Radio România Internațional

Tag: Madrid tennis tournament

  • May 7, 2018 UPDATE

    May 7, 2018 UPDATE

    Budget execution report — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Monday asked again for the resignation of the Social Democrat PM Viorica Dancila after the publication of the budget execution report for the first quarter of the year. President Iohannis said that the evolution of Romania’s public finances was totally “unsatisfactory” and that the Social Democrats were unable to set public finances in order. According to Klaus Iohannis the Social Democratic government has not managed to turn Romania’s economic growth of 7% reported in 2017 into a growth of revenues. The national budget is being subjected to immense pressur,e which had to be eased by boosting tax revenues, but the budget execution report shows that their level is lower than that reported in the first quarter of 2017. In exchange, budget expenses have increased, president Iohannis added.



    Healthcare – A 2-hour token strike took place in Romania’s hospitals on Monday. Protesters are discontented with the 30% cap on pay benefits and claim that following the implementation of the new pay scheme some healthcare employees lost even 250 Euros from their previous salaries. The protesters also say some categories of the healthcare staff were discriminated against such as orderlies, stretcher-bearers, biologists, pharmacists, radiologists and midwives, as their salaries have not been increased, but only those of physicians and nurses. The SANITAS federation gathered more than 50 thousand signatures, which allows them to start an all-out strike on May 11. In Bucharest, the trade unions’ representatives and the health minister Sorina Pintea held talks on Monday related to the collective labor agreement, another claim of the protesters. Tuesday will see a new round of negotiations between trade unionists and the PM Dancila, the health, labor and finance ministers. The situation in the healthcare system is the subject of a simple motion that was debated in the Chamber of Deputies on Monday. The motion was filed by the opposition Liberal Party against Social Democrat health minister Sorina Pintea. The vote on the motion will be given on Wednesday in the plenum of the Chamber of Deputies.



    National Bank — The National Bank of Romania increased the monetary policy interest rate from 2.25% to 2.50% per year starting on Tuesday, shows a central bank communiqué. The key interest rate had not been changed since February when it was raised to 2.25% per year. The national bank also announced an increase in the interest rate for deposits from 1,25% to 1.5% per year and of the interest rate for credits from 3.25% to 3.5% per year staring on May 8. It is the 3rd time this year when the national bank raises interest rates in an attempt to control the inflation rate which in March reached the highest level of the past 5 years. At the same time, the central bank decided to maintain the current level of 8% of the minimum reserve rates applicable to banks’ liabilities in the national currency and in hard currency.



    Moscow — Vladimir Putin was sworn in as president of Russia for the 4th consecutive time, on Monday, after winning the presidential election held this March with more than 75% of the votes. His presidential term in office was interrupted, after the first two mandates, by a period of 4 years when he held the position of PM with the current Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev holding the presidential seat. Putin again proposed Dmitri Medvedev for the position of PM, a position he had held since 2012. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent to Moscow, in the coming days President Putin will announce the makeup of the new government and of the presidential administration, a body which is more powerful than the government itself. The Russian press estimates that Sergey Lavrov will keep the position of Foreign Minster and Sergey Shoigu of Defense Minister, which is a sign of continuity of Russia’s current foreign policy. At the same time, overcoming isolation from the West would be necessary for Putin to achieve his ambitious internal projects, which are the priorities of his new mandate. At political level, Putin’s main task will be to ensure a smooth transition of power in 2024 when, according to the Constitution, Putin will no longer be allowed to run for presidency. The inaugural ceremony was preceded by protests held on Saturday, when as many as 1,600 people were arrested including the leader of the opposition Alexei Navalnay.



    Tennis — The Romanian Simona Halep, world’s no. 1 tennis player, on Tuesday will be up against Belgian Elise Mertens (19 WTA) in the 2nd round of the Madrid WTA tournament, which has total prizes worth around 6.7 million Euros. Also on Tuesday another Romanian Sorana Cirstea (36 WTA) will be up against Russian Daria Kasatkina (15 WTA) in the same round. Sorna Cirstea will also play on Tuesday in the women’s doubles together with Sara Sorribes-Tormo of Spain against the pair Julia Gorges (Germany)/Karolina Pliskova (the Czech Republic). On Monday Irina Begu was eliminated in the 2nd round by the Russian Maria Sharapova. Begu is also out of the doubles competition where together witrh Simona Halep lost in the 1st round against the pair Nicole Melichar of the US and Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic. In the men’s competition, Romanian Marius Copil (92 ATP) will be up against the German Jan-Lennard Struff (65 ATP). In the men’s doubles Florin Mergea and Daniel Nestor (Canada) will play against the pair Fabio Fognini of Italy /Diego Schwartzman of Argentina. (news translated and updated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • May 10, 2017

    May 10, 2017

    CITIZEN INITIATIVE — The Chamber of Deputies has voted in favour of a citizen initiative to revise the definition of the term ‘family’ in the Romanian Constitution. According to the initiative, family is based on the marriage between a man and a woman of their own consent, on equal rights between the two parties, as well as on the parents’ obligation to see to the upbringing, education and tuition of their children. The Senate is to debate and vote on this draft law. We’ll revert to this topic after the news.



    STRIKE — Employees of the Environment Law Enforcement Agency are as of today on an all-out strike indefinitely. Employees are unhappy with pay disparities in their line of work, considering that salaries haven’t been increased since 2009. During the strike, environment officers will come to work but will not receive public notifications or carry out inspections. Previously employees with the Environment Law Enforcement Agency went on a two-hour strike on April 26, aimed at making their salary demands heard. Despite this, trade unions in the field say lawmakers have not shown any interest in solving the existing problems, adding that the protest will continue until the Government will give assurances that their demands have been taken under advisement.



    ROMANIA-US RELATIONS — Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu talked to the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson over the phone about the Strategic Partnership between the two countries, launched 20 years ago, and the goal of developing and boosting cooperation in all fields stipulated in the partnership. Minister Melescanu praised the excellent level of bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and security, underling the importance of having American and Allied forces present in Romania and in the region. Moreover, the Romanian official also highlighted the efforts of the two countries’ governments and business sectors to improve economic cooperation between Romania and the US.



    KING’S DAY — Romania today celebrates the King’s Day, also coinciding with another two important moments in the country’s modern history. On May 10, 1866 King Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was sworn in as ruler of Romania. Also on this day in 1877 King Carol would proclaim the country’s independence from the Ottoman Empire, only to be crowned king four years later. May 10 was the National Day of Romania until 1947, when the communist regime forced King Mihai I into abdicating and subsequent exile. King Mihai returned to Romania only after the anti-communist revolution of 1989. The King is now seriously ill and has withdrawn from public life. Mihai has entrusted Crown Princess Margareta, the first born of his five daughters, custody of the Royal Crown.



    EBRD — Romanian economy might report a 4% growth this year as compared to the November estimate of 3,7%, reads a recent forecast of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This is the highest growth level among European states where the Bank is conducting its operations. Next year the GDP growth will slow down to 3,5%, consumption will continue to boost growth in 2017 and 2018, sustained by the rise in the minimum wage and public sector salaries. Government spending will probably spike in 2017, running the risk of exceeding the budget deficit target of 3% of the GDP, the EBRD has warned. In turn, the IMF has upgraded its forecast on Romanian economic growth this year, from 3,8% to 4,2%. The Romanian Government has grounded its budget planning for 2017 on a 5,2% economic growth forecast.



    HEALTHCARE — Romanian Health Minister Florian Bodog today attended a discussion panel in Malta alongside Health Ministers and heads of pharmaceutical companies across Europe, devoted to promoting quality, efficiency and sustainability for healthcare systems and ensuring the adequate conditions for research and innovation. According to a Health Ministry release, participants signed a joint declaration asserting the importance of guaranteeing patients’ access to new and innovative drugs and treatments. We recall that the Health Ministry is hoarding vaccines against the backdrop of a measles outbreak in Western Romania, which has so far killed 20 people and infected some 5,000 people.



    MOLDOVA — Experts with the Venice Commission are on an official visit to the Republic of Moldova, after the Parliament of this country on Friday adopted two draft laws on amending the election law in Moldova. The two bills provide for the partial modification of the current party-list voting system, as well as for electing 51 of the 101 deputies by means of a single winner system. The Parliament leadership has given assurances that the two bills, harshly criticized by most political factions as well as civil society, will be adopted only after the Commission has given the go-ahead. Political pundits in Chisinau say the new system will allegedly favour large parties, such as the Socialists, the party of the pro-Russian President Igor Dodon, or the Democrats, the party of the controversial oligarch Vlad Pahotniuc in the pro-Western governing coalition.



    FBI — US President Donald Trump has sacked FBI Director James Comey, as per the recommendation of Prosecutor General Jeff Sessions. Comey was appointed in 2013 by former president Barack Obama, and was leading an investigation into Russia’s alleged involvement in Trump’s election campaign for the 2016 presidential race. The White House has denied accusations that the sacking was a political decision. Democrat leaders have also called for appointing a special prosecutor to take over the investigation.



    EUROVISION — A total of ten countries on Tuesday evening qualified to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, this year hosted by Kiev, Ukraine. The countries that qualified from the first semi-final are the Republic of Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Australia. Romania will be competing in Thursday’s second final with the song “Yodel It!”, composed by Mihai Alexandru and performed by Ilinca and Alex Florea. 42 countries are taking part in this year’s edition. The final will take place on Saturday. Romania has taken part in the Eurovision Contest 19 times, starting with 1994, and our country’s best performance was third place.



    MADRID TOURNAMENT — Three Romanian tennis players are today competing in the round of 16 of the WTA tennis tournament in Madrid, totalling 5,4 million dollars in prize money. Simona Halep, 8 WTA, is taking on Samantha Stosur of Australia, 26 WTA. Irina Begu, 36 WTA, is playing Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, 19 WTA. Finally, Sorana Cirstea, 83 WTA, will go up against Misaki Doi of Japan, 53 WTA. On Tuesday, Marius Copil lost to Andy Murray of Great Britain, and will enter the ATP top 100 at the end of the competition. (Translated by V. Palcu)