News archive of November 2019

Assets of optional pension plans exceed 2.43 billion lei, as of Oct. 31, 2019

The optional pension plans had assets worth over 2.43 billion lei, as of October 31, 2019, up 21.7% from the same period of 2018, according to the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF). Government securities held the highest share in the assets, of 1.373 billion lei, which is 56.4%. Second came stocks, at 600.509 million lei (24.67%).

Romanian President Iohannis Re-Elected by Large Majority

Incumbent President Klaus Iohannis of the National Liberal Party scored 66 per cent of the vote to secure a second term on Sunday, according to the official count with over 99 per cent of polling stations having declared results.

Erdoğan arrives at Qatar for meetings with emir

Turkish president on Nov. 25 departed for the Qatari capital of Doha to attend the fifth meeting of the Turkey-Qatar High Strategic Committee.

Two drown after thunderstorms sweep across western Greece

Two people drowned after their moored sailing boat sank in western Greece as the country was lashed with torrential rain and thunderstorms, coast guard officials said early on Monday. 

The storms hit western Greece over the weekend causing flooding and disruption to transport.

More early IMF loan payments

The Public Debt Management Agency is targeting more early loan repayments to the International Monetary Fund next year if the interest cost makes financial sense and the country's creditors agree, Kathimerini understands. Its loan strategy for 2020 also includes a significant reduction of treasury bills.

How Hungary’s ‘Trianon Trauma’ Inflames Identity Politics

But analysts say "Trianon Syndrome" is also useful for nationalist-populists keen to portray themselves as protectors of the nation. And few do that better than the ruling Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Bosnia Struggling to Prosecute Migrants when Identity in Doubt

Experts who spoke to BIRN BiH say the rules must urgently be harmonised and the law updated to reflect the new challenges.

"This could be disastrous because many of them [migrants] do lack personal identification documents," said Vehid Sehic, a former judge and lawyer in Bosnia.

Albania Failing to Act on Threats to Crime Reporters

Crime reporters in Albania routinely face threats, insults and intimidation - often in court - from those accused of organised crime and their relatives. The authorities are failing to act, according to the findings of a BIRN investigation.

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