May 6, 2019
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 06.05.2019, 13:41
WEATHER -
The National Meteorological Administration on Monday issued a code yellow alert
against extreme weather phenomena in place until Tuesday evening for most of
the country. The south, east and the mountainous regions today will see
thunderstorms, hailstorms, heavy rain and wind. Heavy rain will also be
reported in the center, northwest and the southeast. Hail and strong wind will
be reported locally. Snowfalls are expected in the mountains. Tuesday
temperatures will drop nationwide.
SUMMIT IN SIBIU – The Romania-EU 2019 inter-ministry security
committee has decided to start implementing security measures gradually as of
today ahead of the EU Summit to be hosted by Sibiu on May 9. Security measures
are very strict, given the scope and importance of the event. The summit will
bring together heads of state and government from the EU27 group, 36 official
delegations, 400 high-ranking guests, some 900 journalists and 100
interpreters, a record high number. We recall Romania is currently holding the
rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.
MOTION -
The Senate is today debating and voting the simple motion the right-wing
opposition has filed against Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici. The National
Liberal Party and Save Romania Union claim Teodorovici should step down as he
has proven unfit for the job and is thus jeopardizing the economy of the
country and weakening Romania’s relations with its Euro-Atlantic partners. The
opposition also criticized the tax on banking assets, as well as the additional
taxes implemented in the energy and telecom sectors.
POPE
FRANCIS – Pope Francis is today continuing his visit to
Bulgaria. During his meeting with President Rumen Radev, the Pope tackled the
delicate issue of migration, with nearly half of Bulgaria’s working-age
population leaving the country in recent years. The Pope warned that
demographic winter is coming and called on the Government to create conditions
allowing for young people to stay in the country. Pope Francis also referred to
refugees, calling on the authorities to let them in. In Sofia, the Pope prayed
together with Christians. Analysts say that, despite festivities, Bulgaria’s
relations with the Vatican remain docile. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is a
close ally of the Russian Orthodox Church, thus opposing close relations with
the Vatican. The Pope will next visit North Macedonia and at the end of the
month he will visit Romania, the second visit of a Pope after John Paul II’s
visit 20 years ago.
MULTINATIONALS -
Germany, France and Italy were the top three countries that controlled
multinational branches in Romania in 2017. Over 13 thousand of these were
controlled by foreign enterprises, while 62 thousand were controlled by foreign
natural persons, the National Statistics Institute reports. Most multinational
companies in Romania were operating in the trade sector, with a 35% share. 11%
of them were active in constructions and the manufacturing industry, 9% were
performing scientific and technical activities while 8% were involved in real
estate.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis
player Mihaela Buzarnescu (29 WTA) is today playing twelve seed Anastasija
Sevastova of Latvia in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open, totaling 7
million dollars in prize money. Another two Romanians have advanced to the
second round. On Tuesday, third-seed Simona Halep will play Johanna Konta of
Great Britain (47 WTA) while Sorana Cirstea will take on Caroline Garcia of
France. Halep won the Madrid Open twice, in 2016 and 2017. In 2018 she reached
the quarterfinals.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
