January 17, 2016 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 17.01.2016, 12:30

The area of snowfalls will diminish but the weather is to remain frosty in most of Romanias territory. Minimum temperatures will be ranging between minus 13 and minus 3 degrees Celsius, while the highs will stay between minus 8 and plus 1 degree Celsius. The heavy snowfalling and blizzards have caused power cuts in tens of towns and villages across Romania, while many roads are blocked presently. Over 130 vehicles have been damaged by the trees that fell under the heavy snow. Air traffic on Bucharests Henri Coanda airport has been disrupted, with many flights grounded or delayed. Railroad traffic has also been affected with trains cancelled and delayed. Gale-force winds have prevented operations on the Romanian Black Sea ports, while traffic on the Danube-Black Sea canal has been suspended. Schools and kindergartens in several counties in southern Romania will be closed down.

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis will be receiving Victoria Nuland, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs on Monday. Also on Monday, Mrs. Nuland will be seeing Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc. On Sunday night the US official had an informal meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, who briefed her on the top priorities of his technocratic cabinet. Also high on the agenda were ways of improving Romanias business environment, the situation in the region particularly in the Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet country with a Romanian-speaking population, as well as Bucharests relations with Ukraine and Russia.

Chisinau, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet country with a Romanian-speaking majority will on Monday be seeing a new round of talks for the formation of a government after the countrys president Nicolae Timofti on Friday designated Pavel Filip for the position of Prime Minister. While the Liberal-Democratic Party has announced its joining the opposition and its refusal to endorse Filips candidacy, the Democrats and the Liberals as well as 14 MPs who defected from the Communists Party have said they will participate in the talks for the future government. Unless Parliament endorses the new executive until January 29th, the Legislature will be dissolved and snap election staged.

The worlds number two tennis player Simona Halep of Romania will be playing Chinese Shuai Zhang in the first round of Australian Open. Also in the first round, Romanian Irina Begu will be up against Swedish Johanna Larsson, while Monica Niculescu will be taking on Teliana Pereira of Brazil. Another two tennis players from Romania, Alexandra Dulgheru and Andreea Mitu will be taking part in the same competition. In the mens doubles, Romanian-Dutch pair, Horia Tecau – Jean Julien Rojer starts as the odds-on favourite, while Romanian-Indian pair Florin Mergea-Rohan Bopana is fourth-seeded. In the womens contest, Alexandra Dulgheru teams up with Silvia Soler-Espinosa of Spain, while Raluca Olaru will be playing Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium.

Romanias national water polo side will be taking on Greece in the eighth finals of the European Championships in Belgrade. On Friday Romania secured a 14-13 win against Germany coming third in group C. Romania has also obtained a victory against Georgia, but lost to Italy.