News archive of November 2016

According to a new report, the proliferation of payment cards in circulation nationwide grew 2.08% annually from 2009 to 2013, resulting in a figure of USD 8.5 M 2013. Thanks largely to increased awareness and new technologies such as contactless cards, the average transaction value also increased to USD 85.5 (15th in Europe).

The advance of Ankara-backed Syrian rebels was hampered due to resistance by jihadists in northern Syria, the Turkish army said in a statement on Nov. 1. 

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has said it is working on reinstating a limited version of capital punishment, which will not be applied retroactively, as the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has expressed its readiness to support any move to this end. 

A diplomatic spat has erupted between Athens and Tirana over a decision by local authorities in the Albanian town of Himara to demolish the homes of 19 ethnic Greek families in the predominantly ethnic Greek seaside holiday resort.

The union representing Greek seamen, PNO, on Tuesday announced a 24-hour strike for Thursday, November 24, which means that there will be no passenger ferry services to and from the Greek islands or Italy.

Around 1.3 billion dollars' worth of new hotel investments are underway in Istanbul despite ongoing problems in the sector, Turkey's hoteliers association said Nov. 1, warning of a serious oversupply in beds.

Authors Can Dündar and Aslı Erdoğan and linguist Necmiye Alpay have slammed the detention of executives and columnists from the critical daily newspaper Cumhuriyet.

Dündar, who until recently was Cumhuriyet's editor-in-chief, said Europe had to decide whether to take a principled stand over the situation in Turkey. 

Political parties at the Turkish Parliament have criticized former Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel's decision to not give a verbal testimony at the parliamentary commission investigating the failed July 15 coup attempt. 

Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic thinks the EU "does not look kindly on Serbia's cooperation with Russia and China."

At the same time, remarked Dacic, who is also Serbia's first deputy prime minister, the EU itself cooperates with these countries.

Data released by the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) revealed the negative impact the refugee crisis in Greece and the terrorist attacks in Turkey had on the tourism industry in both countries. According to the details of the study, tourist arrivals, as well as the aggregate revenue generated were adversely affected over the past 7 months in 7 countries in the Mediterranean basin.