November 10, 2024
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 10.11.2024, 14:00
FLOODS – According to the Spanish authorities, another three Romanian citizens are reported dead following last week’s devastating floods in Valencia, after previously been reported missing. So far, seven Romanians died and three are still missing, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reports. The Spanish authorities remain in permanent contact with representatives of Romania’s diplomatic missions. We recall that on Saturday, thousands marched on the streets of Valencia to protest the local authorities’ chaotic and slow response to the floods in southeastern Spain, which have so far killed 220 people.
WEATHER ALERTS – A code yellow alert for strong wind and heavy rainfall is in place for several counties in the southeast, while heavy snowfall and blizzards are expected in the center and the east. Meteorologists have also warned against heavy rainfall in the south and the southeast, which will persist until Tuesday morning. All ports on the Romanian Black Sea remained closed on Saturday due to strong wind.
VISIT – Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to the United Kingdom starting Tuesday, where he will meet his counterpart, Keir Starmer, and attend the Romania-Great Britain Economic Forum. Ahead of the visit, the Romanian government earlier this week adopted a memorandum, updating the convention signed by the two countries in the field of taxation and tax evasion. “The updated document factors in the legislative modifications operated in Romania over the course of 2023, as well as other measures linked to Romania’s OECD accession”, the government reports.
GAZA – Qatar has suspended all efforts to mediate the conflict between Israel and Hamas until both parties will show willingness to negotiate in good faith, the Qatari Foreign Ministry reports. Along with the USA and Egypt, Qatar has for months been trying to end the war in Gaza and get all Israeli hostages released. Hamas and Israel accuse each other of blocking any peace settlement, refusing terms for a ceasefire. The conflict erupted on a large scale on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack on Israel. On the other hand, in a report published on Saturday, the UN warns that famine threatens to sweep northern Gaza amidst a resurge in Israeli military operations and the near total blocking of humanitarian aid. The IDF responded, saying the report relies on “partial and biased data”.
REPORT – National Bank Governor, Mugur Isărescu, is expected to present a quarterly inflation report on Monday. The inflation rate will go up slightly at the end of 2024, and the National Bank expects price hikes over the coming period. Starting the first half of 2025, the inflation rate will fluctuate and will remain above Central Bank estimates. Bank officials expect the annual inflation rate to stabilize in 2026 and start going down to the 3.5% set target, a National Bank board of directors report reads. The National Bank also decided to maintain the monetary policy interest rate to 6.5% per year, as also agreed in October’s meeting.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Irina Begu (102 WTA) has won the WTA125 tournament in Cali, Columbia, offering 115,000 USD in total prizes, after defeating Veronika Erjavec of Slovenia in the final on Saturday, score 6-3, 6-3. Seeded second, Begu ousted Tina Smith (322 WTA) in the semi-finals, 6-1, 6-3, Anca Todoni of Romania in the quarterfinals, Emiliana Arango of Clumbia in the round of 16 and Luciana Perez Alarcon of Peru in the opening round. This is the second WTA125 title for Begu after the one won in Montreux, Switzerland. (VP)
