Day: August 8, 2021

A Canadian archeologist from Toronto University has unearthed numerous artifacts for 17 years in Turkey’s southernmost province of Hatay.

Professor Timothy Harrison dedicated his life to tracing the history of humanity at the archeological site in Tell Tayinat in Reyhanli since 2004.

He visits Turkey each seasonal excavation and conducts meticulous work with his team to unearth findings that can shed light on history.

Harrison recently dug out two statues 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) in length belonging to King Suppiluliuma and his wife from the Late Hittite Empire period in the 9th century B.C.

Harrison told Anadolu Agency he took part in excavations around the world during his 35-year career and said he takes great pride in presiding over excavations in Tell Tayinat.

Noting that his team has unearthed numerous artifacts ranging from treaty cuneiform tablets to statues, he said archeologists and students from Turkey, US, UK, Germany, Belgium, France and the Middle East also participate in excavations.

“As a result of our meticulous works, we have unearthed temples, statues, palaces among other innumerable artifacts,” he said. “If ceramics, botanical findings, organic residuals are counted too, the number of findings amount to thousands.”

Harrison said he wants to participate in excavations in Tayinat as long as he lives. “Only little of the mysteries and artifacts on this tell have been unearthed yet. The excavations here will continue for many years.”

He also said King Suppiluliuma’s palace is believed to have been under a factory in the area, and the team wants to uncover the palace during upcoming excavations.

Source: Anadolu Agency

At least 23 people were killed and 28 others injured in two separate accidents Sunday in western Turkey involving passenger buses, officials said.

Eight people died and 11 others were injured in Izmir province when a passenger bus veered off an embankment and plunged to the ground in Kemalpasa district, Izmir Governor Yavuz Selim Kosger said on Twitter.

The crash happened after the bus driver lost control of the wheel.

Gendarmerie, health and fire crews were immediately dispatched to the scene.

All of the injured have been transported to nearby hospitals.

Earlier in the morning, a passenger bus overturned in Balikesir province after losing control, leaving at least 15 people dead. The bus, coming from the Black Sea province of Zonguldak, was en route to Balikesir’s Edremit district.

Rescue and emergency teams were immediately dispatched, but 11 people died at the scene and four later succumbed to their injuries in a hospital, despite doctors’ best efforts.

Visiting the injured, Balikesir Governor Hasan Sildak said three of the 17 people injured in the accident were discharged from the hospital following treatment.

Investigations into the causes of the accidents are underway.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Twenty-six more people linked to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics have contracted COVID-19, raising the total to 276, organizers said Sunday, the last day of the postponed Games.

Among the new cases are an official working for Tokyo 2020, 16 contractors, and five members of the media.

No athletes have caught the virus in the past 24 hours, according to the figures.

The people infected were put into quarantine.

Postponed from last year due to the pandemic, the 2020 Games had hoped to welcome Japanese spectators if not ones from abroad but instead had to take place in empty Tokyo venues due to the newly resurgent virus.

The Olympics Games are set to end later Sunday.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The US women’s volleyball team in Tokyo earned their first-ever Olympic gold medal on Sunday.

They beat Brazil with dominant form in the final with straight sets of 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 at Ariake Arena.

Having clinched the gold medals at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, Brazil’s women’s volleyball team completed their journey at the Tokyo Games with the silver.

In the bronze medal game, Serbia sealed a win against South Korea with straight sets of 25-18, 25-15, 25-15.

In the Tokyo Games, Turkey came in fifth overall, following their Aug. 4 loss to South Korea.

Source: Anadolu Agency

There are currently no fires that threaten any settlements in Turkey, the country’s agriculture and forestry minister said on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in the southwestern Mugla province, Bekir Pakdemirli said: “The overall situation regarding all forest fires in Mugla is getting better.”

He said 16 forest fires broke out in the coastal city and six aircraft, 39 helicopters, 630 sprinklers, 128 construction equipment, and 3,600 personnel joined efforts to douse the blazes.

He assured people of reforestation of the areas consumed by the fires, adding that they will not be used for other purposes.

Pakdemirli also said that Greece had a request for firefighting plane from Turkey.

“We are evaluating it. With the fading of forest fires in Turkey, if we can, we will provide it to Greece,” he stated.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Kuwait sent a team of firefighters to Turkey on Sunday to help in the fight against forest fires that killed at least eight people.

A statement by the Kuwaiti Embassy in Ankara said the firefighters arrived in the Dalaman district of Mugla province in southwestern Turkey to help in curbing the flames.

On Saturday, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad ordered the dispatch of a team of firefighters to Turkey to assist in putting out the fires, according to the official news agency KUNA.

KUNA said another team will be sent to Greece on Monday to help in countering the wildfires there.

​​​​​​​At least eight people have been killed, according to official figures, since fires started in southern and southwestern Turkey on July 28.

Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said Saturday that 217 fires have been contained, while only six remain ongoing.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The US topped the medal table at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, taking home 113 medals in total.

The US completed the Tokyo Games with 39 gold, 41silver, and 33 bronze, followed by China with 88 medals, including 38 gold, 32 silver, and 18 bronze.

Japan came third in the medal standings with 58 medals, including 27 gold, 14 silver, and 17 bronze.

Turkey placed 35th in the standings with 13 medals, including two gold, two silver, and nine bronze.

Source: Anadolu Agency