BIAS – Bucharest hosts the biggest air show in Romania – Bucharest International Air Show (BIAS), celebrating 100 years since the first nighttime flight operated from Belgrade to Băneasa airport in Bucharest. Taking part are over 100 civilian and military aircraft and 150 pilots and parachute jumpers, which will offer a number of aerobatics and elite flying demonstrations. Guests will also be able to see military pilots flying a number of aircraft including F-16 Fighting Falcon, IAR 99 Eagle, IAR 330 PUMA, IAK 52 C 27J Spartan and the EC 135 gunship. The program also includes air policing and airdrop support drills. The US Air Forces are also participating in the show with Blackhawk and Apache gunships, while Canadian Air Forces will display a McDonnel Douglas CF-18 Hornet aircraft. The Dutch Air Forces will bring two F16 Fighting Falcons, the German Forces a Sikorsky CH-52 Sea Stallion and a Tornado Pa200. The 2023 edition of BIAS will also feature the famous Lithuanian pilot Jurgis Kairys, several-time world aerobatics champion.
WILDFIRES – Romanian firefighters are engaged in interventions abroad, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations reports. In France, Romanian firefighters joined efforts to help stop a wildfire in the southeast from spreading. Military firefighters in Greece intervened to contain and eventually put out a wildfire threatening a settlement in the east and remain on standby for future missions.
ENESCU FESTIVAL – The Palace Concert Hall in Bucharest on Sunday will host the opening concert of the George Enescu International Music Festival, which will feature the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Cristian Măcelaru, who is also the Festival’s artistic director. The program includes Concerto in B Minor for cello and orchestra opus 104 by Antonín Dvořák, George Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody no. 2 in D Major opus 11, and the Knight of the Rose suite opus 59 by Johann Strauss. The 26th edition of the George Enescu Festival is themed Generosity through Music. Taking part will be 3,500 of the most renowned artists in the world and over 40 orchestras from 16 countries. Among other things, the festival also includes opera concerts and educational concerts for children. This year a number of great orchestras are taking part, including the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra and Choir, London Symphonic Orchestra, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse or the Philharmonic Orchestra of Israel. The George Enescu Festival has been held in Bucharest since 1958, honoring the memory and works of the great Romanian composer, pianist, violinist and conductor George Enescu.
WEATHER – Meteorologists have issued a code orange alert for extreme heat and high thermal discomfort for the west and the south, where temperatures will exceed 37 degrees. The temperature-humidity index will exceed the critical level of 80 units. The rest of the territory is under a code yellow alert against extreme heat. The code orange alert will remain in place for Sunday in 19 counties in the south, west, center and the capital Bucharest, where temperatures will reach 39 degrees. The code yellow alert will also remain in place for most regions, where highs will range between 35 and 37 degrees. On Monday the heat wave will continue to affect most regions, while starting Tuesday only the east will be affected.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse (166 WTA) has qualified to the main draw of the women’s singles at US Open, set to kick off at Flushing Meadows in New York on Monday. In the final preliminary round Ruse ousted Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine. Another four Romanian players will compete in the opening round – Sorana Cîrstea, Irina Begu, Ana Bogdan and Patricia Țig.
ROWING – Romanian athlete Cătălin Chirilă won silver in the 1000m race at the 2023 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships hosted by Duisburg, Germany, after winning gold in the 500m race the previous day. Chirilă was the defending champion in this event after winning gold at the World Championships in Dartmouth, Canada. The competition counts for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the top six athletes will qualify directly. (VP)
