July 30, 2013
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Roxana Vasile, 30.07.2013, 13:05
Meteorologists have issued a code yellow alert for heavy rain, hail and storms, valid until Wednesday afternoon for 17 counties and the capital-city Bucharest. Here atmospheric instability will increase and take the form of downpours, electric storms, strong wind and hail. Highs will range between 32 and 33 degrees Celsius after on Tuesday southeastern Romania was hit by a heat wave. A code orange alert was issued for Bucharest and 12 counties, with the temperature-humidity index bound to exceed the critical comfort level of 80 units and temperatures reaching 40 degrees. Tens of people were affected by nausea and heat stroke due to the extreme temperatures. In another development, the Romanian Rail Company has imposed speed restrictions in areas affected by the heat.
The Romanian Government on Tuesday adopted the first budget adjustment this year, while the economic growth forecast will increase from 1.6% to 1.9%. The Ministries of Health, Education and Justice are hereby granted additional funds, while the Transport Ministry and the General Secretariat of the Government will see their funds slashed. Also on Tuesday the Government adopted the ordinance on VAT reduction for bread, from 24% to 9%, which will come into force as of September 1st. To counterbalance this measure the Government will increase excises for luxury items and spirits.
If a referendum were to be held tomorrow, 27% of Romanians would vote in favour of restoring monarchy, as compared to 41% who would rather the republic were maintained as a Government of the people. According to a survey commissioned by the Romanian daily Adevarul, 40% of Romanians hold the Royal House in high esteem. Former monarch King Michael I of Romania is the only living head of state who ruled during World War II. Michael I conceded to communist pressure, stepping down in 1947, 66 years after the first king of Romania was enthroned. With the demise of the communist rule in 1989, the members of the Royal House returned to Romania.
The hypothesis Swiss authorities seem to favour as a possible cause behind Monday night’s rail accident in western Switzerland is “failure to comply with traffic signals”. 1 person was killed and another 26 were injured after two trains came on a head-on collision. The accident caps a series of tragic accidents in Europe this month. On July 12 a train derailed in France, killing 7 people. Last week a similar accident happened in Spain, when 79 people were killed after a train derailed near Santiago de Compostela. On Sunday in Italy, a coach crash killed 38 people.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton has argued in favour of a political transition process in Cairo. Ashton believes the process to be conducive to constitution order, free and just elections and to installing a civil government in this country. The EU official met with former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, currently detained at a secret location by the army since he was overthrown on July 3rd. Ashton said Morsi was feeling well and was kept up to date with the developments. In another development, the French diplomacy has called on Egyptian authorities to release all “political prisoners”, including president Morsi.
