June 29, 2018

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Newsroom, 30.06.2018, 10:21

HOLIDAY Orthodox and Catholic believers from the world over, including from Romania, are today celebrating Saints Peter and Paul, the most important apostles of Jesus Christ. They both founded Christian communities — Peter in Palestine and Rome, Paul in Anatolia and Greece. Both apostles died as martyrs in Rome, during the anti-Christian persecutions of emperor Nero. Their earthly remains are being kept in two churches built to their memory — St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican and St. Paul in southern Rome. Over 450 thousand Romanians are today celebrating their name day.

CRITICISM The US Department of State has criticized the ‘non-transparent decision’ by the Supreme Justice Court of the Republic of Moldova, an ex-soviet Romanian –speaking country to invalidate the results of the municipal election on June 3rd in Chisinau. According to the local press, the US diplomacy has warned in a communiqué that the move is a threat to democracy. The head of the EU diplomacy Federica Mogherini and the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn had earlier condemned the decision of the Moldovan justice. The recent election for the mayor seat of capital Chisinau had been won by pro-European Andrei Nastase, head of the Dignity and Truth Platform. After the Supreme Court’s ruling, Nastase urged the Moldovans to take to the streets to protest the decision, which it considers politically-commissioned and illegal.

AGREEMENT Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said on Friday in Brussels that Romania is successfully involved and well managing the inflow of refugees. According to Iohannis, Romania is not a destination country for migrants but a transit one and the number of refugees transiting it is reasonable and can be easily managed. After a series of tense debates last night in Brussels the EU leaders reached an agreement on migration. The Europeans have decided among other things to create platforms aimed at sending these migrants outside the EU in order to discourage further attempts to cross the Mediterranean. The participants have also agreed to extend with six months the sanctions against Russia, in response to its annexation of Crimea.

DECISION The government in Bucharest has adopted a decision providing for the implementation of 8 strategic investment projects under private-public partnership. Among these projects there is the construction of two regional hospitals, a plant specialized in producing electric vehicles, a national blood and stem cells bank as well as a new tourist center in the Fagaras Mountains. In another development, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has announced that pensions in the public system and state aid for the handicapped are to be raised as of July 1st. So the pension reference point will increase by 10% and the minimum pension by 20%. Over 5 million Romanians are expected to benefit the measure.

WEATHER The National Meteorology Administration issued a code orange alert for heavy rain for 12 counties in the north and center of Romania until tomorrow morning. A code yellow thunderstorm alert has been issued for most of the country as well, expected to last for brief periods of time. Maximum temperatures may reach 28 degrees Celsius, after a noon reading of 22 degrees in Bucharest. Almost three quarters of the country are under threat of flooding. One of the worst affected is the county of Bacau, in the east. In the northeast, roads have been blocked by flooding, with many homes affected. Stay tuned for more after the news.

(Translated by D. Bilt)