Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
NEWS
Number of Caretta Caretta in the Gulf of Fethiye increasing

This year has seen an increase in the number of Caretta Caretta turtles in the Gulf of Fethiye.
Citizens and holidaymakers were surprised to see a group of five turtles in the harbour near to local fishermen. It’s not uncommon to see Caretta Caretta in the harbour, especially near to the fisherman who feed them, however one fisherman told Gerçek Fethiye that there are more turtles in one place than previously, saying “Visitors to Fethiye regularly see Caretta Caretta turtles from the promenade, but we have never seen five turtles so close together. These creatures in the Gulf of Fethiye should be kept under protection. During the pandemic period, it can be said that the gulf has come alive ”.
Citizens and holidaymakers took pictures of the turtles who popped up their heads from time to time, almost posing for the cameras.
Source: Gerçek Fethiye
First Islamic concept beach opens in Fethiye

Kuleli Bay, one of the most beautiful bays on the Oyuktepe Peninsula, about 3 kilometers from the center of Fethiye, has been turned into an Islamic concept beach.
Kulem Beach is run by Ovacık Tourism Construction Company who also operate hotels with an Islamic concept in Fethiye. The company expects to host its customers who want to enjoy the beach and sea at the new bay.
The beach is designed to offer women complete privacy. Screens create a cloistered beach area for women only, whilst the uncovered section can be used by men. The beach allows conservative muslims to enjoy a beach holiday like anyone else.
Pandemic measures are applied on the beach and the distance between the sun loungers is 1.5 meters.
Source: Gerçek Fethiye
A Father’s Day away from children for Turkey’s COVID-19 fighters

It was a bittersweet Father’s Day this year for doctors, nurses and other health care workers. Thousands of health care workers were forced to mark this year’s Father’s Day without the warm presence of their families as they cannot visit home and their families are not allowed to visit the hospital out of fears of further COVID-19 infections.
For months, health care workers have been at the front line against the pandemic, which has killed thousands of people across Turkey. They spend hours in cumbersome protective clothing and can only see their families via video link or during brief conversations without contact at the door of their homes.
Along with doctors and nurses, contact tracers, too, have been forced to spend time away from their families. Contact tracers are teams of health care workers who investigate, find and isolate potential COVID-19 patients who have been in contact with diagnosed patients. Like other health care workers, they have to stay in specially allocated dormitories or hotels for them after their shifts and can rarely see their children.
For some children, Father’s Day will never be the same again. Onur Taşçıoğlu is among them. His father Cemil Taşçıoğlu was a prominent professor in Istanbul who was also the first health care worker who fell victim to COVID-19. “It is not easy. This is my first Father’s Day without him,” Taşçıoğlu told Demirören News Agency (DHA). “I used to call him first thing in the morning every Father’s Day. Now, I call my mother because she has been like a father to me now. It is difficult, but I have to stand strong,” he says.
Source: Daily Sabah
Southeastern Turkey’s Hakkari gripped with snow in June
A snowplow rolls through columns of snow in Yüksekova district, in Hakkari, Turkey, June 18, 2020. (DHA Photo)
A southeastern province in Turkey experienced heavy snowfalls last week. Hakkari, known for its rough weather, is gripped with heavy snow even though summer has set in.
In the Yüksekova district, snowplows have been working to clear roads of snow up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) deep in the highest areas.
Crews have worked to reopen roads leading to military bases in the Göllerbaşı region, some 40 kilometers (24.9 miles) from central Yüksekova. In places, the snow reached a depth of 7 meters. Officials say they expect the road to be cleared fully in about two weeks.
Source: Daily Sabah
Turkey boosts recycling capacity, saves 93,000 tons of plastic in 4 months
First lady Emine Erdoğan dumps a plastic bottle into a recycling bin at an event to promote the Zero Waste project among students at a school in Istanbul, Turkey, in this undated photo. (AA Photo)
In the first four months of 2020, 93,000 tons of plastic packaging waste was collected and recycled, Turkey’s Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning announced Wednesday. This amount represents TL 100 million ($14.6 million) saved by the country in its bid to reduce pollution and boost recycling efforts. About 45,000 tons of this waste include plastic bags and packaging for drinks, cosmetics and hygiene products. The latest figures show the country’s plastic packaging waste recycling capacity reached about 600,000 tons from 100,000 tons in the last decade.
The government aims to curb the rate of plastic going into the garbage with a series of practices. Last year, it introduced a mandatory fee of TL 0.25 for single-use plastic bags and will switch to the sale of all beverages in deposit bottles in 2021.
These efforts are a follow-up to the Zero Waste campaign launched by first lady Emine Erdoğan a few years ago. By 2023, or the centenary of the Republic of Turkey, Turkey plans to bring the recycling rate for all waste to 33% and 55% for all plastic packaging waste.
Recycling is a concept that is gradually being embraced throughout the world in the face of the threats posed by global warming and pollution; yet, it has only found its footing in Turkey thanks to the Zero Waste Project. The project has helped Turkey save tons of plastic and has made its seas cleaner, with thousands of buildings, residencies and companies having implemented recycling into their waste disposal policies.
Source: Daily Sabah
SPORT
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor updates
Fethiyespor
The Fethiyespor team celebrated another birthday this week.
Happy Birthday to right-back İbrahim Ethem Sevinç who celebrated his 29th birthday on Thursday 18 June.

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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 8.46 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 8.54 TL.
The US Dollar bought 6.85 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 6.81 TL.
The Euro bought 7.66 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 7.66 TL.
Source: FxexchangeRate.com
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.

Source: Living Earth
Today’s featured image: “The road to Elmalı” by Lyn Ward
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My daughter and I love Fethiye and have been coming twice a year for a number of years. We are extremely saddened that we will not be able to come this year due to Covid19 so it’s great to get Fethiye Times News to stay in touch. Hopefully we will make it again next year
Kay & Tracey Smith
Hello Kay
We are pleased to hear you enjoy reading Fethiye Times News and we hope to see you back next year.
Kind regards
Lyn.
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