UN Request EUR773M To Fight Ebola In West Africa
The United Nations requested Tuesday in Geneva some 1$ billion (EUR773 million) to fight against Ebola in West Africa, nearly double the funds it recently asked for, according to Agerpres.
The UN estimates 22.3 million people live in Ebola-hit regions and need assistance. The UN Security Council will hold an “emergency meeting” Thursday to discuss the Ebola situation which severely affected West Africa, said Samantha Power, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
Ebola has killed more than 1,900 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, and is accelerating with 40 percent of cases reported in the past three weeks. The World Health Organisation has been facing growing criticism for not responding more quickly with greater resources to help beat back the virus. (Romania Libera)
Senate Adopts Proposition To Celebrate Grandparents’ Day On October 1
Romania may celebrate Grandparents’ Day on the first day of October, according to a legislative initiative adopted by senators Tuesday.
Several liberal senators proposed that Romania should celebrate Grandparents’ Day to honor grandparents and show that “the society cherishes and is grateful for grandparents’ efforts in guiding and educating younger generations,” according to Mediafax. (Adevarul)
More Than Two Thirds Of Romanians Pay Bills On Time – Survey
Over two thirds of Romanians (70%) pay their bills on time, down from 81%, compared to an eastern European average of 72% and a European average of 75%, a survey by market research company TNS Infratest has found.
The survey, ordered by receivables management group EOS, states individuals have payment deadlines of 33 days, compared to 29 days in Eastern Europe (includes Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Hungary), while companies have 40 days to pay their bills, compared to 42 days in the region. The delay period after deadline is 28 days, one day more than in the region.
The survey polled 2,600 people with management positions in 12 European countries.
“In Romania there is a tendency to delay payment; 24% of clients in Romania pay bills late, fewer than in Bulgaria (25%), but more than in European countries,” said Georg Kovacs, general manager of EOS KSI Romania. (Puterea)
Finance Minister Says It Is Not Government’s Duty To Create Jobs
Romanian Finance Minister Ioana Petrescu thinks it is not the Government’s duty to create jobs, arguing the Executive should only secure a simulative framework and a business environment that will spur job creation.
Petrescu said the Ponta Cabinet already does this and added that the tax exemption on reinvested profit and the planned lowering of the social security tax rate will have a positive impact on creating new jobs. (Adevarul)
Romanian Executives More Pessimistic On 2014 Business Outlook – Survey
The representatives of Romanian companies became more and more pessimistic as regards their business outlook, with a larger number of companies envisaging negative growth values in August (12% compared with 2% in February), according to an EY survey.
The survey “A vision for growth” explores the perceptions of top executives from major companies operating in Romania regarding the business outlook for 2014 and shows comparative data between February and August 2014.
Companies’ expectations regarding profit growth largely stayed the same in August compared with February as 81% of respondent companies were expecting an increase in profits in August, compared with 84% at the beginning of the year. (Curierul National)