Radio România Internațional

Tag: NIS

  • August 9, 2021

    August 9, 2021






    Covid-19.
    The daily number of new coronavirus infections
    stands at over 200 in Romania. 208 infections were reported on Sunday, as well
    as 3 related deaths. The number of those admitted to intensive care increased
    to 79. Also on Sunday, about 7,000 people were vaccinated against COVID-19. Worldwide,
    the number of infections reported since the
    start of the pandemic has exceeded 200 million, but the curve indicating new
    infections is stabilizing, without reaching the peaks reported in April. Although the numbers are still high, a slight
    decrease in weekly cases in Europe and the Americas is expected in the coming
    period. Almost 30% of the world’s population has received at least one dose of
    vaccine, and over 15% have been fully immunized. Globally, the number of COVID-19-related
    deaths has reached 4.2 million.




    Aid. A Romanian Air Force
    aircraft will transport to Tunisia approximately 180,000 doses of COVID-19
    vaccine produced by Astra Zeneca, as well as antigen tests and sanitary
    materials, to help manage the pandemic
    in that country, the Romanian Defense Ministry has announced. Romania was among
    the states that received a request for international assistance from the
    Tunisian government, by activating the European Civil Protection Mechanism.
    This mechanism coordinates the response to natural and man-made disasters at EU
    level, enabling coordinated, effective and rapid assistance to support affected
    populations.






    Wildfires. 45 Romanian
    firefighters continue their missions in the Spatari area on the Greek island of
    Evia. The intervention is facilitated by six fire engines and two tanks, and
    six rescuers have the mission to ensure the supply of trucks with water and use
    chainsaws to create corridors that help contain the fires. According to the General Inspectorate for
    Emergency Situations, Romanian firefighters use drones to monitor new fire
    outbreaks. These are the deadliest fires in Greek history and have devastated
    northern Evia, burning more than 35,000 hectares of pine forest and hundreds of
    homes. Thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated by sea from the
    affected regions. Many regions and countries across the globe have been
    increasingly affected by extreme weather. UN researchers will present today a report on the impact
    of climate change, in which they analyze how the oceans, ice caps and the
    earth’s surface could change in the coming decades. Scientists have confirmed
    that if the temperature does not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above
    pre-industrial levels, catastrophes could still be avoided.








    Budget. In Bucharest, the
    Liberal Prime Minister Florin Cîţu continues, this week, discussions on budget
    adjustment, with his ministers, but also with the leaders of the ruling center-right
    coalition. According to the draft, the Ministry of Health will receive the
    largest amount, followed by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of
    Development. On the other hand, the Ministry of Labor, the Court of Accounts
    and the Senate will get less. The Prime Minister has reiterated that additional
    funds will be received only by ministries that reported a good budget execution
    in the first six months of the year. For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister
    Dan Barna, from USR-PLUS, has expressed his conviction that an adjustment formula
    will be found that will guarantee investments in the coming months of this year
    as well.








    Inflation.
    The National Bank of Romania has revised
    its inflation forecasts to 5.6% by the end of this year and to 3.4% by the end
    of next year, according to a presentation made today by the Central Bank Governor,
    Mugur Isărescu. The National Bank estimates that the inflation rate for July will
    stand at around 5%, mainly due to higher energy prices. Mugur Isărescu has specified,
    however, that Romania is not the only country in this situation, the inflation
    rate being high in the United States, Hungary or Poland, but also in Germany, a
    country where prices are stable. However, compared to the previous forecast,
    the price increases are significantly higher, Mugur Isărescu also said.






    Deficit.
    In Romania, the trade balance deficit in
    the first six months of this year went up to 10.659 billion euro, almost two
    billion euro higher than in the same period last year. According to the
    National Institute of Statistics, exports amounted to 36 billion euro between
    January and June 2021, and imports amounted to almost 47 billion. Exports
    increased by 26.5%, and imports increased by 25.6%, according to NIS. (MI)



  • November 7-13

    November 7-13

    The state of alert has been extended in Romania, due to the Covid-19 pandemic


    Faced with a big number of new coronavirus infections, which stands at around 10 thousand every day, Romania will remain in a state of alert for at least one month. The decision was adopted by the Executive on Thursday, with the PM previously stating in parliament he did not wish to impose more restrictive measures, other than those already in place. As of this week, wearing a mask is mandatory in all public spaces, both indoors and outdoors, traveling at night is only allowed for justified reasons and based on supporting documents, all schools will function online and stores can stay open only until 9 p.m. Protective measures must be observed, because this is the only way in which the number of new cases can drop, president Klaus Iohannis has stressed. The head of state has also said that the measures put in place a few weeks ago are already starting to show good signs, but that has not been enough, because new challenges arise every day. On the other hand, the president believes that the anti-Covid-19 vaccine will reach Romania in the first quarter next year, and the first to take the jab will be the medical staff.


    Theres been a risk of getting into a geometric progression in the past two weeks, but the tendency now is towards a ceiling, according to PM Ludovic Orban. The tests results in the past few days show that the growth tendency has been tempered and a flat line is expected, although we cannot clearly say we are there yet, the Prime Minister has also stated.


    On the other hand, several localities, including cities, have been placed under quarantine this week. Healthcare workers, who have repeatedly demanded financial benefits, protective equipment and more staff, have organized protests and have discussed their claims with Government representatives.



    The National Institute of Statistics confirms Romanias economic recovery in Q3


    According to the Finance Minister Florin Citu, macro information this week confirms the scenario of the recovery of the Romanian economy in the third quarter of this year. Citu said in a government meeting on Thursday that the average net income for September increased by 7.8% compared to the same period last year, and inflation, which continued to fall down to 2.1%, was the lowest since 2017. Florin Cîţu, who presented the latest economic developments, also said that Romania had registered the fifth month of growth of industrial production, that all the positive data were visible in revenues, and the foundation for next weeks budget adjustment would start from there. The data presented on Friday by the NIS confirm the ministers statements – Romania registered an economic decrease of 6% in the third quarter of 2020, compared to the similar period of 2019, but compared to the previous quarter of this year it registered an increase of 5.6%. “Its a good sign. Of course, we must not be overly optimistic, but it is clear that we are on a recovery trend and this must be supported by investments, by absorbing European funds, by supporting companies and by attracting private investments”, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban also said.



    Romanias President Klaus Iohannis congratulates the US President-Elect, the Democrat Joe Biden


    President Klaus Iohannis has sent a congratulatory message to the President-elect of the United States, the Democrat Joe Biden, stating that Romania, as a reliable strategic partner of the United States, remains firmly committed to promoting common strategic security, defense and economic goals. “Bucharest stands firmly by Washingtons side to deal with the current challenges, from health to the economy and climate change, and from security to human rights, our goal being to ensure a better future for our peoples. As a strategic partner of the United States and an ally in NATO, Romania remains committed to contributing to defense spending and to the security, prosperity and resilience of the global community of democracies” the Romanian head of states message also reads. “I look forward to celebrating, in 2021, the 10th anniversary of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between Romania and the United States, adopted during your term as Vice President,” said President Klaus Iohannis.



    The Romanian Foreign Ministry grants 250 thousand Euro for projects to support Moldovan civil society and independent press


    The Romanian Foreign Ministry has decided to provide 250 thousand Euro for projects aimed at supporting civil society and the independent press in the neighboring Republic of Moldova, the former Soviet country with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population. The contribution is covered from this years budget for international cooperation for development and humanitarian aid, and will be granted via the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) organization, established in 2013 by the EU as an independent, complementary mechanism for providing fast and flexible technical and financial support to democratisation and human rights promotion in the European Neighbourhood. The decision is part of Romanias policy to support the the European path of Moldova, the country where the second round of the presidential elections will be held on Sunday. Following the results of the first round, held two weeks ago, voters will have to choose between the pro-Europe candidate Maia Sandu and the current pro-Russia president Igor Dodon. The last stage of the election campaign in the Republic of Modova was held against the background of an unexpected government reshuffle in Chisinau. Five Democrats in Chicus Government were dismissed and replaced by people close to the Socialist Party. The decision put an end to the governing coalition. So, now, the Government is de facto a minority one, as it is supported by only 37 Socialist deputies, while a majority would need at least 51 votes. (M.Ignatescu)