Radio România Internațional

Tag: Bright Week

April 17, 2023 UPDATE

Easter — The majority Orthodox Christians along the Greek-Catholics in Romania started the Bright Week on Monday, following Sunday’s Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The Monday of the Bright Week is also called White Monday and is said to be the day when the Gates of Heaven and forgiveness open. This week everything is under the sign of light, the symbol of Christs Resurrection. The usual greeting has been replaced since Sunday with a greeting-confession “Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!” which expresses faith in the Resurrection. The Resurrection of Christ is the greatest celebration in the Christian world, being celebrated for three days.

Cereals — Poland’s and Hungary’s decision to temporarily ban Ukrainian grain imports, accused of destabilizing agricultural markets, is “unacceptable”, the European Commission said, while adding that it is “considering” a second aid package for farmers in the affected countries. Meanwhile, the Slovakian government also approved the establishment of a ban on imports of some agricultural products from Ukraine. In May 2022 the EU suspended for a year the customs duties on all imports from Ukraine and allowed it to export its grain stocks after the closure of maritime routes as a result of the war launched by Russia. The neighboring European states have seen increased arrivals of corn, wheat or sunflowers from Ukraine, which led to the filling of granaries due to logistical problems and to the fall of local prices. The situation has generated protests by farmers and led to the resignation of the Polish Agriculture Minister. On March 20, Brussels offered to draw 56.3 million Euros from the EUs agricultural crisis reserve to support affected farmers in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. But at the end of March, five countries (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria) requested additional aid to support farmers who have suffered losses.

Speed – The traffic police from all over Europe are carrying out, by the end of the week, a large-scale operation to verify compliance with the legal speed and to prevent accidents caused by excessive speed. As part of the European action called “Speed”, the Romanian traffic policemen will carry out, on Friday, a control operation in which they will focus on detecting those who exceed the legal speed. All the traffic surveillance and speed measurement equipment of the police will be used. The General Police Inspectorate in Bucharest announces that in Romania, since the beginning of the year, exceeding the legal speed has caused almost 200 serious road accidents, resulting in over 80 deaths and approximately 150 seriously injured people. Moreover, speeding caused almost 20% of all serious accidents at the national level, according to the data presented by the General Police Inspectorate.

Education – The Romanian Parliament will resume these days the debates on the new education laws, which bring changes to the higher and pre-university education systems. Some of the changes refer to establishing a high school entrance examination, separate from the National Assessment, and to the introduction of an additional test, different from the subjects studied for the Baccalaureate exam. At the debates held so far in the specialized committees, the representatives of students, parents and teachers have criticized these changes, as well as the absence of clear provisions for combating violence in schools. The law package should be adopted by the beginning of next month at the latest by the Chamber of Deputies, as a first body notified.

Motion – On Tuesday, the Romanian Chamber of Deputies debates the simple motion initiated by opposition MPs against the Agriculture Minister, considered responsible for the fact that Romania did not obtain sufficient European funds to support the farmers affected by the imports from Ukraine. The Agriculture Minister Petre Daea was convinced that the European funds for compensating the losses suffered by farmers would be supplemented. The 10 million Euros initially allocated were doubled by a contribution from the state budget. The money will be given strictly to those farmers who had grains in stock on February 1, and not to merchants, the minister said. (LS)

17 April 2023
April 9, 2018 UPDATE

EASTER — Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians in Romania on Monday celebrated the second day of Easter and a new day in Easter Week, which follows the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On this day people attend mass while priests’ vestments are white. The first day of this week is believed to be the day when the gates of heaven are open and all sins are forgiven. People who die on this day go straight to Heaven without undergoing the Last Judgment. Psalms are not recited on this day, while funeral services are replaced by Resurrection mass.

EURO — The National Commission for the switch to the euro will convene on Thursday in its first session. Talks will focus on convergence criteria for adopting the European single currency. Two weeks ago Prime Minister Viorica Dancila announced the setup of the commission, whose role is to prepare the roadmap for Romania joining the Eurozone, as well as the necessary actions to prepare the Romanian economy and society for this move.

ELECTION — Viktor Orban has secured a new term as Prime Minister after his party Fidesz won the parliamentary elections in Hungary by a landslide. The right-wing nationalist politician says the result will ensure the security of Hungary. Orban’s party grabbed nearly half of the vote and will hold two thirds of the seats in Parliament. The nationalist Jobbik party won 26 seats, while Hungarian socialists won 20 seats. The Democratic Coalition led by former Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsnay could win 9 seats, while the ecologist LMP party will get 8 seats. The Together party won one seat while an independent and a representative of the German minority will each get one seat. The final results will be made public at the end of the week. On Monday, the leader of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor, congratulated Viktor Orban on his win.

MARCH — The “Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi” Institute for Romanians Worldwide, an institution subordinated to the Ministry for Romanians Worldwide, in cooperation with the Lauder-Reut Educational Complex, is organizing “The March of Holocaust Survivors — Let’s Learn Together”, held over April 9-13 in Poland. Taking part in the event are young people from 52 countries. The march has an educational purpose, aimed at familiarizing participants with a tragic chapter in world history. Romania’s delegation is made up of students and teachers from the Lauder-Reut school in Bucharest, but also from the Republic of Moldova. The project is part of the IEH-led program “Caravan of Romanian Identity”, which involves a series of cultural actions, aimed at promoting Romanian culture and consolidating Romania national identity. The project is also part of the Romanian Cultural Space strategic programme devoted to the celebration of one hundred years since the Great Union of 1918.

AIRPORT — A few dozen Romanians were left stranded on Sunday on Ciampino Airport in Rome, after Ryanair canceled its flight to Bucharest. Some of the passengers were rescheduled for flights on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Those who accepted to change their flight schedule will receive accommodation for just one night. Others bought tickets with other flight operators at double or triple the price. Ryanair has cancelled flights in the past without providing too many explanations.

RUSSIA — Russian authorities believe the latest US sanctions on Russia have no legal grounds and will entail a response, including regarding ongoing trade agreements, Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev said on Monday. On Friday, Washington announced fresh sanctions against thirty-eight Russian individuals and entities accused mainly of taking part in Russia’s attacks against western democracies, France Press reports. Seven Russian oligarchs and their companies have been targeted as well as 17 senior government officials, a state-owned weapons trader and its subsidiary, a Russian bank. All those targeted will have their assets under US jurisdiction frozen. The US has taken these measures in response to Russia’s malign actions such as the annexation of Crimea, the incitement to violence in eastern Ukraine, the support of the Syrian government and its malicious cyber activities, France Press quoted a US official as saying.

BOOK FAIR — The 47th edition of the International Book Fair in London will take place over April 10-12. Romania’s participation in the fair is under the aegis of the Romanian Cultural Institute. Under the heading “Writing and Making History: Remembering the Great War Generation”, events organized at Romania’s pavilion are first of all evoking Romania’s participation in the first world war and the Great Union by means of literary and artistic echoes of these two crucial moments in history.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

9 April 2018
May 2, 2016 UPDATE

Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians, which make up the religious majority in Romania, celebrate as of Monday the Bright Week, the first week after Easter, when light is seen as the symbol of the Resurrection of Christ. In churches, on the second day of Easter, the same religious service was celebrated as the one on Resurrection night.

More than 35,000 tourists were in Romanian seaside resorts for the first two days of the summer season, which started officially on May 1. Hotel had attractive offers during this period, with prices including various facilities. As a result, for instance, the resort of Mamaia was almost fully booked. High occupancy rates were also reported in the resorts of Vama Veche, Eforie and Costineşti. During the Easter holiday, tourists also had access to the new beach sections on the Romanian sea coast. The beaches on the south of the Romanian Black Sea coast were extended by several tens of hectares, as part of EU-funded projects with a combined budget of 170 million Euros.

The Prime Minister of Romania, Dacian Cioloş, will submit to President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday a request to discharge Vlad Alexandrescu as Culture Minister and a nomination for his replacement. The dismissal comes against the backdrop of a scandal at the Romanian Opera House in Bucharest, triggered by discontent with the successive appointments for the director post as well as with the substantial imbalances between the salaries paid to the Romanian and the foreign dancers. Protests led to the cancellation of three shows, and PM Ciolos asked for Vlad Alexandrescu’s resignation. In messages posted on Facebook or published in the media, Vlad Alexandrescu says he was forced out because he upset various interest groups. The head of government said he had not been informed of the problems Vlad Alexandrescu claimed to have been facing and promised he would urge the new minister to carry on the reforms initiated by Alexandrescu.

Some 200 US troops will reach the Republic of Moldova from Romania, for joint military exercises, between May 3 and 20, signalling a stronger American military presence in the region, Associated Press reports. According to the Defence Ministry in Chisinau, the US troops are accompanied by armoured vehicles. Taking part in the drills are 165 troops from the former Soviet republic. The US Embassy in Chisinău has announced that the exercises, which illustrate the on-going cooperation between Moldova and the USA, will include first aid and evacuation training, with a view to providing on-site maintenance and demolition assistance. The Republic of Moldova joined the NATO Partnership for Peace in 1994.

The Romanian tennis player Patricia Ţig (134 WTA), Monday scored a surprising win against American Sloane Stephens (16 WTA), whom she defeated 6-2, 6-3, in the second round of the WTA Premier tournament in Madrid, which has 4.7 million US dollars in prize money. In the eighth-finals, Ţig will be facing the winner of the match between Madison Keys and Barbora Strycova. Also qualified in the second round of the Madrid tournament are two other Romanians, Simona Halep, seed no. 6, and Sorana Carstea. Halep played the final of the Madrid tournament in 2014, when she lost to Russia’s Maria Sharapova.

2 May 2016
May 2, 2016

Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians, which make up the religious majority in Romania, celebrate as of today the Bright Week, the first week after Easter, when light is seen as the symbol of the Resurrection of Christ. In churches, on the second day of Easter, the same religious service is celebrated as the one on Resurrection night.

On the first day of Easter President Klaus Iohannis visited the Romanian troops deployed in Afghanistan, and told them that their presence in this conflict zone is Bucharests firm answer to NATOs request to ensure the security and stability of this country. The President also discussed the NATO summit due in two months time in Warsaw, where Romania will plead for a strengthened presence of the Alliance in Romania, particularly on the western coast of the Black Sea. President Klaus Iohannis also had a meeting with Brigadier General Antonio Aguto, head of the Train, Advise, Assist Command – South in Afghanistan. Their talks highlighted the excellent cooperation between the Romanian and American troops.

The Prime Minister of Romania, Dacian Cioloş, will submit to President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday a request to discharge Vlad Alexandrescu as Culture Minister and a nomination for his replacement. The dismissal comes against the backdrop of a scandal at the Romanian Opera House in Bucharest, triggered by discontent with the successive appointments for the director post as well as with the substantial imbalances between the salaries paid to the Romanian and the foreign dancers. Protests led to the cancellation of three shows, and PM Ciolos asked for Vlad Alexandrescus resignation. In messages posted on Facebook or published in the media, Vlad Alexandrescu says he was forced out because he upset various interest groups. The head of government said he had not been informed of the problems Vlad Alexandrescu claimed to have been facing and promised he would urge the new minister to carry on the reforms initiated by Alexandrescu.

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has said the officials convened in Geneva are getting closer to a consensus with respect to renewing the truce deal in Syria, particularly around the town of Aleppo, the BBC reports. Kerry had talks with Arab and UN officials about ways to reach a ceasefire in Aleppo, where the situation threatens to lead to a complete failure of the peace efforts. The UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura had called on the US and Russia to salvage the ceasefire agreement. According to BBC, the US Secretary of State will also have to find a way to bring the representatives of the Syrian opposition to the negotiations table in Geneva.

The football club Astra from Giurgiu, in the south of the country, is virtually Romanias football champion, for the first time in its history. Mathematically, Astra can no longer be caught up with by the runner-up, the defending champions Steaua Bucharest, regardless of the results of the last round in the League One play offs. The owner of Astra is Ioan Niculae, one of the richest and most controversial Romanian businessmen. He is serving time after having been sentenced for the illegal financing of a politician in the 2009 presidential election campaign.

The Romanian tennis players Patricia Ţig and Irina Begu are playing today in the second round of the WTA Premier tournament in Madrid, which has nearly 4.8 million US dollars in prize money. Ţig is facing the American Sloane Stephens and Begu takes on one of the tournament top seeds, Spains Garbine Muguruza. Also qualified in the second round of the Madrid tournament are two other Romanians, Simona Halep, seed no. 6, and Sorana Carstea. Halep played the final of the Madrid tournament in 2014, when she lost to Russias Maria Sharapova.

2 May 2016