February 15, 2014
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România Internațional, 15.02.2014, 12:00
NEGOTIATIONS – Prime Minister Victor Ponta has said that the ruling Social Liberal Union can offer political and governmental stability in the 2014-2016 period. Ponta went on to say he wanted the good results Romania obtained in 2013 to continue over the coming period. The Social Liberals are seeking to overcome disagreements within the Union. The Liberals seem to oppose Ponta’s proposal to have 4 positions of deputy prime minister, one for each party in the ruling coalition, as well as the distribution of portfolios among the coalition parties. On his part, Prime Minister Ponta agrees with Liberal Klaus Iohannis taking over as interior minister and deputy prime minister, as well as with the Liberals’ nominations for the Health, Finance and Economy ministries. Despite dissensions, Social Liberal leaders claim they want the alliance to remain in place.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, ranked 10th in WTA standings is today facing Agnieszka Radawanksa of Poland, ranked 4th in WTA standings, in the semi-finals of the tournament in Doha, Qatar, totalling 2.4 million dollars in prize money. In the quarterfinals, Halep brushed aside Sara Errani of Italy, 6-2, 6-0, while Radawanska knocked out Wanina Wickmayer of Belgium, 6-2, 6-1. For her performance so far, Halep has secured 350 WTA points and a 110,000-dollar check.
IMF – The IMF has confirmed that Central and South-eastern Europe have resumed economic growth, although it has warned against the fragility of the whole process. According to a preliminary report made public on Friday, Fund experts estimate 2014 will be a difficult year for countries in the region, with worsening external financial conditions likely to affect economic growth. IMF European Department advisor Ana Ilina says the banking sector in Romania is struggling with a series of deficiencies, among which the high level of underperforming loans. The IMF official also said that external financing to Romania had dropped in the third quarter of 2013, although less than in other states such as Slovenia, Latvia, Hungary and Croatia.
TRADE FAIR – Romania is taking part for the first time in the Travel and Tourism Fair in New Delhi, held between February 13 and 15. The National Tourism Authority will promote local tourist destinations, with a focus on cultural tourism, nature and Romanian customs, as well as adventure tourism. Romanian officials believe Romanian tourist products are competitive at international level and can appeal to Indian tourists. India and China generate the highest flow of tourists on the travel market.
BLIZZARD – The violent blizzard that paralysed eastern US this past week is now headed towards Canada. Strong wind and heavy snowfalls have killed at least 20 people in the US, cancelled or delayed thousands of incoming and outgoing flights and cut out hundreds of thousands of homes from the electric grid. In another development, the UK on Friday was hit by a new wave of heavy rain and snowfall, increasing the risk of flooding in lower plain areas, already confronted with the highest amount of rainfall in the past 250 years.
SYRIA – Talks continue today in Geneva between the Syrian power and the opposition, supervised by the UN and Arab League special emissary Lakhdar Brahimi, despite the deadlock reached in peace negotiations. In another development, US president Barack Obama held talks with Jordan King Abdullah upon the latter’s visit to the United States. Obama said Washington was considering the possibility of increasing pressure on Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The situation in Syria has worsened since the beginning of the year. A series of violent clashes between rebel groups and security forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad gas killed between 100,000 and 130,000 people according to estimates.
ITALY – Italian president Giorgio Napolitano is today continuing talks with political parties with a view to designating a new prime minister and setting up a new Cabinet after Prime Minister Enrico Letta tendered his resignation on Friday. Criticized for the slow pace of economic reform, Letta was forced into stepping down by the Democratic Party in the ruling coalition, of which he is a member. Letta will most likely be replaced by the current Democratic leader Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi.
