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  • February 8, 2025 UPDATE

    February 8, 2025 UPDATE

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

     

    SIE – The Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) has significantly contributed to meeting the national strategic objectives and honoring the commitments made by Romania within allied and European formats, President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday, in his message on the 35th anniversary of SIE. According to the President, the information supplied by SIE on national security matters has been critical in making decisions for the Romanian state and in handling the increasingly complex security challenges, as part of the efforts to turn Romania into a resilient state, able to face diffuse and unpredictable challenges. Among others, Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and its subversive hybrid actions in Romania and across Europe, the persistence of classic security risks, such as cyber, terrorism and hostile information activities, have continued to generate national and international security challenges and to shape the activity of the SIE, along with that of other institutions part of the National Security System, the President explained. He also said it is vital to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation and the one with external partners, in order to increase the Romanian state’s capacity to respond effectively to multiple security challenges, with an emphasis on hybrid threats.

     

    IMF- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Bucharest concluded talks with representatives of the main institutions responsible for Romania’s monetary and fiscal policies. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu told the IMF experts that the Romanian Government is committed to comply with the budget deficit of 7% of the Gross Domestic Product and to implement the reforms assumed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. Last fall, the IMF published its latest forecast on the Romanian economy, estimating a deficit at the same level as the one set by the government, 7%, for the end of 2025. The IMF estimates are more optimistic both in terms of economic growth, 3.3%, compared to only 2.5% expected by the authorities in Bucharest, and inflation, calculated at 3.6%, below the 4.4% target set by the government.

     

    WAGES – Romania, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Poland, from January 2015 to January 2025, had the highest average annual rate of increase in the minimum wage in the EU, Euronews reports. They reported increases between 10% and 14%, according to Eurostat data. On the other hand, the lowest average annual rate of increase in the minimum wage in the EU was in France (2.1%) and Malta (2.9%). 22 of the 27 EU member states have established a national minimum wage, the exceptions being Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland and Sweden. The monthly minimum wage varies significantly across EU member states. Thus, Luxembourg, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France are the countries where the minimum wage exceeds 1,500 euros per month, while Croatia, Greece, Malta, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Latvia, Hungary and Bulgaria have the lowest minimum wage, below 1,000 euros per month.

     

    INVICTUS – A team of soldiers will represent Romania at this year’s Invictus Games Vancouver and Whistler 2025. The Invictus Games is an international sports competition that was first held in 2014 and aims to raise awareness about the gratitude we owe to the wounded soldiers. This year’s event will take place from February 8-16 in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, and will bring together over 500 competitors from 23 nations around the world. The delegation that will accompany the Romanian team to Canada will be led by the Director of the Defence Staff, Major General Valentin Brînzei.

     

    DISCONNECTION – More than three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have begun to disconnect from Russia’s electricity grid and join the EU’s grid. The two-day process began on Saturday morning, with residents told to charge their devices, stock up on food and water and prepare for severe weather, Reuters reports. A giant, specially built clock will count down the final seconds before the transition, at a landmark ceremony in the Lithuanian capital on Sunday, attended by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. The three Baltic nations will then officially disconnect from the grid that has connected them to Russia since the years after World War II.

     

    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse suceeded to reach the main singles draw of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Doha (Qatar) after defeating Australian Daria Saville 6-3, 6-4, on Saturday, in the final round of the qualifiers. Ruse (aged 27, 112 WTA), who in the first round defeated the American Taylor Townsend (28 years old, 81 WTA), with 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, also defeated Saville in 2022, in the first round at the US Open. Gabriela Ruse will be the only Romanian representative on the main draw of the competition in Qatar, held on February 9 to 15. In Cluj-Napoca (north-west Romania), Russian Anastasia Potapova and Italian Lucia Bronzetti qualified on Saturday for the final of the Transylvania Open (WTA 250). Potapova, the main favorite, defeated Belarusian Aleksandra Sasnovici, 6-3, 7-5 in the semifinal. In the other semifinal, Bronzetti took advantage of the withdrawal of Czech Katerina Siniakova.

     

  • April 17, 2024

    April 17, 2024

    MEETING Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis is participating today and tomorrow in the special proceedings of the European Council in Brussels. According to the presidential administration in Bucharest, high on the meeting agenda there are topics such as prospects for a new European pact for competitiveness and the EU’s relation with Turkey. European leaders are also expected to tackle the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the EU’s future strategic agenda. The Romanian president will also attend the reception offered by the Belgian king Philippe in honour of the EU heads of state and government.

     

    VISIT The Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and six of his cabinet ministers are today continuing their visit in Qatar, a major trade partner of Romania’s in the Gulf region. On Wednesday in Doha, the Romanian Prime Minister was received by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheik Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. High on the Romanian Prime Minister’s agenda are talks with the local officials on major investment projects in Romania as well as the consolidation of cooperation in key fields such as new technologies or energy. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, several bilateral documents are expected to be signed during the visit. From Qatar, the Romanian delegation will travel to the United Arab Emirates.

     

    TALKS The United States is working with Romania regarding the security risks that appeared in the context of the war in Ukraine, said James O’Brien, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. The US official held talks in Bucharest with the Romanian Minister of Defence, Angel Tilvar, during which he appreciated the cooperation between Romania and Ukraine, which it described as ‘essential for the Ukrainian people’. According to him, the cooperation between Washington and Bucharest is focusing on the cyber and hybrid threats and also air, maritime and land surveillance in an attempt to detect and stop the Russian drones that may enter Romania’s territory. In turns, Angel Tilvar has highlighted the need of consolidating NATO’s presence on the entire Eastern Flank. James O’Brien is presently on a European tour, which will also take him to Bulgaria, Switzerland and Slovenia.

     

    RATE March was the third month in a row in which Romania had the highest inflation rate in the European Union, 6.7%. According to Eurostat, this rate dropped to 2.6% in the bloc. The member countries with the lowest inflation rates were Lithuania, 0.4%, Finland 0.6% and Denmark, 0.8%. In another development, the IMF has revised down from 3.8% to 2.8% its forecast on Romania’s economic growth this year. As for inflation, the IMF has forecast an average inflation rate of 6% and 4% next year. At the same time, the aforementioned financial institution is expecting to keep Romania’s current account deficit at 7.1% of the GDP in 2024, similar to last year.

     

    WEATHER The weather is generally unstable in Romania and temperatures have dropped almost in the entire territory. Rain showers have been reported in almost all regions. The wind will be stronger in the country’s south and east. Storms and hails are expected on isolated areas. The highs of the day will be between 9 and 26 degrees Celsius.

    (bill)

  • March 6, 2024

    March 6, 2024

    Congress – The Congress of the European People’s Party (EPP) takes place, today and tomorrow, in Bucharest, being attended by over 2,000 delegates from 44 countries. The European People’s Party decides the strategy for the European parliamentary elections in June, establish the EPP manifesto and designate the candidate for the head of the European Commission. The incumbent president, Ursula von der Leyen, is the only one officially registered in this competition, her candidacy being validated, last night, by the EPP’s Political Assembly. At the end of the Congress, a document will be adopted that will include the request for Romania and Bulgaria to become full members of the Schengen area. The Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, who is still opposed to this accession, will also attend the meeting. On Wednesday, at a meeting with young people from Romania, the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who is also participating in the congress, said that the Schengen Area will not be complete until it includes Romania. She has given assurances that Bucharest is supported by “numerous friends”, who will help it enter Schengen. She urged the young people to vote in the European Parliament elections and not to ‘underestimate’ their power to send ‘ambassadors’ to the EP. In parallel with the Congress, hosted by the National Liberal party – PNL (in the governing coalition), President Klaus Iohannis, the former leader of the Liberals, and the Social-Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu have meetings with the leaders present in Bucharest. At the meeting with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, they discussed the European Parliament elections, Romania’s European priorities, its full accession to the Schengen area and the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNRR.

     

    Tennis – The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has confirmed that Romanian Simona Halep can immediately return to the professional circuit, after her four-year suspension was reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. Halep has not played an official match since the defeat registered in the first round at the US Open in 2022. She was suspended for four years for doping in September 2023 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. The reduction of the suspension was welcomed by big names in the history of tennis.

     

    US elections – The former US president, Donald Trump, won, on Tuesday evening, the Republican primaries in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Maine, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Alabama, Minnesota, Colorado and Texas, which are at stake in the so-called ‘Super Tuesday’. 15 states are at stake in this electoral battle, and the world media write that Trump hopes to definitively exclude his last rival, Nikki Haley. In the Democratic camp, President Joe Biden, who wants to get a second term in office, does not face serious opposition. The candidacies of two Democrats, the elected representative of the state of Minnesota, Dean Phillips, and the successful author Marianne Williamson, did not really arouse enthusiasm, despite the recurring criticism of the octogenarian president. Biden already won, on Tuesday evening, in 12 states, including Vermont, North Carolina and Virginia.

     

     

    Drugs – The Romanian Chamber of Deputies adopted, on Tuesday, as a decision-making body, the so-called “2 Mai” Law, which stipulates that high-risk drug traffickers can no longer receive suspended sentences. At the same time, the bill stipulates that trading products that have psychoactive effects represents a crime and is punishable by imprisonment. The Senate had adopted the bill in November 2023, as the first body notified. The bill is now being promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis.

     

    Romanian elections – Romania’s Chamber of Deputies adopted the draft law that allows the organization of the presidential election in September. The Social Democratic Party – PSD and the National Liberal Party – PNL, in the government coalition, agreed that the first round of the election should take place on September 15th and the second on the 29th. The law has already been challenged by Save Romania Union – USR and the Force of the Right at the Constitutional Court, which will discuss the notification of the opposition on March 20. We remind you that the local elections in Romania will take place, for the first time, simultaneously with the European Parliament elections, on June 9, and the vote for the Romanian Parliament on December 8.

     

    Swimming – The World Aquatics Masters Championships in Doha, Qatar, ended with a new success for the representative of the Universitatea Cluj Club (north-west Romania), Maier Orosz Judith, who competed in the 80-84-year category. The athlete won the gold medal in the 50m and 200m breaststroke and the 400m individual medley respectively, all with new national records, as well as in the 100m breaststroke. The other representative of Universitatea Cluj at the World Aquatics Masters Championships in Doha, Vlad Dobra, finished sixth in the 50m and 100m backstroke and 400m individual medley of the 30-34-year category. More than 2,500 athletes participated in the Doha competition.

     

    Handball – Romania’s men’s handball champion, Dinamo Bucharest, was defeated by the Portuguese team Sporting Lisbon, score 31-27, on Tuesday evening, at home, in its last match in the Main Group IV of the EHF European League. Dinamo finished on third place in the group and will play in the play-off with the second ranked team in the Main Group III, the Danish team Bjerringbro-Silkeborg. The first match will take place in Bucharest on March 26, and the return leg away from home on April 2. Also in Main Group IV and also on Tuesday evening, CSM Constanţa (south-eastern Romania) was defeated, away from home, by the trophy holder, the German team Fuchse Berlin, and finished the matches on last position. (LS)

  • February 15, 2024 UPDATE

    February 15, 2024 UPDATE

    Pope – Romania and Italy are entering a new stage of development of their consolidated strategic partnership, the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday in Rome. He stated that the joint statement he signed with his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, lays the foundations for an action plan that will strengthen and take to another level the relations between the two states. Marcel Ciolacu recalled that bilateral trade exceeded 20 billion Euros in 2023, a new record. “I appreciated Mrs. Meloni’s openness regarding the intensification of economic cooperation, as well as the valorization of the Romanian diaspora living in Italy, and of the Italian community in our country,” Prime Minister Ciolacu said. In turn, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that the joint declaration increases the potential for collaboration between the two countries. “The Romanian community is the largest foreign community residing in Italy, more than one million people, and it provides a very important contribution to our community “, said Giorgia Meloni. Also on Thursday, the meeting of the governments from Bucharest and Rome also occasioned talks on topics on the European and international agenda. Earlier, the Prime Minister Ciolacu was received at the Vatican, in a private papal audience, by Pope Francis, after which he discussed with Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Secretary of State of Vatican City.

     

    Protests – The representatives of the Romanian Sanitary Solidarity Federation continued the protests prior to the organization of the all-out strike and picketed, on Thursday, the Ministry of Finance and the Chamber of Deputies. The Federation intends to organize such pickets every week, with the series of protests ending on March 11 with a rally in front of the Government, on the National Day of Medical Personnel. The most important demand of the trade unionists is the salary increase for all categories of employees in the healthcare sector by at least 25%.

     

    Sports – The Romanian athlete Cătălin Preda won the bronze medal in the high diving 27-m platform men round, on Thursday, at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Preda totaled 410.20 points, being overtaken by the British Aidan Heslop (422.95) and the French Gary Hunt (413.25). Romanian Constantin Popovici, holder of the world title, ranked only 8th with 340.50 points. At the World Championships in Fukuoka, last year, Popovici won the gold, and Preda took the silver. Popovici also won gold at the 2022 European Championships, where Preda took silver. Also on Thursday in Doha, the Romanian men’s national team ranked 10th at the World Polo Championship, after being defeated, on Thursday, by the US team with a score 13-9 in a match for positions 9-10. Romania’s best ranking at the World Championship is 5th place (1975), and its previous participation dates back to 2013 (13th place). The Romanian polo players ranked 8th at the European Championship in Croatia, last month.

     

    Statistics – The National Bank of Romania revised downwards, to 4.7%, the inflation forecast for the end of this year, from 4.8% in November, according to the data made public on Thursday by the Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isărescu. The Central Bank anticipates that the inflation rate will reach 3.5% at the end of 2025. On the other hand, the data published by the National Institute of Statistics in Bucharest show that Romania’s economy grew by 2% in 2023. The increase is above the level recorded both in the EU and in the euro zone, where the gross domestic product increased by 0.5%.

     

    Meeting – The policies and programs of the US and Romania regarding the formation of literacy skills and boosting students’ well-being were the main topics addressed, on Wednesday, by the Romanian Education Minister, Ligia Deca, with her American counterpart, Miguel Cardona. The Romanian ambassador to the USA, Andrei Muraru, also participated in the meeting. According to a statement sent to the media on Thursday, minister Ligia Deca, on a visit to the US between February 12 and 15, emphasized the efforts made by the Romanian Government for the “historic” increase of the Education budget in order to apply the new laws in the field. Other topics addressed in the discussions were the inclusion of refugee children in Romanian schools, strategies to combat anti-Semitism, media education, standardized assessments and the integration of technology into the teaching activity. (LS)

  • RRI Sports Club

    RRI Sports Club


    The European Water Polo Championship has ended with Spain winning the continental title after their 11-10 win on Tuesday, against the host country, Croatia.


    In the third place playoffs, Italy secured a 13-7 win against Hungary.


    Romania came in the 8th place in the aforementioned contest and thus qualified for the World Championships due in Qatar, next month.


    The Romanian side started off on the right foot in the competition in Croatia and won the group D with three wins out of three games: 12-8 against the Netherlands, 13-5 against Slovenia and 8-7 in the match against Slovakia. Then they took on Georgia for a place in the quarters, a match Romania clearly won 18-11. Our athletes next played Spain for a place in the semifinals, but lost 24-7. Next they played and lost to Montenegro 11-18, then to Serbia 18-7 and eventually ended up in 8th place, a better position than their previous performance.


    The eighth position has also brought our athletes tickets for the world Championships in Qatar, after an absence of 10 years. They last played in the aforementioned competition in 2013 in Barcelona, where they occupied the 13th position. In February in Qatar, the Romanian side will be part of group D together with Italy, Hungary and Kazakhstan. They will first take on Hungary in Doha on February 5th. The first side in the group will go to the quarter finals while the sides on the second and third places will go into playoffs for a place among the worlds first 8 teams.


    The competition in Qatar will assure four places in the next edition of the Olympic Games. Out of the 16 participants in Doha, 8 have already been qualified for Paris and the Romanian side stands good chances to get tickets for France. Romania hasnt qualified for an Olympic water polo competition since the 2012 London Olympics.


    (bill)


  • March 16, 2023

    March 16, 2023

    VISIT Upon the invitation of Romanian
    president Klaus Iohannis, Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of the
    International Organisation of Francophony, is today paying a formal visit to
    Bucharest against the background of marking this year, 30 years of Romania’s
    belonging in the Institutional Francophony. After meeting the head of the
    Romanian state, Louise Mushikiwabo will be attending jointly with president
    Iohannis and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca the formal opening of the International
    conference The Francophony of Future: education for sustainable development. In
    the evening, the Secretary General of the International Organisation of
    Francophony will join the country’s Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, and
    Culture Minister Lucian Romascanu for a concert given by the Violoncellissimo
    Ensemble on the occasion of celebrating 30 years of Romania’s Francophony
    membership. Events devoted to this anniversary will be staged throughout the
    year by various Romanian institutions involved in Francophony-related
    activities.








    CANAL As of today Romania is conducting
    a series of depth measurements on the Danube’s branch Chilia and will soon
    commence similar procedures on the Bystroye Canal in Ukraine, official sources
    have told Radio Romania. The transport Ministry is doing research to clarify
    whether dredging and maintenance works have been conducted and to what extent
    these works can put the delta’s biodiversity at risk. The measurements will be
    taking 10 days and three Romanian ships are to be granted access to the area. Authorities
    in Romania and Ukraine have agreed to check the depth of the Danube canals,
    after the neighboring Ukraine conducted a series of dredging works on the
    Bystroye Canal. According to the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry, after the
    so-called cleaning works on the canal, its depth has almost doubled. Kyiv
    denied that the dredging works it had carried out on the aforementioned canal,
    would have violated any agreement. Bucharest wants to make sure the works conducted
    by Ukraine do not jeopardize the Danube Delta ecosystem, a unique area in
    Europe, included on the UNESCO world heritage.






    DOHA Seven Romanian companies are
    participating in the 10th edition of the AGRITECH 2023 exhibition
    due over March 15th and 19th in Doha, Qatar. According to
    a communiqué by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR),
    ‘participation in this event represents an opportunity for the Ministry to
    promote its own policies and strategies in this field, being at the same time beneficial
    to all the economic operators in Romania’s Agrifood sector, allowing it to make
    its own product offer known and visible, explore the Qatar market as well as
    make connections with the business environment in this state. AGRITEQ has
    brought together 650 exhibitors from 52 countries.










    DRONE The downing of a U.S. drone by a Russian
    jet is part of a pattern of military behavior by Russia that is becoming more
    aggressive, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said on
    Wednesday. Milley and Defence Secretary Austin Lloyd held talks with their
    Russian counterparts regarding the incident. The MQ Reaper drone was on a
    surveillance mission in the Black Sea international waters, when it was
    intercepted by two Russian fighters Su-27. The two planes allegedly crossed the
    drone’s trajectory a couple of times in an attempt to spray fuel on it. The
    planes eventually struck the drone’s propeller causing it to crash. Russia
    denies having struck the drone’s propeller and Ned Price, spokesman for the
    State Department said that the incident was likely an unintentional act from
    Russia’s side.






    (bill)

  • Info Sport

    Info Sport

    Turneul de tenis de la Doha, dotat cu premii de 2.600.000 de dolari, a
    rămas fără jucătoare române.     Ultima sportivă aflată în concursul de simplu,
    Jaqueline Cristian, a fost învinsă în turul secund, după ce a abandonat în
    confruntarea cu rusoaica Daria Kasatkina. Câștigătoare în primul set cu 6-2,
    Cristian s-a accidentat la genunchiul drept, în setul doi, la scorul de 2-2, și
    a părăsit terenul într-un cărucior cu rotile.


    Echipa română Volei Alba Blaj a fost învinsă de formația turcă
    Eczacibaşi Istanbul cu scorul de 3-0, miercuri seara, la Târgu Mureş, în prima
    manşă a semifinalelor Cupei CEV la volei feminin.     Vicecampioana României s-a
    înclinat după o oră şi 22 de minute de joc şi mai are şanse reduse de a se califica
    în finală. Manşa secundă va avea loc pe 1 martie, la Istanbul. Eczacibaşi este
    una dintre cele mai titrate echipe din Turcia, având în palmares câștigarea
    Ligii Campionilor în 2015 și a Cupei CEV în 1999 și 2018.


    Arcada Galaţi şi Steaua Bucureşti s-au calificat, miercuri, la turneul
    Final Four al Cupei României la volei masculin.     Arcada Galați a trecut de
    Dinamo Bucureşti, deţinătoarea trofeului, cu 3-0, după ce câştigase şi în
    deplasare, cu 3-1. Steaua s-a impus cu 3-0 în faţa echipei Olimpia Titanii Bucureşti,
    pe care a învins-o şi în tur cu 3-1. În careul de aşi vor mai evolua echipele
    SCM ”U” Craiova, după 3-0 şi 3-1 cu Ştiinţa Baia Mare, şi SCM Zalău, după 3-0
    şi 2-3 cu Explorări Baia Mare.


    Naţionala feminină de fotbal a României a învins echipa Irlandei de
    Nord cu scorul de 1-0, într-un meci amical desfăşurat miercuri, în Spania, la
    Marbella    . Unicul gol al partidei a fost reuşit de Diana Marcu, în minutul 63.
    În clasamentul FIFA, România ocupă locul 42, în timp ce Irlanda de Nord ocupă
    poziţia a 46-a. În primul meci al stagiului de pregătire din Spania, România a
    fost învinsă de Austria cu 6-1. În data de 8 aprilie, Naționala feminină de
    fotbal a României va juca, în preliminariile Cupei Mondiale din 2023, acasă cu
    Elveţia, apoi, pe 12 aprilie, în deplasare, cu Croaţia.

  • Info Sport

    Info Sport

    Turneul de tenis de la Doha, dotat cu premii de 2.600.000 de dolari, a
    rămas fără jucătoare române.     Ultima sportivă aflată în concursul de simplu,
    Jaqueline Cristian, a fost învinsă în turul secund, după ce a abandonat în
    confruntarea cu rusoaica Daria Kasatkina. Câștigătoare în primul set cu 6-2,
    Cristian s-a accidentat la genunchiul drept, în setul doi, la scorul de 2-2, și
    a părăsit terenul într-un cărucior cu rotile.


    Echipa română Volei Alba Blaj a fost învinsă de formația turcă
    Eczacibaşi Istanbul cu scorul de 3-0, miercuri seara, la Târgu Mureş, în prima
    manşă a semifinalelor Cupei CEV la volei feminin.     Vicecampioana României s-a
    înclinat după o oră şi 22 de minute de joc şi mai are şanse reduse de a se califica
    în finală. Manşa secundă va avea loc pe 1 martie, la Istanbul. Eczacibaşi este
    una dintre cele mai titrate echipe din Turcia, având în palmares câștigarea
    Ligii Campionilor în 2015 și a Cupei CEV în 1999 și 2018.


    Arcada Galaţi şi Steaua Bucureşti s-au calificat, miercuri, la turneul
    Final Four al Cupei României la volei masculin.     Arcada Galați a trecut de
    Dinamo Bucureşti, deţinătoarea trofeului, cu 3-0, după ce câştigase şi în
    deplasare, cu 3-1. Steaua s-a impus cu 3-0 în faţa echipei Olimpia Titanii Bucureşti,
    pe care a învins-o şi în tur cu 3-1. În careul de aşi vor mai evolua echipele
    SCM ”U” Craiova, după 3-0 şi 3-1 cu Ştiinţa Baia Mare, şi SCM Zalău, după 3-0
    şi 2-3 cu Explorări Baia Mare.


    Naţionala feminină de fotbal a României a învins echipa Irlandei de
    Nord cu scorul de 1-0, într-un meci amical desfăşurat miercuri, în Spania, la
    Marbella    . Unicul gol al partidei a fost reuşit de Diana Marcu, în minutul 63.
    În clasamentul FIFA, România ocupă locul 42, în timp ce Irlanda de Nord ocupă
    poziţia a 46-a. În primul meci al stagiului de pregătire din Spania, România a
    fost învinsă de Austria cu 6-1. În data de 8 aprilie, Naționala feminină de
    fotbal a României va juca, în preliminariile Cupei Mondiale din 2023, acasă cu
    Elveţia, apoi, pe 12 aprilie, în deplasare, cu Croaţia.

  • 05.03.2021 (mise à jour)

    COVID – Le
    Groupe de Communication Stratégique a rapporté vendredi 4.342 nouveaux cas de contamination au
    nouveau coronavirus sur presque 28.000 tests effectués en Roumanie. Le bilan
    des décès s’est alourdi de 101 morts enregistrés en 24 heures. 1067 malades sont
    hospitalisés en réanimation-soins intensifs. A l’heure où l’on parle, plusieurs
    départements du pays affichent un taux de contamination de plus de trois cas
    pour mille habitants. Il s’agit de Timiş, dans l’ouest, de Maramureş et de
    Cluj, les deux dans le nord-ouest, d’Ilfov, dans le sud, et de Braşov, dans le
    centre. Vendredi, le taux d’incidence enregistré à Bucarest était de 3,05 cas
    pour mille habitants, la capitale revenant au scénario rouge, qu’elle avait
    quitté le 20 janvier. Par ailleurs, après avoir détecté, début janvier, le
    variant britannique du coronavirus, les médecins roumains viennent d’identifier
    aussi la souche sud-africaine chez deux patientes, de Bucarest et respectivement
    de Piteşti.

    La
    Commission Européenne a précisé ne mener aucune discussion sur un achat
    potentiel de doses de vaccin russe anti- Covid 19 Sputnik. La déclaration
    survient après que l’Agence européenne du médicament a indiqué, jeudi, avoir
    lancé l’étude de ce vaccin en vue de sa possible validation. Pendant que la
    Pologne a déclaré refuser de l’acheter, la Hongrie a déjà commencé à l’utiliser
    depuis le mois dernier. En Slovaquie, la décision du premier ministre Igor
    Matovic d’acheter des doses de Sputnik sans le feu vert de tous les partis au
    pouvoir a provoqué des tensions au sein de la coalition à la tête du pays. Le
    vaccin arrivera aussi en République Tchèque, qui a motivé son choix par le
    retard des livraisons des autres vaccins disponibles. L’Autriche se dit prête à
    acheter ce vaccin dès que l’Agence européenne du médicament le valide. Par
    ailleurs, selon les données officielles au niveau mondial, au moins 116
    millions de personnes ont déjà contracté le virus, qui a tué près de 2,6 millions de personnes dans le
    monde.

    OTAN – Lors d’une discussion, avec
    les membres de la Commission spéciale AIDA du Parlement européen, sur
    l’intelligence artificielle à l’ère du numérique, le secrétaire général adjoint
    de l’OTAN, le roumain Mircea Geoană, a mis en avant le rôle de l’Alliance en
    tant que forum transatlantique de collaboration et de coordination dans le
    domaine des technologies émergentes et perturbatrices. L’occasion pour le
    responsable otanien d’insister sur le potentiel de coopération dans ce domaine
    entre l’OTAN et l’UE. Mircea Geoană a rappelé les efforts de l’Alliance de
    comprendre et d’adopter les nouvelles technologies émergentes telles qu’elles
    sont mentionnées dans la feuille de route adoptée par l’OTAN en décembre 2019,
    tout comme la stratégie de mise en place convenue par l’Alliance en février
    dernier. Selon M. Geoană, l’intelligence artificielle propose aussi bien de
    nouvelles opportunités de coopération entre l’OTAN et l’UE que des efforts
    communs pour encourager l’innovation et fixer les normes mondiales d’une
    utilisation éthique de l’intelligence artificielle.

    Justice -
    « On doit attendre que la justice explique pourquoi elle a décidé de
    classer le dossier des manifestations du 10 août 2018 », a fait savoir
    vendredi le ministre roumain de la Justice, Stelian Ion. Et lui d’ajouter que
    l’affaire ne pouvait pas s’arrêter là, mais que la loi ne permettait pas au
    responsable de la Justice de s’en mêler. D’ailleurs, ce serait très grave si
    une telle chose était possible. Antérieurement, le président roumain, Klaus
    Iohnnis, lui avait demandé d’expliquer publiquement et d’urgence pourquoi le
    dossier avait été classé, une décision suite à laquelle les anciens chefs de la
    Gendarmerie roumaine ont échappé aux accusations d’intervention en force contre
    les manifestants antigouvernementaux. Jeudi, le Conseil supérieur de la
    magistrature avait rejeté la demande formulée par le ministre de la Justice de
    prendre position concernant la défense de l’indépendance du système judiciaire,
    vu les suspicions qu’il n’y avait pas eu d’enquête proprement-dite dans ce
    dossier. En revanche, le même Conseil a annoncé sa décision de s’adresser à
    l’Inspection judiciaire afin qu’elle vérifie les accusations lancées dans
    l’espace public, visant l’indépendance de la justice et le parti pris des juges
    et des procureurs. Le Tribunal Bucarest a rejeté la sollicitation de la DIICOT
    de rouvrir l’enquête visant d’anciens chefs de la Gendarmerie roumaine.


    Cinéma – Le
    long-métrage Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn du réalisateur
    roumain Radu Jude, une coproduction Roumanie – Luxembourg – Croatie
    – République tchèque, s’est vu décerner vendredi l’Ours d’or du meilleur film à
    la 71-e édition du Festival international du film de Berlin, qui
    a eu lieu du 1-er au 5 mars. Sous-intitulé Esquisse pour
    un film populaire, sa projection a eu lieu en première mondiale à la
    Berlinale. Le film examine les rapports entre l’individu et la société, avec
    pour point de départ les suites qu’un clip porno amateur d’une professeure de
    collège roumain téléchargé vers l’amont sur un site spécialisé engendre dans la
    vie de cette dernière. Le réalisateur roumain Radu Jude s’est vu récompenser de
    l’Ours d’argent en 2015 pour son film Aferim !.



    Tennis – Au tournoi de tennis de Doha, la paire roumano-lettone
    Monica Niculescu/Jelena Ostapenko s’est inclinée, au bout de trois sets, devant
    le duo Nicole Melichar (Etats-Unis)/Demi Schuurs (Pays-Bas), dans la finale du
    double dames. Monica Niculescu détient 9 titres
    WTA sur 18 finales de double disputées dans sa carrière.


    Météo – Le temps change en Roumanie ce weekend. Une
    chute des températures s’annonce samedi, quand le thermomètre affichera des
    maximales entre 3° et 9°, avec pas plus de 5° à Bucarest.

  • 04.03.2021 (mise à jour)

    04.03.2021 (mise à jour)

    Coronavirus – Le
    Groupe de Communication Stratégique fait état jeudi de plus de 4.200 nouveau cas
    de contamination au nouveau coronavirus sur plus de 35.000 tests effectués au
    niveau national. 98 personnes sont décédées des suites de l’infection ces dernières
    24 heures et 1.070 malades sont actuellement en soins intensifs. De plus en
    plus de départements se retrouvent dans le scénario rouge, cet-à-dire avec un
    taux d’incidence supérieur à trois cas par mille habitants durant 14 jours. Trois
    communes du département de Timiş,
    dans l’ouest du pays, ont été confinées pour deux semaines. Entre temps la
    campagne de vaccination se poursuit, plus d’un million de Roumains se ont déjà
    fait vacciner contre le coronavirus.






    Aéroport – Les 6
    premiers lecteurs biométriques de Roumanie ont été mis en fonction jeudi à
    l’aéroport international Henri Coanda de Bucarest. Désormais, les personnes
    détenant des papiers d’identité ou un passeport biométrique pourront transiter
    plus facilement la frontière. La vérification dans le système informatique de
    la Police aux frontières ne dure que quelques secondes, à la différence du
    contrôle classique qui peut prendre plusieurs minutes, a expliqué le questeur
    Liviu Bute, chef de la Police aux frontières. L’investissement dans ces
    systèmes a été fait à l’aide de fonds européens. En bénéficieront d’autres
    aéroports roumains ayant un trafic plus dense de passagers.






    Justice – Le
    président roumain, Klaus Iohnnis, a demandé jeudi au ministre de la Justice,
    Stelian Ion, d’expliquer publiquement et d’urgence pourquoi le dossier des
    manifestations du 10 août 2018 a été classé. Pour rappel, le 10 août 2018 les
    gendarmes sont intervenus par la force pour mettre fin à une manif de
    protestation contre le gouvernement social-démocrate de l’époque. « Les
    Roumains ont tout le droit de savoir qui sont coupables pour les actes de
    violence contre les manifestants pacifiques. Les choses ne peuvent pas
    s’arrêter là, c’est pourquoi j’ai demandé au ministère de la Justice de trouver
    les solutions pour que tout le monde apprenne la vérité et pour que les
    coupables soient sanctionné », a déclaré le président dans un message sur
    les réseaux sociaux. Par la suite, le ministre de la Justice a demandé au
    Conseil supérieur de la magistrature de prendre position concernant la défense
    de l’indépendance du système judiciaire, vu les suspicions qu’il n’y a pas eu
    d’enquête proprement-dite dans ce dossier. Et pour cause, mercredi, la Section
    des juges du CSM a condamné les « dérapages » de langage dans
    l’espace public suite la décision du Tribunal de Bucarest de rejeter la demande
    du Parquet antiterrorisme de rouvrir l’enquête contre les anciens chefs de la
    Gendarmerie dans le dossier du « 10 août », estimant que ces affirmations
    représentaient une « véritable attaque à l’adresse de l’indépendance des
    juges ». Notons aussi que mercredi soir, des groupes et des associations
    civiques ont manifesté devant siège du Tribunal de Bucarest contre la décision
    de ne pas rouvrir l’enquête en question. Les représentants des associations ont
    l’intention de poursuivre l’Etat en justice après la Cour européenne des droits
    de l’homme.








    Tennis – La paire roumano-lettone Monica Niculescu/Jelena
    Ostapenko s’est qualifiée en finale de l’épreuve de double du Tournoi de tennis
    de Doha, au Qatar, après avoir vaincu les Tchèques Barbora Krejcikova/ Katerina
    Siniakova, principales favorites de la compétition. Leurs adversaires en finale
    seront Nicole Melichar (Etats-Unis) et Demi Schuurs (Pays-Bas).






    Météo – Dans les
    24 prochaines heures il fera toujours très chaud en Roumanie pour cette période
    de l’année à part le nord et le nord-ouest. Sur le reste du territoire le
    maxima iront de 6 à 19 degrés.

  • 04.03.2021

    04.03.2021

    Coronavirus – Le Groupe de Communication Stratégique fait état en ce jeudi 4 mars de plus de 4.200 nouveau cas de contamination au nouveau coronavirus sur plus de 35.000 tests effectués au niveau national. 98 personnes sont décédées des suites de l’infection ces dernières 24 heures et 1.070 malades sont actuellement en réanimation. De plus en plus de départements se retrouvent dans le scénario rouge, cet-à-dire avec un taux d’incidence supérieur à trois cas pour mille habitants durant 14 jours. Trois communes du département de Timiş, dans l’ouest du pays, ont été confinées pour deux semaines.


    Tremblement de terres – Triste anniversaire en Roumanie aujourd’hui
    – 44 ans depuis le plus fort tremblement de terre enregistré dans le pays. De
    magnitude de 7,2 sur l’échelle de Richter, le séisme du 4 mars 1977 a fait
    1.570 victimes, notamment à Bucarest, et a provoqué d’importants dégâts
    matériels, évalués à l’époque à deux milliards de dollars. 230.000 logements
    avaient été détruits ou largement endommagés et des centaines d’espaces commerciaux
    avaient été mis hors service. Le séisme a également entraîné une crise
    économique et sociale qui, d’après les historiens, n’a pas été surmontée par la
    dictature communiste avant sa chute, en 1989. Or, la capitale de la Roumanie semble se
    trouver aujourd’hui dans une situation inquiétante. Les spécialistes estiment qu’une secousse
    similaire à celle de 1977 ferait s’effondrer des centaines de bâtiments à
    Bucarest. En plus, une étude réalisée par l’Institut roumain
    pour l’évaluation et la stratégie montre que moins de 20% des logements de
    Roumanie étaient couverts par une assurance habitation en 2020. Dans le même
    temps, 54% des Roumains se disent inquiets des risques d’un tremblement de
    terre et environ deux tiers d’entre eux, 67% plus précisément, déclarent qu’ils
    connaissent le comportement à adopter en situation de catastrophe. Chaque année, plus d’une
    centaine de séismes d’une magnitude supérieure à 3 sur l’échelle de Richter sont
    enregistrés en Roumanie.






    Police – Le ministre roumain de l’Intérieur Lucian Bode a annoncé hier soir le
    limogeage des directions de l’Inspection départementale de la Police de Bacău
    et de la Police d’Oneşti. Cela fait suite à un double crime commis il y a quelques jours à Oneşti, dans le
    département de Bacău, au nord-est du pays, qui a choqué l’opinion publique et qui
    suscite encore de nombreux commentaires. Lucian Bode a également disposé la
    saisie du Parquet pour négligence au travail quant à l’intervention des
    forces de l’ordre pour, parmi d’autres, avoir minimisé l’importance de l’événement,
    ne pas avoir fait usage de toutes les informations à leur disposition et avoir
    failli à informer la hiérarchie de manière complète et correcte. Lundi, deux
    artisans qui rénovaient un appartement d’Oneşti ont été tués par l’ancien
    propriétaire du logement. L’homme âgé de 68 ans, mécontent de son évacuation,
    avait pris en hottage les deux travailleurs. La police, après des négociations infructueuses
    avec l’agresseur, a ouvert le feu pour entrer dans le logement et a tiré dans
    les jambes de l’homme, qui est actuellement hospitalisé. Cela arrive alors que
    huit agents de police de Bucarest, accusés d’avoir torturé deux jeunes, ont vient
    d’être retenus par les procureurs. En septembre dernier, deux jeunes ont porté
    plainte pour agression. Ils auraient fait remarquer aux forces de l’ordre qu’ils
    ne portaient pas de masque de protection et qu’ils donnaient des amendes sans
    fondement, suite à quoi ils auraient été battus.




    Tennis – La paire roumano-lettone Monica Niculescu/Jelena
    Ostapenko s’est qualifiée dans les demi-finales de l’épreuve de double du
    Tournoi de tennis de Doha, au Qatar, où elle affrontera les Tchèques Barbora
    Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, principales favorites de la compétition. Dans
    les quarts de finale, Niculescu et Ostapenko ont vaincu 6-3, 6-4 Laura
    Siegemund d’Allemagne et Elena Vesnina de Russie.






    Météo – Les températures continuent à grimper en Roumanie, pour dépaser les
    normales de saison dans la plupart du pays. Le ciel est variable sur la moitié
    nord du territoire et plutôt dégagé ailleurs. Le vent est faible a modéré, avec
    des intensifications passagères en montagne et dans le sud-est du pays. Les
    températures maximales vont de 10 à 19 degrés, avec 12 degrés à midià Bucarest.

  • September 13, 2020 UPDATE

    September 13, 2020 UPDATE

    TALKS Romanian Foreign Ministry hails the beginning on 12th
    September of the peace talks in Doha, Qatar between representatives of the
    government in Kabul and the Taliban. According to the ministry, the head of
    Romania’s diplomatic mission in Qatar attended the inauguration of the peace
    talks upon the invitation of the authorities in Qatar. The diplomacy in
    Bucharest believe the peace talks are an opportunity for the parties involved
    to put an end to a long time conflict, which has negatively impacted the entire
    region. This historic moment is a first step towards obtaining sustainable
    peace in Afghanistan, involving all the segments of society. Romania will
    continue its moves to ensure peace and security in Afghanistan in full
    coordination with its NATO allies – the same sources have reported.










    WINNER Romanian cyclist Eduard Michael Grosu has won the 53rd
    Romania’s Tour, which ended in Bucharest on Sunday. Grosu, who has been leader
    of the general ranking since the first leg of the competition, secured wins in
    the tour’s third and fourth legs. Romanian Serghei Tvetcov, Matvei Nikitin of
    Kazahstand, and Lucas Carstensen became winners in the three Sunday’s sprinting
    races.










    COVID-19 The government in Bucharest is expected to endorse on Monday a
    decision on extending the state of alert on Romania’s territory against the
    background of the latest developments in the pandemic. Romania presently
    registers a daily number of infections of 13 hundred and the total number of
    infections since the beginning of the pandemic has exceeded 102 thousand with a
    death toll of 41 hundred. 126 Romanians have been killed by the virus abroad.
    The number of infections worldwide has almost reached 29 million and 924
    thousand people have died, data released by the Johns Hopkins University has
    revealed. The US is the most affected country with more than 6.6 million cases
    and over 198 thousand fatalities. India has registered more than 4.7 million
    cases and 78 thousand dead. Brazil comes next with 4.3 million infections and
    more than 131 thousand deaths. The situation is worrying in many European
    countries, France has exceeded 10 thousand infections a day while in Spain, the
    first week of school has ended with thousands of infections, which led to the
    isolation of several classes. France and Spain were together with Italy and the
    UK the most affected countries in the first months of the pandemic.










    SCHOOL A new school year is due to begin in Romania on Monday under
    conditions adjusted to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Courses
    will be taking place according to the latest epidemiological developments. Most
    of the country’s schools, over 12 thousand, have been considered to be in the
    green zone where students are allowed to go to courses. Rotating schedules are
    in place at the nearly 5 thousand schools currently in the yellow zone, while
    online courses have been made available for students at those nearly 240 in the
    red zone. According to Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, local authorities and
    schools have at their disposal 175 million Euros to buy tablets for online
    courses. According to the Romanian official, money has been earmarked for
    buying masks and disinfectants in schools. Furthermore, Orban has given
    assurances the authorities are ready to intervene in any situation, which might
    appear in an epidemiological context after the beginning of the school year.








    MESSAGE Romania’s
    president Klaus Iohannis has conveyed a message on the Firefighters Day celebrated
    on September 13th in Romania, saying that in these days, when the workd is
    facing the Covid pandemic, firefighters have again shown professionalism and
    courage, determination and sacrifice in order to contribute together with other
    state institutions to the citizens’ safety and health. The president has
    mentioned the responsible way in which firefighters have continued to do their
    jobs and fight calamities and natural disasters, being an essential support
    institution, a guarantor of normality, the right to life, private property and
    health inside communities.










    TENNIS Romanian
    tennis player Patricia Tig has qualified for the finals of the WTA tournament
    in Istanbul after a 6-3, 6-3 win against Tereza Martincova of the Czech
    Republic. The Romanian player is due to take on Eugenie Bouchard of Canada in
    the finals. Bouchard comes after a 6-3, 6-2 win against Paula Badosa Gibert of
    Spain in the semis. This would be Tig’s third WTA finals after the ones in Baku
    in 2015 and Bucharest in 2019. Her prize closet includes a WTA 125K title in
    Karlsruhe last year.








    (translated by bill)







  • Sportivul săptămânii – Simona Halep

    Sportivul săptămânii – Simona Halep

    Tenisul
    programează, în aceste zile, turnee în zona Golfului Persic. Fetele se întrec
    în Qatar, la Doha, pentru premii de 2.939.695 de dolari. Băieţii joacă în
    Dubai, unde totalul premiilor este ceva mai mic, dar tot important, şi anume
    de 2.794.840 de dolari. Săptămâna
    trecută, când în Dubai a avut loc turneul feminin, premiile au fost mai mici cu
    150 de mii de dolari… Este de remarcat însă că din cele peste două milioane şi
    şase sute de mii puse în joc în Emirat, aproape 700 de mii au ajuns la românca
    Simona Halep, câştigătoarea turneului. Pentru succesul din Dubai, Radio
    România Internaţional a desemnat-o pe Simona Sportivul Săptămânii.


    În Dubai, românca
    a intrat în competiţie direct în optimile de finală. A avut drum greu până în
    semifinale, trecând de jucătoarea tunisiană Ons Jabeur şi de bielorusa Aryna
    Sabalenka în partide de trei seturi. În penultimul act a fost mai uşor:
    6-2, 6-0 cu sportiva americană Jennifer Brady. Finala însă a fost dramatică. Sportiva
    kazahă Elena Rybakina a câştigat primul set cu 6-3. Cel de-al doilea i-a
    revenit Simonei, cu acelaşi scor. Setul decisiv a ajuns la tiebreak, unde
    românca s-a impus cu 7-5. A fost titlul WTA cu numărul 20 câştigat de Simona
    Halep.


    Născută la 27 septembrie 1991, la Constanţa, Simona Halep a
    debutat în tenisul mare în 2006, când a disputat primele sale jocuri în
    circuitul ITF. În 2010, a intrat în Top 100. În 2014, în luna august, a ajuns
    pentru prima dată pe locul 2 în ierarhia mondială, loc care reprezenta deja, la
    acea vreme poziţia cea mai înaltă ocupată vreodată de o sportivă din România.
    În octombrie 2017 a ajuns pe primul loc în clasamentul mondial, poziţie pe care
    a părăsit-o în ianuarie 2018. A revenit pe locul întâi în acelaşi an, în
    februarie, şi a rămas lider mondial până în debutul anului 2019, după Openul
    Australiei. S-a aflat în fruntea
    clasamentului WTA vreme de 64 de săptămâni. Acum ocupă, în ierarhia mondială,
    locul 2.

  • Sportivul săptămânii – Simona Halep

    Sportivul săptămânii – Simona Halep

    Tenisul
    programează, în aceste zile, turnee în zona Golfului Persic. Fetele se întrec
    în Qatar, la Doha, pentru premii de 2.939.695 de dolari. Băieţii joacă în
    Dubai, unde totalul premiilor este ceva mai mic, dar tot important, şi anume
    de 2.794.840 de dolari. Săptămâna
    trecută, când în Dubai a avut loc turneul feminin, premiile au fost mai mici cu
    150 de mii de dolari… Este de remarcat însă că din cele peste două milioane şi
    şase sute de mii puse în joc în Emirat, aproape 700 de mii au ajuns la românca
    Simona Halep, câştigătoarea turneului. Pentru succesul din Dubai, Radio
    România Internaţional a desemnat-o pe Simona Sportivul Săptămânii.


    În Dubai, românca
    a intrat în competiţie direct în optimile de finală. A avut drum greu până în
    semifinale, trecând de jucătoarea tunisiană Ons Jabeur şi de bielorusa Aryna
    Sabalenka în partide de trei seturi. În penultimul act a fost mai uşor:
    6-2, 6-0 cu sportiva americană Jennifer Brady. Finala însă a fost dramatică. Sportiva
    kazahă Elena Rybakina a câştigat primul set cu 6-3. Cel de-al doilea i-a
    revenit Simonei, cu acelaşi scor. Setul decisiv a ajuns la tiebreak, unde
    românca s-a impus cu 7-5. A fost titlul WTA cu numărul 20 câştigat de Simona
    Halep.


    Născută la 27 septembrie 1991, la Constanţa, Simona Halep a
    debutat în tenisul mare în 2006, când a disputat primele sale jocuri în
    circuitul ITF. În 2010, a intrat în Top 100. În 2014, în luna august, a ajuns
    pentru prima dată pe locul 2 în ierarhia mondială, loc care reprezenta deja, la
    acea vreme poziţia cea mai înaltă ocupată vreodată de o sportivă din România.
    În octombrie 2017 a ajuns pe primul loc în clasamentul mondial, poziţie pe care
    a părăsit-o în ianuarie 2018. A revenit pe locul întâi în acelaşi an, în
    februarie, şi a rămas lider mondial până în debutul anului 2019, după Openul
    Australiei. S-a aflat în fruntea
    clasamentului WTA vreme de 64 de săptămâni. Acum ocupă, în ierarhia mondială,
    locul 2.

  • 24.02.2020

    24.02.2020

    Coronavirus -
    Toutes les personnes qui arrivent en Roumanie depuis le nord de l’Italie seront
    placées en quarantaine pour une période de 14 jours. La décision a été prise
    par le ministère de la Santé de Bucarest et s’applique aux personnes qui ont
    voyagé dans les régions de Vénétie et de Lombardie dans les deux dernières
    semaines. Les passagers qui arrivent sur l’aéroport de Bucarest en provenance
    de Milan, Bergame, Trévise ou Turin sont dirigés vers le couloir réservé aux
    vols charters. Le ministère roumain
    des affaires étrangères informe que, vu l’apparition de nouveaux cas confirmés
    de contamination au virus COVID-19 en Italie, vu aussi la nombreuse communauté
    roumaine vivant dans les régions touchées, une cellule d’urgence a été créée à
    l’ambassade de Roumanie à Rome, qui suit de près l’évolution de la situation et
    reste en contact avec les autorités italiennes.
    Le ministère informe aussi les ressortissants roumains, qui se trouvent ou qui
    ont l’intention de se rendre ou de transiter l’Italie, que le gouvernement
    italien a décrété l’Etat d’urgence à cause du risque sanitaire dans les régions
    mentionnées.


















    L’Italie annonce
    plus de 160 cas confirmés de contamination et 4 décès, étant le pays européens
    le plus touché par le nouveau virus originaire de Chine. 11 villes sont placées
    en quarantaine dans les régions de Lombardie et de Vénétie, à cause de la
    multiplication inquiétante des cas de contamination. Selon le correspondant de
    Radio Roumanie à Rome, les entreprises ont suspendu leur activité, les établissements
    scolaires et universitaires sont fermés et la population peut s’approvisionner
    uniquement en cas de besoin. L’armée mettra aujourd’hui en place un cordon
    sanitaire. Les autorités de Milan, deuxième ville du pays, ont décidé de fermer
    les théâtres, les salles de cinéma, les musées, les discothèques, ainsi que la
    célèbre cathédrale de la ville. Les églises assurent seulement les mariages et
    les enterrements, en présence de la famille et des personnes très proches. Le
    célèbre carnaval de Venise a pris fin deux jours plus tôt que la date
    officielle. La France, la Suisse et l’Autriche, voisines de l’Italie, suivent
    de près l’évolution de la situation dans la Péninsule. Le Royaume Uni et
    l’Allemagne ont aussi annoncé des cas de contamination, tandis que la Chine, où
    l’épidémie de pneumonie virale a éclaté en décembre dernier, comptabilise
    jusqu’à présent près de 80.000 personnes infectées et 2.600 morts.

    Gouvernement – Le premier ministre désigné de la Roumanie, le libéral Ludovic Orban, se rend aujourd’hui au Parlement pour obtenir le vote d’investiture de son gouvernement. Les 16 ministres de la nouvelle équipe gouvernementale, qui garde la structure et la composition de celle démise par motion de censure, ont été auditionnés aux commissions parlementaires spécialisées. Le Parti national libéral cherche à obtenir le rejet de deux propositions de gouvernement, afin de permettre la dissolution du Parlement et la convocation d’élections législatives anticipées. Selon le premier ministre désigné et patron des libéraux roumains, Ludovic Orban, le scrutin pourrait avoir lieu à la même période que le scrutin municipal, à une date entre le 15 et le 30 juin prochain. Mais vu que le Parti social-démocrate a annoncé que ses élus ne participeraient pas au vote d’investiture, le vote pourrait être reporté en cas d’absence du quorum. Lundi également, la Cour constitutionnelle de Roumanie examinera la saisine formulée par les présidents des deux chambres du parlement, au sujet de la désignation, par le président Klaus Iohannis, du premier ministre démis à former un nouveau Cabinet, ce qui serait contraire à la volonté du Législatif.














    Aide – La
    Commission européenne a approuvé aujourd’hui l’intention de la Roumanie
    d’accorder un prêt temporaire d’environ 36,7 millions d’euros à la compagnie
    aérienne d’Etat TAROM, informe l’Exécutif communautaire dans un communiqué de
    presse. Cette mesure assure les services aériens fournis par le transporteur
    roumain, notamment vers les nombreuses destinations desservies seulement par TAROM,
    sans distorsions injustifiées de la concurrence sur le marché unique. Par ailleurs,
    la Commission européenne a constaté, également aujourd’hui, que le transporteur
    ferroviaire de fret roumain CFR Marfă avait reçu, de la part de l’Etat roumain,
    une aide incompatible d’au moins 570 millions d’euros, sous forme d’annulation et
    de non-encaissement de dettes. La Commission a demandé aux autorités roumaines
    de récupérer l’aide illégale et les intérêts adjacents.


    Grippe – En Roumanie, le nombre des décès provoqués par la grippe saisonnière est monté à 45. Le dernier en date a été enregistré dans le département de Cluj (nord-ouest). Il s’agit d’un homme de 55 ans, qui présentait d’autres pathologies et qui n’avait pas été vacciné contre la grippe. Selon les experts, le taux de contaminations a connu une légère baisse, mais il reste élevé, avec 6.600 cas confirmés au niveau national.
















    Tennis – La
    joueuse de tennis roumaine Sorana Cîrstea (72-e WTA) affronte aujourd’hui la
    Kazakhe Elena Rybakina (17-e WTA), au premier tour du tournoi de Doha (Qatar). La
    joueuse du Kazakhstan a été vaincue, samedi en finale du tournoi de Dubai, par
    la Roumaine Simona Halep, qui a consolidé sa deuxième place au classement
    mondial (WTA), rendu public aujourd’hui.




















    Météo – En
    Roumanie, les zones de montagne de 14 départements font l’objet d’une alerte
    rouge aux vents forts, avec des rafales de 140 – 180 km/h. Egalement, plus de
    la moitié du territoire national, incluant le centre, le nord, le nord-est et
    partiellement le sud, est concernée par une alerte orange aux vents forts, les
    rafales pouvant y atteindre les 90-100 km/h. Dans 22 autres départements du
    sud, y compris dans la capitale Bucarest, une alerte jaune est en vigueur, le
    vent y souffle à 55 – 70 km/h. Les
    températures restent élevées pour cette époque de l’année et vont de 7°
    à 18°, avec 18° à Bucarest à midi. Dans plusieurs régions du pays, le vent a
    abattu des arbres et a avarié le réseau d’électricité.