Page 11 - bne_newspaper_September_7_2018

The Regions This Week
September 7, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 11
Southeast Europe
Turkish drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean could start this autumn, the country’s foreign minister said. Turkey has been involved in a stand- off with Cyprus over offshore rights covering hydrocarbon resources that lie off the Mediter- ranean island divided between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Bucharest mayor Gabriela Firea asked the leader of Romania’s ruling party to step down. Tensions are rising between the popular mayor and Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea after violent clashes at a protest in the capital on August 10.
Dozens were injured in clashes between Bosnian war veterans and police outside the parliament of the Muslim-Croat Federation. The veterans have been protesting for months to demand more benefits.
Social media footage of an armed, masked group carrying out training exercises in Slovenia raised security concerns. Failed presidential candidate Andrej Sisko said the aim of the group is to secure order and peace in the country.
Albania stepped up security ahead of the nation- al football team’s match with the Israeli team. Two years ago, Albania changed the location for the 2018 World Cup soccer qualifier against Is- rael, after a warning of possible terrorist attacks against the Israeli squad in the predominately Muslim country.
Seven angry Bulgarians attempted to make a ci- vilian arrest of Deputy Transport Minister Angel Popov. The group accused the minister of corrup- tion in issuing driving licences.
Troubled Croatian shipbuilder Uljanik’s accounts were blocked again. The announcement came after the company lost four vessel construction deals due to its inability to deliver the vessels ac- cording to contract stipulations.
An employee of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) was shot dead on the agency’s premises, but the motives of the murder are still unknown. Chief prosecutor Besa Limani has launched a probe into the murder.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s job approval rating fell to 44.5% in August from 53.1% in the previous month, according to a sur- vey by Metropoll, an Ankara-based polling outfit. Erdogan’s powers were expanded after the recent election with the inception of Turkey’s first ever executive presidency which abolished the role of prime minister.
Montenegro’s public debt jumped to 70.08% of GDP in January-June, standing at €3.1bn at the end of June. The country's public debt has in- creased sharply since 2008 when it stood at just 29% of GDP.
Only one offer was filed in the privatisation process for flag carrier Air Moldova before the deadline expired. The starting price for Air Mol- dova, which holds a market share of around 43%, was set at MDL48mn (€2.5mn).
The Romanian bourse’s blue chip index BET expanded to include newly listed foodservice operator Sphera Franchise Group, and winemaker Purcari Wineries. The BET index will thus include 15 companies and it will cover more economic sectors relevant for the country's economy.
Macedonia plans to take out a €70mn loan from the World Bank to improve the road network, the government said. The Macedonian government said earlier it plans to invest €270mn in the con- struction and reconstruction of roads this year.
Serbia’s exports amounted to €9.4bn in Janu- ary-July, rising 8.5% y/y, according to the latest figures from the country's statistics office. In US dollar terms, the value of exports was $11.3bn, up 19.7% y/y.