Sleet, Snowfall And Wind Across Romania
Meteorologists announced moderate precipitation involving sleet, snowfall and string wind as of Sunday, 4 p.m., until Monday, 10 p.m., in western regions, at first, and then in most parts of Romania.
A code yellow alert is in place from Sunday, 8 p.m., forecasting heavy snowfall in the counties of Caras-Severin, Arges, Teleorman, Olt, Dolj, Valcea, and in the mountainous area of the counties of Mehedinți, Gorj, Hunedoara, Sibiu, Alba, Brasov, Dambovita and Prahova.
For Monday, meteorologists also issued a code yellow alert forecasting blizzard and snowfall in the counties of Galati, Vrancea, Buzau, Braila, Ialomita, Calarasi, Constanta and Tulcea. (puterea.ro)
Saudi Arabia Calls For Extending Non-OPEC CooperationSaudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Khaled al-Faleh on Sunday called for extending cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers beyond 2018 after a deal to shore up crude prices.
“We should not limit our efforts to 2018. We need to be talking about a longer framework for our cooperation,” Faleh said before a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC countries in Muscat.
This is the first time OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia explicitly calls for extending a 2016 deal between oil producers to cut back production to combat a global oil glut.
OPEC and non-OPEC countries signed a landmark agreement in November 2016 to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day to fight huge oversupply and lift sagging crude prices. That deal was initially for six months, but the 14-member cartel and 10 independent producers have since extended it until the end of this year. (jurnalul.ro)
Leu Touches New All-Time Low At 4.6614 Vs Euro
The Romanian leu on Friday dropped to a new all-time low against the euro, as the central bank average reference rate stood at 4.6614 lei to the European currency.
The leu exceeded the threshold of 4.66 units versus the euro Friday morning, at around 10:50 a.m., and it gradually stabilized, touching 4.6614 units per euro at 1 p.m.
The depreciation of the leu over the past days was fuelled by political turmoil.
The three-month ROBOR index, used to calculate interests on loans in lei with variable interest, rose to 1.98% last Thursday, after falling to 1.97% a day before. The six-month ROBOR index, which is used to calculate interests on leu-denominated mortgage loans, rose to 2.23% last Friday, after stagnating at 2.22% for five days. On January 11, the index fell to 2.22%, the lowest level since November 16, 2017 when it reached 2.19%. (puterea.ro)
Gabriela Firea Determined To Hold Her Position As Bucharest Mayor
Bucharest general mayor Gabriela Firea said she is not considering running for president of Romania, but pointed out she will not forgo the position of mayor even if the political party she is part of would ask her to.
Firea asked her party fellows to no longer include her in polls because “under no circumstances” will she forgo the position of Bucharest general mayor. (jurnalul.ro)