January 25, 2019
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 25.01.2019, 14:34
DIRECTIVE The Romanian presidency of
the EU Council and the European Parliament have reached a preliminary political
agreement on the balance between professional life and family life of parents
and caregivers, according to the Labor Ministry in Bucharest. The directive
introduces a number of minimal standards applicable throughout the Union
regarding maternity and paternity leave, as well as time off for caring for
close relatives. Employees also gain the right to demand more flexible work
arrangements. The European regulation is supposed to lead to a more equitable
sharing of responsibilities between men and women within the family. The
agreement has to be endorsed by member states.
WEATHER A code yellow warning has been issued for most of
Romania’s regions, which are currently facing gale-force wind, glaze and
precipitations. The warning is in place until Saturday. Three national roads
have been closed down due to the glazed frost and blizzard, which have also
disrupted road, rail and air traffic in Romania. In capital Bucharest, trees
fell under the heavy ice and many people have been admitted to hospitals with injuries
after falling on ice. 46 towns and villages have been left without electricity.
The highs of the day range between minus 6 and plus 8 degrees Celsius. The noon
reading in Bucharest was minus two degrees.
CAMPAIGN The ex-soviet, Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova is
seeing its first day of election campaign for the parliamentary election on
February 24th. The election is being held for the first time under
the mixed system, according to which 50 out of the 101 MPs are running on party
tickets whereas 51 others in constituencies. Nine parties have so far been
registered and six have submitted files to the Central Election Committee. A
referendum about cutting down the number of MPs from 101 to 61 is to be run on
the very Election Day. Only two parties are involved with the referendum, the
Democratic Party, which kicked off the campaign and the Communist Party which
votes against.
FLU The Health Ministry in Bucharest is expected to decide next
week whether to declare a flu epidemic against the rising number of infections
and deaths caused by the virus. According to the authorities, 35 people have
been killed by the virus this season. Field minister Sorina Pintea has called
on the National Public Healthcare Institute to make public the situation at
national level adding that an epidemic will be declared if reports confirm a
third consecutive week with epidemic character. Doctors continue to recommend
vaccination and encourage people to visit GPs after noticing any flu-related
symptoms.
HANDBALL Romania’s champions in women’s handball, CSM Bucharest, will be up
against Hungarian side Gyor ETO in their first group B match in the Champions
League. The two sides are starting from top positions; Gyor has 8 points while
CSM 6. The group also includes Vipers Kristiansand of Norway, Krim Ljubljana of
Slovenia, Ferencvaros of Hungary and Thuringer HC of Germany. In the past two
seasons, CSM has got the bronze medals after winning the trophy in 2016. This
is CSM’s fourth consecutive participation in the Champions League. Also on
Saturday, the EHF Cup’s holder, Romania’s vice-champions SCM Craiova, are
playing their return game against Podravka Koprivnica of Croatia in group D.
Our side lost the first game away 23-36. Podravka tops the group table with 6
points, Super Amara Bera Bera of Spain comes next and SCM Craiova third.
(translated by bill)
