August 4, 2014 UPDATE
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Valentin Țigău, 04.08.2014, 19:59
Romania’s Central Bank on Monday trimmed the monetary policy interest rate from 3.5% per year to 3.25% per year. According to a press release the measure is to come into effect as of August 5th. At the same time, the Central Bank decided to keep reserve requirements for banks’ liabilities at 12% in local currency and 16% in hard currency. According to the same communiqué, the bank has revised down the inflation forecast for the end of this year from 3.3% to 2.2%.
Europe on Monday commemorated 100 years since the German troops invaded Belgium and the outbreak of WWl. The event held in Liege was attended by the sovereigns of Belgium, Spain and the presidents of France, Germany, Austria, Armenia, Ireland, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Albania. Romania was represented by president Traian Basescu. According to Radio Romania correspondent, the Belgian sovereign has evoked the Allies’ support for Belgium, the moment the entire continent joined the conflagration.
President Traian Basescu expects PM Victor Ponta to make new nominations these days for the culture minister and minister delegate for budget positions. In reply, Victor Ponta says he will not make new nominations unless the President officially rejects the current ones. The head of state described as inappropriate the nomination of Rozália Biró, from the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, and Claudiu Manda, from the Social Democratic Party, for minister of culture and budget minister respectively. Rozalia Biro was elected Senator in 2012, and is currently probed into for misuse of authority. Claudiu Manda is the deputy chair of the Budget Committee in the Chamber of Deputies.
The President of the new European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, went to Athens on Monday, on his first official visit to a EU state. Juncker’s agenda included a meeting with PM Antonis Samaras, focusing on the priorities of the new EC, such as the economic growth and new jobs. According to AFP, Jean-Claude Juncker, former head of the Eurogroup, made up of the finance ministers of Eurozone countries, was the one who steered the two economic recovery plans for Greece.
Romania’s handball team won the Women’s Youth World Championship in Macedonia, on Sunday, after winning the final in Ohrid, against Germany, 32-21. In the third-place match, Denmark beat Montenegro 20-19. This is the first youth world title for Romania, after the bronze they won in 2006 in Sherbrooke (Canada). Also in the under-18 category, Romania won the European championship in 1999, and two silver medals, in 2003 and 2005.
In Gaza, the ceasefire announced by Israel was broken within hours after it came into force. A Palestinian child was killed and at least 30 people in a refugee camp were wounded by Israeli troops, according to emergency services quoted by AFP. Israel had announced a 7-hour suspension of shelling, to allow the access of aid and the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes. According to Palestinian healthcare sources, more than 120 people died yesterday in the strikes of the Israeli army. Israel has come under harsh criticism in the West for the victims and destructions caused in its attempts to prevent the Hamas militants from launching missiles across the border. Over 1,800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed, and tens of thousands forced to leave their homes because of the Israeli attacks launched on July the 8th. Israel lost around 60 soldiers.
Russia’s defence ministry announced unprecedented military exercises for 4 days this week, involving over 100 aircraft in the west of the country. The defence ministry also announced a mobilisation of reserve troops for large-scale exercises to be held across the country in August-October, and said this had been planned last year. Moscow hints that these actions have nothing to do with the situation in Ukraine, where troops and reserve units have been mobilised for Kiev’s operation against the pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. According to Kiev, the Ukrainian army is gaining ground against the rebels and are heading for their stronghold, Donetsk. Russia carried out military exercises near the Ukrainian border last week as well.
