Olympics – It is the first time after Sydney 2000 that Romania has a significant increase in the number of medals, the president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, Mihai Covaliu, said in Paris. In the final Paris 2024 Medal Table, dominated by the US, Romania ranked 23rd with 9 medals – 3 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze. The Gold went to the swimmer David Popovici in the 200 meter freestyle, to the rowers Andrei Cornea and Marian Enache in the men’s double sculls and, also in rowing, to the women’s eight plus one crew. The silver went to Ancuța Bodnar and Simona Radiş in the women’s double sculls, to Ioana Vrînceanu and Roxana Anghel in the women’s pair, to Gianina van Groningen and Ionela Cozmiuc in the lightweight women’s double sculls, as well as to the weightlifter Mihaela Cambei in the 49 kg category. Finally, the bronze went to David Popovici in the 100 meters freestyle event and to the gymnast Ana Maria Bărbosu in the floor event. On Saturday evening, before the end of the Olympic Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided that Ana Maria Bărbosu won the bronze medal and that Sabrina Voinea, her compatriot, finished the competition in 4th place. This decision overturned the ranking decided by the referees at the end of the floor event from August 5. The International Olympic Committee said that the American Jordan Chiles, who had been initially ranked on the third place, must return the medal. We remind you that the Romanian team at the Olympic Games in Paris (July 26 – August 11) consisted of 106 athletes who competed in 18 sports disciplines.
Enescu – The 19th edition of the George Enescu International Competition starts on August 31, in Bucharest. This year, there was a historic record of entries to the Enescu Competition: 555 young people from 27 countries applied for the three sections of the competition – violin, cello and piano. Out of them, only 149 were selected to participate in the first stage of the competition. Each section will have two elimination stages, the semi-final and the final. The George Enescu International Competition is an event held under the High Patronage of the President of Romania and financed by the Government of Romania through the Ministry of Culture.
Inflation – In Romania, the inflation rate is to decrease towards the end of the year to 4%, a value lower than the one forecasted by the National Bank, namely 4.9%. The downward trend of this indicator will continue in 2025, reaching 3.4% at the end of the year, according to data presented by Governor Mugur Isărescu. He stated that the inflation forecast also took into account possible risks or uncertainties, including the conduct of fiscal and revenue policies, as well as the evolution of energy and food prices. The national bank governor also said that the inflation forecast was also the basis for the recent drop in the reference interest rate. The National Bank has recently reduced, for the second consecutive time, the monetary policy interest rate to the level of 6.5%/year from 6.75% per year.
Ukraine – The Russian army admitted, on Sunday, that the Ukrainian troops penetrated deep into the Kursk region, while assuring, at the same time, that it stopped their advance near several towns located approximately thirty kilometers from the border with Ukraine. After months of retreating under the Russian army’s pressure on the eastern front, Ukraine launched a major operation in the Russian border region of Kursk on Tuesday, getting inside the territory, according to analysts, tens of kilometers and taking control of several towns. In response to this surprise attack, Russia sent reinforcements and established an ‘anti-terrorist’ regime in three regions bordering Ukraine, including Kursk. According to a senior Ukrainian official interviewed by France Press, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are taking part in this offensive.
Israel – On Thursday, August 15, new negotiations are to take place between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas, considered by some analysts as the last opportunity to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of the hostages in Gaza. The mediator states, the US, Egypt and Qatar, asked the two sides, in a joint statement, to resume negotiations in Doha or Cairo. The venue is to be established by Thursday. The statement also shows that the mediator countries are also willing to present a final proposal to overcome the differences between the two parties, which should suit each of them. Israel has agreed to sending negotiators to these new talks. Hamas, on the other hand, has not yet responded to the call, seen as an attempt to stop an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East after the recent assassination of the group’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh. (LS)
