Radio România Internațional

Tag: davis cup

  • April 6, 2019 UPDATE

    April 6, 2019 UPDATE

    REFERENDUM – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has called a round of consultations
    next week regarding the justice referendum. On Thursday the National Liberal Party,
    Save Romania Union and People’s Movement Party will start consultations, along
    with the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians and national minorities. On
    Friday, the Social-Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
    are expected to meet the president. The latter has already declined the
    president’s invitation, while Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea said he
    won’t attend the consultations, although the party will send a delegation. We
    recall that on Thursday, the President announced
    that the themes which he would submit to the vote at the May 26 referendum,
    held simultaneously with the European Parliament elections, are related to
    forbidding amnesty and pardon of corruption crimes and forbidding the
    government to pass emergency decrees related to criminal offences and
    punishments, correlated with the right of other authorities to notify the
    Constitutional Court over such decrees. At the same time the President
    criticized the Social-Democrats’ propensity for passing emergency decrees and
    has called on the Government to refrain from any such actions until the
    referendum. The power in turn accused the head of state of defending election
    interests while the Liberals have welcomed the referendum.




    ELECTION – The Central Election Bureau has admitted the
    list of candidates submitted by nine political parties and independent
    candidate for the European Parliament election due in May. According to a
    release published on the institution’s website, the Bureau admitted the
    candidacies submitted by the Social-Democratic Party, the National Liberal
    Party, the 2020 Save Romania Union – Plus Alliance, the Alliance of Liberals
    and Democrats, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians and the PRO Romania
    party. The candidates of the People’s Movement Party and the United Romania
    Party have also been declared eligible. The Bureau also accepted the
    independent candidacy of Gregoriana Tudoran, a representative of the Together
    for A8 Association. The decision can be challenged by April 12 and the final
    result will be announced on April 16. The election campaign starts on April 27
    and the election will be held on May 26.




    MEETING – The
    informal meeting of the EU finance ministers continued in Bucharest on Saturday
    against the backdrop of Romania’s holding the EU presidency. One of the main
    topics on the agenda was selective mobility. Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici
    said at the end of the ECOFIN meeting that European states whose workforce
    migrates to other states should come up with an aggressive package of measures
    for selective mobility. On Friday the meeting hosted under the name Eurogrup
    brought together Finance Ministers from the Eurozone and marked the first
    working session of the informal meeting of Finance Ministers and central bank
    governors, chaired by Romania’s line minister Eugen Teodorovici. Eurogroup
    members discussed the banking sector, inflation and the exchange rate as well
    as the developments in Greece.




    REPORT – Over a third of the 2,300 alerts on dangerous
    products were triggered with respect to toys, a report published by the
    European Commission for 2018 reads. Toys are followed by motor vehicles,
    clothing, textiles and fashion items. The main risks flagged are chemical risks
    and injuries, followed by the choking risk for children. Over half of the total
    number of products identified as dangerous originate from China. Cooperation with Chinese authorities in the
    product safety field continues to be a priority, the European Commission has
    announced.




    DRUG OPERATION – Over 300 police officers,
    gendarmes and divers are currently taking part in a wide drug search operation
    on the Romanian Black Seacoast over an area of 90 km, Romanian Police spokesman
    Georgian Dragan said on Saturday. Some 14 ships and two helicopters are also
    taking part in the mission. Organized by the Directorate for Investigating
    Organized Crime and Terrorism, the operation kicked off after several drug
    packages washed off on the shore on several beaches. The search op will
    continue over the next days. The Police say two people have been placed under
    pre-trial arrest and searches were made at their homes. The investigation is
    ongoing. Some 200 km of drugs have been found on beaches and out at sea so far.




    TENNIS – Romania’s Davis Cup team on Saturday defeated
    Zimbabwe 4-1 in the first round of Group II in the Europe-Africa zone. Romania
    on Saturday grabbed three wins. Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea defeated Benjamin
    and Courtney Lock in the doubles match 6-1, 6-4. In the singles, Marius Copil defeated
    Takanyi Garanganga 6-4, 7-5, while Filip Jianu defeated Mehluli Don Ayanda
    Sibanda. On Friday Dima defeated Garanganga while Copil lost to Benjamin Lock.
    The two teams previously met in 2000 when Romania won 3-2.


    (translated by V. Palcu)

  • February 6, 2019 UPDATE

    February 6, 2019 UPDATE

    VISIT – Romanian PM Viorica
    Dăncilă on Wednesday paid a visit to Brussels. She presented Romania’s
    priorities at the helm of the Council of the EU during the plenary session of
    the European Committee of Regions. Also on Wednesday she met with Katharina von
    Schnurbein, EU coordinator for combating anti-Semitism. Prime Minister Dancila
    said combating anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial are key priorities for the
    Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Also on Wednesday, PM Dancila met
    with the Secretary General of the World Jewish Restitution Organization,
    Collette Avital. Talks focused on Romania’s recent efforts to accelerate the
    process of Jewish restitution, as well as the latest legislative action to pay
    allowances for Holocaust survivors. Prime Minister Dancila on Thursday will
    attend the conference titled The Fight against Anti-Semitism: a common
    approach to better protect Jewish communities in Europe. From politics to
    action. Also on Thursday, Viorica Dancila will meet with European Council
    President Donald Tusk and with European Commission First Vice-President, Frans
    Timmermans.




    DRAFT
    BUDGET – Talks continue in Bucharest on Romania’s 2019 draft
    budget, as the leaders of the ruling parties met on Wednesday with
    representatives of the Municipal Cities’ Association, who are discontent about
    the way in which money is allotted to local communities. Social-Democrat leader
    Liviu Dragnea said the budget of local municipalities will be at least
    tantamount to last year. Mayors remain disgruntled, saying talks would continue
    on Thursday at the Finance Ministry. The coalition intends to finalise talks
    for the budget to be discussed in Friday’s session of the Government, to then
    be forwarded to Parliament for debate. Meanwhile, the Fitch rating agency has warned that the 2019 budget bill, in the
    current form which has been launched for public debate, is actually based on
    optimistic estimates and does not shed light on the uncertainty over the tax on
    bank assets. The Fitch analysts are
    sceptical that Romania will observe the budget deficit target of 2.6%, given
    that the state budget is based on an economic growth rate of 5.5%, higher than
    the 3.2% initial estimate by the agency.




    ROMANIAN-US
    RELATIONS- Romanian deputy prime-minister Ana Birchall, on a visit to the US, has
    reiterated the Romanian Government’s firm commitment to further develop the
    relation with the US on all dimensions of the Strategic Partnership. According
    to a communiqué, during her official visit to the US, Ana Birchall has had
    talks with several US high officials with responsibilities on the relation with
    Romania. They approached issues of high interest on the bilateral agenda, such
    as organising the Romania-US Strategic Dialogue, whose last session was held in
    Bucharest, in June 2018. The officials also tackled opportunities of
    cooperation with the Romanian side to promote common objectives on the
    trans-Atlantic agenda, such as Romania’s priorities during its tenure at the
    helm of the Council of the European Union.




    MEETING -
    Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Wednesday met with a delegation of the
    Bundestag Committee for European Affairs, led by President Gunther Krichbaum.
    Talks focused on the latest development of the EU eastern vicinity and the
    Black Sea region, highlighting the support given by Romania and Germany to
    maintaining active action and commitment from the EU towards states in the
    Eastern Partnership. Both sides also reiterated the joint interest to
    developing cooperation in the Black Sea region, as well as regarding the
    European Union Strategy for the Danube Region.




    STATE
    OF THE UNION – US President Donald Trump has launched an
    appeal for unity in his State of the Union address in Congress on Tuesday. He
    said the economic miracle of his country cannot be stopped by fighting,
    policies and partisan investigations. The US President has underlined that his
    agenda is a national one, in the interest of all Americans. Donald Trump, who
    has made of migration policies a priority of the second year of his term in
    office, devoted much of his address to this issue, calling on Congress to
    defend the US’s southern border from illegal migrants, who come-according to
    him- with a criminality potential.




    MACEDONIA – The NATO member states on Wednesday
    signed in Brussels, the NATO Accession Protocol with Macedonia, an important
    step towards accepting that Baltic country as the 30th member of the
    organization. Macedonia will be allowed to participate from now on, in NATO
    meetings, as observer, until all allied countries ratify the accession
    protocol. This step has been taken after the resolution of a protracted dispute
    between Skopje and Athens on the name of the country. The former Yugoslav
    republic agreed last year to change its name into The Republic of North
    Macedonia, to thus make a clear distinction between the former Yugoslav
    republic and the old Greek province of Macedonia. The name change will become
    official once Greece has ratified the accession protocol.




    FLU – The number of people who succumbed to the flu in Romania stands
    at 91, according to the latest data released by National Centre for Surveillance
    and Control of Communicable Diseases. Doctors call
    again on people to get the anti-flu shot. Almost all people who died of the flu
    virus had not been vaccinated. Some 1.3 million people have been vaccinated so
    far, and the Health Ministry has purchased another 30,000 doses of the vaccine
    for people in the high risk category: people with chronic diseases, pregnant
    women, children and elderly people. A flu epidemic has officially been
    declared in Romania, because of the fast-paced spread of the virus and the high
    number of flu-infections and deaths.




    TENNIS – The Romanian
    men’s Davis Cup team will take on Zimbabwe in the first round of Group II in
    the Europe Africa zone, according to Wednesday’s draw venued in London. The
    match will be played on home turf. Romania and Zimbabwe previously played each
    other in the Davis Cup in 2000, in Harare, Romania winning 3-2. Other matches
    in Group 2 are South Africa vs. Bulgaria, Denmark vs. Turkey, Lithuania vs.
    Morocco, Egypt vs. Slovenia and Norway vs. Georgia.

    (Translated by D. Vijeu & V. Palcu)

  • September 16, 2018 UPDATE

    September 16, 2018 UPDATE

    SUMMIT – The Romanian capital city Bucharest is hosting on Monday and Tuesday the 3rd Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, an informal president-level platform that brings together the 12 EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Sea, namely Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. According to the presidential administration, the main goal of the initiative is the economic development of these countries, by enhancing interconnectivity, particularly from north to south, in 3 major areas: transport, energy, and digital. On the sidelines of the Summit, the first Business Forum of this platform will be held. President Klaus Iohannis will open the Forum on Monday, and later on he will take part in a plenary meeting alongside his counterparts from Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Poland – Andrzej Duda, Austria – Alexander van der Bellen, and the European Commissioner for Regional Development Corina Creţu. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will attend the Three Seas Initiative Summit for the first time. The first two summits were held in Dubrovnik in 2016 and in Warsaw in 2017.




    SWINE FEVER – A first African swine fever outbreak was confirmed on Sunday in Dambovita County, in the south of Romania. Thirteen counties are currently affected by the epidemic, most of them in the south-east and south. The number of outbreaks reaches 900, with the virus identified in over 200 localities. Hundreds of thousands of animals have been culled. Bucharest has requested financial support from the European Commission for the farmers affected by the African swine fever epidemic.




    REFERENDUM – The Constitutional Court of Romania is discussing on Monday a bill designed to redefine family, in the Constitution, as based on the marriage of a man and a woman. The bill was passed in the Senate on Tuesday, and requires validation through a referendum. It is based on a citizen initiative signed by 3 million people. The initiators, which are Christian organisations and associations, want the Constitution to narrow down the definition of family to the marriage between a man and a woman, so as to prevent the possibility of legalising same-sex marriage. ACCEPT Association, which promotes the rights of sexual minorities, says that Tuesdays vote in the Senate has turned homophobia into a principle safeguarded by the state, and that constitutional protection for many types of families in Romania will be sacrificed. Except for Save Romania Union, all parliamentary parties have supported the initiative.





    JUDICIARY – Romanian magistrates Sunday protested in Bucharest against the latest changes to the criminal codes and the justice laws. The magistrates are also discontent with the extension of judicial inspection mandates through a government emergency order and with the authorities disregard of the Venice Commission recommendations. Promoted by the Government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the legislative changes are criticised by the right-of-centre Opposition, the mass media and civil society, which accuse Power of trying to hinder the fight against corruption and to overpower the judiciary. Just days ago, representatives of the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, were in Bucharest to draft a report on the changes operated by Parliament on the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure.




    ATTACK – The US Embassy is updated on the situation of the 2 American basketball players, aged 24 and 25 respectively, and playing for a team in Braila, south-eastern Romania, and is closely monitoring the incident in which they were injured, the American diplomatic mission announced. The two were stabbed on Saturday night during a conflict that broke out in a bar in the city centre. One of them is in a serious condition, with a punctured lung, and has been transferred to Bucharest. The 2 had been transferred to the club in Braila just one month before. The Romanian handball player Marian Cozma, who was playing for Veszprem, was killed in a bar in the same city, on February 8, 2009, by attackers who stabbed him to death.




    TENNIS – Romanias mens tennis team was defeated by Poland, 3-2, on Sunday in Cluj-Napoca, north-western Romania, in the Davis Cups 3rd round, Group II, Europe-Africa zone, after Kamil Majchrzak outplayed Adrian Ungur in the decisive match. Also on Sunday, Hubert Hurkacz beat Marius Copil, while the Romanians Florin Mergea and Horia Tecău won the doubles match against Lukasz Kubot/Marcin Matkowski. After Saturdays matches, the score was 1-1. Thanks to this performance, Poland moves up into Group I, Europe/Africa zone of Davis Cup, of which Romania fell out at the end of last year.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • September 16, 2018

    September 16, 2018

    SUMMIT – The Romanian capital city Bucharest is hosting on Monday and Tuesday the 3rd Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, an informal president-level platform that brings together the 12 EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Sea, namely Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. According to the presidential administration, the main goal of the initiative is the economic development of these countries, by enhancing interconnectivity, particularly from north to south, in 3 major areas: transport, energy, and digital. On the sidelines of the Summit, the first Business Forum of this platform will be held. President Klaus Iohannis will open the Forum on Monday, and later on he will take part in a plenary meeting alongside his counterparts from Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Poland – Andrzej Duda, Austria – Alexander van der Bellen, and the European Commissioner for Regional Development Corina Creţu. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will attend the Three Seas Initiative Summit for the first time. The first two summits were held in Dubrovnik in 2016 and in Warsaw in 2017.




    SWINE FEVER – A first African swine fever outbreak has been confirmed today in Dambovita County, in the south of Romania. Thirteen counties are currently affected by the epidemic, most of them in the south-east and south. The number of outbreaks reaches 900, with the virus identified in over 200 localities. Hundreds of thousands of animals have been culled. Bucharest has requested financial support from the European Commission for the farmers affected by the African swine fever epidemic.




    REFERENDUM – The Constitutional Court of Romania is discussing on Monday a bill designed to redefine family, in the Constitution, as based on the marriage of a man and a woman. The bill was passed in the Senate on Tuesday, and requires validation through a referendum. It is based on a citizen initiative signed by 3 million people. The initiators, which are Christian organisations and associations, want the Constitution to narrow down the definition of family to the marriage between a man and a woman, so as to prevent the possibility of legalising same-sex marriage. ACCEPT Association, which promotes the rights of sexual minorities, says that Tuesdays vote in the Senate has turned homophobia into a principle safeguarded by the state, and that constitutional protection for many types of families in Romania will be sacrificed. Except for Save Romania Union, all parliamentary parties have supported the initiative.




    ATTACK – Two American basketball players, aged 24 and 25 respectively, and playing for a team in Braila, south-eastern Romania, were stabbed last night during a conflict that broke out in a bar in the city centre. One of them is in a serious condition, with a punctured lung. He underwent surgery and will be transferred to Bucharest. The other one is in a stable condition. The 2 had been transferred to the club in Braila just one month before. The Romanian handball player Marian Cozma, who was playing for Veszprem, was killed in a bar in the same city, on February 8, 2009, by attackers who stabbed him to death.




    TENNIS – The north-western Romanian city of Cluj is hosting today the doubles match and the last 2 singles matches of the Davis Cups Group II round 3 between Romania and Poland. The score so far is 1-1. On Saturday, Marius Copil defeated Kamil Majchrzak, and Adrian Ungur lost to Hubert Hurkacz. The doubles match will be pitting Florin Mergea/Horia Tecău, for Romania, against Lukasz Kubot/Marcin Matkowski for Poland. The last 2 singles matches are Copil vs. Hurkacz and Ungur vs. Majchrzak. The winning team will be promoted to Group I of the Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone, from which Romania was demoted at the end of last year.





    ROWING – In the World Rowing Championship hosted by Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Romania failed to get any medals in the mens double sculls final, the womens eight final and the mens eight final, held on Sunday. On Saturday the Romanian rowers won 2 medals. Ionela-Livia Cozmiuc and Gianina-Elena Beleagă won the gold in the lightweight womens double sculls, while Marius-Vasile Cozmiuc and Ciprian Tudosă won the silver in the mens pair final.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • April 8, 2018 UPDATE

    April 8, 2018 UPDATE

    EASTER — The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most important day in the Christian Calendar, was celebrated on Sunday by Orthodox and Greek Catholic Christians all over the world, including Romania. At midnight Christians gathered in Churches and monasteries to receive the holy fire and sing Christ is risen! The Holy Light was distributed to Christians by Patriarch Daniel at the Orthodox Cathedral in Bucharest. The Holy Fire was brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. In his public Easter message, Patriarch Daniel said Christ’s Resurrection gives meaning to our lives and urged people to share the joy of this celebration with their family and friends.



    MESSAGES — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis wished Romanians Happy Easter alongside their families and friends. In turn, Romania’s Defense Minister, Mihai Fifor, conveyed an Easter greeting to all Romanian military, wherever they may be, at home or in various corners of the world, as well as to the veterans and the families of the victims who were killed in the line of duty. “In moments like these, more than ever, we should not forget the sacrifice our military make every day for each and every one of us, to defend the security and stability of Romania and the Alliance we are part of”, Minister Fifor said in his message.



    SECURITY MEASURES – Over 50,000 employees of the Romanian Interior Ministry were mobilized to maintain public order, safety and security across the country during Easter. Gendarme and police troops were chiefly deployed around churches and other religious institutions. 250 thousand people are expected to attend more than 700 public events that will take place in Romania in the next four days. Traffic police, equipped with more than 300 traffic radars and backed by helicopters, will be monitoring traffic on Romania’s motorways during the Easter days. The Inspectorate for Emergency Situations said over 1,000 emergency calls were received on Resurrection Night, mostly for first aid. No church reported any fire problems. Over 4,600 officers of the fire brigade and over 800 fire trucks, as well as 320 first aid units were standing by on Saturday night.



    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.



    ROMA DAY — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis conveyed a message to mark the International Roma Day, celebrated on April 8 worldwide. The head of the state said the traditions, values, aspirations and needs of the Roma community must be understood in order to come up with solutions for the social inclusion of this minority, while at the same time preserving their cultural identity. President Ioahnnis also believes that Roma citizens’ contribution to the history and diversity of Romanian society should also be underscored. According to the official website of the European Parliament, the Roma account for the largest ethnic minority in Europe, tantamount to some 10 million people, who are often subject to various forms of discrimination and social exclusion.



    ATTACK — German officials say there is no clue to confirm that the man who drove a truck into a crowd of people in the Western city of Muenster on Saturday is in any way linked to an Islamic terrorist cell. Two people were killed in the attack. The driver, a German national, shot himself after the attack. According to some sources, the man had a history of mental health issues.



    TENNIS — Romania’s Davis Cup team on Sunday defeated Morocco 5-nil in the second round of Europe/Africa Zone Group II. On Sunday in the men’s doubles Marius Copil and Florin Mergea defeated Amine Ahouda/ Lamine Ouahab, 6-2, 6-1. In the singles Edris Fetisleam defeated 6-2, 6-nil Yassir Kilani, while Dragos Dima outplayed 6-nil, 6-4 Soufian El Meshabi. Romania will play either Poland or Zimbabwe in the third round. In other news from tennis, Romanian Ana Bogdan, 90 WTA, lost the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, totaling over 225 thousand dollars in prize money. Bogdan was ousted by the WTA third-ranked Garbine Muguruza of Spain, 6-nil, 7-5.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • April 8, 2018

    April 8, 2018

    EASTER — The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most important day in the Christian Calendar, was celebrated on Sunday by Orthodox and Greek Catholic Christians all over the world, including Romania. At midnight Christians gathered in Churches and monasteries to receive the holy fire and sing Christ is risen! The Holy Light was distributed to Christians by Patriarch Daniel at the Orthodox Cathedral in Bucharest. The Holy Fire was brought from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. In his public Easter message, Patriarch Daniel said Christ’s Resurrection gives meaning to our lives and urged people to share the joy of this celebration with their family and friends.



    MESSAGES — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis wished Romanians Happy Easter alongside their families and friends. In turn, Romania’s Defense Minister, Mihai Fifor, conveyed an Easter greeting to all Romanian military, wherever they may be, at home or in various corners of the world, as well as to the veterans and the families of the victims who were killed in the line of duty. “In moments like these, more than ever, we should not forget the sacrifice our military make every day for each and every one of us, to defend the security and stability of Romania and the Alliance we are part of”, Minister Fifor said in his message.



    SECURITY MEASURES – Over 50,000 employees of the Romanian Interior Ministry were mobilized to maintain public order, safety and security across the country during Easter. Gendarme and police troops were chiefly deployed around churches and other religious institutions. 250 thousand people are expected to attend more than 700 public events that will take place in Romania in the next four days. Traffic police, equipped with more than 300 traffic radars and backed by helicopters, will be monitoring traffic on Romania’s motorways during the Easter days. The Inspectorate for Emergency Situations said over 1,000 emergency calls were received on Resurrection Night, mostly for first aid. No church reported any fire problems. Over 4,600 officers of the fire brigade and over 800 fire trucks, as well as 320 first aid units were standing by on Saturday night.



    ATTACK — German officials say there is no clue to confirm that the man who drove a truck into a crowd of people in the Western city of Muenster on Saturday is in any way linked to an Islamic terrorist cell. Two people were killed in the attack. The driver, a German national, shot himself after the attack. According to some sources, the man had a history of mental health issues.



    ELECTION — Some eight million Hungarians are today expected to hit the polls to choose the 198 members of the Hungarian Parliament, which will stay in officer for the next four years. Opinion polls place the current ruling party FIDESZ, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, known for his anti-immigrant and euroskeptic policies, as favourite to win. According to our correspondent in Budapest, Viktor Orban is expected to win his fourth term at the helm of the executive after a long anti-immigration campaign. His party however is estimated to lose its two-third majority in Parliament, which it has been enjoying after the 2010 and 2014 elections.



    TENNIS — Romania’s Davis Cup team on Sunday defeated Morocco in the second round of Europe/Africa Zone Group II. On Saturday Marius Copil defeated Amine Ahouda in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 while Adrian Ungur beat Lamine Ouahab, 6-0, 7-6. On Sunday in the men’s doubles Marius Copil and Florin Mergea defeated Amine Ahouda/ Lamine Ouahab, 6-2, 6-1. In the singles Marius Copil will play Lamine Ouhab and Adrian Ungur will face Amine Ahouda. Romania will play either Poland or Zimbabwe in the third round. In other news from tennis, Romanian Ana Bogdan, 90 WTA, lost the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, totaling over 225 thousand dollars in prize money. Bogdan was ousted by the WTA third-ranked Garbine Muguruza of Spain, 6-nil, 7-5.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • April 7, 2018 UPDATE

    April 7, 2018 UPDATE

    HOLY FIRE — Thousands of Orthodox believers gathered on Saturday in Jerusalem for the Holy Fire ceremony that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. In a ritual dating back at least 1,200 years, they crowded into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Holy Fire appeared in the Edicule, the small chapel built over the burial place of Christ at about 2:20 PM, just a few minutes after the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, entered there to pray and wait. After the fire’s descent the Patriarch passed the holy gift to the faithful. The Holy Fire is the most important celebration in the Orthodox faith in Jerusalem. A delegation of the Romanian Patriarchy, headed by Bishop Timotei of Prahova, is in Jerusalem and will bring the Holy Fire to be distributed to every church across Romania.




    SECURITY MEASURES – Over 50,000 employees of the Romanian Interior Ministry have been mobilised to maintain public order, safety and security across the country during Easter. Gendarme and police troops will be chiefly deployed around churches and other religious institutions. 250 thousand people are expected to attend more than 700 public events that will take place in Romania in the next four days. Traffic police, equipped with more than 300 traffic radars and backed by helicopters, will be monitoring traffic on Romania’s motorways during the Easter days.




    HOLIDAY – Many Romanians have chosen to spend Easter away from home this year but in regions in the country where Easter traditions are still observed. Over 90% of the hotels and guest houses on the Prahova Valley are booked. Tourists are mostly interested in the resorts of Sinaia and Azuga, as winter sports can still be practices there. Bukovina is another region highly appreciated by tourists, especially the villages that are close to monasteries such as Sucevita, Gura Humorului and Putna. Tourists appreciate guesthouses in Bukovina because Easter traditions have been preserved unaltered there and also for the hosts’ hospitality.




    POISONING – Russian Ambassador in London, Aleksandr Yakovenko, has requested a meeting with British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, to discuss the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal. Relations between London and Moscow have plumbed new lows in recent weeks following the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia on March 4 in Salisbury, south-western England. Britain and its Western allies have blamed the attack on Moscow, accusing it of targeting the pair with a Soviet-made military-grade nerve agent. Russia has vehemently denied any involvement in the case. The crisis has led to the biggest wave of tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats in recent memory.




    STRIKE — Air France announced on Saturday the cancellation of hundreds of flights as pilots, cabin crews and ground staff pursued a fifth day of strike aimed at securing higher salaries. Air France estimates that 34% of pilots, 26% of the cabin crews and 19% of the ground staff were on strike on Saturday. Unions say workers deserve to benefit from years of belt-tightening that have brought the carrier back to operating profitability, after seeing their wages effectively frozen since 2011. Unionists want a 6% pay raise and have already warned of more strikes to come.




    ROMA DAY — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Saturday conveyed a message on the occasion of the International Roma Day. Iohannis said “it’s important to understand the traditions, values, aspirations and needs of the Roma community, in order to find solutions that should have a concrete contribution to the Roma minority members’ social inclusion, while continuing to preserve their cultural identity”. Iohannis also said that this year, when the 1918 Great Union centennial is celebrated, the contribution of the Roma to our society’s history and diversity must be emphasised. Celebrated every year on April 8th, the International Roma Day is aimed at promoting the community’s cultural values and at signalling the problems facing it.




    DAVIS CUP — Romania’s Davis Cup team leads Morocco 2-0 after the first matches held on Saturday in Cluj, northwestern Romania, in the second round of Europe/Africa Zone Group II. Marius Copil defeated Amine Ahouda in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 while Adrian Ungur beat Lamine Ouahab, 6-0, 7-6. On Sunday in the men’s doubles Marius Copil and Florin Mergea will be up against Amine Ahouda/ Lamine Ouahab.




    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan, WTA’s 90th seed, has qualified to the semi-finals of the WTA tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, after defeating American Danielle Collins, no. 53 in the world, in two sets, 6-2, 6-4. Ana Bogdan will next be up against the competition’s favourite, Garbine Muguruza, no. 3 in the world. (Translated by Elena Enache)

  • February 4, 2018 UPDATE

    February 4, 2018 UPDATE

    VISIT — The deputy prime minister for Romania’s strategic partnerships’ implementation, Ana Birchall, is taking part in the European Open Government Leaders’ Forum held on Monday in Milan, Italy. The event is organised on the first day of Italy’s Open Government Week. The Forum will gather policy-makers, senior civil servants, high level experts and Civil Society Organizations’ representatives from across Europe to discuss the role of civic participation for better policy making and improved public governance systems. The debate will also be aimed at generating new political support for open government and strengthening commitment to action.




    DEFENSE — Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor is paying an official visit to Chisinau on Monday, at the invitation of his Moldovan counterpart Eugen Sturza. Minister Fifor will be accompanied by the Chief of the Army General Staff, General Nicolae Ciuca. Tackled at the meeting will be the security situation in the region and bilateral cooperation in he field of defense, with an emphasis on joint projects aimed at helping Moldova continue on its European and Euro-Atlantic path. Previously, Mihai Fifor said that 2018 would be a year dedicated to the modernisation of the Romanian Naval Forces and in that respect a project would be presented at Wednesday’s government meeting, regarding the purchase of four multifunctional corvettes. The contract could be signed until the end of the year, and the corvettes are to be produced in Romania. The Romanian Naval Forces’ two frigates are also to be upgraded.




    FORECAST – The Romanian National Commission for Prognosis has revised upwards the evolution of the country’s GDP this year, to 6.1% from an initial 5.5%. The final consumption is expected to go up by 6.3%, which is also more than initially forecast. However, consumption is going to slow down in the next three years to reach 4.9% in 2021. The European Commission has estimated an advance of Romanian economy of up to 4.4% this year, a figure similar to the one estimated by the IMF, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.




    REPATRIATION — A Romanian citizen was evacuated safely from Yemen, via Jordan, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday in a release. The Romanian citizen was constantly in touch with Romania’s Embassy in Amman, which monitored his repatriation and granted him consular assistance.




    HANDBALL — On Sunday the Romanian women’s handball champion, CSM Bucharest, defeated the Danish side Midtjylland 31-26, in the Champions League’s Group 1 main round match away from home. CSM top the group which also includes Hungary’s Gyor Audi ETO KC, Nykoebing Falster Handbold of Denmark, Rostov of Russia and RK Krim Mercator Ljubljana of Slovenia. CSM Bucharest will play the next match at home, on February 11, against Rostov. On Saturday, Sport Club Municipal Craiova defeated the French side Brest Bretagne Handball, 16-15, in an EHF Cup Group A match. In another EHF Cup match on Sunday, Handbal Club Zalau beat the Norwegian side Larvik, the Group D leaders, 25-22, and qualified for the competition’s quarterfinals.




    TABLE TENNIS – Romanian table tennis player Bernadette Szocs on Sunday won the ITTF Europe Top-16 Cup tournament in Montreux, Switzerland. Participating were Europe’s 16 best players. Szocs defeated in the final the Dutch Jie Li, the trophy holder, 4-1. The competition was first organised in 1971, and among the winners have so far been the Romanians Olga Nemes in 1983, Emilia Ciosu in 1993 and Otilia Badescu in 1995. There is also good news from tennis as Romania’s team on Saturday and Sunday defeated Luxembourg at home, 3-1, in the first round of Europe/ Africa Zone Group II of the Davis Cup. (Translated by Elena Enache)


  • February 4, 2018

    February 4, 2018

    NAVY – The Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor has said that the modernisation of the country’s Naval Forces can no longer be postponed, and the equipping programmes start from the negotiable condition that the state-of-the-art technology is manufactured in Romania. Previously, Mihai Fifor said that 2018 would be a year devoted to the equipping of the Romanian Naval Forces. Fifor also said that a project would be presented at Wednesday’s government meeting, regarding the purchase of four multifunctional corvettes. The contract could be signed until the end of the year, and the corvettes are to be produced in Romania. The Naval Forces’ two frigates will also be upgraded.



    COOPERATION – The British Ambassador in Bucharest, Paul Brummel, says that the presence in Constanta, in south-eastern Romania, of the Standing NATO Maritime Groups, that also include two British ships, sends a strong safety signal for navigation on the Black Sea. The British military are supporting their Romanian colleagues in guaranteeing the security of Europe and its allies, the British Ambassador also said. Brummel has pointed out that 2017 was the most intense year in the history of the Romanian-British defense cooperation. He also mentioned the two visits of the “Duncan” destroyer to Constanta, the dispatch at the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base of four Typhoon aircraft, to contribute to the security of NATO’s airspace, and the participation of one thousand British military in Romanian-British joint military drills.



    COMMEMORATION — The memory of the great Romanian politician Iuliu Maniu, is today honoured in his native village, Badacin, in Salaj county, north-western Romania. A series of commemorative events are held in Badacin, which are also part of a public campaign of raising funds for the refurbishment of the Iuliu Maniu Memorial Huse. Commemoration events to mark 65 years since the death Iuliu Maniu started on Saturday at the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and to Resistance in Sighet (northwestern Romania). The political personality of the leader of the National Peasant Party, who was Romania’s prime minister in the interwar period and also a member of the Romanian Academy, was evoked in a number of speeches and papers presented during the events. An activist for union, a promoter of democratic principles and an adversary of Communism and Nazism, Iuliu Maniu was arrested in 1947 by the regime instated by the Soviet occupation and died in 1953 at the age of 80 in the Sighet prison, where most of the former Democratic dignitaries were detained.




    CHEVRON – The American oil company Chevron will pay to the National Agency for Mineral Resources in Romania around 74 million dollars following the annulment of three oil concession agreements without observing the financial obligations stipulated by the oil law, the Romanian government announced Saturday in a press release. The decision was made by the International Court of Arbitration, a branch of the International Chamber of Commerce based in Paris, which was asked to solve the conflict between Chevron and Romania’s National Agency for Mineral Resources. In 2011, the two sides concluded three concession agreements for exploitation, development and exploration in certain areas in southeastern Romania, which three years later Chevron decided to terminate.




    TENNIS — The Romanian men’s tennis team leads Luxembourg, 2-1, after the pair Florin Mergea/Horia Tecău defeated Ugo Nastasi/Christophe Tholl, 6-0 6-1, in the first round of Europe/ Africa Zone Group II of the Davis Cup. In the last two singles’ matches Copil will play against Nastasi and Frunza against Tholl. In the first singles match on Saturday Ugo Nastasi of Luxembourg defeated the Romanian tennis player Nicolae Frunza 7-6, 1-6, 6-3. In the second match, Marius Copil defeated Christhope Tholl 6-3, 6-2. The Davis Cup matches unfold according to the new format announced by the International Tennis Federation with matches consisting of maximum 3 sets being played for two days not three, as has happened so far. Romania was demoted last year to Group I for the first time after 1993, after it lost the match against Israel 0-5. detained. (Translated by Elena Enache)




  • February 3, 2018 UPDATE

    February 3, 2018 UPDATE

    Chevron — The American oil company Chevron will pay to the National Agency for Mineral Resources in Romania around 74 million dollars following the annulment of three oil concession agreements without observing the financial obligations stipulated by the oil law, the Romanian government announced Saturday in a press release. The decision was made by the International Court of Arbitration, a branch of the International Chamber of Commerce based in Paris, which was asked to solve the conflict between Chevron and Romania’s National Agency for Mineral Resources. In 2011, the two sides concluded three concession agreements for exploitation, development and exploration in certain areas in southeastern Romania, which three years later Chevron decided to terminate.



    Microsoft — The head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, said she had no reason to resign, after charges were dropped in a resounding corruption case investigated by her assistants because the statute of limitations had expired. Charges were dropped against six former ministers prosecuted for abuse of office allegedly perpetrated in 2003-2004 while in the case of the 7th minister the case was closed. The ministers in question were investigated by the National Anticorruption Directorate for initiating or supporting government orders awarding a public procurement contract to a private company. Anti-corruption prosecutors say this company was considered, with no justification in reality, as the sole provider of Microsoft licenses in Romania, so no public tender was therefore held. Total damages stand at around 70 million dollars.



    USR — The leader of the opposition Save Romania Union Dan Barna has called for the resignation of the Foreign Minister, Liberal Democrat Teodor Melescanu following a declaration, which he labels as anti-European. Minister Melescanu had labeled as gross violation of the EU principles the information from Brussels according to which the observance of the rule of law could become a condition for granting European funds. The European Commission decided, for the first time in the history of the community bloc, to start the procedure for the activation of Article 7 against Poland, which provides for the suspension of the right to vote in the European Council. According to Brussels officials, there is evident risk of serious infringement of the rule of law in Poland, where Parliament passed laws that increase the control of the executive power on the judiciary.



    Commemoration — Commemoration events were held Saturday at the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and to Resistance in Sighet (northwestern Romania) to mark 65 years since the death of a great Romanian politician, Iuliu Maniu. The political personality of the leader of the National Peasant Party, who was Romania’s prime minister in the interwar period and also a member of the Romanian Academy, was evoked in a number of speeches and papers presented during the events. An activist for union, a promoter of democratic principles and an adversary of Communism and Nazism, Iuliu Maniu was arrested in 1947 by the regime instated by the Soviet occupation and died in 1953 at the age of 80 in the Sighet prison, where most of the former Democratic dignitaries were detained.



    Tennis — Romania’s and Luxembourg’s Davis Cup teams have obtained equal scores, 1-1, after the first two singles held Saturday in Piatra Neamt (northeastern Romania) in the first round of Europe/ Africa Zone Group II. In the first singles match on Saturday Ugo Nastasi of Luxembourg defeated the Romanian tennis player Nicolae Frunza 7-6, 1-6, 6-3. In the second match, Marius Copil defeated Christhope Tholl 6-3, 6-2. On Sunday, in the doubles, the pair Florin Mergea/Horia Tecău will play against Ugo Nastasi/Christophe Tholl and in the last two matches Copil will play against Nastasi and Frunza against Tholl. The Davis Cup matches will take place according to the new format announced by the International Tennis Federation with matches consisting of maximum 3 sets being played for two days not three, as has happened so far. Romania was demoted last year to Group I for the first time after 1993, after it lost the match against Israel 0-5. (news translated and updated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • February 3, 2018

    February 3, 2018

    Chevron — The American oil company Chevron will pay to the National Agency for Mineral Resources in Romania around 74 million dollars following the annulment of three oil concession agreements without observing the financial obligations stipulated by the oil law, the Romanian government announced Saturday in a press release. The decision was made by the International Court of Arbitration, a branch of the International Chamber of Commerce based in Paris which was asked to solve the conflict between Chevron and Romania’s National Agency for Mineral Resources. In 2011, the two sides concluded three concession agreements for exploitation, development and exploration in certain areas in southeastern Romania, which three years later Chevron decided to terminate.



    Microsoft — The head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, Laura Codruta Kovesi, said she had no reason to resign, after charges were dropped in a resounding corruption case investigated by her assistants because the statute of limitations had expired. Charges were dropped against six former ministers prosecuted for abuse of office allegedly perpetrated in 2003-2004 while in the case of the 7th minister the case was closed. The ministers in question were investigated by the National Anticorruption Directorate for initiating or supporting government orders awarding a public procurement contract to a private company. Anti-corruption prosecutors say this company was considered, with no justification in reality, as the sole provider of Microsoft licenses in Romania, so no public tender was therefore held. Total damages stand at around 70 million dollars.



    USR — The leader of the opposition Save Romania Union party Dan Barna has called for the resignation of the Foreign Minister, Liberal Democrat Teodor Melescanu following a declaration, which he labels as anti-European. Minister Melescanu had labeled as gross violation of the EU principles the information from Brussels according to which the observance of the rule of law could become a condition for granting European funds. The European Commission decided, for the first time in the history of the community bloc, to start the procedure for the activation of Article 7 against Poland, which provides for the suspension of the right to vote in the European Council. According to Brussels officials, there is evident risk of serious infringement of the rule of law in Poland, where Parliament passed laws that increase the control of the executive power on the judiciary.



    Tennis — Romanian tennis player Nicolae Frunza and Ugo Nastasi of Luxembourg are today playing the first Davis Cup match held in Piatra Neamt (northeastern Romania) in the first round of Europe/ Africa Zone Group II. In the second singles match Romanian Marius Copil will be up against Christhope Tholl. On Sunday, in the doubles, the pair Florin Mergea/Horia Tecău will play against Ugo Nastasi/Christophe Tholl and in the last two matches Copil will play against Nastasi and Frunza against Tholl. The matches will take place according to the new format announced by the International Tennis Federation with matches, consisting of maximum 3 sets, being played for two days not three, as has happened so far. Romania was demoted last year to Group I for the first time after 1993, after it lost the match against Israel 0-5.



    Commemoration — Commemoration events were held Saturday at the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and to Resistance in Sighet (northwestern Romania) to mark 65 years since the death of a great Romanian politician, Iuliu Maniu. The political personality of the leader of the National Peasant Party, who was Romania’s prime minister in the interwar period and also a member of the Romanian Academy, was evoked in a number of speeches and papers presented during the events. An activist for union, a promoter of democratic principles and an adversary of Communism and Nazism, Iuliu Maniu was arrested in 1947 by the regime instated by the Soviet occupation and died in 1953 at the age of 80 in the Sighet prison, where most of the former Democratic dignitaries were detained. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)

  • Nachrichten 12.12.2017

    Nachrichten 12.12.2017

    Bukarest: Der Sarg des letzten Königs Rumäniens Mihai I wird am Mittwoch, dem 13. Dezember nach Rumänien überführt und für einige Stunden im Ehrensaal des Schlosses Peleş in Sinaia aufgebahrt. Am selben Tag wird der Sarg im Königlichen Palast in Bukarest zur öffentlichen Aufbahrung gestellt. Am Donnerstag und Freitag können die Rumänen ihrem ehemaligen König die letzte Ehre erweisen. Am Samstag, den 16. Dezember, wird König Mihai I. in der Königlichen Gruft der Kathedrale von Curtea de Argeş, im Süden des Landes, beigesetzt. In Bukarest legen Passanten Blumen und Kerzen beim Königlichen Palast und beim Elisabeth-Palast, der Bukarester Residenz der königlichen Familie, nieder. Das rumänische Parlament hat am Montag in einer feierlichen Sitzung in Gedenken an König Mihai I. getagt. Der Gedenksitzung wohnten der Staatschef Klaus Iohannis, die Kronprinzessin Margareta, Verwahrerin der rumänischen Krone, die ehemaligen Präsidenten Emil Constantinescu und Traian Băsescu, der Premier Mihai Tudose, die Vorsitzenden des Senats und der Abgeordnetenkammer Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu bzw Liviu Dragnea sowie der Patriarch der Rumänischen Orthodoxen Kirche, Daniel bei. In seiner Rede sagte Präsident Klaus Iohannis, dass der König ein Symbol eines wiedergeborenenen und freien Rumäniens darstellte und für immer als großer Staatsmann in Erinnerung bleiben wird. Die rumänische Regierung hat für den 14., 15. und 16. Dezember eine dreitägige Staatstrauer ausgerufen. König Mihai I. war am vorigen Dienstag in der Schweiz im Alter von 96 Jahren nach langem Leiden gestorben. Dieses Thema behandeln wir ausführlich später im Jurnal.




    Bukarest: Der Nationale Gewerkschaftsbund hat heute zu einer Demonstration gegen die Änderungen der Regierungskoalition im Steuerrecht ausgerufen. Die Demonstranten äußerten ihre Unzufriedenheit insbesondere über die Übertragung sämtlicher Sozialabgaben auf den Arbeitnehmer. Diese Maßnahme soll am 1. Januar 2018 in Kraft treten. Die Gewerkschaftler versuchen somit die Regierung auf die kurz,-mittel- und langfristigen negativen Auswirkungen dieser Maßnahme für die rumänischen Arbeitnehmer aufmerksam zu machen. Laut dem Nationalen Gewerkschaftsbund seien die Arbeitnehmerrechte gefährdet und die Chancen, respektvolle Arbeitsbeziehungen zu sichern, werden geringer. Die neuen Änderungen im Steuerrecht sind ebenfalls von anderen Gewerkschaftsverbänden sowie vom Geschäftsumfeld und von der Opposition kritisiert worden.




    Bukarest: Am Dienstag haben in den gemeinsamen beratenden Fachausschüssen im rumänischen Parlament die Debatten über den Haushaltsentwurf 2018 begonnen. Am Montag soll der Entwurf im Plenum des Parlaments vorgestellt werden, am 21. Dezember soll abschließend über das Haushaltsgesetz abgestimmt werden. Die Regierungskoalition meint, einen ausgeglichenen Haushalt vorgelegt zu haben, während die Opposition über zu wenig Zeit für Debatten und viel Verbesserungsbedarf klagt. Eckdaten des Entwurfs sind 5,5% Wachstum, 3,1% Inflation und ein Haushaltsdefizit von unter 3% des BIP. Gesundheit, Bildung und Investitionen seien die Prioritäten. Im Haushaltsentwurf 2018 seien angesichts der Umsetzung eines neuen Lohngesetzes höhere Personalausgaben vorgesehen, so das Kabinett Tudose. Die Investitionsausgaben sollen zudem im kommenden Jahr um 13 Milliarden Euro wachsen. Die Opposition hat über 3.500 Änderungsvorschläge vorgelegt, die meisten davon in Bezug auf den Bildungsbereich, das Gesundheitswesen, die Lokalverwaltung und Infrastruktur. Die Opposition schlägt zudem vor, dass mehr Geld für den Bau von 1.400 Kindergärten landesweit zugeteilt wird.




    Bukarest: Die jährliche Inflationsrate ist im November mit 3,23% auf ihren in den letzten vier Monaten höchsten Wert gestiegen. Laut den am Dienstag veröffentlichten Angaben des Nationalen Statistikamtes seien die Verbraucherpreise im Vormonat gestiegen, derselbe Trend zeichnet sich auch für Dezember ab. Gegenüber demselben Zeitraum des Vorjahres seien die Preise bei Lebensmitteln um 3,88% gestiegen, die Nichtlebensmittel seien um 4,12% teurer geworden, während bei Dienstleistungen die Preise um 0,1% gestiegen seien, teilt im Anschluß das Nationale Statistikamt mit. Die höchsten Preiserhöhungen wurden bei Eiern, Butter und bei verschiedenen Brennstoffen verzeichnet. Die Nationalbank revidierte die Inflationsprognose für das Jahresende 2017 nach oben, auf 2,7%.




    Sport: Das Davis-Cup-Spiel Rumänien-Luxemburg soll am 3. und 4. Februar im nordostrumänischen Piatra Neamţ stattfinden. Die Partie zählt für die 2. Kontinentalgruppe Europa/Afrika. Ende Oktober hatte Rumänien im Auslandsspiel gegen Israel mit 5-0 verloren und ist somit aus der 1. Gruppe Europa/Afrika ausgestiegen.

  • October 29, 2017 UPDATE

    October 29, 2017 UPDATE

    RRI – As of Sunday, October 29, RRI broadcasts a weekly, experimental show in Hebrew, devoted to Jews born in Romania and their families, but also to all Hebrew speakers who are interested in learning about Romania. The show will be broadcast every Sunday, from 7:05 pm to 8 pm Romanias time, on short waves and via the internet. Also, contents in Hebrew will be available on RRIs web site, Android and iOS applications, on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud. RRI boast a rich experience in producing shows devoted to the hundreds of thousand of Jews originating from Romania, who since 1990 have had the opportunity to listen to a show in the Romanian language. Their descendants, now at the third generation after Aliyah, the immigration of Jews from the Diaspora to the Land of Israel, speak Hebrew and their ties with their parents and grandparents birth country should be developed and maintained, including with the help of RRI.



    BREXIT – The Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu will hold talks in London, on November 3-4, with representatives of the Romanian community in Great Britain on the implications of Brexit. The meeting is part of the public consultations campaign titled Romania against the background of Great Britains exiting the EU. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, there are some 328,000 Romanian citizens living in Great Britain.



    WINTER TIME – On Sunday morning, Romania passed on to the winter time. Thus, 4 am became 3 am (GMT +2 hours), and October 29th was the longest day of the year. This change reverts the passing to the daylight saving time in March, aimed at using natural day light at the maximum and preserving energy. Romania will return to the official summer time on the last Sunday in March 2018.



    CATALONIA – Nobody will recognize the independence of Catalonia and the Spanish government is right in its attempt to restore constitutional order in the region, said on Sunday the European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, Associated Press reports. He stated that the independence referendum held in early October was illegal, also stressing that the EU would not broker the conflict, as the crisis is a Spanish domestic issue. According to Tajani, Spains decision to organize early elections in the region was the best. The Madrid Government has started to directly govern the province of Catalonia. The Catalan leaders and the heads of the police have been sacked. The Catalan police chief has stated he accepts his dismissal and has urged his subordinates to show loyalty to the new chiefs. The former head of the Catalan Government Carles Puigdemont has urged the Catalans to manifest a democratic and peaceful opposition to the measures enforced by the central government. We recall that Romania has reasserted its firm support for Spains sovereignty and territorial integrity and has firmly and irrevocably rejected Catalonias unilateral declaration of independence.



    DAVIS CUP – Israel is leading Romania 4-0 after Mor Bulis defeated Vasile Antonescu in two sets on Sunday, in Ramat Hasharon, in a match counting for maintaining a position in Group I of the Davis Cup’s Europe-Africa Zone. Previously, the Israeli Dudi Sela was supposed to play against the Romanian Dragos Dima, but the match was cancelled. Sunday’s matches are no longer important, as Israel secured its victory on Saturday already, and Romania was relegated from Group I after 24 years. This year, Romania has also lost to Belarus 2-3 and to Austria 1-4.



    TENNIS – On Sunday, the worlds best tennis player, the Romanian Simona Halep, received the WTA world no. 1 trophy, although she was defeated in the group stage of the Finals tournament. The only one who could have changed the rankings was Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, but she was eliminated in the semifinals of the Singapore tournament. Halep, aged 26, became number one in the WTA rankings early this month, when she qualified for the Beijing final.



    BAD WEATHER – All mountain areas in Romania are under orange warning for snow and blizzard until Monday evening. Also, a yellow warning for strong wind and mixed precipitations has been issued for the rest of the country. The wind will blow hard and will accentuate the feeling of cold, reaching as much as 120 km/h in the mountains and 80 km/h in other parts of the country. It’s already snowing across extended areas and blizzard has left several villages without power.






  • October 29, 2017

    October 29, 2017

    RRI – As of Sunday, October 29, RRI will be broadcasting a weekly,
    experimental show in Hebrew, devoted to Jews born in Romania and their
    families, but also to all Hebrew speakers who are interested in learning about
    Romania. The show will be broadcast every Sunday, from 7:05 pm to 8 pm
    Romania’s time, on short waves and via the internet. Also, contents in Hebrew
    will be available on RRI’s web site, Android and iOS applications, on Facebook,
    Twitter and SoundCloud. RRI boast a rich experience in producing shows devoted
    to the hundreds of thousand of Jews originating from Romania, who since 1990
    have had the opportunity to listen to a show in the Romanian language. Their
    descendants, now at the third generation after Aliyah, the immigration of Jews
    from the Diaspora to the Land of Israel, speak Hebrew and their ties with their
    parents’ and grandparents’ birth country should be developed and maintained,
    including with the help of RRI.






    BREXIT – The Romanian
    Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu will hold talks in
    London, on November 3-4, with representatives of the Romanian community in
    Great Britain on the implications of Brexit. The meeting is part of the public
    consultations campaign titled ‘Romania against the background of Great
    Britain’s exiting the EU’. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, there
    are some 328,000 Romanian citizens living in Great Britain.






    WINTER TIME – On
    Sunday morning, Romania passed on to the winter time. Thus, 4 am became 3 am
    (GMT +2 hours), and October 29th is the longest day in the year. This change
    reverts the passing to the daylight saving time in March, aimed at using
    natural day light at the maximum and preserving energy. Romania will return to
    the official summer time on the last Sunday in March 2018.






    CATALONIA – Nobody will
    recognize the independence of Catalonia and the Spanish government is right in
    its attempt to restore constitutional order in the region, said on Sunday the
    European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, Associated Press reports. He
    stated that the independence referendum held in early October was illegal, also
    stressing that the EU would not broker the conflict, as the crisis is a Spanish
    domestic issue. According to Tajani, Spain’s decision to organize early elections
    in the region was the best. The Madrid Government has started to directly
    govern the province of Catalonia. The Catalan leaders and the heads of the
    police have been sacked. The Catalan police chief has stated he accepts his
    dismissal and has urged his subordinates to show loyalty to the new chiefs. The
    former head of the Catalan Government Carles Puigdemont has urged the Catalans
    to manifest a democratic and peaceful opposition to the measures enforced by
    the central government. We recall that Romania has reasserted its firm support
    for Spain’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and has firmly and
    irrevocably rejected Catalonia’s unilateral declaration of independence.








    DAVIS CUP – Today is the last
    day of the singles played as part of the Israel – Romania Davis Cup, counting
    for maintaining a place in Group I of the Davis Cup’s Europe-Africa Zone.
    Israel is leading Romania 3 – 0 after the first singles and the double, so it
    was relegated from Group I after 24 years. This year, Romania has also lost to
    Belarus 2-3 and to Austria 1-4.






    TENNIS – On Sunday, the
    world’s best tennis player, the Romanian Simona Halep, received the WTA world
    no. 1 trophy, although she was defeated in the group stage of the Finals
    tournament. The only one who could have changed the rankings was Karolina
    Pliskova of the Czech Republic, but she was eliminated in the semifinals of the
    Singapore tournament. Halep, aged 26, became number one in the WTA rankings
    early this month, when she qualified for the Beijing final.






    BAD WEATHER – All mountain
    areas in Romania are under orange warning for snow and blizzard until Monday
    evening. Also, a yellow warning for strong wind and mixed precipitations has
    been issued for the rest of the country. The wind will blow hard and will
    accentuate the feeling of cold.

  • October 28, 2017 UPDATE

    October 28, 2017 UPDATE

    SPAIN Romania reiterates its firm support for Spain’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, vehemently and irrevocably rejecting Catalonia’s unilateral declaration of independence, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest says in a communiqué. Spain is Romania’s major ally and strategic partner, the communiqué also says, and the legitimacy of any process or action related to interior order should be according to the fundamental law and the legal order in that state. The Romanian Foreign Ministry reiterates Bucharest’s consistent stand in favour of complying with the international law, which rules out any territorial changes without the accord of the state involved. The main Western chancelleries have also voiced support for the authorities in Madrid. We recall that Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has announced the sacking of the regional government, the dismantling of the Catalan Parliament and that regional elections are to be held on December 21st. The decisions were made on Friday evening, after the Catalan Parliament had voted in favour of a unilateral declaration of independence and the proclamation of the Catalan republic. The chief the Catalan police has been sacked and the region will be administered by Spanish vice-premier Soraya Saenz de Santamaria and controlled by 33 thousand agents, the BBC reports. The dismissed Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, on Saturday called for democratic opposition against Spain’s formal takeover of the region. In a televised address on Saturday, the separatist leader said that Madrid’s decision to suspend the province’s autonomy and appoint the Spanish Deputy Prime Minister as its provisionary head runs against the will of the people.



    TENNIS The world’s best tennis player Simona Halep of Romania is going to end the year in the first position of WTA rankings. Halep managed this performance after Danish Caroline Wozniacki had outperformed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the semis of the WTA Finals tournament in Singapore. Pliskova was the only one who could have outrun the Romanian player in the WTA standings had she won the Singapore tournament. In the finals on Sunday Wozniacki will be up against Venus Williams of the USA, who comes after a win against Caroline Garcia of France.



    USR MP Dan Barna is the new president of the opposition Save Romania Union (USR), the third largest political group in Parliament. With 127 votes, Barna has outrun his opponent Vlad Alexandrescu who gets only 50 votes during the party’s extraordinary session in Poiana Brasov, central Romania. We recall the former USR leader and founding father, Nicusor Dan, has left the group after it decided through an interior referendum to take a stand against a controversial initiative of the Pro-Family Coalition who campaigned for a Constitution amendment, which defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman. The initiative, which got support from 3 million Romanians, has been contested by NGOs who campaign for human rights in general and the right of sexual minorities in particular.



    DEMOTION Romania has been relegated from Group One of the Davis Cup’s Europe-Africa Zone after the Israeli pair made up of Dudi Sela and Jonathan Erlich on Saturday outperformed Romanians Vasile Antonescu and Bogdan Borza. After the first two days Israel is leading Romania 3-0 in the tie-matches hosted by Ramat Hasharon. This has been Romania’s first demotion since 1993. Sunday will see the last singles pitching Dudi Sela against Dragos Dima and Edan Leshem against Nicolae Frunza.



    WEATHER Romanian weathermen on Saturday issued a code orange alert for snowfalls and blizzard in the mountains and code yellow alert for gale-force winds and cold weather in almost all Romania until Monday night. Mixed precipitations are expected in the country’s north, centre and east. Maximum temperatures are to range between 5 and 15 degrees Celsius.