February 8, 2013
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news.
Valentin Țigău, 08.02.2014, 12:07
ECONOMY– Romania has completed the process of decreasing the monetary policy interest rate. This week’s cut is likely to be the last to be operated in a rather long period of time, says the vice-governor of the National Bank of Romania, Bogdan Olteanu, in an interview to “Wall Street Journal”. Olteanu has also said that economic stability might convince foreign investors that it is worth doing business in Romania in the future, too, and not to withdraw from this country, as they do on other markets affected by turmoil.
NULAND AUDIO LEAK-The President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, deems as unacceptable the statements the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, has made on the EU, against the backdrop of the political crisis in Ukraine, FP reports. A leak of Nuland’s private phone conversation with the US ambassador in Kiev, Geoffrey Pyatt, on the EU’s role in Ukraine was made public on Thursday. During the conversation, Nuland used an offending expression, when referring to the EU. A spokesperson for the US Department of State has said the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, has apologised to her EU counterparts.
ROAD ACCIDENT– All 22 passengers on board a coach which overturned on a highway in Budapest on Friday evening, among whom 3 children, got injured, but not severely. The coach, registered in Romania, skidded and overturned near the town of Babarc, on a highway to Budapest. Preliminary data show only 8 of those injured need medical care for more than 8 days. Bucharest authorities say three Romanian nationals onboard the coach did not sustain severe injuries.
SOCHI– US athlete Sage Kotsenburg has become the first Olympic champion at the Winter Olympic Games hosted by the Russian resort of Sochi. On Saturday he won the slope-style event, during the snowboard competition, with 93.50 points. The Winter Olympic Games were officially opened on Friday evening. Competing in the most expensive edition of the Winter Olympic Games in history, are some 3,000 athletes from 88 countries. Romania, whose flag-bearer was Eva Tofalvi, is represented by 24 athletes, who are competing in 8 sporting events. Attending the opening ceremony were tens of heads of state and government, among whom, Romanian Prime Minister, Victor Ponta.
