May 19, 2014
News and current affairs from Romania
România Internațional, 19.05.2014, 11:59
The authorities in Bucharest are on alert due to extreme danger of flooding along the Danube, after the torrential rains in the western Balkans. The river has already overflowed at Bechet, in south western Romania, and has flooded the border crossing. Several sectors of the Danube are under yellow and orange alert for flooding. Experts expect the Danube to double in size between May 20 and 22. The authorities say that they have taken measures, but that the levees may not hold, given that the flooding danger will last for 4 to 5 weeks. PM Victor Ponta said that Romania would send aid to Serbia and Bosnia, which had the worst flooding recorded in 120 years, killing dozens.
In Romania, the election campaign for the European Parliament elections of 25 May is in its last week. Romania has 32 seats of 751, and 15 political groups and eight independent candidates compete. For the first time, the new European Parliament will elect the head of the European Commission. The predominant issues in this campaign were jobs, migration, European foreign affairs, climate change and energy issues.
US Vice President Joe Biden comes to Romania on an official visit on Tuesday and Wednesday, as announced by the Romanian presidency. Joe Biden will be discussing the Ukrainian crisis with President Traian Basescu and PM Victor Ponta. The sides will also be reviewing issues such as the rule of law and justice, but also European energy security. The visit is meant to highlight how committed the US is to supporting its NATO allies in Eastern Europe, including the willingness to respond in force to an attack against any member. Last week, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, also on a visit to Bucharest, said that Romania, as a member of NATO, is not alone in the face of regional threats.
In the former detention center in Sighetu Marmatiei in northern Romania events continue around the commemoration of 70 years since the deportation of northern Romanian Jews to Nazi death camps. The events include exhibitions, concerts and seminars, and visits to local born Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel’s memorial house. The highlights included a silent march of deportation.
And now for sports news, Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has climbed for the first time to fourth place in the WTA rankings, as announced on Monday, the highest position ever taken by a Romanian player. Last week, Halep had to abandon the competition in the third round in Rome, where she was playing after the finals in Madrid. She is the fastest climber in the rankings in 2013, and since May 2013 she has won seven WTA tournaments. She is joined in the top 100 WTA players by four other Romanians.
