RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

January 1, 2017 UPDATE

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

January 1, 2017 UPDATE
January 1, 2017 UPDATE

, 01.01.2018, 19:02

TENNIS The world’s best tennis player, Simona Halep, on Monday qualified for the round of sixteen of the WTA tournament in Shenzhen, China, which has more than 630 thousand dollars in prize money. The Romanian secured a two-set win, 6-4, 6-1 against US challenger Nicole Gibbs. In the second game of the day, Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania conceded defeat to Maria Sharapova of Russia, while Ana Bogdan also from Romania lost to Camila Giorgi of Italy. On Sunday, Irina Begu outperformed Chinese Fangzhou Liu and qualified for the round of sixteen, whereas Monica Niculescu was eliminated by Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. Irina Begu and Simona Halep have qualified for the tournament’s quarterfinals where they will be playing their compatriots Irina Bara and Mihaela Buzarnescu.



FORECAST Romania’s National Forecast Committee estimates a 5.5% economic growth for 2018 and a GDP per capita of 10 thousand euros. According to this forecast, household consumption will be 6.2% higher than the value registered in 2017, while the real salary growth will be around 7.7%. International financial institutions have also forecast a significant growth rate of 4.2% for Romania in 2018.



FISCAL MEASURES As of January 1st 2018, minimum wages in Romania will rise from 300 to 410 euros, the minimum pension will stay at 135 euros and the income tax will go down to 10%. Also spaced-out VAT payment becomes mandatory for companies with overdue debts or in insolvency. At the same time the social insurance contributions will be transferred from employers to employees, which implies the renegotiation of some labour contracts in which some incomes might be diminished. According to the government, suchlike measures will have a positive impact over the GDP, boosting the creation of fresh jobs, raising the employees’ purchasing power at the same time curbing illegal working. However, pundits believe the impact of the aforementioned measures both on the people and business environment cannot be properly assessed at present.



EU On January 1st Bulgaria took over for the first time in history the EU rotating presidency. The block’s poorest member often criticised for its ineffective crackdown on endemic corruption, Sofia counts on the move to improve its image, France Press reports. Bulgaria, a country that joined the EU in 2007, tries to convince that it is ready to join the Schengen and the Euro zone as well. The Bulgarian presidency unfolds under the motto, ‘unity makes power’ and will be focusing on consensus, competitiveness and cohesion. Its number 1 priority is ‘the young people and Europe’s future’, next comes ‘European prospects and regional cooperation of the countries in Western Balkans’. The third priority is ‘security and stability within a strong and united Europe’ with emphasis on fighting illegal migration while the fourth priority is ‘digital economy and competitiveness’. A very difficult task for Sofia is to broker the Brexit talks. Another objective of the centre-right government headed by Boiko Borisov is to get the Control and Verification Mechanism, which still applies to Romania and Bulgaria, removed.

Newsflash
Newsflash Tuesday, 29 April 2025

April 29, 2025 UPDATE

  SUMMIT The leaders of the Three Seas Initiative, convening in Warsaw on Tuesday, took stock of the 10 years since the establishment of this...

April 29, 2025 UPDATE
Newsflash
Newsflash Tuesday, 29 April 2025

April 29, 2025

SUMMIT – Convened in Warsaw, the leaders of the Three Seas Initiative are today taking stock of the 10 years since the establishment of this...

April 29, 2025
Newsflash
Newsflash Monday, 28 April 2025

April 28, 2025 UPDATE

POPE – The Vatican has announced that the process of electing a new Pope will begin next Wednesday, May 7, the day the Conclave of Cardinals...

April 28, 2025 UPDATE
Newsflash
Newsflash Monday, 28 April 2025

April 28, 2025

Parliament. A draft law that radically changes the retirement rules in the justice system enters the Senate today as the decision-making body. The...

April 28, 2025
Newsflash Sunday, 27 April 2025

April 27, 2025 UPDATE

Pensions. In Romania, the bill that radically changes the retirement rules in the justice system is to be debated on Monday by the Senate, as a...

April 27, 2025 UPDATE
Newsflash Sunday, 27 April 2025

April 27, 2025

Pope. The tomb of Pope Francis in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore has been opened to the public, and hundreds of thousands of people are...

April 27, 2025
Newsflash Saturday, 26 April 2025

April 26, 2025 UPDATE

Funeral. Dozens of heads of state and government, including Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and senior...

April 26, 2025 UPDATE
Newsflash Saturday, 26 April 2025

April 26, 2025 (update 15.00)

Funeral. Dozens of heads of state and government, including Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and senior...

April 26, 2025 (update 15.00)

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company