Moderate Earthquake In South-Eastern Romania
A magnitude 3.8 earthquake occurred Monday in Romania’s south-eastern Vrancea seismic area, at 10:15 a.m., in Buzau county.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 140 kilometers and the towns closest to the epicentre of Monday’s quake are: Covasna (38 km), Ramnicu Sarat (50 km), Targu Secuiesc (52 km), Focsani (55 km) and Buzau (58 km).
The largest earthquakes occurring in Romania after the anti-communist Revolution of 1989 were registered on May 30 and 31, 1990, with magnitudes of 6.9 and 6.4 on Richter scale. (Adevarul)
Hospital Doctors Ask To Be Paid Fairly, Under Valid Laws
Doctors in hospitals are obliged to work „endless shifts” although only one is paid monthly, under the labor contract, according to a study conducted at the request of the „Sanitary Solidarity” Federation in Romania.
Doctors in hospitals end up working continuously, on average, maximum 33.3 hours and for them, a week means 62.3 hours of work, nearly double the normal monthly norm.
80% of polled doctors said this endless work had a negative impact on their medical performance. 41% of them admit they are growing more and more tired and this only increases the risk of professional errors. Doctors said they want to be paid fairly, under the valid laws. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romania Posts Budget Deficit Of 0.5% Of GDP In January-June
Romania’s general consolidated budget posted a deficit of RON3.85 billion in January-June, or 0.5% of the gross domestic product, compared with a budget deficit target of 1.9% for the first six months of the year, finance ministry data showed Monday.
Revenues to the consolidated budget amounted to RON108.4 billion, or 14.3% of GDP in the first half of 2016, the data showed.
Profit tax collections increased 12.5%, excise duty collection grew 7.7%, social security contribution collections increased 6.3%, while income and salary tax collections rose 2.3%. Value-added tax collections fell 9.5% compared with the same period a year before.
Budget expenditure stood at RON112.2 billion, up 5.5% compared with January-June 2015, as staff spending grew 10.7% due to public sector wage hikes approved in the second half of 2015 and the minimum wage hike. Goods and services spending was 1.5% higher compared with January-June 2015, while investment spending amounted to RON11 billion, or 1.5% of GDP, 15% higher than the same period a year ago. (Adevarul)
Romanian Leu Up 0.38% Vs Euro, Exchange Rate At 4.444
The Romanian leu gained ground versus the euro by midday Monday and the central bank set the leu’s reference rate versus the euro at 4.444 units, up 0.38% from 4.462 units Friday.
Against the US dollar, the leu’s indicative remained unchanged at 4.0459 units.
According to ING analysts, “the rally that began after the Brexit vote is beginning to look like it has gone too far, particularly since the Federal Reserve might sound a bit more hawkish this week”.
Thus, ING expects EUR/RON to consolidate slightly ahead of Wednesday’s Fed policy decision. (Evenimentul Zilei)
ALDE Not To Back Dacian Ciolos At Fall Elections
Daniel Constantin, co-president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), told an interview the pary was readying a governing program and was considering a proposal for prime minister, adding it would not back current PM Dacian Ciolos at the elections due this fall.
Constantin said the measures included in the governing program would be synthetically presented in the next two-three weeks and would go under public debate.
He also said ALDE’s main concern was to present the governing program the best it can.
“Daniel Constantin, co-președintele ALDE: „Categoric, ALDE nu-l va susține pe Cioloș la toamnă” (Evenimentul Zilei)