Izmir

Firefighting forces in Kordelio and the outskirts of Izmir, Turkey, along with hundreds of volunteers, fought throughout the night against the flames to prevent the fire from spreading further into the urban areas.

A forest fire in Turkey's western coastal province of Izmir, fanned by strong winds, is near residential areas, forcing some people to be evacuated, the local governor said on Friday, as firefighters also tried to contain other wildfires in the north.

Archaeological excavations at Ayasuluk Hill, the first settlement of Ephesus in the Selçuk district of İzmir, have unearthed two different floor coverings from earlier periods on the southern cross arm of the St. Jean Church.

A large number of graves have also been discovered during the excavations around the church.

Excavations have resumed at the 20,000-person Smyrna Theater, located on the outskirts of Kadifekale in the western province of İzmir's Konak district.

Turkey's talks with state-controlled Abu Dhabi Port (ADP) to set up a joint venture for operating rights of the Aegean port of Izmir are continuing, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

In December, Reuters reported that Abu Dhabi was interested in buying a stake to operate Izmir Port, in a possible deal that could be valued at about $500 million.

The Pan-Pontian Federation of Greece issued a statement at the weekend about a song sung by a Turkish-Cypriot singer Isin Karaca during an event organized in the central square of Komotini in northwestern Greece on August 4 as an "unacceptable provocation" and a "direct insult," as it references the destruction of Smyrna.

The annual subsidence of the ground in İzmir by 1 to 1.5 centimeters is exacerbating the rise in sea level beyond the global average, imperiling certain areas of the Aegean coastal city with the risk of submersion, an expert has said.

Archaeological excavations carried out in the ancient city of Smyrna in İzmir have unearthed figures and objects with Egyptian civilization influences.

A car accident in Usak, western Turkey, resulted in the death of one Greek national and injured two others on Thursday morning. 

According to Turkish media, the rented car carrying three Greek citizens overturned. The driver lost control on the Izmir-Ankara highway, causing the vehicle to fall into a ditch. 

The 13th Alaçatı Herb Festival, held in the western province of İzmir's Çeşme district this year, has witnessed vibrant scenes with the participation of hundreds of thousands of people.