Osman Zolan

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has officially declared that Murat Kurum, the former environment, urbanization and climate change minister, will be his Justice and Development Party's (AKP) candidate for the mayoral seat in Istanbul.

The Presidential Symphony Orchestra has given a concert at the 2,200-year-old historic theater in the Aegean province of Denizli's ancient city of Laodicea.

More than 15,000 people attended the concert at the ancient theater on June 23, hosted by the provincial governor's office and the municipality.

Bad weather conditions around Turkey also affect archaeological excavations at ancient cities. The work in Laodicea, which normally continues throughout the year, is on hiatus until March Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Laodicea, located in the western province of Denizli, have been put on hiatus until March 1 over cold and rainy weather conditions in the region.