Radio România Internațional

Tag: boxing

  • The Athlete of the Week

    The Athlete of the Week

    Cosmin
    Gîrleanu is the first Romanian boxer to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games. He
    is to represent Romania in the 52 kg category. For this achievement, Radio
    Romania International has designated him the athlete of the week.




    At
    an Olympic qualifying tournament held in London last week, Gîrleanu reached the quarterfinals after defeating
    Azerbaijan’s Rufat Huseynov in the round of last 16, thus booking his ticket
    for the Olympic Games. This is what he told Radio Romania:




    I’m
    very pleased with what I have achieved and I’m determined to put on a good
    performance at the Olympic Games. It wasn’t my best performance, not the most
    beautiful boxing, and I didn’t put into practice the tactics I had intended to
    adopt before the match, but I fought with all my heart and I went out there and
    did what I do best: put on a good fight.




    The working group for boxing within the International
    Olympic Committee then suspended the European qualifying tournament in London
    because of the coronavirus outbreak. The qualifying tournaments due to take
    place in Buenos Aires at the end of March and in Paris in May have also been
    suspended.




    Cosmin
    Gîrleanu was born on 3rd September 1999 in Hunedoara, in
    north-western Romania. He took up boxing when he was ten years old. He won his
    first national title the first time he took part in a cadet competition. He
    went on to become a world junior champion in the 46 kg category in 2015 in
    Saint Petersburg. Four years later, at the Youth European Championships in Vladikavkaz,
    he won the silver medal in the 49 kg category.

  • The Athlete of the Week

    The Athlete of the Week

    Cosmin
    Gîrleanu is the first Romanian boxer to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games. He
    is to represent Romania in the 52 kg category. For this achievement, Radio
    Romania International has designated him the athlete of the week.




    At
    an Olympic qualifying tournament held in London last week, Gîrleanu reached the quarterfinals after defeating
    Azerbaijan’s Rufat Huseynov in the round of last 16, thus booking his ticket
    for the Olympic Games. This is what he told Radio Romania:




    I’m
    very pleased with what I have achieved and I’m determined to put on a good
    performance at the Olympic Games. It wasn’t my best performance, not the most
    beautiful boxing, and I didn’t put into practice the tactics I had intended to
    adopt before the match, but I fought with all my heart and I went out there and
    did what I do best: put on a good fight.




    The working group for boxing within the International
    Olympic Committee then suspended the European qualifying tournament in London
    because of the coronavirus outbreak. The qualifying tournaments due to take
    place in Buenos Aires at the end of March and in Paris in May have also been
    suspended.




    Cosmin
    Gîrleanu was born on 3rd September 1999 in Hunedoara, in
    north-western Romania. He took up boxing when he was ten years old. He won his
    first national title the first time he took part in a cadet competition. He
    went on to become a world junior champion in the 46 kg category in 2015 in
    Saint Petersburg. Four years later, at the Youth European Championships in Vladikavkaz,
    he won the silver medal in the 49 kg category.

  • RRI Sports Club

    RRI Sports Club

    The World Boxing Championships got underway in Russias Yekaterinburg. More than 450 boxers from over 80 countries will fight for the medals up for grabs, in eight Olympic categories. Four Romanian boxers have travelled to Russia to take part in the competition. They are Gabriel Şchiopu, who competes in the 52-kg category, Vasile Suciu, in the 63-kilogram category, Andrei Arădoaie, who will fight in the 91-kilogram category, and Cristian Filip, also in the 91-kilogram category. The latter pugilist has already been edged out of the competition since he sustained a defeat on points in the match against Georgian challenger Nikoloz Begadze, 3-2. Vasile Suciu will fight against Hungarys Milan Fodor on Thursday while on Saturday, in the competitions second round, Gabriel Schiopu will take on Azat Usenaliev of Kyrgyzstan. Also in the second round, the winner of the match pitting Dutch boxer Artjom Kasparian against Armenias Arthur Hovhanisian will take on Romanian pugilist Andrei Aradoaie.



    Two-time European youth champion in the 56-kilogram category, Robert Jitaru, did not travel to Russia since he is still in recovery, according to the management of the Romanian Boxing Federation, so under the circumstances, all hopes are pinned on Andrei Aradoaie. Aradoaie is a European youth champion himself and for him, it is the first time he competes in a seniors world championship.



    The Romanian delegations set task is to see that as many Romanian boxers as possible book their ticket for the 2020 edition of the Olympic Games in Japan. The first six boxers in each category will secure their ticket for Tokyo. “The main objective is for the boxers to reach as far as the quarterfinals”, said the president of the Romanian Boxing Federation Vasile Citea. “I believe the potential we have enables us to achieve a lot more than that, even if only four pugilists compete in the present edition of the World Championship. I am positive we will also walk away with a medal, since, just as we took the liberty to rest Robert Jitaru so that he can complete his recovery program, other teams, Im sure, did not bring in their top-notch boxers at the World Championship,” the Romanian daily newspaper Libertatea quoted Citea as saying.



    2011 is the year when Romania last won a medal in the World Boxing Championships. Back then Bogdan Juratoni won bronze in the 75-kilogram category, in the Azeri capital Baku, while 1999 is the year when Romania last won an amateur boxing title. We recall that back then, in Houston, George Olteanu walked home with gold in the 54-kilogram category, while in the 71-kilogram category Marian Simion also won gold. (Translated by Eugen Nasta)




  • RRI Sports Club

    RRI Sports Club

    The World Boxing Championships got underway in Russias Yekaterinburg. More than 450 boxers from over 80 countries will fight for the medals up for grabs, in eight Olympic categories. Four Romanian boxers have travelled to Russia to take part in the competition. They are Gabriel Şchiopu, who competes in the 52-kg category, Vasile Suciu, in the 63-kilogram category, Andrei Arădoaie, who will fight in the 91-kilogram category, and Cristian Filip, also in the 91-kilogram category. The latter pugilist has already been edged out of the competition since he sustained a defeat on points in the match against Georgian challenger Nikoloz Begadze, 3-2. Vasile Suciu will fight against Hungarys Milan Fodor on Thursday while on Saturday, in the competitions second round, Gabriel Schiopu will take on Azat Usenaliev of Kyrgyzstan. Also in the second round, the winner of the match pitting Dutch boxer Artjom Kasparian against Armenias Arthur Hovhanisian will take on Romanian pugilist Andrei Aradoaie.



    Two-time European youth champion in the 56-kilogram category, Robert Jitaru, did not travel to Russia since he is still in recovery, according to the management of the Romanian Boxing Federation, so under the circumstances, all hopes are pinned on Andrei Aradoaie. Aradoaie is a European youth champion himself and for him, it is the first time he competes in a seniors world championship.



    The Romanian delegations set task is to see that as many Romanian boxers as possible book their ticket for the 2020 edition of the Olympic Games in Japan. The first six boxers in each category will secure their ticket for Tokyo. “The main objective is for the boxers to reach as far as the quarterfinals”, said the president of the Romanian Boxing Federation Vasile Citea. “I believe the potential we have enables us to achieve a lot more than that, even if only four pugilists compete in the present edition of the World Championship. I am positive we will also walk away with a medal, since, just as we took the liberty to rest Robert Jitaru so that he can complete his recovery program, other teams, Im sure, did not bring in their top-notch boxers at the World Championship,” the Romanian daily newspaper Libertatea quoted Citea as saying.



    2011 is the year when Romania last won a medal in the World Boxing Championships. Back then Bogdan Juratoni won bronze in the 75-kilogram category, in the Azeri capital Baku, while 1999 is the year when Romania last won an amateur boxing title. We recall that back then, in Houston, George Olteanu walked home with gold in the 54-kilogram category, while in the 71-kilogram category Marian Simion also won gold. (Translated by Eugen Nasta)




  • The Athlete of the Week

    The Athlete of the Week

    Last
    week was a good week for Romanian sports. The best results came from Austria,
    where the small town of Ottensheim, near Linz, hosted the World Rowing
    Championships. Romania won two silver medals there, one in the women’s double
    sculls by Nicoleta-Ancuţa
    Bodnar and Simona Geanina Radiş, and another in the men’s four, by Mihaiţă
    Vasile Ţigănescu, Mugurel Vasile Semciuc, Ştefan Constantin Berariu and Cosmin
    Pascari. Seven Romanian crews have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.




    Romania’s best sports achievement in
    an individual competition came from Spain. The Romanian boxer Lăcrămioara
    Perijoc won the gold medal in the 54-kg category at the Women’s European Boxing
    Championships held in Madrid. She defeated Russia’s Karina Tazabekova in the
    final 3-2, on points. Romania had seven boxers competing at this edition of the
    Women’s European Boxing Championships. Last year in Sofia, Romania’s Steluţa Duţă won a bronze medal in
    the 48-kg category.


    For her achievement in Madrid, Radio
    Romania International has designated Lăcrămioara Perijoc the
    athlete of the week. Perijoc comes from northern Romania. According to the
    website of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, she was born on 3rd
    February 1994 in the small town of Siret, in Suceava county. Her talent was
    discovered by the coach Doru Iftimie in 2010, when Perijoc was still in high
    school. She is currently signed with the club CSA Steaua Bucharest. She also used
    to play football with the women’s League One side Armonia Fălticeni. In fact,
    the Romanian boxing team who competed in Spain also included another former
    football player

    who used to play for Fălticeni, namely Claudia Nechita.

  • The Athlete of the Week

    The Athlete of the Week

    Last
    week was a good week for Romanian sports. The best results came from Austria,
    where the small town of Ottensheim, near Linz, hosted the World Rowing
    Championships. Romania won two silver medals there, one in the women’s double
    sculls by Nicoleta-Ancuţa
    Bodnar and Simona Geanina Radiş, and another in the men’s four, by Mihaiţă
    Vasile Ţigănescu, Mugurel Vasile Semciuc, Ştefan Constantin Berariu and Cosmin
    Pascari. Seven Romanian crews have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.




    Romania’s best sports achievement in
    an individual competition came from Spain. The Romanian boxer Lăcrămioara
    Perijoc won the gold medal in the 54-kg category at the Women’s European Boxing
    Championships held in Madrid. She defeated Russia’s Karina Tazabekova in the
    final 3-2, on points. Romania had seven boxers competing at this edition of the
    Women’s European Boxing Championships. Last year in Sofia, Romania’s Steluţa Duţă won a bronze medal in
    the 48-kg category.


    For her achievement in Madrid, Radio
    Romania International has designated Lăcrămioara Perijoc the
    athlete of the week. Perijoc comes from northern Romania. According to the
    website of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, she was born on 3rd
    February 1994 in the small town of Siret, in Suceava county. Her talent was
    discovered by the coach Doru Iftimie in 2010, when Perijoc was still in high
    school. She is currently signed with the club CSA Steaua Bucharest. She also used
    to play football with the women’s League One side Armonia Fălticeni. In fact,
    the Romanian boxing team who competed in Spain also included another former
    football player

    who used to play for Fălticeni, namely Claudia Nechita.

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend


    A 27-strong delegation of Romanian gymnasts is these days taking part in the 11th edition of the Juniors and Seniors Aerobic Gymnastic Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The pool of juniors made of 12 gymnasts and the pool of senior gymnasts made of 15 competitors left for Azerbaijan on Tuesday morning. At the previous edition of the European championships, held in Italys Ancona, in 2017, the Romanian delegation walked home with four medals won by the juniors, gold in the group event and silver in the nations competition. Back then, the Romanian delegation also won bronze in the individual mens event, and in the trio. As for the seniors who took part in the competition in 2017, the medal tally was made of three gold medals in the nations competition, trio and group, and three bronze medals in the trio, aero dance and mixed pairs events.





    The Ukrainian capital Kiyv this coming weekend plays host to the mini-football preparation competition known as the Klitschko Cup tournament. Joining Romania in the competition are the teams of England, Switzerland, Ireland, Croatia and Ukraine. For Romanias National squad, it is a preparation ahead of the World Championship hosted by the Australian city of Perth in early October. In the history of mini-football, Romania has the most impressive record, with no less than 6 European titles.




    More than 400 boxers, a record figure for the European Boxing Confederation, take part in the Juniors European Championships that kick-start in the eastern Romanian city of Galati. According to the Romanian Boxing Federation, Romanias delegation will be made of a great number of athletes, that is 13 boxers in the mens as well as in the womens version of the competition, thus giving a great number of young boxers the opportunity to have their first contact with a top-level competition. Starting May 24 and all through to June 1st, 408 boxers of 36 countries will compete for the European champion medals in all 13 weight classes, in the mens as well as in the womens version of the aforementioned competition.




    On Sunday, May 26, matches will be played counting towards the last-but-one round, the 13th, of Group 2 in the domestic football championship. Dunarea Calarasi play Gaz Metan Medias, while Concordia Chiajna face Politehnica iasi. Concordia has already been relegated to League 2. The 13th rounds closing matches are this coming Mondays fixtures pitting FC Voluntari against FC Hermannstadt Sibiu and FC Botosani against Dinamo Bucharest. With 25 points on their record sheet, that is one point more than Hermannnstadt Sibiu, Dunarea Calarasi are 6th-placed, which is a play-off position. We recall 7th-placed Hermannstadt has already been relegated to the League 2. We recall Group 1 ended with CFR Cluj emerging at the top of the table. CFR have won the title for the 4th-time running and have already secured their participation in the Champions League, while 2nd and 3rd-placed teams, FCSB and Viitorul Constanta, respectively, will represent Romania in the Europa League.




    The most eagerly-awaited event this coming weekend is the final of Romanian Cup in Football pitting Astra Giurgiu against Viitorul Constanta, in a match hosted by the southern Romanian town of Ploiesti. Astra Giurgiu are 5th placed at the end of the competition season. Viitorul Constanta are 3rd-placed and are entitled to play in Europa Leagues first preliminary round. Astra Giurgiu had won Romanias Cup in Football in 2014. However, a win for Viitorul would bring the trophy to the club for the first time in its history. The winner of Romanias Cup final also qualifies for Europa Leagues second preliminary round.



    ( Translated by Eugen Nasta)



  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend


    A 27-strong delegation of Romanian gymnasts is these days taking part in the 11th edition of the Juniors and Seniors Aerobic Gymnastic Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The pool of juniors made of 12 gymnasts and the pool of senior gymnasts made of 15 competitors left for Azerbaijan on Tuesday morning. At the previous edition of the European championships, held in Italys Ancona, in 2017, the Romanian delegation walked home with four medals won by the juniors, gold in the group event and silver in the nations competition. Back then, the Romanian delegation also won bronze in the individual mens event, and in the trio. As for the seniors who took part in the competition in 2017, the medal tally was made of three gold medals in the nations competition, trio and group, and three bronze medals in the trio, aero dance and mixed pairs events.





    The Ukrainian capital Kiyv this coming weekend plays host to the mini-football preparation competition known as the Klitschko Cup tournament. Joining Romania in the competition are the teams of England, Switzerland, Ireland, Croatia and Ukraine. For Romanias National squad, it is a preparation ahead of the World Championship hosted by the Australian city of Perth in early October. In the history of mini-football, Romania has the most impressive record, with no less than 6 European titles.




    More than 400 boxers, a record figure for the European Boxing Confederation, take part in the Juniors European Championships that kick-start in the eastern Romanian city of Galati. According to the Romanian Boxing Federation, Romanias delegation will be made of a great number of athletes, that is 13 boxers in the mens as well as in the womens version of the competition, thus giving a great number of young boxers the opportunity to have their first contact with a top-level competition. Starting May 24 and all through to June 1st, 408 boxers of 36 countries will compete for the European champion medals in all 13 weight classes, in the mens as well as in the womens version of the aforementioned competition.




    On Sunday, May 26, matches will be played counting towards the last-but-one round, the 13th, of Group 2 in the domestic football championship. Dunarea Calarasi play Gaz Metan Medias, while Concordia Chiajna face Politehnica iasi. Concordia has already been relegated to League 2. The 13th rounds closing matches are this coming Mondays fixtures pitting FC Voluntari against FC Hermannstadt Sibiu and FC Botosani against Dinamo Bucharest. With 25 points on their record sheet, that is one point more than Hermannnstadt Sibiu, Dunarea Calarasi are 6th-placed, which is a play-off position. We recall 7th-placed Hermannstadt has already been relegated to the League 2. We recall Group 1 ended with CFR Cluj emerging at the top of the table. CFR have won the title for the 4th-time running and have already secured their participation in the Champions League, while 2nd and 3rd-placed teams, FCSB and Viitorul Constanta, respectively, will represent Romania in the Europa League.




    The most eagerly-awaited event this coming weekend is the final of Romanian Cup in Football pitting Astra Giurgiu against Viitorul Constanta, in a match hosted by the southern Romanian town of Ploiesti. Astra Giurgiu are 5th placed at the end of the competition season. Viitorul Constanta are 3rd-placed and are entitled to play in Europa Leagues first preliminary round. Astra Giurgiu had won Romanias Cup in Football in 2014. However, a win for Viitorul would bring the trophy to the club for the first time in its history. The winner of Romanias Cup final also qualifies for Europa Leagues second preliminary round.



    ( Translated by Eugen Nasta)



  • Athlete of the Week on RRI- Boxer Mihai Nistor

    Athlete of the Week on RRI- Boxer Mihai Nistor


    Over 100
    athletes from 14 countries last week took part in the Golden Belt boxing
    tournament hosted by the city of Galati in eastern Romania. Having reached its
    43rd edition, the competition bears the name of the late Nicolae
    Linca, the only Romanian boxer who became an Olympic champion, in 1956 in
    Melbourne. The Golden Belt gala is one of the oldest boxing competitions for
    amateurs, the first edition being held in 1972.


    Romanian boxers
    had a good run in Galati. Nine of them qualified to the finals, and three even
    won gold medals. In the women’s 64-kg category, Claudia Nechita defeated
    Steluta Duta, also from Romania. In the men’s 51-kg category, Robert Jitaru won
    against another Romanian, Vasile Suciu. Finally, in the 91+-kg category, Mihai
    Nistor defeated England’s Frazer Clarke. For his remarkable achievement, we
    have designated Mihai Nistor Athlete of the Week on RRI.


    Mihai Nistor was
    born on November 5, 1990 in Podu IIoaiei village, northeastern Romania. He took
    up boxing at the age of 15. A year later he became an under-18 national
    champion, and two years later he became Romania’s under-21 champion. Over the
    years he was several-time national champion in the super heavyweight category.
    In 2011, at the European Boxing Championships hosted by Ankara, Turkey, he won
    the bronze medal. In 2015, at the European Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria,
    he won again bronze. In September that year he became the world champion in the
    professional division of the international boxing federation, AIBA, by
    defeating Germany’s defending champion Erik Pfeifer by KO in the ninth round.


    Nistor was the
    only Romanian boxer to qualify to the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he was knocked
    out in the round of 16 by Jordanian Hussein Iashaish, following an outrageous
    decision of the referees. In the boxing ring, Nistor had sent the Jordanian
    boxer to the floor twice.

    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • Sports Club RRI

    Sports Club RRI

    The Romanian boxer Ronald ‘The Thrill’ Gavril has lost on points to David Benavidez in a WBC super-middle weight game held in the American city of Las Vegas. Benavidez, 20, won by split decision; two referees declared him winner, whereas only one voted for the Romanian challenger. The WBC title was up for grabs after Badou Jack, Gavril’s colleague at Mayweather Promotions, had moved on to a superior category. David Benavidez, who obtained his 19th win out of the 19 games he played in professional competitions, has thus become the youngest super-middle weight champion as well as the world’s youngest boxing champion.


    Gavril put on a more incisive show in the match’s first round but the following couple of rounds belonged to Benavidez. The Romanian boxer managed a come back to own another couple of rounds while Benavidez proved more incisive in rounds 10 and 11. Benavidez’s domination continued in the game’s last round when the Romanian surprised him with a crisp left punch, knocking him to the mat. The match resumed after Benavidez was counted.



    Ronald Gavril was born in Bacau, eastern Romania, on July 10th 1986. He is currently boxing in the super-middle weight category and was Romania’s champion in amateur competitions in 2009 and 2010. He reaped a bronze medal at the European Championships in Cagliari in 2005 and turned professional in 2011. The game against Benavidez became Gavril’s second defeat in professional boxing competitions where he has so far obtained 18 wins out of which 14 through KO. The defeat has blown Gavril’s chances of becoming the fifth Romanian boxing champion in professional circuits after Mihai Leu, Leonard Doroftei, Lucian Bute and Adrian Diaconu.

  • February 5, 2017

    February 5, 2017

    EMERGENCY DECREE – The Bucharest Government is today holding an emergency meeting to repeal a highly controversial emergency decree that decriminalises official misconduct, which has sparked mass protests over the past few days. The Social Democratic PM Sorin Grindeanu has announced that consultations with political parties will be initiated to harmonise the legislation with the rulings issued by the Constitutional Court. He has also said that Justice Minister Florin Iordache will bear the consequences. The Social Democrat-led coalition government has come under huge pressure at home and abroad to repeal the emergency decree which critics say will clean the record of politicians, local officials and some business people and will drastically weaken an anti-corruption fight widely praised by Romanias Western allies. Protests continue today in Bucharest for the sixth consecutive day. Over the past few days, hundreds of thousands of Romanians have taken to the streets in the capital Bucharest, in many other Romanian cities and abroad to protest against the government’s decisions, in what is seen as the biggest rallies in Romania since the 1989 Anti-Communist Revolution. President Klaus Iohannis, challenged the emergency decree at the Constitutional Court, evoking a possible legal conflict between the government, the judicial system and Parliament. The Higher Council of Magistracy, the General Prosecutors Office and the Ombudsman have also taken a similar stand in the mater. The embassies of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and the United States voiced concern about the events in recent days, saying the governments actions risk affecting partnerships with Romania, based on common values inherent to the guiding principles of the EU and NATO.




    FOREIGN MINITRY – Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu is travelling to Brussels on Monday to discuss with Romania’s European partners about the controversial emergency decree that amends the criminal codes. Melescanu has said that holding talks on this issue is normal. The Foreign Minister has also said that the controversial emergency decree could have been presented better and that there have been communication issues which he hopes will be overcome. A Foreign Affairs Council meeting is held on Monday in Brussels attended by EU foreign ministers.




    UNITED STATES – The US Justice Department filed an appeal against the suspension of President Donald Trumps travel ban on people from seven Muslim countries. The move seeks to reverse Fridays ruling by a federal judge in Washington state. The US reopened its borders on Saturday for citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Syria, after President Trump’s immigration ban. The US President has said that the ruling of judge James Robart from Seattle is “ridiculous” and that it will be annulled.




    BUDGET BILL – Romanian Parliament’s budget and finance committees continue debates on the 2017 budget bill. A final report on it will be drawn up this evening. The budget bill is to be presented to Parliament’s plenary sitting on Monday and voted on the following day. Finance Minister Viorel Stefan, has given assurances, on behalf of the coalition government, that the budget observes the main guidelines, such as cutting the VAT from 20% to 19% or eliminating the income tax for pensions lower or equal to 2,000 lei. This year’s budget is based on a 5.2% economic growth rate and a deficit of maximum 3% and will allow Romania to comply with its commitments to allocate 2% of its GDP to the defence ministry. The government expects an inflation rate under 1.4% and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. On the other hand, the opposition claims the revenue forecast underling the bill is hyped.




    TENNIS – The Romanian men’s tennis team is today holding in Minsk the last two singles, against Belarus, of the first round of Davis Cups Europe/Africa Zone Group I: Marius Copil – Ilya Ivashka and then Adrian Ungur – Egor Gherasimov. Leading the competition is now Belarus 2-1. On Saturday, Horia Tecau and Marius Copil were defeated in Minsk by the pair Max Mirnyi – Yaraslav Shyla, in the doubles. On Friday, the Romanian Adrian Ungur defeated Ilya Ivashka, while Marius Copil lost to Egor Gherasimov.




    BOXING – WBO European heavyweight champion, Romanian Christian “Hammer” Ciocan (21-4, 12KOs) knocked out former British heavyweight champion David Price (21-4, 18 KOs), in a match held on Friday night at the Olympian in London. Hammer teed off 33-year-old Price until the referee halted the fight. The official time of the stoppage was at 1:22 of round 7.


    (Translated by Elena Enache)


  • April 29, 2016 UPDATE

    April 29, 2016 UPDATE

    GOOD FRIDAY– Orthodox and Greek Catholic believers worldwide, including Romania, a country with a majority Orthodox population, marked Good Friday, the day also known as Holy Friday, when Christians commemorate the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his entombment. Hundreds of people in Targu Jiu, southern Romania, symbolically retraced “Via Dolorosa” or the Way of Suffering, marching in the longest such procession in Europe. On Sunday, Orthodox and Greek-Catholics believers will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.



    LAW– Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Friday promulgated the law under which the teaching staff in the state sector will receive back due incentives and raises, for the 2008-2011 period, without demanding that in a court. The document was adopted early this month by the Chamber of Deputies, as the decision-making body. The sums to be given back will be spaced out and will be paid in the following five years, as follows: 5% of the salary difference between the initial wages and the cut salaries in the first year, 10% in the second year, 25% in the third and fourth years, respectively, and 35% in the last year. These sums of money will be paid annually, in equal quarterly tranches.



    COLECTIV-The case concerning the fire that killed 64 young people in Bucharest’s Colectiv nightclub last autumn has reached the trial stage. Six people were sent to Court, including the three owners of the nightclub, under charges of manslaughter, bodily harm and breach of workplace safety and health regulations. Sixty-four people died and over 100 others were injured in the tragedy that shocked the entire country.



    UNEMPLOYMENT-The unemployment rate in Romania continues to be on the decrease, being slightly smaller in March as against the previous month 6.4% from 6.5%, according to the National Statistics Institute. Of the total number of people aged between 15 and 74, less than 600 thousands were still looking for a job in March. This figure is also smaller as compared with the same month of last year, when the number of unemployed stood at 613 thousand.



    NATIONAL OPERA SCANDAL– The Prime Minister’s Control Body has initiated an investigation at the National Opera House in Bucharest mostly to establish the way in which people were hired in the institution’s high-level positions. Over the past few days, three performances have been cancelled at the Opera House, against the backdrop of discontent voiced by the opera employees about the successive nominations for the position of director general, as well as about disparities between the salaries of the Romanian and foreign ballet dancers, respectively. The Culture Minister Vlad Alexandrescu announced on Thursday he would step down at the request of prime minister Dacian Ciolos, who will nominate another person at the helm of the ministry. On Friday, Alexandrescu said he agreed with the prime minister not to step down before Easter.



    DEFENSE AND DETERRENCE- The Romanian, Ukrainian and Turkish border police plan to set up a joint patrol fleet in the Black Sea, aimed at ensuring stability in the region. Combating poaching and drug and weapons trafficking will be the patrol fleet’s main tasks. In Bucharest, Romanian Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc has recently announced that Romania will initiate procedures for the setting up of a NATO fleet in the Black Sea, for defence and deterrence purposes. Moscow has criticized this move, saying that it seriously undermines security and stability in this part of Europe forcing Russia to respond in order to maintain its security.



    BOXING-Romanian Lucian Bute will return to the boxing ring on Saturday evening. In a boxing gala hosted by Washington, Bute will fight Gambian-born Swedish boxer Badou Jack for the WBC super middleweight belt. Jack Badou has 20 wins in professional competitions, of which 12 by knockout, and only 1 defeat. Lucian Bute is the former super middleweight champion in the IBF version. He successfully defended his title nine times, for nearly four years and a half. He has 32 wins, of which 25 by knockout, and three defeats. If he wins on April 30, Bute will become the only Romanian boxer to hold two world titles in the two boxing versions.

  • April 29, 2016

    April 29, 2016

    Orthodox and Greek Catholic believers worldwide, including Romania, a mostly Orthodox country, are today marking Good Friday. This day, also known as Holy Friday, is the day when Christians commemorate the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. From the early days of Christianity, Good Friday was observed as a day of sorrow, penance, and fasting. Special religious services are being held this evening. Hundreds of people will march in procession in Targu Jiu, in southern Romania, symbolically retracing “The Way of the Cross”.




    The case concerning the fire that killed 64 young people in Bucharest’s Colectiv nightclub last autumn has reached the trial stage. Six people were sent to Court, including the three owners of the nightclub, under charges of manslaughter, bodily harm and breach of workplace safety and health regulations. Sixty-four people died and over 100 others were injured in the tragedy that shocked the entire country.




    The unemployment rate in Romania continues to be on the decrease, being slightly smaller in March as against the previous month – 6.4% from 6.5%, according to the National Statistics Institute. Of the total number of people aged between 15 and 74, less than 600 thousands were still looking for a job in March. This figure is also smaller as compared with the same month of last year, when the number of unemployed stood at 613 thousand.




    The Prime Minister’s Control Body has initiated checks at the National Opera House in Bucharest for a number of reasons, such as establishing the manner in which people were hired in the institution’s high level positions. Ninety-five years since its establishment, celebrated this very month, the National Opera House in Bucharest is the stage of a huge scandal and witnesses an unprecedented crisis, with three performances cancelled and the Culture Minister Vlad Alexandrescu stepping down as a consequence.




    The Romanian, Ukrainian and Turkish border police plan to set up a joint patrol fleet in the Black Sea, aimed at ensuring stability in the region. Combating poaching and drug and weapons trafficking will be the patrol fleet’s main tasks. In Bucharest, Romanian Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc has recently announced that Romania will initiate procedures for the setting up of a NATO fleet in the Black Sea, for defense and determent purposes. Moscow has criticized this move, saying that it seriously undermines security and stability in this part of Europe forcing Russia to respond in order to maintain its security.




    Romanian Lucian Bute will return to the boxing ring on Saturday evening. In a boxing gala hosted by Washington, Bute will fight Gambian-born Swedish boxer Badou Jack for the WBC super middleweight belt. Jack Badou has 20 wins in professional competitions, of which 12 by knockout, and only 1 defeat. Lucian Bute is the former super middleweight champion in the IBF version. He successfully defended his title nine times, for nearly four years and a half. He has 32 wins, of which 25 by knockout, and three defeats. If he wins on April 30, Bute will become the only Romanian boxer to hold two world titles in the two boxing versions.