January 27, 2019
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 27.01.2019, 14:04
HOLOCAUST In a message conveyed today on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day,
Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has reiterated Romania’s commitment to
fighting Antisemitism and xenophobia. The Romanian government has also paid
homage to the Holocaust victims reiterating its commitment to fighting Antisemitism.
As holder of the EU rotating presidency, Romania has the cohesion of common
values as its objective, while promoting effective measures against racism,
intolerance, xenophobia, populism, Antisemitism and discouraging hate speech
are some of the central themes of boosting solidarity and cohesion inside the
Union. In turn, the Romanian Foreign Ministry is paying homage to the Holocaust
victims all over the world voicing solidarity with the survivors of WWll
events. The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is being marked today at
the Romanian Cultural Center through a premiere screening entitled ‘Who will
write our history directed by Roberta Grossman. The film, which tells the
story of a Jewish faction that fought the Nazis back in the time of WWll, will
also be presented at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and at the Holocaust
Memorial Museum in Washington, the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles as well
as in over 400 movie theatres, synagogues, churches, universities, museums and
community centers worldwide.
FLU
The Health Ministry in Bucharest is to decide this week whether to declare a
flu epidemic against the increasing number of infections and deaths. The death
toll of the latest flu wave that hit Romania presently stands at 39, all of the
victims being unvaccinated. The number of victims is much higher than last year
when only four people died of flu. Field minister Sorina Pintea has called on
the National Public Health Ministry to make public the situation at national
level on Tuesday adding that if data confirms a third week with an increasing
number of infections, an epidemic will be declared. Doctors are urging people to
get vaccinated and go see their GPs in the event of any flu-related symptoms.
WEATHER The weather is getting warmer in most of Romania’s regions, which
have been affected by extreme weather conditions in the past days. Firefighters
have been deployed in Bucharest and in 18 counties across the country where
they have taken 37 vehicles out of the snow. Units belonging to the
Inspectorate for Emergency Situations have intervened removing 17 hundred
fallen trees, electricity cables and posts. 123 towns and villages from 13
counties are reportedly without electricity at present, while flights have been
delayed and several road and railway sections closed down. Over 12 thousand
employees of the Interior Ministry, police, gendarme and firefighting units
have been summoned to assist the population in Romania, where the highs of the
day range between -3 and +7 degrees Celsius with a noon reading in Bucharest of
– 1.
PROTESTS The yellow vests ceased their protests in Paris last night following
a riot police intervention. Several thousand protesters intended to stage last
night a so-called ‘yellow night’ in order to draw people’s attention to the
social issues affecting them. Their main claim was the legalization of a series
of referendums initiated by the people, a proposal the government has received
with reticence. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Paris, the 11th
Saturday of protests has degenerated in clashes with the riot police, which have
for the first time used cameras to record the events. People are protesting
against the rising fuel taxes and the low standard of living.
(translated by bill)