January 4, 2014, UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 04.01.2014, 19:03
CURRENCY – The Romanian currency ( Leu) depreciated on Friday down to the lowest level in the past six months. The National Bank of Romania published a reference exchange rate of 4.48 lei for one Euro, 1.2% less than at the end of last year. In 2013 the Romanian currency had the best evolution in the EU area. According to a Novel Securities analysis, the Leu might fluctuate in 2014, as this is an election year in Romania.
POLLUTION – Environmental authorities are keeping under surveillance the Danube sector affected by pollution for over two weeks now in Drobeta Turnu Severin, southern Romania. Several tons of liquid fuel, used in the thermal power plant, got into the he sewage system of the town and then spilled into the Danube. The Environment Squad fined the guilty company with over 40 thousand Euros. Specialists say that the Danube fauna was not affected by the spill.
PROTESTS – In the commune of Pungesti, eastern Romania, protesters against the exploration of shale gas by the US company Chevron have announced they will not continue the hunger strike, but will resort to other means of protest. A month ago, when Chevron started works to install the first well in Pungesti, the first incidents between protesters and gendarmes were reported. Locals and green activists say the technology used in the exploration of shale gas pollutes underground waters and trigger small earthquakes.
IMMIGRATION – German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday pleaded for an objective debate on the immigration of Romanian and Bulgarian workers, in a bid to ease the tension triggered by the lifting of labour restrictions for Romanians and Bulgarians on January 1st. On Wednesday, at the first session this year, the German government will discuss potential tougher measures for immigrants regarding social securities. On Friday, the German MEP Elmar Brok, member of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, has suggested the repatriation of east European immigrants coming to Germany to get social aid.
AGRICULTURE – Temperatures above the normal average and the lack of precipitations this winter have already created problems in Romanian agriculture. Specialists in the field say the small farmers will suffer the most. Crops this year might be affected by the lack of water in the soil, as this has been the driest winter since 1961. In 2013, Romanian agriculture boasted record highs.
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Over 100 thousand Romanians, 15% more than last year, spent New Year’s Eve in resorts across the country, shows a survey made by the Tourism Employers’ Association. The preferred resorts were those in the mountains, followed by rural guesthouses and spas. The number of Romanians who chose to spend the New Year’s Eve abroad was higher too. Ten thousand people paid for 5 million Euros worth of tourist services. Just like the year before, most Romanians chose Austria, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.
MUSIC – On January 9th, the Bucharest Opera celebrates 60 years since the inauguration of its Hall in downtown Bucharest. An extraordinary concert will be held on the occasion, which will include a part of Piotr Ilici Ceaikovsky’s Queen of Spades” , which was the first opera performed on stage the National Opera, in the 1953-1954 season.
MIDDLE EAST – Israelis and Palestinians have made progress towards concluding a framework peace agreement, but the goal has not been reached yet, said on Saturday in Ramallah the US Secretary of state John Kerry, after talks with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. Kerry announced he would go to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, for talks with King Abdullah. Previously in Jerusalem the US official held talks with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Kerry, a new frame-work agreement, accepted by both parties, would allow an appropriate approach to all major issues, such as borders, security, the status of Jerusalem and refugees. Currently Israelis and Palestinians are accusing each other of sabotaging the peace efforts. This is Kerry’s 10th visit to the Middle East since March 2013.
EXTREME WEATHER – Heavy snowfalls and glacial temperatures have caused the death of 15 people in the past three days in the United States. Air transportation has been seriously disturbed all across the country, with over 5 thousand flights cancelled since Thursday. Also, some 600 road accidents have been reported. The UN headquarters in New York have closed their gates. In Canada, too, a wave of cold hit most of the eastern regions. In Quebec, temperature dropped to minus 29 degrees Celsius on Friday.
SPORT – Romanian tennis player Monica Niculescu and the Check Klara Zakopalova have won the WTA doubles in Shenzhen China, a tournament with 500 thousand dollars in prize money. They won 6-3, 6-4 the match against the Ukrainian sisters Liudmila and Nadia Kicenok. To Monica Titulescu this is the third WTA title. For her participation in the Shenzhen Open, Monica will get some 18 thousand dollars, as well as 60 and 280 points in the WTA singles and doubles respectively.
