DIRECTIVE The Romanian presidency of
\nthe EU Council and the European Parliament have reached a preliminary political
\nagreement on the balance between professional life and family life of parents
\nand caregivers, according to the Labor Ministry in Bucharest. The directive
\nintroduces a number of minimal standards applicable throughout the Union
\nregarding maternity and paternity leave, as well as time off for caring for
\nclose relatives. Employees also gain the right to demand more flexible work
\narrangements. The European regulation is supposed to lead to a more equitable
\nsharing of responsibilities between men and women within the family. The
\nagreement has to be endorsed by member states. <\/p>\n
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WEATHER A code yellow warning has been issued for most of
\nRomania’s regions, which are currently facing gale-force wind, glaze and
\nprecipitations. The warning is in place until Saturday. Three national roads
\nhave been closed down due to the glazed frost and blizzard, which have also
\ndisrupted road, rail and air traffic in Romania. In capital Bucharest, trees
\nfell under the heavy ice and many people have been admitted to hospitals with injuries
\nafter falling on ice. 46 towns and villages have been left without electricity.
\nThe highs of the day range between minus 6 and plus 8 degrees Celsius. The noon
\nreading in Bucharest was minus two degrees.<\/p>\n
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CAMPAIGN The ex-soviet, Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova is
\nseeing its first day of election campaign for the parliamentary election on
\nFebruary 24th. The election is being held for the first time under
\nthe mixed system, according to which 50 out of the 101 MPs are running on party
\ntickets whereas 51 others in constituencies. Nine parties have so far been
\nregistered and six have submitted files to the Central Election Committee. A
\nreferendum about cutting down the number of MPs from 101 to 61 is to be run on
\nthe very Election Day. Only two parties are involved with the referendum, the
\nDemocratic Party, which kicked off the campaign and the Communist Party which
\nvotes against. <\/p>\n
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FLU The Health Ministry in Bucharest is expected to decide next
\nweek whether to declare a flu epidemic against the rising number of infections
\nand deaths caused by the virus. According to the authorities, 35 people have
\nbeen killed by the virus this season. Field minister Sorina Pintea has called
\non the National Public Healthcare Institute to make public the situation at
\nnational level adding that an epidemic will be declared if reports confirm a
\nthird consecutive week with epidemic character. Doctors continue to recommend
\nvaccination and encourage people to visit GPs after noticing any flu-related
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HANDBALL Romania’s champions in women’s handball, CSM Bucharest, will be up
\nagainst Hungarian side Gyor ETO in their first group B match in the Champions
\nLeague. The two sides are starting from top positions; Gyor has 8 points while
\nCSM 6. The group also includes Vipers Kristiansand of Norway, Krim Ljubljana of
\nSlovenia, Ferencvaros of Hungary and Thuringer HC of Germany. In the past two
\nseasons, CSM has got the bronze medals after winning the trophy in 2016. This
\nis CSM’s fourth consecutive participation in the Champions League. Also on
\nSaturday, the EHF Cup’s holder, Romania’s vice-champions SCM Craiova, are
\nplaying their return game against Podravka Koprivnica of Croatia in group D.
\nOur side lost the first game away 23-36. Podravka tops the group table with 6
\npoints, Super Amara Bera Bera of Spain comes next and SCM Craiova third. <\/p>\n
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\n(translated by bill)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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