January 31, 2019 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 31.01.2019, 19:20
Flu epidemic — 63 people have so far died because of the flu in Romania, it has been announced in Bucharest. None of the victims had been vaccinated. Schools have remained open across Romania despite the flu epidemic declared on Wednesday. Classes are suspended only is more than 20% of the students come down with the flu. So far it has been decided that 14 schools and kindergartens from Bucharest and several others across Romania should be closed.
Meeting — The Romanian interior minister Carmen Dan on Thursday talked with the British ambassador Andrew Noble about the latest developments regarding Brexit. Minister Dan underlined that the Romanian authorities’ priority was to protect the rights of the Romanian citizens from the UK. As regards the British citizens on Romania’s territory, the Romanian interior minister has given assurances that their rights will be respected irrespective of what happens with Brexit, in the spirit of the two countries’ mutual respect. In turn, the British ambassador said that these talks were welcomed by the British citizens in Romania and that they would continue, also at technical level, in accordance with the developments related to Brexit. The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29.
Brussels — The European Parliament on Thursday recognized, in Brussels, the opposition leader Juan Guaido as ‘the only legitimate interim president’ of Venezuela and called on the EU countries to do the same so as to adopt a ‘firm and common stand’ in a resolution voted by a large majority. They recognized the Venezuelan opposition leader as interim president until new elections can be called in order to restore democracy. The MEPs condemned the fierce repression and violence in Venezuela, resulting in killings and casualties and asked the Venezuelan authorities to halt all human rights violations. The Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, who has been holding power since 2013, said no presidential election would be held in Venezuela. Juan Guaido is backed by tens of countries among which the US and other important countries from Latin America. Washington announced sanctions aimed at Venezuela’s oil industry while Moscow expressed its diplomatic support for Maduro. (news updated by L. Simion)