Day: June 10, 2023

The global cheetah population has fallen by more than 90 percent over the last century, and only about 7,000 cheetahs are now left in the wild. It's mainly because farmers are shooting them to protect their herds. But a farm in Namibia has turned to Turkish Kangal dogs to keep the cats out of harm's way.

Source: TRTworld.com

At least five workers are dead in an explosion at a rocket and explosives factory in Türkiye's capital Ankara, according to the country's National Defense Ministry.

"An explosion occurred at the MKE Rocket and Explosives Factory in the Elmadag district of Ankara. As a result of the explosion, five of our workers have been martyred," the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

It added that judicial and administrative investigations have been launched to look into the incident.

The facility where the early-morning blast took place is owned by Türkiye's Machinery and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE).

Source: TRTworld.com

A Turkish cargo ship, which spent the night off the coast of Naples following a hijack attempt by armed stowaways, has left for its destination in France after Italian security forces carried out a rescue operation.

According to the MarineTraffic website, which shows the civil maritime traffic around the world, the Turkish-flagged cargo ship Galata Seaways departed for the French port of Sete at noon after Italian authorities completed their investigation on Saturday.

The prosecutor's office accused three of the 15 irregular migrants of carrying weapons, and it was reported that the Italian security forces seized two knives and a utility knife during their search.

Meanwhile, four of the 15 migrants who were taken to the Naples Police Department after being removed from the ship were referred to a hospital due to health problems.

Among those hospitalized were a pregnant woman, a person in generally poor condition, and a person who was thought to have a broken ankle and suffered from severe hypothermia.

In a separate report, Italian news agency ANSA said nine out of the 15 migrants were Iraqi, four were Syrian, and one was Iranian, and the identity of the person who was hospitalized due to hypothermia could not be determined yet.

'All ended well'

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told reporters that the stowaways took control of the ro-ro ship, which was sailing from Türkiye's Yalova province to France.

Following the operation by two navy helicopters, coast guard personnel and customs police, control of the ship was regained off Naples.

"The ship's hijackers have been captured. All ended well," Crosetto wrote on Twitter and congratulated security forces taking part in the operation to regain control of the ship and rescue the 22-member crew.

Türkiye's General Directorate of Maritime Affairs (DGM) said relevant authorities were alerted at 0820 GMT (11:20 am Turkish time) that 15 stowaways with knives were detected onboard.

The crew had locked themselves in the engine room and managed to alert maritime authorities in Türkiye.

ANSA reported that the captain of the ship saw two people with knives wandering in the engine room and issued the alarm.

Source: TRTworld.com

Five people were killed in a blast on Saturday at an explosives plant on the outskirts of the Turkish capital, officials have confirmed.

“An explosion occurred at the MKE Rocket and Explosive Factory in [the] Elmadag district of Ankara,” a statement from Türkiye's Defense Ministry said. “As a result of the explosion, five of our workers were martyred. A judicial and administrative investigation has been initiated regarding the incident.”

The tragedy happened at around 8.45 am local time, The Washington Post reported, citing a statement to reporters from Ankara Governor Vasip Sahin. He added that the explosion was likely caused by a chemical reaction during the production of dynamite, and that the blast caused the collapse of a building, killing all of those inside.

Prosecutors have launched a formal investigation, Sahin added, echoing the statement from the Turkish Defense Ministry. The factory is located around 40 km (25 miles) east of Ankara.

Read more Migrants hijack Turkish cargo ship (VIDEO)

A report from local television station NTV said grey smoke could be seen billowing from the plant as emergency services arrived at the scene. Some windows of nearby residences and commercial properties were damaged in the explosion, the report said.

Family members of workers at the plant began arriving at the scene soon afterwards, numerous reports say. Sahin told reporters that there are no workers who remain trapped or waiting to be rescued, and that further injuries are not expected.

The Tasnim News Agency has reported the fire resulting from the explosion has been brought under control.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was briefed on the blast by Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah reported on Saturday. Erdogan offered his condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives.

Source: Russia Today

Five workers have been killed by a huge blast at a rocket and explosives factory in Turkey, officials say.

It happened early on Saturday morning at the state-owned MKE Rocket and Explosives Factory, 40km (25 miles) east of the capital Ankara.

Several others were injured by the blast, which state TV said shattered windows in nearby homes and shops.

Officials said the explosion was caused by an incident in the factory's dynamite department.

Regional governor Vahap Sahin said that no other workers or staff remained trapped in the rubble, and state media reported that wounded employees had been transferred to local hospitals. Several are said to be in a critical condition.

Mr Sahin told reporters that the explosion was the "result of a chemical experiment, according to technical staff", and that it happened at 08:45 local time (05:45 GMT).

In a statement, Deputy Defence Minister Alpaslan Kavaklioglu said officials had reviewed footage from inside the building in the moments before the blast and that there was "nothing out of the ordinary until the moment of the explosion".

"Our workers were carrying out their normal activities, and the explosion happened suddenly," he added.

Images showed ambulances at the factory and firefighters are reportedly fighting a series of small blazes. Meanwhile, a number of family members gathered awaiting news on their loved ones.

The ministry of defence said in a statement that a "judicial and administrative investigation has been initiated regarding the incident", while regional prosecutors said they were looking into what happened.

Turkey's recently re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was briefed on the incident by Defence Minister Yasar Guler and sent his condolences to the families of the victims, a statement from his communications office said.

Source: BBC

Italy’s special forces were deployed to storm a private ship hijacked by more than a dozen migrants, the Italian Defense Ministry said, claiming the stowaways had armed themselves with “daggers.”

A Turkish cargo vessel en route to France the Galata Seaways, was taken over by 15 “illegal migrants” on Friday, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told reporters, also describing them as “pirates.” He said marines with Italy’s San Marco battalion were sent to intervene.

The hijackers “were using what seem to be weapons like daggers” to threaten the ship’s crew, the official added, while local media reports said some on board were taken hostage after the migrants were discovered hiding on the ship.

“Four or five migrants with knives had attempted to take possession of the command bridge, barricading themselves inside and also attempting to kidnap the Turkish sailors,” ANSA News reported.

The Turkish transportation ministry said the crew of the Galata Seaways had detected the presence of unauthorized passengers early on Friday morning.

The captain of the vessel was able to radio an urgent request to help to Ankara before the takeover, which was then relayed to Italy by Turkish authorities.

Record number of migrants crossing MediterraneanREAD MORE: Record number of migrants crossing Mediterranean

Following a seven-hour operation joined by two navy helicopters in addition to coast guard and police vessels, the Italian military said the Turkish ship was recaptured and that its 22 crewmembers were safe. The craft and its cargo are now docked near the coast of Naples.

“Italian security forces intervened in the Galata Seaways, which was diverted to Naples to retrieve the fugitives, and the safety of the crew was ensured,” the Turkish ministry added.

Footage purporting to show the mission in progress has circulated online, with several smaller ships seen surrounding the cargo vessel stopped near the Italian coast.

According to ANSA, investigators found multiple knives and a box-cutter on board, believed to be weapons used by the attackers, who had barricaded themselves in the ship’s hold and were ultimately found with the aid of the ship’s surveillance system.

Italy declares state of emergency over migrationREAD MORE: Italy declares state of emergency over migration

Italian authorities said they would continue to search the ship for additional stowaways and attempt to identify the 15 migrants arrested following Friday’s standoff. They reportedly included 13 men and 2 women.

The number of illegal migrants crossing the Mediterranean has soared to record highs in recent months, with the EU’s border agency reporting a nearly 300% increase in the first four months of 2023. Officials in Rome declared a six-month state of emergency over the flow of migration in April, announcing plans to construct new holding facilities to address the recent surge.

Source: Russia Today

Today, more people than ever have chosen to work online and remotely, from various locations. The community of digital nomads likes to move around the world while working. This is what makes Türkiye their favourite spot and here is how they navigate their work and lives in Istanbul.

Source: TRTworld.com