BUDGET – The Romanian
\ngovernment on Thursday night published the draft budget for 2019, which is
\nbased on a 5.5% economic growth rate, a budget deficit of 2.55% and an average
\nannual inflation rate of 2.8%. The bill provides for additional funds for
\ninvestment, healthcare and education, and less money for the business environment,
\ncommunications and energy ministries. Mayors are unhappy with the new budget,
\nas the local authorities are to incur most part of the social spending so far
\ncovered from the central budget. <\/p>\n
GYMNICH – The European Union wants to maintain the provisions of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear
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WITHDRAWAL – US Secretary
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DEFENSE – As of Friday,
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UK – Romania’s President
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FLU
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HANDBALL -CSM Bucharest player
(Translated by V. Palcu)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A roundup of domestic and international news<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":75903,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[34459,29735,34411,34461,34462,34464,34465,34463],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-103311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsflash","tag-2019-budget","tag-cristina-neagu","tag-flu-epidemic","tag-gymnich-meeting-in-bucharest","tag-inf-treaty","tag-jeremy-hunt-in-bucharest","tag-laurian-anastasof","tag-us-withdrawal"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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\nForces Treaty, signed during the Cold War, the EU High Representative for
\nForeign Policy and Security, Federica Mogherini said in Bucharest on the
\nsidelines of the Gymnich informal meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers. In turn,
\nRomania’s Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said the Eastern Partnership is a
\npriority of the Romanian presidency of the Council of the EU, while Bucharest
\nwants an official agreement of member states and partners states to continue in
\nthis format after 2020. Romania will also contribute to the EU trade mechanism
\nwith Iran, Melescanu also said. The mechanism will allow EU companies to do
\nbusiness with Iran, bypassing US sanctions. The so-called Instrument in Support
\nof Trade Exchanges addresses European SMEs, which will thus be able to send
\nmedicine, medical equipment and food to Iran.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
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\nof State Mike Pompeo on Friday announced the withdrawal of the United States
\nfrom the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which opens up a period of
\nuncertainty for the European Union, France Press reports. Signed in 1987 by the
\nUSSR and the United States, the INF Treaty put an end to the missile crisis at
\nthe time. US officials accuse Russia of creating a missile system that violates
\nthe treaty. Moscow instead claims the missiles have a maximum range of 480 kms,
\nin line with Treaty provisions. Prior to the announcement, Russia warned
\nWashington that a withdrawal would be irresponsible and could impact other
\nstrategic agreements. In turn, NATO expressed support for the US decision,
\ncalling on Moscow to return urgently to full and verifiable compliance to
\npreserve the INF Treaty within the next six months. <\/p>\n
\n
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\nLieutenant General Laurian Anastasof took over as interim chief of general
\nstaff following an order by minister Gabriel Les. On Thursday, the Bucharest
\nCourt of Appeal admitted a request from the Defence Ministry to suspend a
\ndecree from last December by which president Klaus Iohannis extended the term
\nof General Nicolae Ciuca as chief of general staff. The defence minister
\nGabriel Les said on Thursday that he was waiting for the court to publish its
\nruling before making a nomination for the position. The court’s ruling is
\nbinding, but the President’s Office can appeal it.<\/p>\n
\n
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\nKlaus Iohannis on Friday met in Bucharest the British Foreign Secretary Jeremy
\nHunt. Talks focused on the latest developments such as Brexit and Romanian-British
\nrelations. Regarding the latest decisions of the British Parliament with
\nrespect to Brexit, Klaus Iohannis said a withdrawal not supported by an
\nagreement will bring about significant negative consequences both for London
\nand the other Member States. Klaus Iohannis pointed out the negotiated
\nWithdrawal Treaty is the most effective mechanism to ensure an orderly Brexit,
\nlimiting its negative consequences and guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens
\nliving, working or studying in Great Britain. In turn, the British official
\nunderlined Britain’s special support for the President’s efforts to maintain
\nand consolidate the rule of law in Romania. <\/p>\n
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\nEPIDEMIC – The number of deaths caused by flu in Romania has reached 67.
\nThe victims had pre-existing medical
\nconditions and had not received the flu vaccine. The authorities in
\nBucharest on Wednesday officially declared a flu epidemic and warned that the
\nvirus will continue to circulate intensely this month. <\/p>\n
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\nCristina Neagu has been chosen the best female handball player in 2018 on the
\nHandball-Planet website after a poll that involved journalists and fans from
\ndifferent countries. She is followed in the ranking by the French player
\nAmandine Leynaud and the Russian player Anna Vyakhireva. This is the
\nthird time Neagu is declared the world’s best female player on this website,
\nafter 2015 and 2016. The ranking also features the Romanian line-player Crina
\nPintea from the Hungarian side Gyor. Neagu sustained a serious injury in
\nDecember during the European Championship in France, where she became the best
\nall-time scorer in the history of this competition. <\/p>\n
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