July 14, 2024

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 14.07.2024, 14:00

HEAT WAVE – With the exception of a few counties in the center, north and southeast, the entire Romanian territory is under a code red alert against extreme heat, the widest such warning issued so far in Romania. A new code red alert is expected to take effect on Monday, targeting the entire country with the exception of nine counties in the north, where a code orange alert will be in place. Highs during the interval are expected to reach or exceed 42 degrees, with heat persisting throughout the night and the THI exceeding the critical level of 80, thus creating severe thermal discomfort. Central and local authorities are making efforts to cope with the effects of the heat wave. First aid and water supply tents have been set up in several towns and villages. Road and rail traffic are subject to certain restrictions. Doctors recommend the population observe special rules, particularly vulnerable categories such as elderly, children, pregnant women and people suffering from chronic diseases. People are urged to avoid going out at noon, wear light clothing and drink lots of water. Some outdoor events have been cancelled, and only means of public transport with air conditioning will remain in service in Bucharest during the interval.

TRUMP SHOOTING – World leaders reacted on Sunday to the attempted assassination of former US president Donald Trump. European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her “deep shock” at the news. Germany’s Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said the attack on Donald Trump is a despicable act. In turn, the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, labeled the attack as “a tragedy for our democracies”, while the head of Italy’s ultraconservative government, Giorgia Meloni, expressed “solidarity” with Trump, hoping that “dialogue and responsibility will prevail over hatred and violence”. In turn, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, “unequivocally” condemned the assassination attempt. “Violence and aggression are not the attributes of a democracy”, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, said in turn, condemning the horrific attack.  Donald Trump was shot in the ear on Saturday at a rally in Pennsylvania. The gunman and one person in attendance were killed, while another two people sustained critical injuries. This was the last rally ahead of the Republican Convention scheduled next week, where Donald Trump is expected to be officially designated the Republican candidate in the US presidential election. The FBI have identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a native of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, registered as a Republican voter.

CELEBRATION – Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, on Sunday conveyed his congratulations to the French people, who celebrated the National Day of France. Romania and France are bound by the same democratic values, based on the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity, the Romanian official said. France on Sunday marked its National Day, less than two weeks before the kick-off of the Olympics. The celebration this year consisted of the traditional parade on Champs-Élysées, with a fireworks display slated for the evening in the absence of the public, due to road traffic restrictions already set n place by French authorities. For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the opening ceremony will not be held on a stadium, but rather on the Seine River. Numerous Olympic events will be hosted in the city center, on temporary stadiums built close to major landmarks. France celebrates 80 years since the liberation of France from Nazi occupation, the hosting of the Olympic Games and the French military.

EXPORTS – Exports for 2024 are estimated to stand at 100 bln EUR, Minister for Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Radu Oprea, said. Exports in 2023 reached 93 bln EUR, with the car-making industry being the number one exporter, the Romanian official added. The value of exports can be boosted through dialogue and promoting the interests of Romanian industry, but also by opening new markets, the Romanian Minister said. On Tuesday, Minister Oprea will meet with representatives of large retailers as part of the authorities’ efforts to encourage the exports of Romanian products using these networks.

VOTE – MEPs next week are voting on Ursula von der Leyen’s candidacy for a second term at the helm of the European Commission.  A debate will also be held ahead of the vote. To get re-elected, the 65-year-old German president of the European Commission needs at least 361 of the total number of 720 eligible votes. This week, two new far-right parties were set up in the European Parliament, one of them totaling enough members to become the third political force of the current legislature. The EPP, S&D, RENEW and the Greens together hold 454 seats and are planning to isolate the two extremist groups – The Patriots for Europe and the Europe of Sovereign Nations. Both oppose support for Ukraine, are viewed as friendly towards Moscow and accused of comprising authoritarian parties. Also next week, MEPs will also cast their votes to elect the new president of the European Parliament, as well as 14 vice-presidents and quaestors. Born in 1979, Roberta Metsola of Malta is favorite to secure a new term in office.

EURO 2024 – England is today playing Spain in the EURO 2024 final. Spain and England have each three victories in head-to-head encounters since 1950. Spain won the European Championship in 1964, 2008 and 2012, while England is playing the second consecutive final after the 2021 edition lost to Italy at the penalty shootout. We recall Romania was knocked out in the round of 16 by the Netherlands, 0-3. Romania qualified to the round of 16 after winning Group E, defeating Ukraine 3-0, losing 0-2 to Belgium and drawing 1-1 against Slovakia.