Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Türkiye.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Metropolitan Municipality Opens Foça Tea Garden in Fethiye
The opening of the new Foça Tea Garden by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality took place on Saturday.
The Foça Tea Garden was built on an area of 250 square meters and cost 2 Million 655 Thousand TL. The gardens are a meeting point for citizens with its indoor and outdoor seating areas, kitchen, service area, environmentally friendly rainwater harvesting system, pavement and landscaping arrangements.
The opening ceremony was attended by Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr Osman Gürün.
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/buyuksehir-fethiye-de-foca-cay-bahcesi-ni-acti/73111/
Fethiye Showcases Potential at Germany Tourism Fair
Fethiye took center stage at the ITB Berlin Fair, held in Berlin, Germany, from March 5-7, 2024. This prestigious event, under the umbrella of the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and with significant contributions from Fethiye Municipality and the Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTSO), became a pivotal moment for Fethiye’s tourism sector.
With the world’s eyes on ITB Berlin, a hub for tourism professionals, country leaders, and travel aficionados, the Fethiye delegation, led by prominent figures such as FTSO Board Member Emre Başaran and TÜRSAB Batı Akdeniz BTK President Özgen Uysal, engaged in critical bilateral meetings. These discussions, especially with tour operators, are anticipated to significantly influence Fethiye and Seydikemer’s tourism prospects for 2024. The fair not only facilitated face-to-face interactions but also provided a platform to showcase Fethiye’s rich historical and touristic sites, signaling a promising future for the region’s tourism industry.
FTSO Chairman Osman Çıralı expressed optimism about Fethiye’s participation in the fair, highlighting the positive outcomes from previous events and the strategic importance of ITB Berlin for the region. The negotiations with tour operators are expected to boost reservations and introduce new flights, aiming to extend the tourism season in 2024 for Fethiye and Seydikemer. Çıralı’s confidence is buoyed by the encouraging feedback from Germany, emphasizing the concerted efforts of the municipality and all stand participants in achieving these goals.
Fethiye departed from ITB Berlin with renewed vigor and strategic partnerships, and the region stands on the brink of a transformative era in tourism. The collective efforts of local and national stakeholders reflect a shared vision for a prosperous tourism future, promising an exciting and vibrant chapter ahead for Fethiye and the broader Turkish tourism industry.
Türkiye marks International Women’s Day
Cities across Türkiye witnessed a large number of events and marches marking International Women’s Day on March 8, with the country honoring strong women achieving numerous successes in various fields, while also seeking ways to address the escalating issue of femicide.
Chanting slogans and carrying banners calling for an end to femicides, thousands of women took to the streets in well-attended organization notably in Istanbul, the capital Ankara and the western province of İzmir. Some participants carried photos of victims. Another group gifted flowers to women passing through the bustling streets throughout the day.
During the week, several women’s rights organizations held panels to disseminate awareness about domestic violence, while in some provinces, female law enforcement officers toured rural areas to provide awareness training on violence against women.
At least 403 women were killed in Türkiye last year, most of them by current or former spouses and other men close to them, according to the We Will Stop Femicides Platform.
So far this year 71 women have been killed in the country, including seven on Feb. 27 — the highest known number of such killings there on a single day.
Simultaneously, panels in various sectors advocated for the amplification of women’s roles in traditionally male-dominated fields, with the Foreign Ministry organizing a panel on the influence of women in diplomacy.
Throughout the week of Women’s Day, successful Turkish women who made headlines last year with their achievements were also celebrated, including Canan Dağdeviren, who made BBC’s list of the most influential women with her invention of an electronic bra for early detection of breast cancer, Merve Dizdar who won best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival and the “Sultans of the Net,” Türkiye’s national women’s volleyball team that won the European championship last September.
MÜSIAD celebrates Woman’s Day with ’23 Women in Century of Türkiye’
The Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSIAD) Women, a top business association in Türkiye, unveiled the book “23 Women in the Century of Türkiye” on International Women’s Day, sharing the inspiring stories of 23 successful women from diverse fields. This initiative aims to inspire the upcoming generation of women who will influence Türkiye’s future by sharing the extraordinary stories of influential women pivotal in defining the nation’s authentic essence.
Addressing the meeting, MÜSIAD Women’s President Meryem Ilbahar Koca said, “Women are the cornerstone of society. We know and believe that in political and social life without women, there can be no talk of societal progress. As President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed, we also believe that the ‘Century of Türkiye’ will be the century of women. The strength of Türkiye is the strength of women.”
“We wanted to bring together the stories of 23 remarkable women who have made significant contributions to the development and growth of our country, both those still with us and those who have passed away, and who have pioneered in various fields. None of them has reached where they are easily; they have overcome challenging paths but continued to pursue their ideals without deviating from their beliefs,” she added.
Sources: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkiye-marks-international-womens-day-191448
İzmir taxi driver’s killer sentenced to life in prison
A 19-year-old assailant who fatally shot taxi driver Oğuz Erge in İzmir has been sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment in a case that has sent shockwaves through society.
Delil Aysal was also handed an additional 17 years and eight months in prison for charges including aggravated manslaughter, aggravated plunder and carrying an unlicensed weapon.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Jan. 31 when Aysal hailed Erge’s taxi, directing him through various neighborhoods. Upon reaching their destination around 3:30 a.m., Aysal fired three shots at Erge before robbing him of his phone and earphones.
Surveillance footage from the taxi revealed Erge’s compassionate gesture towards Aysal, explaining that he wouldn’t normally accept passengers at such late hours but was reluctant to leave him out in the cold.
The assailant, disguised with a face mask and hood, left Erge with the chilling words, “You shouldn’t trust some people.”
The driver was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries on Feb. 1, as confirmed by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. Simultaneous police actions led to Aysal’s arrest, with the weapon used in the crime seized.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with taxi drivers lamenting the lack of personal safety in their line of work. In a show of solidarity, around 250 taxi drivers escorted Erge’s body to the forensic medicine institute morgue in İzmir, where they applauded in tribute to their fallen colleague.
Initially, Aysal denied premeditated robbery and assault, claiming the incident was “spontaneous.”
Since the murder, taxi drivers have been rallying for enhanced safety measures, advocating for mandatory bulletproof cab walls in vehicles to protect against violent attacks.
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/izmir-taxi-drivers-killer-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-191461
1 in 3 Turkish cities grapple with climate crisis
One third of Türkiye’s 81 provinces are embroiled in the formidable repercussions of the climate crisis, with the country’s northern region grappling with grave risk of floods that escalates ever year, according to research cited by daily Milliyet.
The doctoral thesis by Dr. Duygu Bütün from Amasya University’s Urban and Regional Planning Department underscored that 30 cities are ensnared in either “very high” or “high” climate risk categories. Notably, Amasya and Tokat in the north, Mersin and Kahramanmaraş in the south, Kayseri in central Anatolia and Muş and Ağrı in the east are identified as the most vulnerable regions.
The research accentuated a comparable jeopardy for the northern expanse of the country, particularly during the vernal and autumnal seasons, marked by fatal meteorological calamities. Furthermore, 25 urban centers are ensconced under the specter of “high” or “very high” flood risks, with a plethora of pivotal infrastructural investments—including an airport, 11 power plants, and 273 hospitals—teetering on the precipice of inundation.
The study suggested that a substantial 40 percent of Türkiye’s provinces exhibit a heightened susceptibility to flooding. Istanbul, the country’s sprawling metropolis boasting a populace of 15 million, and the capital Ankara confront an imminent threat of scorching heatwaves.
Another facet of climate vulnerability scrutinized in the study is drought, with 30 out of 81 provinces confronting an elevated risk thereof.
Additionally, these 30 provinces host numerous species that are classified as endangered on the “red list.”
“Species already at risk may face even greater threats with the burgeoning frequency and intensity of drought events,” the study warned.
The southeastern provinces of Batman and Şırnak emerge as the most vulnerable provinces to drought due to their agricultural-centric economy and high levels of unemployment and poverty rates.
‘Winter to be more unstable’
Last month was the warmest February on record globally, the ninth straight month of historic high temperatures across the planet as climate change steers the world into “uncharted territory,” Europe’s climate monitor said yesterday.
Similarly, climate scientist İhsan Çiçek from Ankara University stated that temperature records have been broken almost every year worldwide since 2000.
He noted that these extreme temperatures do not imply a lack of snowfall in winter, adding that the scientists expect “unstable winter” conditions characterized by unpredictable snowfall and cold weather without a clear trend throughout the season.
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/1-in-3-turkish-cities-grapple-with-climate-crisis-research-191429
SPORT
Fethiyespor
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Fethiyespor in training for Sunday’s match against İskenderunspor in the 30th week of the league.
Match Results
Fethiyespor won their home match against 68 Aksaray Belediye Spor on Wednesday. The final score was 2-1.
Fethiyespor drew their away match against İskenderunspor on Sunday. The final score was 2-2.
Fethiyespor stays at 12th position on the league table.
League Matches
Sunday 17th March at home against Uşakspor. The kick-off time is at 14:00.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 40.90 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 39.73 TL.
The US Dollar bought 31.90 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 31.39 TL.
The Euro bought 34.91 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 34.04 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
