Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
NEWS
A blanket of snow in Istanbul
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A view of Ayasofya Grand Mosque and Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul covered in snow. 18 January 2021 (İHA Photo)
As the weekend curfew ended in the early hours of Monday, Istanbulites took to the streets to take snapshots of picturesque views of the city created by snow that had fallen over the weekend.
For children, it was the rare chance to build a snowman from the first snowfall in a few years to give enough material to build a snowman.
The snowfall, although lasting just a few days, was good news for dams supplying water to more than 15 million people in the city. Just a few weeks after a drought alert, dams have seen a rise in their water levels. With this new boost, thanks to the snowfall, which was preceded with rainfall, dams’ water levels reached as high as 30% from below 20% for some dams last week.
Nearer to home, Girdev Lake, located on the Girdev Plateau of Seydikemer, froze when overnight temperatures dropped to minus 15 degrees.
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A frozen Lake Girdev
The frozen lake and snow-covered mountains, created picture postcard scenes.
Sources: Daily Sabah/ Gerçek Fethiye
Two new ambulances for Fethiye
Two new fully equipped ambulances were delivered to Fethiye this week. Turgay Öztürk, Head of AK Party Fethiye District, said, ‘We are happy to provide two new fully equipped ambulances for Fethiye and we thank officials and the Muğla Health Directorate for their contribution and support in the effort to continue to improve the quality of healthcare facilities in the district”
Source: https://gercekfethiye.com/fethiye-ye-2-yeni-ambulans/34220/
Facebook starts process of appointing Turkey representative
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Photo: REUTERS/Johanna Geron/Illustration/
Facebook Inc said on Monday it had started the process of appointing a legal entity as a local representative in Turkey in compliance with a new social media law which critics have said will muzzle dissent.
The law allows authorities to remove content from platforms, rather than blocking access as they did in the past. The move has caused concern as people turn more to online platforms after Ankara tightened its grip on mainstream media.
The company said its decision did not change its community standards, which outline what is and what is not allowed on Facebook, nor its process for reviewing government requests.
We will withdraw the representative if we face pressure on either,” the company said in a statement, adding that it remains committed to maintaining free expression and other human rights in Turkey.
Companies that do not follow the law will ultimately have their bandwidth slashed by 90%, essentially blocking access.
Source: Reuters
Turkish monastery welcomes over 123,000 tourists in 99 days
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Sümela Monastery. Photograph by DOKA1
Sümela Monastery, located in Turkey’s northwestern Black Sea province of Trabzon, was visited by more than 123,000 people in 99 days.
The monastery, one of the most important faith tourism centers of Turkey, was closed in 2015 due to a risk of falling rocks from the nearby Karadağ Mountain.
After 70% of the restoration work was completed, the monastery was opened to the public from July 28 to November 3, 2020.
During this period, it received 123,933 visitors.
Sümela Monastery is carved out of the rocks of Karadağ Mountain in the town of Macka, 300 meters above the Altındere Valley.
Trabzon Culture and Tourism Vice-Principle Mustafa Asan told Anadolu Agency that Sümela Monastery is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List and the goal of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Trabzon governorate and Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality is to see Sümela Monastery on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2022.
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkish-monastery-welcomes-over-123-000-tourists-in-99-days/2115978
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor updates
Fethiyespor
Fethiyespor have been hit hard by the COVID-19 measures. They are a small team who rely upon match day and season ticket sales to provide a large percentage of their revenue. Curfews and banning of spectators from matches means they have lost this income. As a result, they have launched the following fundraising activities to raise money.
Streets of Fethiye turn navy-blue and white
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The streets of Fethiye decorated with Fethiyespor flags
The streets of Fethiye have turned blue and white with Fethiyespor flags this week. The flag campaign, initiated by the Fethiyespor Social Committee, is a fundraising drive to provide financial support for the club during these difficult times.
So far, 150 local business have supported the campaign by donating 1000 TL to the club. Each business making a donation has their name on a Fethiyespor flag which is then decorates the streets of Fethiye.
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Members of the Fethiyespor Social Committee
Fethiyespor Social Committee Member Bekir Kapar said, “We thank the people of Fethiye very much. I would like to thank the craftsmen of Fethiye, our staff who collected money among themselves, and our people of Fethiye. Participation in the campaign is increasing by day. We reached 150 flags in a week. We will decorate all of Fethiye with flags”
Fethiyespor Social Committee Member Ufuk Arslan said, “We are experiencing great enthusiasm from the people of Fethiye right now. Our campaign continues. We are waiting for our citizens and Fethiyespor lovers who want to participate.”
Source: https://gercekfethiye.com/fethiye-sokaklari-lacivert-beyaz/34283/
Donate 300 TL to help your team
Fethiyespor are asking their supporters to make a donation of 300 TL to support the team. Those who make a donation will have have a large photograph of themselves displayed in the Fethiyespor ground.
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Photographs of campaign supporters displayed at the ground
If you would like to take part in this scheme, you can visit the Fethiyespor ground and organize it.
Please contact Fethiyespor Yabancilar on Facebook for more information.
The next league match is:
Training continues for the second half of the season which starts on on Thursday 28th January with an away match against Nazilli Belediyespor. Kick off is 13:00.
Please note: the Turkish Football Federation have not yet changed the decision to play all matches without spectators due to COVID-19 measures.
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 home match against Fenerbahçe on Sunday. The final score was 86-93.
The next league match is:
Saturday 30th January at home against Galatasaray.
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 10.14 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 10.14 TL.
The US Dollar bought 7.41 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 7.46 TL.
The Euro bought 09.02 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 09.02 TL.
Source: FxexchangeRate.com
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
Today’s featured image “Winter view from the D400 near Seydikemer” by Lyn Ward.
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