November 4, 2023

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 04.11.2023, 13:55

CASH Romanian Prime Minister, Social-Democrat Marel Ciolacu, has
announced a government meeting next week, which is also going to be attended by
representatives of the SMEs and the main banks for talks on cash payments. The
issue has sparked off heated debates in the past days after some banks have
notified clients on their intention to raise the commissions for cash
withdrawal and deposits. Under the new fiscal-budgetary legislation, cash
payments between legal and natural persons have been limited to the equivalent
of one thousand euros per day, with the exception of wages. Cash payment
between two natural persons has been limited to two thousand euros per day, while
between legal persons it must not exceed 200 euros per day. These thresholds
are to be cut in half on January 1, 2025. Liberal leader Nicolae Ciuca from the
ruling PNL-PSD coalition has announced the decision might be talked upon
between the coalition members. The most affected are the small traders, mainly
in the country’s rural areas where people mostly rely on cash.

TALKS Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, talked on the
phone with her Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen about the situation of the
Romanian citizens and their family members who requested support for being
evacuated from the Gaza Strip. On this occasion, the official in Bucharest has
reiterated the Foreign Ministry’s readiness to offer consular assistance to all
the Romanians who need to leave Gaza. The Israeli official has given assurances
the evacuation of the Romanian citizens is a major concern for the authorities
in Tel Aviv. On Friday, the Foreign Ministry announced that another two people
with double Israeli-Romanian citizenship are still being held hostage in Gaza.
The ministry has called for the release of all the hostages, including the six
people with Israeli-Romanian citizenship.

WMF Romania’s footballers will today take on the side of Kazakhstan
in the finals of the Minifootball World Cup currently underway in the United
Arab Emirates. Romania has for the first time qualified for the finals of this
competition after a 3-0 win in the semifinals against Hungary. In the other
semifinals game Kazakhstan clinched a win against Azerbaijan in the penalty
shootout. Romania, who has just played its third world semifinals boasts two
bronze medals, in the USA in 2015, and Australia in 2019. Romania’s national
side, six time European champion and vice-champions in the past two EURO
editions, lacks only a world cup trophy.

(bill)