Ruling coalition announces membership of new government./ Romania's Simona Halep to face Caroline Wozniacki in Australian Open final.
Government. The ruling coalition in Romania formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats on Friday made public the final membership of the new government led by the Social Democrat Viorica Dancila. The government will have four deputy-prime ministers. The Social Democratic ministers who keep their seats in the new cabinet are the defence minister Mihai Fifor, the interior minister Carmen Dan, the labour minister Olguta Vasilescu and the agriculture minister Petre Daea. Eugen Teodorovici takes over the finance ministry, doctor Sorina Pintea the healthcare ministry, the actor George Ivascu the culture ministry and professor Valentin Popa the education ministry, while Natalia Intotero takes over the ministry for Romanians abroad. The independent Tudorel Toader supported by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats keeps his justice ministry. The Liberal Democratic ministers who keep their posts are deputy-prime minister and environment minister Gratiela Gavrilescu, foreign minister Teodor Melescanu and the minister for the relationship with Parliament Viorel Ilie. Toma Petcu, who resigned as energy minister, will be replaced by Anton Anton. Senators and deputies will vote on the new cabinet and its governing platform on Monday. The National Liberal Party is having talks with the other political parties in opposition to block the installation of the new government, the third within the span of one year.
Talks. Next Wednesday in Brussels, Romania's president Klaus Iohannis will meet the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and the president of the European Council Donald Tusk, the president's office announced on Friday. Talks are expected to focus on the situation in Romania and the changes made to legislation concerning the judicial system and the fight against corruption, as well as on the preparations for Romania's taking over the EU presidency in the first part of 2019. In another development, the European Commissioner for Justice Vera Jourova said on Friday in Sofia that the European Commission is closely monitoring the situation in Romania, where citizens are protesting against the recent judicial reform and against corruption. Jurova said the Commission wants to see reforms leading to a more independent and better functioning judiciary and greater public confidence in it.
Flu. A man aged 40 died on Friday in Iasi, in eastern Romania, because of complications caused by seasonal flu, the healthcare ministry has announced. This is the fourth death caused by the flu this winter. The healthcare ministry says over 770,000 people considered at risk have received free anti-flu vaccination.
Australian Open. World no. 1 Simona Halep of Romania on Saturday plays her first Australian Open final against world no. 2 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. In the semifinals, Halep defeated former world no. 1 Angelique Kerber of Germany in a dramatic match. This is Halep's third Grand Slam final, having lost the first two at Roland Garros in 2014 and 2017. Both Halep and Wozniacki are seeking their first Grand Slam title.
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