Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Türkiye.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Sudden Storm in Antalya: Temperature Drops 16 Degrees, Causing Chaos
Antalya, a city known for its tourism, experienced a sudden and dramatic weather change on Friday. After enduring scorching temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days, the city was hit by a sudden downpour, causing the temperature to plummet by 16 degrees.
Around 16:00, the city center saw temperatures drop to 24 degrees due to a 15-minute storm accompanied by strong winds. The unexpected rain caught pedestrians off guard, creating puddles on the streets and leading to several incidents of fallen trees causing significant disruption.
Beachgoers and Airport Disruptions
The storm also affected holidaymakers on the beach in the Serik district. The strong winds caused sand to blow around, reducing visibility and forcing people to leave the beach.
Transportation at Antalya Airport was briefly disrupted. Both takeoffs and landings were delayed for about 15 minutes due to the dust storm, but normal operations resumed shortly after.
Despite the chaos, the storm passed quickly, and sunny weather returned to the city, bringing relief to residents and tourists alike.
Fethiye Unites Against Controversial ‘Collect and Destroy’ Bill
Photographs by Natalia Alpatova
In a powerful display of unity, 27 associations and animal-loving citizens gathered at the Özer Olgun Cultural Center in Fethiye on Sunday, rallying against the proposed “Collect and Destroy” bill targeting stray animals.
Shouting “We do not accept the law of death!”, the group made a unanimous stand against the legislation.
The Animal Education Support Association led the charge, firmly rejecting the bill which would impact millions of stray dogs. A spokesperson emphasized that the root of the problem lies in the insufficient budget allocations for sterilization by municipalities across Türkiye.
“We should solve this problem not by euthanasia, but by organizing a national conference involving representatives from Türkiye-based Animal Protection Groups, veterinarians, and government officials,” the spokesperson stated. “Speakers from other countries, such as the Netherlands, should be invited to offer their expertise.”
The association called for accountability, suggesting that representatives from each city or region be held responsible for implementing agreed-upon standards and laws. Regular inspections would ensure compliance with humane practices.
“Killing millions of stray animals is not the solution. Islam prohibits cruelty or killing animals. The Prophet Muhammad warned against mistreatment and often reminded us to be merciful. There is no mercy in this bill. We say, No No No,” the spokesperson concluded.
Source: Gerçek Fethiye
Seabed Cleaning Efforts Highlight Environmental Week Activities in Muğla
As part of the ‘Environment Week’ celebrations, Muğla has taken significant steps towards preserving its marine environment through extensive seabed cleaning operations. Teams of divers carried out cleanup efforts in 13 fishing shelters and five key locations along the Muğla coastline.
In Ula Akyaka District, renowned as a ‘Slow City,’ six divers dedicated their efforts to cleaning both the sea and the bottoms of Akyaka’s iconic Kadın River and Akçapınar River. Their work revealed an array of waste, including glass bottles, plastic bottles, tires, and even a fishing basket, which were quickly extracted from the waters. The collected debris was then displayed at the entrance of Akyaka Pier by the Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.
The seabed cleaning activities during Environment Week underscore the ongoing commitment of Muğla’s authorities and community to environmental conservation and sustainability.
Source: https://www.muglagazetesi.com.tr/muglada-18-noktadan-17-ton-cop-cikti-162240h.htm
Türkiye Kart Opens a New Page in Urban Public Transportation
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has announced a groundbreaking development in urban public transportation with the introduction of Türkiye Kart, which promises to make taking public buses more practical, easier, and safer.
The Türkiye Kart initiative marks a significant technological advancement in urban transportation. PTT Inc., Vakıf Katılım, and PTT AŞ have collaborated to create a protocol covering various banking transactions, highlighting a new era in city transportation cards.
During the signing ceremony at the PTT Stamp Museum, PTT AŞ General Manager Hakan Gülten shared details about the Türkiye Kart Project. He revealed that the project will be implemented in all 81 provinces by next year and is expected to integrate public transportation cards from different cities into a single, unified system. The goal is to reach 50 percent of the population by the end of 2024.
The integration will enable citizens to use their transportation cards seamlessly across different cities. Gülten emphasized that the project considers the needs of citizens, aiming for widespread adoption this year. Additionally, the Türkiye Kart feature will be available on credit cards, presenting an unprecedented technological solution globally.
Türkiye Kart will also support payment systems via mobile phones and QR codes, potentially leading to the phasing out of traditional urban public transportation cards in the future.
Istanbul welcomes historic Orient Express for another journey
The Orient Express arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday after departing from Paris on Saturday.
The Transport and Infrastructure Ministry said the train was greeted by a Janissary band at Sirkeci Station.
The train made two trips to Türkiye on June 7 and Aug. 28 last year. Two trips are also planned this year.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu noted that 48 people arrived in Türkiye on the “Palace on Wheels,” as the Orient Express is known, and 38 will travel on the return journey.
A new group of passengers arriving by plane to Istanbul will join the return trip. Uraloğlu added that the Orient Express will make a second trip to Istanbul on Aug. 28 and return on Aug. 30.
The Orient Express is made up of 14 carriages, including sleeping, lounge and restaurant cars, offering a journey starting at 17,500 euros ($19,035).
Concubines quarters of Topkapı Palace welcomes visitors for 1st time
The mysterious Cariyeler Taşlığı (concubines quarters), the Turkish bath (hamam) inside it and the Kuşhane Kitchen in Istanbul’s iconic Topkapı Palace are ready to welcome visitors after undergoing restoration work.
Located in the secluded harem section of the palace, the concubines’ quarters display the organizational hierarchy of the Ottoman harem, which included the sultan’s family, female servants, concubines and eunuchs. The concubines’ quarters section, which was built in the mid-16th century, consists of chambers used by imperial consorts. It also includes a pantry, laundry room and bathrooms.
Around 120 artifacts are being exhibited in the hamam section alone. The hamam section, considered to be one of the oldest structures of the palace, was opened to visitors for the first time in history.
Objects and statues carefully curated by the National Palaces Collections enact scenes from the Ottoman era for a more realistic experience.
The Kuşhane Kitchen was used exclusively for serving meals prepared in the palace kitchen to Ottoman sultans. Visitors will now get a chance to see various objects, including bronze and silver pots and silverware and see more details about Ottoman food and kitchen culture.
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the sport update.
National Football Team Triumphs Over Germany 11-0 in 2024 European Amputee Football Championship
In a stunning display of skill and determination, Türkiye’s National Football Team defeated Germany with a resounding 11-0 victory in the 2024 European Amputee Football Championship. This impressive win has secured their place in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Well done to the National Football Team in the European Championship!
Fethiyespor
Fethiyespor U13’s win Muğla Chanmpionship
In a thrilling semi-final match, Fethiyespor U13 team triumphed over Yatağan Sportif Club with a nail-biting 10-9 victory on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time. This hard-fought win secured them a place in the final.
Fethiyespor U13’s won the final against Dalaman Athletic Sports which took place at Muğla Atatürk Stadium on Saturday to become the champions of Muğla. The final score was 3-1.
For more information about Fethiyespor please visit:
Join the Fethiyespor Yabancilar group on Facebook for more news and updates
You can also follow Fethiyespor on Twitter and Instagram
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 41.16 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 41.06 TL.
The US Dollar bought 32.34 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 32.24 TL.
The Euro bought 34.95 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 35.00 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
With temperatures in the mid-to-high-forties, please make sure you stay safe in the sun.
Source: Living Earth
