January 28th 2014, UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 28.01.2014, 12:51
Meteorologists have issued a code orange alert against blizzard for 14 counties in the south and south-east and the capital city Bucharest, as well as a code yellow alert for another 11 counties in the northeast, centre and south, which will expire on Wednesday night. During this timeframe, the targeted areas will see heavy snowfall and gale wind, which in some areas will exceed 70 km/h, drifting snow. Sleet is reported in the south. The code orange alert will extend as of Wednesday night to Thursday morning to 8 counties in the southeast, the capital city Bucharest, while another 9 counties in the northeast, centre and south will remain under a code yellow alert. Buzau, Vrancea and Braila counties on Sunday were under a code red alert against blizzard. Authorities on the ground remain on high alert. After last week’s heavy snowfalls, rail traffic resumed on Tuesday, although restrictions are maintained on several routes, while more than 100 trains have been cancelled. Traffic on numerous national and county roads is shutdown or partially blocked. Classes will be suspended for the 3rd consecutive day in the capital city Bucharest and in the counties in the south and southeast that are under code orange alert.
The Romanian foreign minister, Titus Corlatean, on Tuesday met in Rome with his Italian counterpart, Emma Bonino, who reiterated Italy’s support for Romania’s Schengen accession. Emma Bonino pointed out that Romania’s Schengen accession would be a ‘topic of interest’ on the future agenda of the Italian presidency of the EU Council. The topics approached by the two officials were bilateral relations and economic cooperation, the European agenda, the Eastern partnership with focus on the Republic of Moldova and the developments in the Ukraine. On the other hand, they agreed on intensifying bilateral economic cooperation given that Italy is Romania’s 2nd largest trade partner. Titus Corlatean is also paying a visit to the Vatican and Malta at the Sovereign Military Order.
The Ukrainian Parliament on Tuesday annulled the controversial anti-protest legislation, as for 2 months demonstrators have been protesting against the power that decided to give up the rapprochement with the EU in favor of re-launching relations with Russia. Recently voted in Kiev the laws provided punishments of up to 5 years imprisonment for protest actions. The laws’ abrogation is one of the conditions for the power and the opposition to continue dialogue. Also on Tuesday President Viktor Ianukovici approved the resignation of the government led by PM Mikola Azarov. The latter resigned in order to create the background for political compromise and peaceful settlement of the conflict. To defuse tension the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will hold talks in Kiev with president Ianukovici and opposition leaders while the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon offered to send a special envoy to the region.
Romanian tennis player, Sorana Cîrstea, 3rd seed of the WTA tournament in Pattaya, Thailand, qualified on Tuesday in the eighth finals of the competition that has total prizes worth 250 thousand dollars, after defeating Anna Schmiedlova from Slovakia 6-3, 6-1. In the eighth finals Cirstea will play against American Alison Riske.
