Author: Yara Emre

The latest data on savings present food for thought for the Greek government policymakers regarding its exit out of the woods. In 2022, people in the EU saved on average 12.7% of their disposable income. The rate was significantly lower than in 2021 (16.4%), and closer to the values before Covid-19 pandemic. The highest gross saving rates among the EU members in 2022 were recorded in Germany (19.9%), the Netherlands (19.4%) and Luxembourg (18.1%). Twelve EU members recorded saving rates below 10.0% in 2022, among which Poland and Greece had negative rates, -0.8% and -4.0%, respectively. This indicates that households…

The quality of the internet has been severely compromised by restrictions placed on the market. The first step to solving a problem is admitting that it exists. Telecommunications regulators in Tajikistan have taken a surprising step in that direction by reportedly admitting this week that a staggering 95 percent of the country’s territory is covered by only outdated 2G mobile connections. This situation is in no small part due to the State Communications Service itself. In addition to regulating the sector, the service and the people running it are also major market players, albeit in highly nebulous ways that would be unthinkable…

The European Federation of Western Thrace Turks (ABTTF) denounced Greece Thursday for applying “double standards” to human rights, given that it takes a different attitude in Albania and regarding its Turkish minority. The strong criticism from the umbrella organization of the members of the Turkish minority living in Greece’s Western Thrace region came in the wake of Greece’s interference in the membership negotiations between Albania and the EU, citing the imprisonment of an elected mayor from the Greek national minority in Albania. The organization in a statement expressed understanding of Greece’s concern over the imprisonment of the elected mayor representing…

Medical Park Yıldızlı Hospital Gastroenterology Surgery and Surgical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Can Keçe gave information about the hot chemotherapy method, also known as HIPEC. Stating that hot chemotherapy is applied during surgery in colon, stomach, ovarian, peritoneal and appendix cancers, Medical Park Yıldızlı Hospital Gastroenterology Surgery and Surgical Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Can Keçe said, “We aim to eliminate tumors that are too small to be seen with the naked eye with the hot chemotherapy method, which requires experienced team work.” Underlining that the ‘hot chemotherapy’ procedure recommended for advanced stage cancer patients is slightly different from normal chemotherapy,…

Turkey’s Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into the opposition mayor of the western city of İzmir on accusations that he insulted the Ottoman Empire and the memory of its last sultan, Vahdettin, also known as Mehmet VI, Turkish media outlets reported. İzmir Mayor Tunç Soyer, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), is under investigation due to remarks he made on Sept. 9, the 100th anniversary of the liberation of İzmir from occupation. In his speech Tunç criticized the Ottoman Empire and its rulers 100 years ago, accusing them of ignorance, perversion and even treason. He said they…

A faction led by former Labor Minister Effie Achtsioglou, known as “6+6,” announced on Thursday it is breaking away from SYRIZA, in an anticipated move that followed a meeting of the faction earlier this week, further weakening the main opposition party now under the leadership of newcomer Stefanos Kasselakis. The 57 members of the faction include nine members of parliament: Achtsioglou, Nasos Iliopoulos, Alexis Haritsis, Sia Anagnostopoulou, Hussein Zeybek, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, Meropi Tzoufi, Ozgur Ferhat, and Theano Fotiou. Haritsis and Iliopoulos, leading members of the group, are expected to express their intention to become independent in a letter sent to…

Türkiye experienced significant disparities in summer rainfall patterns this year, with an overall 30% increase in precipitation nationwide but a staggering 60% decrease in Istanbul. This data was released by meteorologists, highlighting the regional variations in summer rainfall. Across the country, this year’s summer precipitation measured 82.9 millimeters (mm), surpassing the normal summer precipitation of 64 mm recorded between 1991 and 2020. Last year, it was 78.3 mm, indicating a rise in rainfall levels. Other regions in Türkiye experienced different outcomes. The Aegean cities witnessed a substantial increase, with summer rainfall reaching 82.4 mm, marking a 73% rise from the…

A probe by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) led to the arrest of two people in Greece and Germany and raids into a group said to be behind 30.7 million euros ($33.44 million) in tax fraud involving small electronic devices.They weren’t identified by EPPO said one arrest was in in Athens and the other in Cologne and that 42 searches were conducted in total in Greece and Germany in the investigation into a cross-border organized crime group. Authorities said that between 2021-22 suspects purchased earphones and other small electronic devices – either directly or through other legal entities –…

Greek-Chinese cooperation in shipping infrastructure is constantly gathering pace, with more and more Greek-owned ships being built in China and Piraeus port growing into a European leader of container handling. Piraeus Port Authority owner, China’s COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, is one of the largest shipping enterprises in the world and owns over 1,300 ships with a combined shipping capacity of 111 million deadweight tons, ranking first in the world. The company’s global shipping routes cover more than 1,500 ports in 160 countries and regions, with an annual cargo volume of 1.3 billion tons. “We have made the port of Piraeus…

Greece is the fifth most popular European destination for trips that Europeans intend to make between now and spring of 2024, according to a major pan-European survey carried out on behalf of the European Travel Commission (ETC). However, the trends that have emerged in the last few years – and in particular the search for attractively priced package holidays, the avoidance of destinations and periods that see a particularly large number of tourists, but also greater sensitivity regarding weather and climate change – are strengthening. Over two thirds of Europeans surveyed (68%) plan to travel in the next six months,…