Fethiye Times pick of the news from the local area and around Turkey.

News

President Erdoğan holds campaign rally in Fethiye

President and Justice and Development (AK) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed citizens at a campaign rally in Fethiye on Friday.

Making remarks on the upcoming local elections scheduled for March 31, President Erdoğan drew attention to the investment they had made in Fethiye over the last ten years, including two schools, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University health units, completion of a 200-bed state hospital and rehabilitation work on the canals in town.

The President also spoke about a plan to bring a school with a capacity of 1000 people to Fethiye next year.

Sources: Haber Turk/Son Dakika

5.0 magnitude earthquake in western Turkey

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 struck near the town of Çanakkale on the northwestern coast of Turkey on Wednesday.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck some 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) south of Çanakkale at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The temblor was felt all across the country’s west, including Istanbul and the third biggest city Izmir.

Çanakkale Mayor Ülgür Gökhan said the earthquake lasted about 45 seconds, adding that no buildings were destroyed in the city although he warned that certain buildings’ structural integrity may have been comprised by the quake.

Güllüoğlu said that after the initial quake, “there were 12 more aftershocks, the biggest of which was 2.7.”

Source:Daily Sabah

H.M.S Majestic sunk during WWI in Turkey’s Çanakkale to be opened to diving tourism

The wreck of the H.M.S Majestic, which sank off the coast of Gallipoli in northwestern Turkey’s Çanakkale province during World War I, will be opened to diving tourism as part of a project to transform Gallipoli into an open-air museum.

H.M.S. Majestic was a battleship of the Royal Navy, and the lead ship of the Majestic class. She served as the flagship of the Channel Squadron for eight years after being commissioned after which she went in and out of reserve until the Great War. She was relegated to secondary duties when recommissioned and for the Dardanelles Campaign she was despatched as a mine clearer. She was struck by two torpedoes while anchored off Gaba Tepe on 27 May, 1915, and capsized with the loss of forty crew.

The project was initiated by the Presidency of the Gallipoli Historic Area with the support of the Çanakkale Governorship.

Sources: Daily Sabah/dreadnoughtproject.org

Zero-waste town to be built in Turkey

Looking to boost its Zero Waste Project, Turkey will create its own Kamikatsu, a Japanese town that became world-renowned for its top recycling rate. A town will be picked out of more than 900 where every type of waste will be recycled

Officials are analyzing 951 districts in Turkey’s 81 provinces to find the most suitable town for the zero-waste project.

Wastes will be separated according to their categories and organic wastes will be turned into compost which can be added to soil to help plants grow. Making compost keeps food scraps and yard waste out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Electric vehicles will also be used in order to curb carbon emissions.

Reverse vending machines that accept used empty beverage containers (plastic, metal, and glass) will be placed in the town. Once the locals deposit beverage bottles into the machines, their mobile phones will be topped up with minutes with free calls or internet data.

The town, to be selected by the Environment and Urbanization Ministry, will be a pioneer for Turkey and, if successful, will extend to other parts of the country.

The zero waste project, commenced in 2017, was first realized by first lady Emine Erdoğan and aims to save 20 billion Turkish Liras (around $ 3.8 billion) and provide jobs for at least 100,000 Turkish citizens by 2023.

Sources: Hürriyet Daily News/Daily Sabah

Turkish man manages to capture rare footage of ermine

An amateur photographer in the eastern province of Tunceli has managed to capture rare shots of an ermine. The species, also known as stoat or short-tailed weasel, is protected in Turkey due to it’s dwindling number.

Photographer, Mutlu Akın said “I have been seeing the ermine each winter for the past five years. I’ve finally managed to capture one on camera. It’s such a beautiful animal”

Source: Demirönen News Agency

Sport

Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the sport updates.

Fethiyespor

Fethiyespor lost their away match against Menemen Belediye Spor on Saturday. The final score was 2-1.

Fethiyespor stay in 14th position on the league table.

The next league matches are:

Saturday 2nd March at home against Tuzlaspor A.Ş. Please note that kick off is at 14:30

Wednesday 6th March away against Tarsus Idman Yurdu. Kick off is at 14:30.

For more information about Fethiyespor please visit Fethiyespor Yabancilar on Facebook.

Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor Basketbol

Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor won their away match against Rota Koleji Spor Külübü on Saturday. The final score was 75 – 80.

For more information about Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor please visit them on Facebook.