RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

March 4, 2019

A roundup of domestic and international news

March 4, 2019
March 4, 2019

, 04.03.2019, 14:01

DEBATES Romania’s Prime Minister Viroica Dancila is
today attending debates in the Chamber of Deputies over controversial ordinance
114, which imposes new taxes in the fields of banking, telecommunications and
energy. The Prime Minister has been invited in Parliament by the Liberal
opposition, which contested the law jointly with the opposition parties, the
business environment and banks. Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici has called
for postponed debates on the state ordinance so that the government may be able
to analyze a series of amendments to this document. One of the ordinance’s
contested provisions is the 2% tax for energy producers. Administrators of private
pension funds are also likely to face problems, as, under the fresh ordinance
they are supposed to increase social capital in order to be able to continue
their activity.

ELECTION According to the European
Parliament’s webpage, the European People’s Party would get 181 seats, the
European socialists 135 and the Liberals 75 in the future European Legislature
that would form after the elections on May 23rd and 26th.
The Europe of Nations and Freedom would come fourth with 59 seats followed by
the Greens with 49. Romania, where these elections are scheduled for May 26th
will have 33 seats one more than in the present legislature. The main ruling
political party, the Social-Democrats, will have 11 seats, the opposition
Liberals will have 9 seats, ALDE, also part of the ruling coalition, will have 3
seats and so will the opposition USR and Pro Romania. Two other political
forces, PLUS and UDMR will each have two seats. The estimates are based on
national polls conducted by the end of February. The first direct elections for
the European Parliament were staged 40 years ago on June 12th 1979.
The ballot this year will be the most important in the history of the European
Parliament, given the political context, the UK’s leaving the block, as well as
other major political and cross-border challenges. The next European Parliament
will have less MPs, 705, as compared to the present 751.

COMMEMORATION The National Institute
for Earth Physics in Bucharest is today commemorating 42 years since the
devastating earthquake in 1977, through a series of events aimed at raising
awareness about the risk of another major earthquake in Romania. According to
experts, the safest buildings in Bucharest are those built between 1963 and 1989
as well as those constructed after 2000. On March 4th 1977, an
earthquake of 7.2 magnitude, the severest to hit Romania, killed 1,570 people
mostly in Bucharest, causing 2 billion dollars in damages. About 230 thousand
households and other buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. The
earthquake marked the beginning of a social-economic crisis the communist
regime was unable to overcome until its demise in 1989. Experts are cautioning
that in case of a similar earthquake, hundreds of buildings could collapse in
Bucharest alone.

TENNIS Three Romanian tennis
players have entered straight the main draw at Indian Wells, the premier
Mandatory Tournament in California, which kicks off today. WTA number 2nd
Simona Halep, WTA 31st-ranked Mihaela Buzarnescu and Irina Begu, WTA
67th-placed, are to find out today who their opponents are.
Top-seeded in Indian Wells, Halep and Buzarnescu benefit from a first free
round and will only prove their mettle in the competition this coming Friday or
Saturday. We recall Simona Halep won the Indian Wells tournament in 2015, and
reached as far as the semis in the previous edition. The drawing of lots for
the men’s version of the tournament is to be held on Tuesday, while
representing Romania at Indian Wells is Marius Copil.

(Translated by D. Bilt)

Newsflash
Newsflash Thursday, 21 November 2024

November 21, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news. RULING – The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel’s Prime...

November 21, 2024 UPDATE
Newsflash
Newsflash Thursday, 21 November 2024

November 21, 2024

Election – The first round of the presidential election takes place in Romania on November 24. The second round is scheduled for December 8, and...

November 21, 2024
Newsflash
Newsflash Wednesday, 20 November 2024

November 20, 2024 UPDATE

Schengen – The Romanian Interior Minister, Cătălin Predoiu on Wednesday talked, during a video conference, with his Hungarian counterpart,...

November 20, 2024 UPDATE
Newsflash
Newsflash Wednesday, 20 November 2024

November 20, 2024

BONDS – Foreign investors are showing great interest in the Romgaz bond issue, according to the company’s CEO Răzvan Popescu. He says...

November 20, 2024
Newsflash Wednesday, 20 November 2024

1,000 days of war in Ukraine

Representatives of several states, politicians and diplomats conveyed messages of support on the anniversary of 1,000 days since Russia launched its...

1,000 days of war in Ukraine
Newsflash Tuesday, 19 November 2024

November 19, 2024 UPDATE

  PARLIAMENT The parliament of Romania convenes on Wednesday to approve 2 inquiry committees and their membership. The joint standing bureaus...

November 19, 2024 UPDATE
Newsflash Tuesday, 19 November 2024

November 19, 2024

A roundup of local and international news.   MESSAGE – Despite 1,000 days of terrible warfare, Ukraine stands unbowed, the US Ambassador in...

November 19, 2024
Newsflash Monday, 18 November 2024

November 18, 2024 UPDATE

VISIT – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Monday visited the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation in Berlin...

November 18, 2024 UPDATE

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