AEGEAN SEA

Turkish authorities have rejected Greece's claims that a rubber dinghy full of migrants were escorted by two Turkish boats in the Aegean Sea out of Turkey's territory, by publishing footage debunking the allegations.

Coast Guard units rescued 54 irregular migrants off Balıkesir province in western Turkey.

Coast Guard elements were informed that dozens of migrants were stranded on rubber boats off Altınova neighborhood in Balıkesir and launched a rescue operation.

The Turkish Coast Guard rescued a total of 65 asylum seekers off Muğla and Aydın provinces in 24 hours.

Turkish coast guard units rescued 46 irregular migrants in two different locations off the coasts of Marmaris district in the Aegean province of Muğla after they were pushed back into Turkey's territorial waters by the Greek authorities.

Fishermen have caught a swordfish in Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait after approximately half a century since it was last seen in Turkish waters.

"It is good news to learn that an endangered species is seen in Istanbul Strait," Nuray Erkan, a professor from Istanbul University's Hydrology Faculty, told the daily Milliyet on Oct. 15.

A 2,000-year-old altar has been unearthed in northwestern Turkey near the town of Ezine in Çanakkale province, archeologists said on Oct. 9.

A hall with a podium, temple, odium, and bathhouse were among the remains that have survived to the present day in the ancient city of Alexandria Troas, an area near the Aegean Sea.

Migrants are suffering sometimes-violent illegal pushbacks carried out by special police units at the EU's borders, especially Greece and Croatia, an investigation published on Oct. 6 by media including Germany's Der Spiegel found.

Europeans must honor their commitments to Turkey as part of a migration deal signed in 2016, the Greek minister for migration and asylum said on Oct. 4. 

Notis Mitarachi said the EU-Turkey migration deal must be implemented by both sides to manage the refugee flows and stem illegal trafficking in the Aegean Sea.

Thousands of people gathered on Oct. 3 in Washington, D.C. for an annual event that offers a sampling of Turkish culture, food and music.

The 19th Annual Turkish Festival, organized by the American Turkish Association of Washington D.C., included live music, folk dance performances, fortune telling and cultural events.

Greece's prime minister said on Sept. 27 that he has no intention to enter into an arms race with Turkey. 

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sept. 24 that he would make every effort to seek cooperation with Turkey. 

Mitsotakis' remarks came during an address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York where he said Greece always wants to keep the channels of dialogue open with Turkey, and Athens does not want tensions that occurred last year to reoccur.