamin C is a water soluble antioxidant. It helps to support the immune system by attaching to free floating radicals in the body that can damage cells, which are eventually flushed from the system. Free radicals can cause a variety of illnesses, the best known of which is Cancer. There is much controversy over the optimum dosage of Vitamin C. The FDA recommends that people get 60mg a day, but it's been shown that those who are ill, pregnant or under stress can make use of higher dosages. That's why it's so popular to take Vitamin C when you are sick. The Vitamin C foundation suggests 3000mg daily for those who are exceptions to the norm. If you take a lot of Vitamin C and aren't sick you're likely to develop painful urination and diarrhea as your body flushes unused, unneeded Vitamin C from its system, and what's the point in that.

Principles for living a simpler life

1. Know your top three priorities. Whether that's family, faith, and work or fun, food and friends, you'll make better time decisions when your values are straight in your mind.

2. Make your priorities a priority. It's one thing to talk the talk. Walk the walk, too, and let your commitments reflect your values.

3. Always move forward. A balanced life isn't static; it's keeping a secure hold on your values, goals, and dreams while you grow, learn, change, and love.

4. Be honest with yourself. Your gut (not to mention your conscience!) knows what it's talking about; listen up when it's telling you something.

5. Know your limits. "No" is the right response when the request doesn't fit in with your life priorities--no guilt required.

6. Let go when you can't be in control. When you can't change something, don't waste time worrying: work around it or forget about it.

7. Face chores cheerfully. No matter how well you prioritize your time, mundane tasks go with the territory. Embrace the everyday, and time will fly.

8. Spend smartly. Everything you buy is a direct result of the time you spend working. Make sure your hours are purchasing something worthwhile.

9. Love your home. A space that provides sanctuary and gives you pleasure is essential for your well-being.

10. Take time for yourself. You'll never find time to simplify your life if you don't give it to yourself.

7 Exercise and Fitness Myths

Every workout has its legend-weight lifting can make women too bulky, aerobics burns fat better than resistance training and weight loss can be achieved in seven days or less if you drink the right formula.

Some myths stick around, hinder your workout and maybe even put you in danger. Let's dispel them.

To get fit, you need an organized physical fitness routine. Actually, not true. If your life has lots of action, if you love to walk your dog, play Frisbee with your neighbors and work in your large garden, you're probably getting cardiovascular workouts and resistance training without resorting to gyms. Exercise counts, in whatever form it takes.

2. Weight lifting is the same thing as resistance training. Some people avoid resistance training because they don't like weight machines and feel uncomfortable dealing with weights and barbells. But you can also do resistance training with large rubber bands, using the weight of your own body to provide the resistance. You can also work with an exercise ball to increase stability and work out your large and small muscles without lifting weights.

3. Cardio isn't enough to make you fit. Cardio work is good for increasing your aerobic capacity and for fat burning. If you add strength training into the mix, you increase your muscle mass, which in turns causes increases in your fat burning capacity. But cardio can include exercises that strengthen and tone, and if you engage in a cardio workout three or four times a week, you may not necessarily need additional weight training to be fit.

4. Weight lifting makes women bulky. This myth has been perpetuated by the fact that the women weight lifters we see on TV are bulky; but that's because they want to be! It takes a lot of effort for a woman's muscles to acquire bulk-special diets, particular exercises and focused attention on the goal of being a body builder. Women who work out normally using weights will in fact see their muscles become smoother and tighter, looking long and lean, not bulky or bunchy.

5. Discipline means sticking with your routine-even through plateaus. There's a lot to be said for discipline, but when you hit a workout plateau, it's time to change your exercise routine. Programs that work for a few months may start to lose their effect after awhile, often because your level of fitness has increased to the point that you need more challenges or difference exercises to increase the work of your muscles. If your workout has become tedious or you're not seeing the same gains you have previously, consult with a trainer and see about changing your routines.

6. Being overweight is bad for your health. That depends. Your weight may be higher than average because you have more muscle, not necessarily because you're fat. If you're a few pounds over what the weight charts say you should be, calculate your Body Mass Index instead of relying on an outmoded weight chart. You can't rely on a chart to indicate your health: consider your aerobic capacity, your strength and endurance, and the way you feel.

7. To be fit, you have to join a gym. Lots of people join gyms and then don't go to them, or go to them, but socialize instead of working out. You can achieve great levels of physical fitness at home, either with training machines, weight training, exercise videos, or even just walking five days a week. You don't have to fork out gym fees to be in excellent health, to lose weight or to get stronger.

Tips for New Supervisors

So you've been promoted, congratulations! You're beginning a journey, where you'll discover things about yourself that you've never known. You'll learn how to set boundaries with employees and motivate your team to improve their performance. You'll learn how to deal with challenging personalities. And, you'll learn how to develop a staff.

At times you may feel lonely. At others you'll want to throw in the towel. Many supervisors feel isolated because of the stressors of their job. You may not have someone you can vent to. You may not understand how to handle office politics. Even if you've been a highly regarded employee, moving into the role of supervisor changes everything.

Prepare yourself for this new role. Many managers are not trained for supervisory positions. Unless you have taken management courses or have an MBA you're probably not equipped for the job. Here are a few tips to help you succeed in your new position.

Find a Mentor

Look for someone that you can share your frustrations with. Some supervisors can turn to other managers in their workplaces or to his or her boss. However, small business owners or managers who work offsite may not have this luxury. If this is the case, you can find mentors through your local chamber of commerce or other business networking groups in your area.

Talk with friends who have been long-term supervisors. The key is to speak with someone who has been doing this for a few years. Supervisors who are not cut out for the job will typically leave their positions quickly.

Get Training

Increase your knowledge by attending management training seminars or classes for first time supervisors. These courses can teach you strategic planning, and the dos and don'ts of management.

Set Boundaries

Being a good supervisor is similar to that of being a good parent. Your role is to help people to develop, to grow and to be better employees. You are a guide.

Confusing this role with friendship or trying to buddy up with employees will cause trouble when you need to set rules and limits. Some managers like go out for a few drinks with their staff. Then when they have to criticize an employee's work, they have trouble because they can't separate business from personal relationships.

It's very difficult to separate work and friendship; very few people are talented enough to do this. This doesn't mean that you can't socialize at all. But, be careful to separate yourself from your staff.

Sometimes this boundary causes supervisors to feel lonely. So how do you deal with it? Buddy up with other supervisors at your office or others in the industry.

Be a Role Model

Remember your actions will come back to haunt you! Let's say you have an employee who comes in late everyday. Yet, you do the same. This makes it very hard for you to talk to your employee about his or her tardiness. The staff member will bring your actions back to you. Remember the phrase "do as I say, not as I do?"

Don't Push Too Hard

Don't try to prove yourself too soon. Some new managers think they have to achieve many goals quickly in order to have their staff respect them. In the beginning, don't try to change a lot of things. Observe, plan what you want to change, talk to staff about it, and then take action. Try and include staff feedback as much as possible. This creates team building and gives employees a sense of ownership in their jobs.

Communication

Communicate, communicate, and communicate! Don't assume that people know what you want. Tell them what you expect. Some of the best times to let people know what you expect of them are during the interview process or on the employee's first day on the job. If your employees are already on board, have a meeting and tell them how you operate. Ask them how they think things are going and what they would like to improve.

Time Management

You say you are already successful at this? Well, things will change. Now there will be constant interruptions and people constantly asking you for things. Prioritizing what to handle first can be hard because now you're dealing with people's emotions and personalities. They may think their needs are the priority. You'll have to help them rethink this as you now have many needs to fulfill including your boss's!

The world of supervision can open or close many doors. The outcome depends on how you operate as a person. How you deal with others will determine whether you'll be a success or not.

At a glance: Historical places of Turkey

Sultan Ahmed Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is a historical mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1299 to 1923). The mosque is one of several mosques known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has become one of the greatest tourist attractions of Istanbul

History

The old Hippodrome of Constantinople with the Blue Mosque on the left side. Painting by Jean-Baptiste van Mour, first half of 18th century Old photo of the Blue Mosque, taken before I 895After the humiliating Peace of Zsitvatorok and the unfavourable result of the wars with Persia, Sultan Ahmed I decided to build a large mosque in Istanbul to placate Allah. This would be the first imperial mosque in more than forty years. Whereas his predecessors had paid for their mosques with their war booty, Sultan Ahmed I had to withdraw the funds from the treasury, because he had not won any notable victories. This provoked the anger of the ulema, the Muslim legal scholars.

The mosque was to be built on the site of the palace of the Byzantine emperors, facing the Hagia Sophia (at that time the most venerated mosque in Istanbul) and the hippodrome, a site of great symbolic significance. Large parts of the southern side of the mosque rest on the foundations, the vaults and the undercrofts of the Great Palace. Several palaces, already built on the same spot, had to be bought (at considerable price) and pulled down, especially the palace of Sokollu Mehmet Para, and large parts of the Sphendone (curved tribune with U-shaped structure of the hippodrome).

Construction of the mosque started in August 1609 when the sultan himself came to break the first sod. It was his intention that this would become the first mosque of his empire. He appointed his royal architect Sedethar Mehmet Aga, a pupil and senior assistant of the famous architect Sinan as the architect in charge of the construction. The organization of the work was described in meticulous detail in eight volumes, now in the library of the Topkapi Palace. The opening ceremonies were held in 1617 (although the gate of the mosque records 1616) and the sultan was able to pray in the royal box (hilnkar mahfil). But the building wasn't finished yet in this last year of his reign, as the last accounts were signed by his successor Mustafa I.

The most important element in the interior of the mosque is the mihrab, which is made of finely carved and sculptured marble, with a stalactite niche and a double inscriptive panel above it. The adjacent walls are sheathed in ceramic tiles. But the many windows around it make it look less spectacular. To the right of the mihrab is the richly decorated minber, or pulpit, where the Imam stands when he is delivering his sermon at the time of noon prayer on Fridays or on holy days. The mosque has been designed so that even when it is at its most crowded, everyone in the mosque can see and hear the Imam.

The royal kiosk is situated at the south-east comer. It comprises a platform, a loggia and two small retiring rooms. It gives access to the royal loge in the south-east upper gallery of the mosque. These retiring rooms became the headquarters of the Grand Vizier during the suppression of the rebellious Janissary Corps in 1826. The royal loge (htinkar mahfil) is supported by ten marble columns. It has its own mihrab, that used to be decorated with a jade rose and gilt and one hundred Qurans on inlaid and gilded lecterns.

The many lamps that light the interior was once covered with gold and gems. Among the glass bowls one could find ostrich eggs and crystal balls. All these decorations have been removed or pillaged for museums.

The Topkapi Palace (Turkish:

Topkapi Sarayi)(I) is a palace in Istanbul, Turkey, which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans, from 1465 to 1853. The palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist attraction today. The name directly translates as "Cannongate Palace", from the palace being named after a nearby, now lost gate. Initial construction started in 1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople. The palace is a complex made up of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. At the height of its existence as a royal residence, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people, formerly covering a larger area with a long shoreline. The complex has been expanded over the centuries, with many renovations such as for the 1509 earthquake and 1665 fire. Topkapt Palace gradually lost its importance at the end of the 17th century, as the Sultans preferred to spend more time in their new palaces along the Bosporus. In 1853, Sultan Abdiil Mecid I decided to move the court to the newly built Dolmabahe Palace, the first European-style palace in the city. Some functions, such as the imperial treasury, the library, mosque and mint, were retained though. After the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1921, Topkapi Palace was transformed by government decree on April 3, 1924 into a museum of the imperial era. The Topkapt Palace Museum is under the administration of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The palace complex has hundreds of rooms and chambers, but only the most important are accessible to the public today. The complex is guarded by officials of the ministry as well as armed guards of the Turkish military. The palace is full of examples of Ottoman architecture and also contains large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, as well as a display of Ottoman treasure and jewelry.

Site

Byzantine remains in the Second Courtyard. The palace complex is located on the Seraglio Point (Sarayburnu), a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara, with the Bosphorus in plain sight from many points of the palace. The site is hilly and one of the highest points close to the sea. During Greek and Byzantine times, the acropolis of the ancient Greek city of Byzantion stood here. There is an underground Byzantine cistern, located in the Second Courtyard, which was used throughout Ottoman times, as well as remains of a small church, the so-called Palace Basilica on the acropolis have also been excavated in modem times. The nearby Church of Hagia Eirene, though located in the First Courtyard, is not considered a part of the old Byzantine acropolis.

Initial construction

After the Ottoman conquest and the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II found the imperial Byzantine Great Palace of Constantinople largely in ruins.(2] The Ottoman court initially set itself up in the Old Palace (Eski Sarayi), today the site of Istanbul University. The Sultan then searched for a better location and chose the old Byzantine acropolis, ordering the construction of a new palace in 1459. It was originally called the New Palace (Yeni Sarayi) to distinguish it from the previous residence. It received the name "Topkapl" in the 19th century, after a (now lost) Topkapl Gate and shore pavilion.

Layout

Sultan Mehmed II established the basic layout of the palace. The highest point of the promontory he_ used for his private quarters and innermost buildings.[3] From the innermost core various building and pavillions surrounded it and grew down the promontory towards the shore of the Bosphorus. The whole complex was surrounded by high walls, some of which dated backto the Byzantine acropolis. This basic layout governed the pattern of future renovations and extensions. By an account of the contemporary historian Kritovolous of Imbros the sultan also took care to summon the very best workmen from everywhere - masons and stonecutters and carpenters. For he was constructing great edifices which were to be worth seeing and should in every respect vie with the greatest and best of the past. For this reason he needed to give them the most careful oversight as to workmen and materials of many kinds and the best quality, and he also was concerned with the very many and great expenses and outlays."

Accounts differ as to when construction of the inner core of the palace started and was finished. Kritovolous gives the dates 1459-1465, other sources suggest a finishing date in the late 1460's.

Contrary to other royal residences which had strict master plans, such as Schonbrunn Palace or the Palace of Versailles, Topkapi Palace developed over the course of centuries, with various sultans adding and changing various structures and elements. The resulting asymmetry is the result of this erratic growth and change over time, although the main layout by Mehmed II as still preserved. Most of the changes occurred during the reign of Sultan Suleyman from 1520-1560. With the rapid expansion of the Ottoman Empire, Suleyman wanted the growing power and glory to be reflected in his residence. New buildings were constructed or enlargened, The chief architect responsible in that period was the Persian Alaiiddin, also known as Acem Ali.He was also responsible for the expansion ofthe Harem.

In 1574 a great fire destroyed the kitchens. Sinan was entrusted by Sultan Selim II to rebuilt the destroyed parts expanded them, as well as the Harem, baths, the Privy Chamber and various shoreline pavilions. By the end of the 16th century the palace acquired its present appearance.

The palace is an extensive complex with an assortment of various low buildings constructed around courtyards, interconnected with galleries and passages, rather than a single monolithic structure. Almost none of the buildings are higher than two stories. Interspersed are trees, gardens and water fountains, to give a refreshing feeling to the inhabitants and provide places where they could repose. The buildings enclosed the courtyards, and life revolved around them. Doors and windows faced towards the courtyard, in order to create an open atmosphere for the inhabitants as well as provide for cool air during hot summers.

The palace compound when seen from a birds-eye view has the shape of a rough rectangle, divided into four main courtyards and the harem. The main axis is from south to north, the outermost (first) courtyard starting at the south with each successive courtyard leading up north. The first courtyard was the one that was most accessible, while the innermost (fourth) courtyard and the harem were the most inaccessible, being the sole private domain of the sultan. The fifth courtyard was in reality the most outer rim of the palace grounds bordering the sea. Access to these courtyards was restricted by high walls and controlled through gates. Apart from the four to five main courtyards, various other mid-sized to small courtyards exist throughout the complex. The total size of the complex is around 592,600 square meters.

Sepet~iler Palace (foreground), Topkapi Palace in the back. The southern and western sides border the large former imperial flower park, today Giilhane Park. Surrounding the palace compound on the southern and eastern side is the Sea of Marmara. Various related buildings such as small summer palaces (kasn), pavilions, kiosks (koskii) and other structures for royal pleasures and functions formerly existed at the shore in area also known as the Fifth Courtyard, but have since disappeared over the course of time due to neglect and the construction of the shoreline railroad in the 19th century. However, the last remaining structure of the outer limits that still exists today is Sepetciler Palace, constructed in 1592 by Sultan Murad III. Thus the total area size of Topkapl Palace was in fact much larger than what it appears today.

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia (Greek: Ayia Loq>ta; "Holy Wisdom", Turkish: Ayas of Ya, Latin:

Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum, in Istanbul, Turkey. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until the completion of the Medieval Seville Cathedral in 1520.

The current building was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 AD on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, and was in fact the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to occupy the site (the previous two had both been destroyed by riots). It was designed by two architects, Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. The Church contained a large collection of holy relics and featured, among other things, a 50 foot (15 m) silver iconostasis. It was the patriarchal church of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the religious focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly 1000 years.

In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque. The bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many of the mosaics were eventually plastered over. The Islamic features - such as the mihrab, the minbar, and the four minarets outside - were added over the course of its history under the Ottomans. It remained as a mosque until 1935, when it was converted into a museum by the Republic of Turkey.

For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia served as a model for many of the Ottoman mosques such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque of Istanbul), the Sehzade Mosque, the Slileymaniye Mosque, and the Riistem Pasha Mosque.

Although it is sometimes referred to as Saint Sophia (Greek for wisdom), the Greek name in full is Nao<; Tf||<; A.yta<; 'Wu 0wu Loq>ta<;, Church of the Holy Wisdom of God, and it was dedicated to the Holy Wisdom of God rather than a specific saint named Sophia.

First church

As often happened in those days, the site was selected because there had been a pagan temple there.(2] The church was built next to the area where the imperial palace was being developed and next to the smaller church Hagia Eirene, finished first and acting as cathedral until the Hagia Sophia was completed. The Hagia Sophia was inaugurated by Constantius II on 15 February 360. Both churches acted together as the principal churches of the Byzantine Empire.

Second church

The patriarch of Constantinople, John Chrysostom, came into a conflict with Empress Aelia Eudoxia, wife ofthe Emperor Arcadius and was sent into exile on 20 June 404. During the subsequent riots, this first church was largely burned down. A second church was ordered by Theodosius II, who inaugurated it on 10 October 405. The fire that started during the tumult of the Nika Revolt resulted in the destruction of the (second) Hagia Sophia, which burned down to the ground on 13-14 January 532.

Third church

On February 23,532, only a few days after the destruction of the second basilica, Emperor Justinian I took the decision to build a third and entirely different basilica, larger and more majestic than its predecessors. Justinian chose the physicist Isidore of Miletus and the mathematician Anthemius of Tralles as architects; Anthemius, however, died within the first year. The construction is described by the Byzantine historian Procopius' On Buildings (De Aedificiis). The emperor had material brought over from all over the empire, such as Hellenistic columns from the temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Large stones were brought from far-away quarries: porphyry from Egypt, green marble from Thessaly, black stone from the Bosporus region and yellow stone from Syria. More than ten thousand people were employed during this construction. This new church was immediately recognized as a major work of architecture, demonstrating the creative insights of the architects. They may have used the theories of Heron of Alexandria to be able to construct a huge dome over such a large open space. The emperor, together with the patriarch Eutychius, inaugurated the new basilica on December 27,537 with much pomp and circumstance. The mosaics inside the church were, however, only completed under the reign of Emperor Justin II (565-578).

Mosque

The mihrab located in the apse where the altar used to stand, pointing towards Meccalmmediately after the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, the Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque. At that time, the church was very dilapidated. Several of its doors had fallen off. This condition was described by several Western visitors, such as the C6rdoban nobleman Pero Tafur (5) and the Florentine Cristoforo Buondelmonti. (6) The sultan Mehmed II ordered the immediate cleanup of the church and its conversion to a mosque. The next sultan Bayezid II built a new minaret, replacing the one built by his father.

In the 16th century the sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) brought back two colossal candles from his conquest of Hungary. They were placed on both sides of the mihrab. During the reign of Selim II (1566-1577), the building started showing signs of fatigue and was extensively strengthened with the addition of structural supports to its exterior by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, who is also considered one of the world's first earthquake engineers. In addition to strengthening the historic Byzantine structure, Sinan built the two additional large minarets at the western end of the building, the original sultan's loge, and the mausoleum of Selim II to the southeast of the building (then a mosque) in 1577. The mausoleums of Murad III and Mehmed III were built next to it in the 1600s.

Zaman, the newspaper

Turkey is increasingly becoming involved in world affairs, more than ever before, thanks to growing relations with the European Union, globalization, intercultural interactions and increasing economic and political interdependency among countries.

Global conflicts and tensions are growing and spreading, making communication among different societies, cultures, religions and languages necessary. Granted that Turkey is not immune to this process, we felt the need to establish a new mass media source that ensures credible news, objective analysis and trustworthy information for those interested in the country's social, economic, cultural and political development.

Today's Zaman, with an open-minded and visionary perspective, was born out of this necessity as an English-only newspaper in 2007. Within a year of its launch, Today's Zaman became the mortcirculating English-language newspaper in Turkey, scoring substantial distance from its closest competitor. Its excellence was also confirmed by the presentation of 21 awards in the Society for News Design's (SND) annual "The Best of Newspaper Design Creative Competition." Today's Zaman won an "Award of Excellence" in the contest in 2008, following closely some of the world's most prestigious newspapers, such as the New York Times and the Guardian.

Today's Zaman is filled with national and international news in the fields of business, diplomacy, politics, culture, arts, sports and economics, in addition to commentaries, specials and features.

Today's Zaman is published six days a week in full 20-page color and features a weekend edition on Sunday (Sunday's Zaman) with a different look and feel. Its weekend edition focuses on in-depth analyses, commentaries, op-eds, features and specials on cultural and social events and items on leisure and entertainment.

The Zaman conglomerate s unique home delivery system gives Today's Zaman a distribution area that no other English-language daily in Turkey could hope to compete against.