February 4, 2015
News and current affairs from Romania
România Internațional, 04.02.2015, 11:59
The Bucharest Court of Appeals issued a 30-day temporary detention warrant for Romanian businessman Adrian Sarbu, under investigation for tax evasion while running Mediafax Group. Sarbu is also investigated for instigation to tax evasion, money laundering, and instigation to graft. Sarbu is one of the most influential media tycoons in Romania, as founder and owner of the most popular TV channel in Romania and many more media outlets. At the same time, the main court in Bucharest holds under house arrest two former Ministry of Tourism employees in the Gala Bute case, involving siphoning of state funds. Anti-corruption prosecutors are waiting for approval from Parliament to initiate the criminal prosecution they announced against former minister of tourism Elena Udrea, former presidential candidate, and former minister of the economy Ion Ariton.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry issued a stern condemnation of the execution of the Jordanian pilot captured by the so-called Islamic State, expressing Romania’s solidarity with Amman. The ministry said that the terrorist acts committed by the group can not be justified, and that those responsible must be brought to justice. At the same time, the ministry reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to fighting international terrorism and the need to coordinate with NATO and the EU, as well as Middle Eastern partners to this end. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also spoke harshly against the gruesome killing of the Jordanian. In retaliation, Jordan executed two Iraqi jihadists which they were willing to trade with IS for their pilot.
Romania’s National Bank today operated a new reduction in the monetary policy interest rate to 2.25% from 2.5%. The NB has not altered the level of minimum obligatory reserves for the banking industry, currently at 14% for foreign currency and 10% for lei. The central bank on January 7th operated its previous reduction in monetary policy with another quarter point to reach the previous level of 2.5%.
93% of Romanians have only public health insurance according to a study published on Wednesday by GfK. The same study shows that only 2% of Romanians have a plan with a private clinic paid in full or partially by the company they work for, 2% have private health insurance, and 4% have no coverage at all. The study also shows that the most important good health habits that Romanians observe are proper body and oral hygiene (57%), positive thinking and optimism in life (35%), and healthy eating with fresh products (27%). At the same time, around a quarter of Romanians place proper exercise last on their list of healthy habits.
Romania’s Fed Cup team these days is bracing up for the match against Spain, scheduled later this week in Galati, eastern Romania. Summoned for the encounter counting towards the first round of World Group II were WTA 3rd seed Simona Halep, 34th-seed Irina Begu, Monica Niculescu, ranked 57th and 95th-seed Alexandra Dulgheru. Since Spanish tennis star, WTA 17th-seed Carla Suarez Navarro is unavailable for the match against Romania, Spain relies heavily on Garbine Muguruza, ranked 24th at world level. For the women’s tennis competition season, the Fed Cup is the equivalent of the Davis Cup.
