Radio România Internațional

Tag: DST

October 26, 2024

FEAST Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians today celebrate the Holy Great-Martyr Demetrius the Myroblyte, a Greek Christian martyr of the early 4th century AD. He was the proconsul of Thessalonica and as such he opposed the pagan celebrations occasioned by Roman military victories, subsequently arrested and forced to renounce his Christian beliefs, seen as dangerous for the unity of the Roman Empire. When he refused, he was run through with spears. His relics are kept today in a church in Thessaloniki. Nearly 259,000 Romanians celebrate their name day today, according to the interior ministry. In Bucharest, a pilgrimage is taking place to the relics of St. Dimitrie Basarabov, the patron saint of Bucharest, and to the relics of St. Lazarus, brought over from Cyprus.

SCHENGEN The Romanian interior minister, Cătălin Predoiu, had talks with his French counterpart Bruno Retailleau, on finalising the Schengen accession file and on topics of interest on the European and bilateral agenda, such as fighting illegal migration and drug trafficking. According to the Romanian interior ministry, the meeting is part of a series of talks with the EU countries with which Romania has strategic partnerships or privileged cooperation agreements, aimed at communicating the outcomes of the measures taken by Bucharest to manage migration and ensure border security in the context of the country’s efforts to fully join the border-free Schengen area. Cătălin Predoiu highlighted the measures taken at both national level and jointly with its immediate neighbours and other EU member states, which resulted in a decrease of migratory pressures on Romania’s borders to nearly zero. Romania’s cooperation with European agencies also played a major role in achieving these outstanding results. Romania aims to complete the case by the end of this year, and is relying on the support of all its allies to meet this important national goal. The French official acknowledged the progress made by Romania and reiterated France’s support for this goal to be reached as soon as possible.

MIDDLE EAST Washington called on Iran not to retaliate following last night’s Israeli air raids. Should Tehran choose to strike back, we will be prepared and there will be consequences, the US Administration warned. Meanwhile, Israel announced that its operations in Iran were over, after 3 rounds of attacks on military targets, particularly the defence system and arms production facilities. On the other hand, Iran says the strike was countered and that damages were limited. The international community had been anticipating this operation for about a month, as a response to Iran’s missile attack on October 1. The Pentagon said it had been informed of the strike, but denied any American military involvement. The US had urged Israel not to target nuclear sites or oil fields, a request that was observed by Israel. On its part, Iraq reopened its air space after a 4-hour suspension due to security concerns.

WINTER TIME Romania switches to winter time tonight, with clocks set one hour behind so that 4 am becomes 3 am, as a form of daylight saving time. A public poll conducted by the European Commission a few years ago indicates that most Europeans are against the change. In Germany, a teachers’ association said the move has a negative impact on the human body and causes stress, especially in families with school kids. The EC considered eliminating the shift, but member states failed to agree on which of the times should be kept. A number of states have given up switches between winter and summer time, such as Mexico in 2022 and Turkey in 2016. Ukraine also decided that as of 2025 it will no longer switch to Daylight Saving Time. (AMP)

26 October 2024
March 31, 2024

SCHENGEN Romanian seaports and international airports officially joined the Schengen Area on Sunday, March 31. At sea, controls are not eliminated, but they are simplified. Passengers flying to or from Schengen member states will go directly to their respective boarding gate after security checks, without having their travel documents checked by the border police. Currently, 27 European states are full members of the Schengen Agreement, and Romania and Bulgaria become members with partial rights on March 31. Border checks remain in place at land checkpoints, after Austria vetoed Romania’s and Bulgaria’s full Schengen membership. The EC president, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed and congratulated the 2 countries on their accomplishment, and promised talks would be carried on this year to complete the process.

EASTER Roman-Catholic and Protestant Christians celebrate Easter today. In mostly Orthodox Romania, around 1.3 million people are celebrating Easter Sunday today. At midnight, at the Vatican, Pope Francis presided over the Easter Vigil service at the St. Peter’s Basilica. Enmity and wars, self-absorption and indifference, the fears that hold us back from accomplishing the good we mean to do, are our own stone blocks, the tombstones in our hearts, that rob us of enthusiasm and of the strength to persevere, the Pope said in his Homily. In a pastoral letter, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucharest, Aurel Percă, says that unfortunately, the song of joy proclaimed by the church on Easter comes in contrast with the cries coming from so many painful situations, such as wars, injustice, inequality and poverty. In turn, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis says in a message that “Easter gives us an opportunity to be together with our loved ones and reminds us that we are always accompanied by the divine love and strength.” This year, Easter for Roman Catholics and Protestants is 5 weeks before the corresponding Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Neo-Protestant celebration on May 5. In 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2017, the Resurrection was celebrated on the same day by all Christians, regardless of denomination. Next year, all Christians will celebrate Easter on the same day again.

NATO The Parliament of Romania convenes on Tuesday in a joint meeting to mark 20 years since the country joined the North Atlantic Alliance and 75 years since the establishment of NATO. On April 2, exactly decades ago, Romania’s colours were first flown at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, after the ratification documents had been received by the US Department of State on March 29.

DST Last night Romania switched to daylight saving time, with clocks going forward one hour. Sunday is the shortest day this year. With the transition to summer time, the difference between the official time in Romania and UTC is three hours. Daylight saving time is observed until October 27. EU member states were supposed to decide by 2021 whether they wanted to permanently adopt summer time or winter time. However, the discussion is still open.

AGRICULTURE Last year Romania came 2^nd in the EU, after France, in terms of the sunflower seed yield, thus losing the top EU position held in 2022, the National Statistics Institutte announced. In 2023 the yield was 3.7% below the figures reported the previous year, although the surface area under sunflower crops was the same. Romania remains the 6^th in Europe in terms of the area under potato crops, and the 9^th-largest producer in Europe in 2023, after countries like Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Poland.

OIL SECTOR In 2023, Romania remained the main supplier of oil products for the Republic of Moldova, the National Energy Regulatory Agency in Chişinău announced. Last year, Moldova imported around 1 mln tonnes of diesel, petrol and LPG, accounting for a 6.6% rise since 2022 and for a complete recovery of the oil market after the successive crises entailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Radio Chişinău said, quoting energy sector experts. Russia, which used to be one of the largest oil product suppliers for Moldova, only exported insignificant amounts to Moldova last year. (AMP)

31 March 2024
March 29, 2024 UPDATE

GRAIN Romania’s grain output went up by 9 percent last year, up to 21 million tons mainly due to the more productive types sowed, the National Institute for Statistics said. The growth has been influenced by the 11% increase in the wheat production, which accounts for 47% of the total grain production. Data shows that Romania ranks fourth in Europe in terms of wheat production after France, Germany and Poland.

DST Romania will this weekend implement the Daylight Saving Time DST and will set clocks forward by one hour. So, three AM becomes four AM and Sunday becomes the shortest day of the year. The change takes place a couple of days after the Spring equinox on March 20^th, when days are equal with nights. Thanks to the DST, Romania will have a three hours advance against the GMT as compared to only two in winter. DST is expected to last a little under seven months, nearly 65% of the year covering the seasons of spring, summer and half of autumn. The EU members were supposed to announce their decision to permanently adopt the summer or winter time until 2021. However, discussions on the issue still continue.

SCHENGEN As of March 31st, air and maritime checks on Schengen borders will be lifted for Romania and Bulgaria. This means that documents will no longer be checked. In Romania, border policemen can still make unannounced checks, based on a risk analysis. The preparations taking place on 17 airports and four maritime ports in Romania have come to an end. Also, to prepare for 31st March, some big airports in Romania, such as the ones in Iasi and Timisoara, have opened new terminals. Initiated in 1985 as an intergovernmental project between five states – France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg – and after seven waves of expansion, the Schengen area is currently the largest free movement area in the world. With the accession of Romania and Bulgaria, it expands to 4.5 million square km and a population of 450 million.

NATO From the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, across the Atlantic and the Adriatic, NATO is more united and more capable than ever, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said on Friday in a message on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the largest wave of expansion in the Alliance’s history. On behalf of the United States, Blinken congratulated Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their accession to NATO. The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has also said that Romania will remain deeply involved in the process of permanent adaptation of NATO, so that the Alliance becomes stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the future. In the 20 years of NATO membership, Romania has become an important pillar and has consolidated its position within the alliance, respecting its security commitments in the Black Sea area, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said. NATO was established in 1949 as a security alliance between the United States, Canada and 10 West European countries. Sweden is the youngest member, as it has joined NATO this year. There are currently 32 states making up the Alliance.

(bill)

29 March 2024
October 29, 2023

GOVERNMENT PM Marcel Ciolacu announced that
preparations have started for drafting the 2024 public budget. The government
will analyse the projects and programmes that went well, as well as the
investment applications for next year. On the other hand, the PM dismissed the
idea of other fiscal changes in addition to the ones for which his Cabinet has
taken responsibility before Parliament. The law on measures to ensure Romania’s
long-term financial sustainability, promulgated by president Klaus
Iohannis on Thursday, introduces
new taxes and tax raises and cuts off tax facilities.Some of the measures take effect
on November 1, while the others will be enforced as of January 1. Marcel
Ciolacu also estimated that the new pensions law will be endorsed in Parliament
by the end of next month and will take effect on January 1, 2024.

VISIT
The European Commission vice-president for Values and Transparency, Věra
Jourová, will be on an official visit to Romania on Monday, when she will have
meetings with president Klaus Iohannis, PM Marcel Ciolacu and other Cabinet
members. According to the European Commission, the EU official will discuss the
rule of law and reforms in the judiciary, Romania’s goals in the digital
decade, the digitisation projects included in the National Recovery and
Resilience Plan, as well as AI and fighting disinformation.

ISRAEL
Israel has moved to the second stage of the war against Hamas, namely the land
operation in Gaza Strip, the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced. In a
televised address, he warned that this was going to be a long and difficult
war, aimed at freeing the hostages taken by the Palestinian terrorist group and
at destroying the military and leadership capabilities of Hamas. An Israeli
tactics expert described Israel’s current operation as modular, with
alternating attacks from 4 directions (water, air, land, and virtual). So far
the Israeli Army resorted to air strikes to hit Palestinian territory, after
the Hamas attacks of October 7 killed over 1,400 people in Israel. In turn, Hamas
says the Israeli retaliatory strikes killed over 8,000 people. According to an
Israeli army spokesman, the number of hostages held by Hamas was updated at 130.
The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, voiced his surprise at the escalation
of Israel’s military attack on the Gaza Strip after the UN General Assembly issued
a resolution calling for immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Guterres said that
in spite of this international consensus, the bombing has reached unprecedented
levels. Pro-Palestinian rallies were organised on Saturday in many cities in
the world.

PEACE
The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, attending a meeting in Malta,
called for a global model based on his 10-point plan for peace with Russia, Reuters
reports. An official list of the participants in the meeting is not yet
available, but attending were officials for European, South-American, Arab,
African and Asian countries. The plan includes clauses concerning the
restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the pull-out of Russian troops,
protection of food and energy supplies, nuclear security and the release of all
prisoners. The co-chairs of the meeting, Ukraine and Malta, issued a joint
declaration that mentions the participants’ commitment to just and sustainable
peace, based on the UN Charter. The parties will take steps to arrange for a
possible peace summit at a later date.

DST On Saturday night, Romania switched to winter time, setting
clocks back one hour from 4 AM to 3 AM. Sunday is thus 25-hour long. Daylight
saving time, first suggested by the scientist Benjamin Franklin in 1784, is
currently used in 70 countries. The concept has come under debate in recent
years, with the EU asking member states to end seasonal clock changes and
choose either winter time or summer time, but a decision in this respect is yet
to be made. (AMP)

29 October 2023
October 28, 2023 UPDATE

ISRAEL
Romania and other countries are
making joint efforts to help the over 3,000 people in Gaza with dual
citizenship, including Romanian nationals, to leave that region, PM Marcel
Ciolacu said. He explained that the situation was not easy to handle, and added
that 260 applications have been received from Romanian nationals who want to
leave Gaza, but many Palestinians are trying to do the same. What matters is
for the situation not to spiral out of control, he also said. The
Israeli army Saturday announced it entered the north of
Gaza Strip and expanded military operations in the Palestinian enclave, while
stepping up attacks against Hamas. The
army once again asked the locals still in the north of Gaza Strip to move
immediately to the south, explaining that the north is currently a battlefield.
According to Israeli army estimates, some 700,000 people have already left the
area, and the UN says out of the almost 2.2 million people in Gaza Strip, around
1.4 million have been relocated since the conflict began. In fresh talks with the Israeli defence minister, the Pentagon chief
Lloyd Austin called
for the protection of civilians during the operation. On Friday night, the UN
General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. The
resolution is not compulsory, but it has political weight. Israel and the US
voted against, while Romania abstained.

DIPLOMACY
The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu Friday had a telephone
conversation with the British foreign secretary James Cleverly, to discuss the
security situation in Israel and Gaza Strip, focusing on the need to ensure
close coordination in order to avoid regional spill-over. According to the
Romanian foreign ministry, the 2 officials emphasised the importance of
continued humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza and of the immediate and
unconditional release of all hostages.The
Romanian diplomacy chief also discussed with her Qatari counterpart, Sheikh
Mohammed Al Thani, given that Qatar is a mediator in the Hamas hostage crisis.
Odobescu appreciated Qatar’s diplomatic efforts to mitigate the humanitarian
crisis, and spoke about the aid Romania has decided to send there.

AMBASSADOR The Black Sea region plays an important
role for NATO, and Romania is a very close partner for the USA, the US
Ambassador to Bucharest Kathleen Kavalec reiterated. In an interview to Radio
Romania, the US official said that Romania, which is located next to the
conflict in Ukraine, has faced problems like the Ukrainian refugee crisis and
the transport of grains via Romanian sea ports, and in this context the
security and defence relations between the 2 countries have become even closer.
We have tripled the number of US troops in Romania, so now we have over 3,000 American
troops here and we are working with our Romanian partners with respect to
defence and deterrence, to safeguard every piece of NATO territory, Kathleen
Kavalec pointed out.

POPULATION The population of Romania on July 1 was
approx. 21.9 million, down 0.3% since the corresponding month of last year. Almost
3 million of them are currently living abroad. Romania is also facing
population ageing, with 125 elderly citizens for each 100 youth. The average
age is 42.4 years, 0.3 years more than on July 1, 2022. The number of citizens
in urban communities is nearly 3 million higher than the number of rural
inhabitants, however urban population dropped by 0.8% over the past year while
the rural population grew by 0.3%.

UKRAINE Ukraine is seeking international support for its peace plan,
in a 2-day meeting held as of today in Malta. As many as 50 countries are
taking part, but Russia is not among them. According to AFP, this is the 3rd
meeting of this kind, and organisers hope it would result in a joint
declaration. The 10-point plan proposed by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr
Zelenskyy includes, among other things, the pull out of Russian troops from the
occupied Ukrainian territories, including Donbas, part of which is under
separatist control since 2014, and Crimea, occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014.
Last year, Moscow annexed 4 Ukrainian regions, partly occupied by its troops
after the large-scale invasion of February 24.

DST
On Saturday night, Romania switches to winter time, setting clocks back one
hour from 4 AM to 3 AM. Sunday will thus be 25-hour long. Daylight saving time,
first suggested by the scientist Benjamin Franklin in 1784, is currently used
in 70 countries. The concept has come under debate in recent years, with the EU
asking member states to end seasonal clock changes and choose either winter
time or summer time, but a decision in this respect is yet to be made. (AMP)

28 October 2023
October 28, 2023

ISRAEL
The Israeli Army has today announced it entered the
north of Gaza Strip and expanded military operations in the Palestinian
enclave, while stepping up attacks against Hamas. For the 3rd
consecutive night, tanks entered the area, supported by 100 aircraft. According
to the latest information available, clashes are on-going and Israeli troops
are still on site. The Army has avoided official announcements regarding the
land attacks, so as not to jeopardise the lives of the over 220 hostages taken
by Hamas, Israeli media report. Israel
had only made brief raids in Gaza during the 3 weeks of strikes designed to
eliminate the Hamas fighters, who killed over 1,400 Israelis on October 7. Telephone
and internet connections with Gaza have been cut in what the media describe as
the largest strikes so far. An Israeli military spokesman said that today
Israel will allow access to Gaza for trucks carrying food, water and medicines.
In fresh talks with the Israeli defence minister, the Pentagon chief called for
the protection of civilians during the operation. On Friday night, the UN
General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. The
resolution is not compulsory, but it has political weight. Israel and the US
voted against, while Romania abstained.

DIPLOMACY
The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu Friday had a telephone
conversation with the British foreign secretary James Cleverly, to discuss the
security situation in Israel and Gaza Strip, focusing on the need to ensure
close coordination in order to avoid regional spill-over. According to the
Romanian foreign ministry, the 2 officials emphasised the importance of
continued humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza and of the immediate and
unconditional release of all hostages.

POPULATION The population of Romania on July 1 was
approx. 21.9 million, down 0.3% since the corresponding month of last year. Almost
3 million of them are currently living abroad. Romania is also facing
population ageing, with 125 elderly citizens for each 100 youth. The average
age is 42.4 years, 0.3 years more than on July 1, 2022. The number of citizens
in urban communities is nearly 3 million higher than the number of rural
inhabitants, however urban population dropped by 0.8% over the past year while
the rural population grew by 0.3%.

UKRAINE Ukraine is seeking international support for its peace plan,
in a 2-day meeting held as of today in Malta. As many as 50 countries are
taking part, but Russia is not among them. According to AFP, this is the 3rd
meeting of this kind, and organisers hope it would result in a joint
declaration. The 10-point plan proposed by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr
Zelenskyy includes, among other things, the pull out of Russian troops from the
occupied Ukrainian territories, including Donbas, part of which is under
separatist control since 2014, and Crimea, occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014.
Last year, Moscow annexed 4 Ukrainian regions, partly occupied by its troops
after the large-scale invasion of February 24.

DST
On Saturday night, Romania switches to winter time, setting clocks back one
hour from 4 AM to 3 AM. Sunday will thus be 25-hour long. Daylight saving time,
first suggested by the scientist Benjamin Franklin in 1784, is currently used
in 70 countries. The concept has come under debate in recent years, with the EU
asking member states to end seasonal clock changes and choose either winter
time or summer time, but a decision in this respect is yet to be made. (AMP)

28 October 2023
October 27, 2023 UPDATE

DECISIONS – The European Union will continue to support Ukraine with substantial funds. It is one of the decisions taken on Friday, in Brussels, on the second day of the European Council. Ukraine remains a priority for the European Union, proof of that being the fact that most funds from the multiannual budget revision will go into helping Kyiv, in this case 50 billion euros. The European Council President, Charles Michel, said that another priority is the prevention of terrorism and of other extremist actions in the community area, against the background of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but also in the context of the pressure to which the Union is subjected to, due to increasing migration. Another concern of the EU is the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia, which is increasingly tense. A third topic of the Council meeting was Europes economic situation, and its goal to be a leader not only in terms of green technologies, but also as regards technologies in general. Romania was represented at the European Council by President Klaus Iohannis, who reiterated the need to continue supporting Ukraine, as long as needed. He spoke in favor of a clear and united vision, at EU level, on the situation in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of avoiding the escalation of the conflict. Iohannis also emphasized the need to review the EU budget, so as to reflect the new challenges.

ORDER – The Bucharest Government on Friday adopted an emergency order that extends by three months the cap on the price of basic food products and expanded the list of such products. The Government also green lighted a project to reduce spending by local and central public authorities. Finance Minister, Marcel Boloş, announced that the budget deficit is now 3.55% of the GDP and that the target remains at 4.4% at the end of the year. He explained that, in the past years, budget expenditure with goods and services in the last two months of the year increased three, four or five times compared to the previous months. That is why it was decided that this year, the respective expenses cannot exceed the average of the previous months.

ATTACK IN THE US – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has conveyed a message of condolence to his American counterpart Joe Biden in the wake of the armed attack in Lewiston, Maine. Romania stands with the American citizens and the families of the victims, to whom we convey our compassion. We also wish speedy recovery to the wounded, the president’s message reads. At least 22 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded in an armed attack in Maine, where the suspect is still at large.

FEAST DAY – Orthodox Christians in Romania on Friday marked the feast day of Saint Demetrius of Basarabov, also known as Saint Demetrius the New, the patron saint of Bucharest. A pilgrimage to his relics and the reliquary of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki brought over from Greece continues in the capital-city. Saint Demetrius the New lived south of the Danube in present-day Bulgaria. After his death, his relics were found by locals after the saint appeared in the dream of an ill young girl, indicating the place where his body lay. The relics were given to Romania as a gift during the Russian-Turkish War, in 1774.

DST – Daylight Saving Time ends on October 29 in Romania, when 4AM will become 3AM, making Sunday the longest day of the year. In 2023, Romania switched to DST on March 26 to benefit from daylight. (EE)

27 October 2023
October 27, 2023

WAR IN GAZA – The Israeli army launched a new land attack in Gaza,
targeting Hams combatants. Infantry and tank units were supported by gunships
in their assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said troops are preparing
for an all-out land assault, which has been repeatedly postponed due to the
Pentagon’s request. US officials asked for additional time to set up its Patriot
missile systems in its bases in the Middle East. According to the Pentagon,
some 900 US servicemen have been deployed to the Middle East to strengthen the
US presence in the region.

APPEAL – EU leaders met in Brussels on the sidelines of the European
Council meeting to call for a humanitarian break in hostilities between Israel
and Hamas, in order to allow the distribution of aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
Insignificant amounts of medicine and food have over the last days reached the
strip, currently targeted by Israeli attacks in the wake of the October 7 Hamas
terrorist attacks. The European Council also decided to make efforts to
organize an international conference in order to identify short- and long-term
solutions. The long-term target is a two-state solution. Hamas will not take
part in the conference as it is deemed a terrorist organization that must be
disbanded. With tensions escalating across the Middle East, the pressure from
migratory flows also increased in Europe. The Migration Pact was another topic
on the agenda for talks, which also focused on the need for the EU to increase
its budget so as to tackle the issue jointly with the countries of origin. The
EU leaders agreed to adjust the multiannual budget to address four priorities:
migration, support for Ukraine, support for the calamities in Europe and the
EU’s economic competitiveness. Representing Romania in the European Council
meeting is president Klaus Iohannis.

DECREE – The Government is expected to pass a new emergency decree
to cut public spending. The decision follows the ratification by president
Klaus Iohannis of a law on fiscal and budget measures, which introduces new
taxes and eliminates some tax breaks. Part of these provisions will take effect
over the next few days, while the rest on January 1, 2024. The measures are not
however enough to curb the budget deficit by the end of the year, and Romania
risks losing dozens of billions of Euro worth of European funds. The draft
emergency decree was submitted for debate on Tuesday. It is expected to impose
new spending restrictions for public institutions and city halls, including the
organization of festivals and competitions. Local authorities will be prevented
from signing new agreements for the purchase of office supplies, other goods
and maintenance services or repair works. The draft decree also stipulates that
all salary rights dictated by courts of law will be paid starting 2024,
including for teachers and magistrates. Romania’s budget deficit stood at 3.55%
of the GDP at the end of September.

ATTACK IN THE US – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has
conveyed a message of condolence to his American counterpart Joe Biden in the
wake of the armed attack in Lewiston, Maine. Romania stands with the American
citizens and the families of the victims, to whom we convey our compassion. We
also wish speedy recovery to the wounded, the president’s message reads. At
least 22 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded in an armed
attack in Maine, where the suspect is still at large.

FEAST DAY – Orthodox Christians in Romania are today marking the
feast day of Saint Demetrius of Basarabov, also known as Saint Demetrius the
New, the patron saint of Bucharest. A pilgrimage to his relics and the reliquary
of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki brought over from Greece continues today in
the capital-city. Saint Demetrius the New lived south of the Danube in
present-day Bulgaria. After his death, his relics were found by locals after
the saint appeared in the dream of an ill young girl, indicating the place
where his body lay. The relics were given to Romania as a gift during the
Russian-Turkish War, in 1774.

DST – Daylight Saving Time ends on October 29 in Romania, when 4AM
will become 3AM, making Sunday the longest day of the year. In 2023, Romania
switched to DST on March 26 to benefit from daylight. (VP)

27 October 2023
March 27, 2022 UPDATE

UKRAINE – Russia has launched a
targeted cruise missile attack on military objectives in Lviv, western Ukraine,
Russia’s Minister of Defense said. Russia hit a fuel storehouse near Lviv with
long-rage precision missiles and used cruise missiles to hit a factory
repairing anti-missile systems, radars and tanks, the Russian official said.
Inhabitants in Lviv say several people were injured in the missile attacks.
Russia also announced it launched several long-rate missiles from the sea to
destroy an arsenal of S-300 missiles and BUK anti-air systems near Kyiv. In
other news, two humanitarian corridors are expected to allow the evacuation of
civilians from Mariupol and other cities, where the humanitarian situation is
deteriorating by the day. A representative of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry
said Russia has started targeting fuel and food warehouses, meaning the
Government in Kyiv will need to disperse its stocks of both in the near future.

VISIT – EU Commissioner for
Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, is paying an official visit to Bucharest on Monday
and Tuesday. The EU official will meet president Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister
Nicolae Ciucă and other Romanian officials. Talks will focus on economic
prospects and the situation in Romania, a month after the start of the Russian
invasion in Ukraine. On Monday, Commissioner Gentiloni will visit a center of
the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, while on Tuesday he will give an
opening speech at an economic debate.

NATO – Romania’s Prime Minister,
Nicolae Ciucă, will be attending the meeting of NATO heads of government from
southeastern Europe, held in Sofia. According to a government release, the
meeting is hosted by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Kiril Petkov. It will be
an opportunity to discuss the effects of the Russian invasion in Ukraine and
security in southeastern Europe, Nicolae Ciucă said. Talks will also focus on
the short, medium and long term effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on
regional security. The Romanian Prime Minister will also hold talks with his
Bulgarian counterpart, Kiril Petkov, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Zdravko
Krivokapic, as well as with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar
Kovačevski.

ROMANIA-USA – Senate Speaker
Florin Cîțu reiterated during talks with Washington officials the need to
consolidate NATO’s eastern flank, including by boosting American military
presence. 25 years after the signing of the Strategic Partnership between
Romania and the United States, the Romanian official reiterated Romania’s
commitment to increasing defense spending to 2.5% of GDP and stepping up
military cooperation with the United States. In a post on Facebook, Florin Cîțu
also argues that one the topics tackled during the talks was the importance of
ensuring Europe’s energy security and Romania’s contribution in this respect.
As part of his visit to the United States, the Romanian official also met with
representatives of the Romanian community in the USA, whom he told they can
contribute to consolidating the strategic partnership.

DST – Romania on Sunday
switched to Daylight Savings Time. Clocks were advanced one hour, making Sunday
the shortest day of the year. The measure was introduced with a view to
ensuring maximum use of sunlight. The National Rail Company (CFR) announced the
switch will not impact rail traffic. Until the last Sunday in October,
Romania’s standard time will be UTC +03:00.

HANDBALL – SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea
on Sunday lost to Herning-Ikaast Handbold of Denmark 39-33 at home in the first
leg of the EHF European League quarterfinals. The return leg is scheduled for
April 2 away from home. (VP)

27 March 2022
March 27, 2022

UKRAINE – The Russian army continues to bomb urban areas in Ukraine, although the Ukrainian forces have recaptured a city in the northwest, some 50 km from Sumi. To cut its losses, the Russians are resorting to long-rage artillery fire. Mariupol, Kharkiv and Chernihiv are still under siege and have suffered considerable losses. The city close to Chernobyl, home to the staff working at the nuclear plant, has been captured by the Russian army. Russia and Ukraine on Sunday agreed to create two humanitarian corridors to evacuate the civilian population from the first line of fire, also allowing the population of Mariupol to evacuate the city using their private cars, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk announced. The population of Mariupol and Rubezny will be evacuated towards Zaporizhzhia and Bakhmut. According to the mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boychenko, 50% of the city’s population has been evacuated. Some 60,000 people fled via the humanitarian corridor to other areas in Ukraine, while another 30,000 were forcefully deported to areas under Russian control or to Russia. Several thousands of protesters, mostly Russians, gathered on Saturday in Prague to condemn the military offensive of president Vladimir Putin and to call a stop to the war, AFP reports.

CONVOY – A French humanitarian convoy delivering intervention vehicles and medical supplies arrived on Sunday in the humanitarian hub in Suceava, northern Romania, from where it will be taken over by the Ukrainian side and transported to Chernivtsi, Ukraine. The convoy includes 100 French firefighters and rapid response workers, 11 fire trucks, 16 intervention vehicles and 23 trucks carrying 49 tons of medical and rescue supplies. Nearly 9,000 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania on Saturday, the Border Police reports. So far, over 500 thousand Ukrainian refugees have entered Romania, of whom only 4,300 have filed for asylum. The Government announced it can accommodate 400 thousand refugees.

BLINKEN – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel for a historic meeting with counterparts from Arab states that have normalized relations with this country, as part of a tour of the Middle East and North Africa. On Sunday, Blinken is expected to meet counterparts from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain and Egypt. Blinken previously traveled to Poland together with US president Joen Biden. During his visit in Israel, Secretary Blinken will also meet with Israel’s Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett. From here we will travel to Ramallah for a meeting with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. The US Secretary of State wants to prove the USA is interested in the Middle East, although its focus seems to be China and Ukraine, more recently. Antony Blinken will continue his tour on Monday by travelling to Algeria, then to Morocco. As part of his meeting with the de facto leader of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed, Blinken hopes to secure support for the efforts of the USA and NATO to counter the Russian invasion in Ukraine, in a context marked by serious economic fallout from the war, especially energy price hikes and wheat shortages, which could deal a serious blow to Arab economies, AFP writes.

VISIT – EU Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, is paying an official visit to Bucharest on Monday and Tuesday. The EU official will meet president Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and other Romanian officials. Talks will focus on economic prospects and the situation in Romania, a month after the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. On Monday, Commissioner Gentiloni will visit a center of the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, while on Tuesday he will give an opening speech at an economic debate.

DST – Romania on Sunday switched to Daylight Savings Time. Clocks were advanced one hour, making Sunday the shortest day of the year. The measure was introduced with a view to ensuring maximum use of sunlight. The National Rail Company (CFR) announced the switch will not impact rail traffic. Until the last Sunday in October, Romania’s standard time will be UTC +03:00.

COVID – 1,939 new cases of COVID infection were reported on Sunday, in addition to 10 related fatalities. Some 390 patients are intensive care.

BLACK BOX – The second black box containing data about the flight crashed in China this week during an internal flight was found on Sunday. It contains data about the aircraft’s speed, altitude and flight direct at the time of the crash. The first black box with recordings of the pilots’ conversations was found on Wednesday and sent to Beijing for decoding. The 129 passengers and 9 crew members onboard, all Chinese nationals, died. This is the most serious aviation disaster in China reported in nearly 12 years. (VP)

27 March 2022
March 28, 2021

MEASURES A new series of measures aimed at fighting the Covid-19 pandemic
are coming into effect in Romania as of today. The new measures include a weekend
night curfew starting at 20 hours in regions with an infection rate that exceeds
four per thousand. In these regions shops are to close down at 18 hours while
in areas with an infection rate over 7.5 per thousand, restrictions will be in
force during the entire week. According to the latest data published by the
authorities, over 44 hundred new infections have been reported in Romania in
the past 24 hours most of them in Bucharest. A year on from the onset of the
pandemic, 930 thousand infections have been reported in Romania with a death
toll over 23 thousand. The number of Romanians who got at least a dose of the
anti-Covid vaccine has exceeded 1,900,000. Half of them have also been given
the booster dose.

HOLIDAY Catholic believers are today celebrating Palm Sunday
marking our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where people welcomed him
with palm branches. This year in Italy, a country, which imposed some of the most
severe anti-Covid measures, religious services, including at the Vatican, will
be attended by a smaller number of believers. Palm Sunday also marks the
beginning of the Passion Week, when Christians are getting ready to celebrate
the Resurrection of Christ. According to Radio Romania correspondent in Rome,
this Passion Week is almost similar to that last year when Pope Francis prayed
alone in San Pietro square. This year, Catholic believers are celebrating
Easter on April 4th whereas the Orthodox, who are a majority in
Romania will mark the resurrection of Christ on May 2nd.

DST
Daylight Saving Time began in Romania last night when clocks were set one hour
forward and the difference between the local time and GMT became of three
hours. DST was first introduced in Romania back in 1932 but this might be the
last hour change as the European Parliament in 2019 voted in favour of
scrapping this measure inside the EU. Each member state is to decide whether to
keep implementing the DST or not. Countries willing to keep the summer hour
made the change last night, whereas those preferring the winter hour are to
make the final change in the last Sunday of October.

FOOTBALL Romania’s national football side are today playing their second
game in the World Cup 2022 preliminaries against Germany. Our footballers on
Thursday clinched 3-2 home win against North Macedonia and are to take on
Armenia in an away game on the last day of March. Romania’s group also includes
Iceland and Lichtenstein and the first side in the ranking qualifies for the
final tournament. Sides on the second position are to play tie matches. On
Saturday night, Romania’s under-21 side secured a 2-1 win against Hungary in
Budapest, in a game counting towards the Group A of the European Under-21 Championship.
On Wednesday Romania ended in a one-all draw their game against the strong side
of the Netherlands and will be up against Germany on March 30th. The
first two sides in the group will qualify for the final tournament due over May
31st and June 6th.

TENNIS Romanian tennis player Horia Tecau and Marcelo Arevalo of
Salvador have qualified for the round of 16 of the Miami Open ATP Masters 1000,
a competition with over three million dollars in prize money. The two secured a
6-4, 6-3 win against Henri Kontinen of Finland and Edouard Roger Vasselin of
France. This new pair will be up against top-seeded Juan Sebastian Cabal and
Robert Farah in the eighth finals.

(bill)

28 March 2021
March 27, 2021

COVID-19 Authorities in Romania have announced fresh restrictions amid an
increasing number of Covid-19 infections. The new restrictions are to come into
effect on Sunday, and under a government decision released on Friday night,
every Romanian region will have to report their infection rates. An infection
rate of 4 per thousand will force shops and service providers to close down at
18 hours while a curfew is to be observed starting 20 hours during the weekend.
A rate of 7.5 cases per thousand means the new restrictions can be applied the
entire week not only at the weekend. Roughly 59 hundred fresh Covid-19
infections were reported in Romania on Saturday out of 37 thousand tests
conducted. One year on from the onset of the pandemic 930 thousand people were
infected in Romania, which reported a death toll of 23 thousand. The number of Romanians
who got at least one dose of the anti-Covid vaccine stands at roughly 1,900,000.
Half of these have also got the booster dose.

CHISINAU Parliament in the neighboring Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova is
today marking through a solemn session 103 years since the union of Basserabia
with Romania. The event is to be attended by the presidents of Science Academia
in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, leading figures of culture and MPs. On
March 27th 1918, towards the end of WWI, Basserabia’s Legislature unanimously
voted the union of this province with the Romanian kingdom. It was the first
stage in the process of creating the unitary Romanian state, which was
completed through the joining of other Romanian regions, such as Bukovina,
Transylvania, Banat, Crisana and Maramures, which until then had been part of
Austria-Hungary. In the summer of 1940, through an ultimatum, USSR annexed
Basserabia and northern Bukovina, Romanian territories, which today belong to
the former Soviet republics of Moldova and Ukraine.

DST
Daylight Saving Time begins tonight in Romania when the clocks are to be set
one hour forward and the difference between the local time and GMT will be
three hours. DST was first introduced in Romania back in 1932 and this might be
the last hour change as the European Parliament in 2019 voted in favour of
renouncing this measure inside the EU. Each member state is to decide whether
to scrap the DST or not. The countries willing to keep the summer hour will
make the last change tonight. Those preferring the winter hour will make the
final change in the last Sunday of October.

EARTH HOUR The presidential administration in Bucharest decided to join the ‘Earth
Hour’ event by switching off interior and exterior lights at the Cotroceni
palace, the headquarters of the Romanian presidency on Saturday night. Earth
Hour is at present one of the biggest world movements for the protection of the
environment and it involves millions of people, who are switching off lights
all over the world for one hour in order to prove their commitment to saving
the planet. The movement appeared in Australia in 2007 and since then over 190
countries and territories have joined it.

STRIKE The Bucharest underground has resumed its activity after the employees
mounted a protest on Friday by blocking tracks. According to the authorities,
the protest was illegal and was sparked off by an older dispute concerning the
commercial spaces on its premises, which allegedly had a trade union leader involved.
The protesters have been blamed for having failed to comply with the present
regulations, putting travelers’ health at risk, as they had to use crowded public
transport vehicles. In turn, the employees representatives who have blamed the
authorities for their lack of interest in a constructive dialogue, said the protest
was an unofficial strike sparked off by the board’s decision to cut down
salaries.

(bill)

27 March 2021
March 28, 2020

Pandemic measures — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has stated today that Romania is ready to cope with the pandemic after he visited the mobile military hospital set up near Bucharest. He underlined that after this crisis, which is going to last and get worse, the authorities will rigorously assess the situation of the entire hospital system in Romania and will take all the measures needed to equip hospitals so as to be able to face any situation, from epidemics to disasters. The president reiterated his appeal to the citizens to observe the measures adopted by the authorities. In another development, the plane of the Romanian Defense Ministry that made the 2nd transport of medical materials from South Korea has landed today in Bucharest. It brought 100 thousand pieces of protection equipment that was purchased by the Romanian state as part of the effort to combat the effects of the pandemic.

COVID-19 Romania — Latest figures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania show 1452 infected people and 29 deaths. 139 people have recovered and have been discharged from hospital. The National Public Health Institute has updated the COVID-19 testing algorithm. Therefore, tests will be made with priority on the people who travelled abroad, close contacts of the confirmed cases who show symptoms, the medical and sanitary staff and the cases of pneumonia without other etiology. All parks in Bucharest have been closed as of Saturday, in a move of the municipality to contain the spreading of the coronavirus pandemic. In Romania, which is in a state of emergency, traffic restrictions are imposed both during the day and night, with a few exceptions.

Repatriation — 365 Romanian citizens who were temporarily in Italy returned to Romania on Friday evening, the Romanian Foreign Ministry — MAE announced on Saturday. They were transported from Venice in two charter planes operated by a private airline. MAE and the Transport Ministry continue efforts to facilitate the return to Romania of non-resident Romanian citizens who are seasonal workers affected by the closing down of companies in Italy as well as of the Romanian citizens from Italy who are in special situations. Bucharest authorities have renewed appeals to the citizens to avoid trips abroad that are not essential and to the Romanian citizens residing or having their domicile abroad to strictly observe the recommendations of the authorities from those states.

COVID -19 world — Over 600 thousand cases of COVID-19 infection have so far been reported in the world, with the number of deaths exceeding 27 thousand. 133 thousand of the people diagnosed with the new coronavirus have been cured. The US is the only country of the world where the number of contaminations exceeded 100 thousand. The US is followed by Italy with almost 90 thousand cases and more than 9 thousand deaths, the most numerous at global level. Other European states that have been severely affected by the new virus are Spain, Germany, France, Great Britain and Switzerland.

Daylight Saving Time – Romania will switch to summer time on Saturday night. 3.00 hours local time will become 4.00 hours and Sunday will be the year’s shortest day. During the daylight saving time period, the difference between Romania’s official time and GMT is 3 hours, as compared to 2 hours at present. Switching to winter time will take place in the last weekend of October 2020 when clocks will be set back one hour. The European Commission has proposed giving up the daylight saving time in Europe, allowing member states the freedom to decide on their own if they want to continue switching to summer or winter time. The states that decide to permanently maintain the summer time will make the last switch in the last Sunday of March 2021, and those that prefer sticking to the winter time (the standard time) will make the final switch on the last Sunday of October 2021. (translation by L. Simion)

28 March 2020
October 26, 2019

MILITARY Nearly 1,400 Romanian and foreign troops with 220 vehicles are taking part in the multinational exercise Scorpions Legacy 2019, held between October 25 and November 8 in Cincu, Braşov County, in central Romania, the press office of the Multinational Brigade South-East announced. The goal of the exercise is to train the staff of the multinational brigade headquartered in Craiova and of the affiliated units in Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal, though computer-assisted command drills, field training practice and shooting practice. The Headquarters Multinational Brigade Southeast ensures high-level capability to command forces deployed in the south-east of the Allied territory.

DST Romania switches to winter time tonight, with clocks set one hour back, from 4:00 AM to 3:00 AM. Sunday will be the longest day of the year. The switch does not affect railway traffic timetables. The European Commission suggested that Europe should give up seasonal DST switches in Europa, and member states will decide whether they want to keep the summer time or winter time permanently as of 2021.

MIGRANTS Border police from the Nădlac checkpoint, western Romania, found 20 citizens from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and India hiding in a truck while attempting to cross the border illegally. The police say they were trying to reach Western Europe. Investigations are now conducted against the truck driver, suspected of human trafficking and against the foreign citizens for attempted illegal border crossing.

BREXIT The ambassadors of the 27 EU member states have deferred a decision regarding the Brexit postponement period to next week. Recently, they have agreed in principle on a new postponement of Britains exit from the Union, scheduled for October 31, and are now to reach a consensus on a new deadline. The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, recommended a 3-month extension, to January 31. The European Parliament also agrees with this date, which would allow Britain to clarify its position and the EP to properly fulfil its duties.

TECHNOLOGY Sixteen Romanian ITC companies took part in the worlds largest mobile communications exhibition – Mobile World Congress 2019, held in Los Angeles. According to the Romanian Ministry for the Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship, the Romanian participants presented their products in a national pavilion of around 150 sq.m. The Los Angeles fair is the third specialised event, after the ones in Barcelona and Shanghai, which brings together technology providers and producers, influencers and innovators in the ITC industry.

TENNIS The Romanian Simona Halep, number 5 in the world, landed in the Purple Group of the WTA Finals in Shenzhen (China), held between October 27 and November 3. On Monday she will play against the Romanian-born Canadian Bianca Andreescu, no 4 WTA. Halep, winner of this years Wimbledon trophy, takes part in the tournament of the worlds elite 8 for the 6th time in her career. The Purple Group also includes Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) and Elina Svitolina (Ukraine), according to Fridays draw release. This edition has record-high prizes—14 million USD, twice as much as last year.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

26 October 2019
March 31, 2019 UPDATE

VISIT – EU Commissioner for Climate Action
and Energy, Miguel Arias Canete on Monday and Tuesday is paying an official
visit to Bucharest, the European Commission’s Representative Office in
Bucharest has announced. On April 1, the EU official will attend the meeting
titled The Regional Energy Cooperation Initiative in Central and Eastern
Europe. The event will bring together ministers and high-ranking officials
from member states and contracting parties of the Energy Community. The meeting
will include ceremonies for the signing of energy grants under the European
Interconnection Mechanism. EU officials will also look at progress obtained so
far and will address the priorities for the future of natural gas and energy
markets and the development of infrastructure and sustainable energy sources.
On Tuesday, Miguel Arias Canete will attend the Informal Energy Council, on the
sidelines of which the first meeting of Energy Ministers from EU states and the
Eastern Partnership will be held, with a view to consolidating regional energy
cooperation.

FRONTEX – Over April 1 -
June 30 the Romanian Border Police will take part in the 2019 POSEIDON mission
organized by FRONTEX, providing a maritime patrol ship MAI 1101 as part of the
Coast Guard. The mission will take place in the Aegian Sea. The ship and the
two crews will carry out patrol, surveillance, search and rescue missions
alongside the other participant states. The purpose of the operation is to
provide Greek authorities with support in the surveillance and control at teh
EU’s maritime borders, as well as for the search and rescue of people in
distress on the EU’s external borders.

EARTH HOUR – Romania
joined around 180 other countries in celebrating Earth Hour on Saturday, a
movement that warns about climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Between
8.30 pm and 9.30 pm, lights went out in several towns and cities across the
country, including the capital Bucharest, in a symbolic gesture to raise
awareness about the importance of protecting the planet. Performances, bike races
and other events were also held. According to some estimates, if every person
in Romania took part in Earth Hour by switching off their lights for one hour,
this would save more than 1 million kilowatts, enough to supply the electricity
of a community of 2,200 people for a year. Romania has marked Earth Hour since
2009.

DST – On Saturday night Romanians turned
forward their clocks one hour in observance of Daylight Saving Time. So, three
o’clock became four o’clock with a three hour GMT difference. The switch this
year could be one of the last such changes, as the European Parliament this
week voted a proposal to renounce DST changes at EU level starting 2021. Member
States are free to choose to observe standard time or DST.

TRADE FAIR – Romania is
taking part in the HannoverMesse, one of the biggest industrial technology
fairs in the world, held over April 1-5. The event opens on Sunday under the
slogan The future development of industry. A total of 6,500 exhibitors from
all over the world are expected to take part. This year’s partner country is
Sweden.

ELECTION
IN SLOVAKIA – Liberal Zuzana Caputova
has won the second round of Saturday’s presidential election in Slovakia, thus
becoming the country’s first female head of state. Aged 45, Zuzana Caputova
grabbed 58% of the vote, as compared to 41% obtained by the other candidate,
Maros Sefcovic, an EU Commissioner backed by the left-of-center ruling party.
Shortly after the results were announced, Zuzana Caputova called for unity. She
said the result shows it is possible to fight populism and earn people’s trust
without using aggressive language and personal attacks. Her adversary conceded
defeat. In turn, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini expressed hope for a positive
cooperation with the new president.

SURVEY – If presidential elections were held tomorrow in Romania,
the incumbent president Klaus Iohannis would grab the majority of the vote, and
would face off Calin Popescu Tariceanu, Senate Speaker and President of the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the second round, reads a recent survey
conducted by the Center for Urban and Regional Sociology. Klaus Iohannis would
grab 36% of the vote, while Calin Popescu Tariceanu would get 23% of the vote,
followed by Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea, with 15% of the vote. Former
Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos would win 9% of the vote, while European
Commissioner Corina Cretu would get 6%. The survey was commissioned by Omnibus
and conducted over March 12-25 with a sample population of 1,067 people and a
margin for error of plus/minus 3%.

(translated
by V. Palcu)

31 March 2019