Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
NEWS
Turkey under curfew
Drone footage reveals a very different view of the normally busy Ölüdeniz Road in Patlangıç during the first of the weekend curfews imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Drone footage courtesy of Fethiye Haber Bülteni
The deserted streets of Istanbul, captured on this drone footage, lay eerily silent.
From 1 December nationwide curfews were reintroduced as follows:
- On weekdays, the curfew lasts from 9pm until 5am the following morning; and
- On weekends the curfew lasts from 9pm on Friday evening until 5am on Monday morning.
Istanbul drone footage courtesy of A News
Road improvement works continue
Road resurfacing and improvement works continue in the area with the roads in Yanıklar and Inlice districts being completed most recently.
Tar is placed on the road and stone is spread over the tar to provide a longer-lasting hard wearing surface.
Source: Fethiye Belediyesi
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram fined $3.8M each for failing to obey new social media rule
Social media networks, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube, were each handed TL 30 million ($3.83 million) fines on Thursday for failing to appoint a representative for Turkey, as required by the new law. The fine is the second sanction following TL 10 million fines delivered on November 4.
A Bloomberg report cited a government official’s statements on the latest fines.
Appointing a representative in Turkey came under the amendment of the law, which took effect on October 1. The new rule covers social media companies which have a daily access of more than 1 million from Turkey.
The companies had already been notified of the five stages of penalties for social network providers who fail to appoint a representative in Turkey.
In case they again do not comply, Turkish firms will be banned from advertising with them.
If they fail to fulfill the obligations within three months after the advertising ban, the companies will have their internet bandwidth slashed by 50%, and later 90% if they do not comply within a month of the previous sanction.
Parliament initially ratified the social media regulation bill in July, compelling platforms to comply with conditions or face fines and bandwidth reduction.
The bill sets a formal definition of social media providers and aims to designate a responsible representative for investigations and legal proceedings relating to offenses on platforms.
It defines real or legal entities that allow users to create, monitor or share online content such as text, visual content, voice recordings and locations for social interaction as social network providers.
Source: Daily Sabah
Ministry introduces hunting incentives for invasive toadfish in Mediterranean
![Fethiye Times News – Week Ending 06 December 2020]()
A fisherman shows a silver-cheeked toadfish caught off the cast of Fethiye. (DHA Photo)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on Wednesday included poisonous silver-cheeked toadfish hunting in an incentive program as the number of the invasive species in Turkish waters grows.
“This practice will be a first in terms of protecting aquatic biological diversity and supporting fishermen at the same time,” Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said in a statement.
The minister noted that TL 5 million is earmarked for fishermen as an incentive for fighting against invasive species, and he added that new regulations were introduced to protect aquatic ecosystems and ensure the sustainable use of resources.
“We will support silver-cheeked toadfish fishing made by fishing vessels, but not by surrounding nets or trawls. We will pay TL 5 per unit,” he said.
The innocuous-looking fish, which grows to roughly 50 centimeters (19 inches), surged in number in the Mediterranean Sea, and holidaymakers reported close encounters this summer. The species is native to the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Touching the fish can cause serious burns on the skin, while consumption can be fatal.
Experts previously called on officials to encourage hunting of the fish to curb its population growth.
Saying that measures need to be taken the moment a foreign species enter the ecosystem, experts noted there is a prevalence of toadfish already in the Mediterranean and they have a capacity to grow and can only be curbed by hunting.
Source: Daily Sabah
Submerged village revealed after drop in rainfall
A submerged village has been revealed after a drop in rainfall that led to a decline in the water level in a dam, also exposing a historical mosque and its minaret.
The water level in Tahtalı Dam in the Aegean province of İzmir, which received little rainfall in the summer and autumn, decreased to around 50 percent of the usual level.
With the decrease in the water level in the dam, the ruins of the Eski Buruncuk village have surfaced along with a mosque and its minaret.
The ruins of Eski Buruncuk, abandoned in 1930, was mainly built using stones from an ancient city, Larissa, which is thought to date back to around 3,000 B.C., although the main development took place during the seventh century B.C.
The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) reported that there is sufficient water in the dams across the country to meet needs.
Nearly 60 percent of the water coming to the storage facilities originates from the melting of snow, and the water flows occur in the March-June period, according to a statement.
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
US capital declares December 5 as Turkish coffee culture day
The U.S. capital is set to declare December 5 World Turkish Coffee Culture Day following an initiative by a Turkish cultural group.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser thanked the volunteer-led Turkish Coffee Lady Foundation for “sharing the rich tradition” of Turkish coffee “and bridging cultures – one coffee at a time” ahead of a virtual celebration the community held on Saturday.
“This event will provide a history of Turkish coffee, help build bridges, strengthen friendships and develop an appreciation and understanding of Turkish culture and tradition,” Bowser said in a letter to the foundation. An accompanying mayoral proclamation will formally announce Saturday as World Turkish Coffee Culture Day.
The non-profit organization’s founder, Gizem Salcigil White, known as the Turkish Coffee Lady, said more cross-cultural efforts are needed to spread awareness about the rich history of Turkish coffee in the U.S. where 400 million cups of coffee are consumed daily.
“We must highlight our 500-year-old Turkish coffee culture’s significant role and its historical value, as which has played a major role in the spread of coffee culture throughout the whole world, through public communication and culinary diplomacy,” White told Anadolu Agency.
Source: Daily Sabah
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the sport updates
Fethiyespor
Match Results
A great result for Fethiyespor who won their home match against Iskenderun F.K on Wednesday. The final score was 5-0.
Fethiyespor stay at the top of the league table.
Here are a few shots of the team out training on Saturday for their next match.
The next league match is:
Thursday 10th December away against Kütahyaspor. Kick off is at 13:00.
Please note: the Turkish Football Federation have made the decision that, due to COVID-19 measures, all games in the first half of the season will be played without spectators.
For more information about Fethiyespor please visit:
Fethiyespor Yabancilar on Facebook
You can also follow Fethiyespor on Twitter and Instagram
Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor
Match Results
Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor lost their away match against Tofas SC on Wednesday. The final score was 110-81.
Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor also lost their home match against Darüşşafaka Tekfen on Saturday. The final score was 54-78.
The next league match is:
Sunday 13th December away against Turk Telekom.
Please click on the link below for the match schedule.
Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediye Spor 2020-2021 Schedule
You can follow the Team on their Facebook Page – Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor Basketbol
Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 10.48 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 10.42 TL.
The US Dollar bought 7.80 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 7.83 TL.
The Euro bought 09.45 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 09.37 TL.
Source: FxexchangeRate.com
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
Today’s featured image: “A snow-capped Babadağ from Şehit Fethi Bey Parkı” by Lyn Ward
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The post Fethiye Times News – Week Ending 06 December 2020 appeared first on Fethiye Times.