January 28, 2014
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Ştefan Stoica, 28.01.2014, 12:49
THE WEATHER – Meteorologists have issued a code orange alert against blizzard for 14 counties in the south and south-east and the capital city Bucharest, as well as a code yellow alert for another 11 counties in the northeast, centre and south, which will expire on Wednesday night. During this timeframe, the targeted areas will see heavy snowfall and gale wind, which in some areas will exceed 70 km/h, drifting snow. Sleet is reported in the south. The code orange alert will extend as of Thursday night to 8 counties in the southeast, the capital city Bucharest, while another 9 counties in the northeast, centre and south will remain under a code yellow alert. Buzau, Vrancea and Braila counties on Sunday were under a code red alert against blizzard. Authorities on the ground remain on high alert. After last week’s heavy snowfalls, rail traffic resumed today, although restrictions are maintained on several routes, while another 105 trains have been cancelled. Traffic on numerous national and county roads is shutdown or partially blocked. Electricity is cut off in dozens of villages. All classes in secondary school units have been suspended in the capital city Bucharest and another 12 counties in the south and southeast.
VISIT – Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean is on a two-day official visit to Italy. Corlatean will meet with Vatican officials and representatives of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The Romanian official will also meet with Prime Minister Enrico Letta and with his Italian counterpart Emma Bonino. Talks will focus on Romanian-Italian bilateral relations and hot topics on the European agenda, ahead of Italy’s forthcoming six-month term at the head of the EU Council. Other topics of mutual interest are Eastern vicinity and the Republic of Moldova. At the Vatican, Titus Corlatean will hold talks with Secretary for Foreign Relations Dominique Mamberti and will attend the general hearing of Pope Francis. At the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Romanian official will hold talks with the Grand Chancellor Jean-Pierre Mazery.
UKRAINE – The Ukrainian Parliament has today abolished the laws aimed at punishing anti-regime protesters in this country. For the last two months Ukraine is confronted with large-scale protests, after Kiev authorities snubbed the EU and refused the re-launch relations with Russia. The laws provided for penalties for up to five years in prison. Their abolishment was one of the key prerequisites for continuing the dialogue between the power and the opposition. Also today Ukrainian Prime Minister Mikola Azarov has resigned. In a press release Azarov informs that his resignation would help reach a political compromise and peacefully solve the conflict between the power and the opposition. The resignation brought about the demise of his entire Cabinet. In an attempt to prevent the conflict from escalating, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton is today in Kiev holding talks with president Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders. Moreover, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has offered to dispatch a special UN envoy to take part in the dialogue between the power and the opposition.
THE CAR MARKET – Romania’s car output in 2013 went up by 21.7% up to 411,000 units manufactured, as compared to the same period of 2012, the Romanian Association of Carmakers and Importers has announced. According to the Association, car exports also went up last year by 9.6%, as compared to 2012. Car exports also accounted for 88% of nationwide car output in 2013. On the other hand, new car sales dropped in 2013 by 6.3% for the sixth consecutive year, standing at some 82,000 units sold. President of the Romanian Association of Carmakers and Importer Ernest Virgil Popovici has said that the 2014 Car Scrappage Programme should be renounced as of next year, given that its utility has lessened from one year to the next.
EGYPT – The court trial of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi is due to start today in Cairo. Morsi is the first democratically-elected Egyptian president ousted by the army in July 2013 in the wake of mass anti-regime protests. Morsi is facing charges of escaping prison during the 2011 uprising and in connection with the killing of protesters and collaborating with Islamist Hamas group and Hezbollah to carry out a terrorist conspiracy against Egypt. At least 1,400 people, mostly supporters of Morsi have been killed, while another 2,000 Islamists have been detained since Mohamed Morsi was removed from power, France Press reports.
US – US President Barack Obama is today holding talks with certain US congressmen who have expressed their reluctance regarding the president’s reform. Obama will present a set of unilateral measures aimed at re-launching economic growth and curbing inequality, as part of his state of the union speech, France Press reports. According to the White House, Obama will focus on one of his favourite topics, namely supporting the middle class. Since early 2011, Obama is under a co-habitation pact with the House of Representatives, currently Republican-dominated, which has prevented him to operate a redress of taxation. Obama sees the new measures instrumental to helping the needy. Disagreement over revenues and spending peaked in October, when the US administration was under a two-week shutdown.
