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| THE WEEK IN REVIEW (16-22.07.2007) |
| (2007-07-20) |
| Last updated: 2007-07-23 17:24 EET |
The month of July has this year brought about a tough time for average Romanians and authorities alike, who have been coping with temperatures reading more than 37 degrees in the shade, but which in fact are soaring up to 50 degrees in big cities. The new scorching heat wave that has hit Romania this week has killed several people and caused power blackouts and blazes, upsetting car, rail and river traffic. Meteorologists have issued the specific orange code warning for 32 of Romania's 41 counties plus Bucharest. This warning is likely to turn into a red code. These areas will see temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius. The temperature-humidity index will soar past the critical 80-unit threshold. First-aid and water distribution stations have been set up throughout the big cities, to appease the effects of the heat. Public institutions have seen their programs modified and traffic restrictions have been set on all national roads for cars weighing more than 7.5 tons, while freight and passenger trains have been imposed speed limits. Drinking water tanks make their way to villages where wells have gone dry. The extended drought has also taken its toll on agriculture, a large part of the cereal, vegetable and fruit crop being compromised.
Authorities in Bucharest have been on high alert these days after the media reported that on Monday evening, a train laden with yellow phosphorus in the Ukrainian city of Lvov, went off the rails and exploded, sending a huge cloud of toxic smoke into the air, about 200 km away from Romania. Bucharest has persistently called on Kiev to provide information, after experts drew attention to the fact that high concentrations of this substance can harm the human body as well as the soil and crops. Devoid of information, Romanian experts have been compelled to craft a PC-generated simulation for an accurate understanding of the danger and potential risks caused by the toxic cloud moving towards our country. Results have fortunately shown that the risk is relatively low. Although bound by international treaties to inform neighboring countries on such events, Ukrainian authorities kept silent on the accident for almost 48 hours. They later issued a short communique claiming that the train crash was local and had no cross-border impact. Foreign minister Adrian Cioroianu summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to Bucharest and explained to him that a rapid and accurate briefing from authorities in Kiev would allow a thorough assessment of the size and nature of such a calamity.
6 million pensioners, making up the largest underprivileged category in Romania, have finally received good news, following a few long weeks of waiting. President Traian Basescu has promulgated the pension law, adding, however, that it remained reluctant over the government's capacity to find financing sources for hefty increases provided by the law. The law was initiated by the Social-Democratic opposition, claimed by the National Liberal Party-Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania minority government and voted by all parliamentary parties. Under the new bill, the average pension in 2008 will near 200 euros and 250 euros in 2009. The meager pensions of agriculture workers, now worth scores of euros, will go up by 50% as of September 2007. Since the budget effort will be of 2 billion euros per year, both economic analysts and president Basescu still voice their skepticism as regards financing sources. Sitting in the opposite quarter, the Liberal minister of labor and the minister of economy and finance have come up with the grounds of pension increases and given assurances that such a measure will by no means affect the country's budget.
These days, world-famous stars have been warmly welcomed in Romania. The Rolling Stones concert in Bucharest, part of the 'Bigger Bang' tour that made its debut 2 years ago, was a first in Romania, as well as one of the most important musical events that have taken place in this country over the last years. The performance given by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts, have whipped the 60 000 audience into a frenzy, with hits such as 'Start me Up', 'Miss you', or 'Satisfaction'. Moreover, the audience loved the fireworks, the 30-meter high stage and the impressive lights system. Recordings of the Rolling Stones early hits were screened on the monitor, the largest ever used by a touring band. Julio Iglesias traveled to Romania for the 3rd time, now to promote his latest album 'Romantic Classics'. He gave concerts in Sibiu (central Romania), which is the 2007 European capital of culture, Timisoara (West), Bacau (east), Bucharest and Constanta on the Black Sea coast.
(Andreea Bojoi)
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