Radio România Internațional

Tag: May 10

  • May 10, 2024

    May 10, 2024

    ELECTION CAMPAIGN – The campaign for the European Parliament and local election, both slated for June 9, has started on Friday across the country. The Central Election Bureau has urged candidates to observe the relevant legislation, to preserve a balanced, honest and constructive approach to all communications and to refrain from misrepresenting and manipulating information. Throughout the campaign, all messages and slogans with discriminatory overtones, inciting to hate and intolerance are prohibited, in addition to the use of any means and actions designed to slander or stir religious or ethnic hatred. The head of the Permanent Electoral Authority, Toni Greblă, has in turn recommended candidates to promote their political programs with the observance of regulations in force, urging citizens to trust their vote will be taken into account. Some 900 polling stations will open abroad. People can consult the “Code of best practices on disinformation” and “Guidelines on preventing and combating voter disinformation”, both documents being available online. A similar effort to prevent disinformation and manipulation was launched by the European Commission, which published a video designed to encourage critical thinking and provide practical advice on how to identify and combat such actions.

     

    MAY 10 – Romania is a respected member of NATO and the EU, a status that provides top-level security guarantees and a robust platform for cooperation with international partners that share the same values, with a view to developing and consolidating stability and resilience against contemporary threats, the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said earlier today in a message marking National Independence Day. Three major events in the history of Romania are observed on May 10. In 1866, King Charles I was crowned the first monarch of the freshly created Kingdom of Romania. 11 years later, on May 10, 1877, Romania proclaimed its independence from the Ottoman Empire. On May 10, 1881, Romania officially became a monarchy. Over the course of 1866-1947, May 10 marked Monarchy Day, Independence Day as well as the National Day of Romania. May 10 was declared a national holiday in 2015. Special military ceremonies are today being held in Bucharest and other cities.

     

    MISSILES – The USA have greenlit the sale of Sidewinder Block advanced missile technology to Romania, in a deal worth 70 mln USD. The missile systems will provide advanced air-air capabilities for F-16s owned by the Romanian Air Forces. The procurement is part of a broader and long-term effort to modernize the Romanian Air Forces, a US Embassy press release reads. US Chargé d’Affairs, Michael Dickerson, said the deal is an excellent example of robust security and defense cooperation between Romania and the USA. In turn, Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr said the access of Romanian Air Forces to state-of-the-art air-air military technology will give a significant boost to the security of Romanian and allied airspace, also increasing interoperability with similar structures of the US Army.

     

    EXERCISE – Some 2,300 paratroopers from France, Germany, Romania, Spain, the USA and the Netherlands are taking part in the Swift Response 24 multinational exercise, hosted by Romania over May 5-24. According to the Defense Ministry, the exercise will comprise one of the biggest airdrops ever held in Europe after WWII and will take place over the course of several days. The main activity in Romania is scheduled to take place on Sunday in Câmpia Turzii. Similar operations will unfold in another five Allied and partner states – Estonia, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland and Sweden. The exercise will test the troops’ response capacity as well as the degree of interoperability of participating structures and their commitment to ensuring collective defense, the Romania Defense Ministry reports.

     

    WRESTLING – Romanian wrestler Alin Alexuc-Ciurariu has qualified to the Paris Olympics after grabbing a series of wins at the pre-Olympic World Wrestling Championship hosted by Istanbul. The Romanian competed in the 130-kg Greek-Roman category. This will be the fourth edition of the Olympic Games for Alexuc-Ciurariu, after the London Olympics of 2012 (16th), Rio Olympics of 2015 (5th) and the Tokyo Olympics of 2020 (12th). Another two Romanian wrestlers are still trying to secure qualification to the Olympic Games – Răzvan Arnăutu and Nicu Ojog. Romania’s delegation includes 13 wrestlers, and its objective is to qualify at least 2 athletes to the Olympic Games. Alin Alexuc-Ciurariu is the second Romania athlete to secure qualification after Andreea Beatrice Ana, who booked her tickets to the Paris Olympics in the 53-kg category at the pre-Olympic tournament hosted by Baku in April. So far, 83 athletes have secured qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in 12 Olympic events.

     

    TENNIS – Irina Begu (161 WTA) is today playing Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (4 WTA) in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome, offering 4.8 mln USD in total prizes. On Thursday, another two Romanian players, Sorana Cîrstea and Jaqueline Cristian, advanced to the third round of the women’s singles. Cîrstea (32 WTA) won 7-5, 6-0 against Brenda Fruhvirtová of Czechia (102 WTA), and will go up against another Czech player, Markéta Vondroušová (7 WTA), who in the second round ousted Ana Bogdan (63 WTA), 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. In turn, Jaqueline Cristian (68 WTA), who reached the main draw as “lucky loser”, knocked out Elina Avanesyan of Russia (72 WTA), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. In the third round, Cristian will play Coco Gauff (3 WTA) of the USA in their first head-to-head match. (VP)

  • May 10, 2023 UPDATE

    May 10, 2023 UPDATE

    Education laws — The package of laws reforming the education system in Romania was voted on Wednesday by the Chamber of Deputies, as the first body notified. During the general debates, the Education Minister, Ligia Deca, recalled that the measures are aimed at reducing the phenomenon of functional illiteracy and at preventing school dropout. The opposition parties criticized the draft laws and voted against them. The two bills go to the Senate for debate and a decisive vote. Also on Wednesday, in Bucharest, the Education trade unions organized a protest rally aimed at drawing attention to the problems facing the Romanian education system. The trade unionists are asking the Government to increase the salaries of the education staff, to pay the extra hours worked by the auxiliary teaching and non-teaching staff, and also to increase the annual investments, and to improve the infrastructure. The union leaders remind that a referendum is under way on the triggering of an all-out strike in education, starting on May 22. Recently, the education minister stated that she is confident that there will be no all-out strike in education, and that the school year will end well.



    Visit – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Wednesday received the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Han Duck-soo, in the context of the latter’s official visit to Bucharest. The President spoke in favor of capitalizing on the potential of bilateral cooperation, showing that the relations between the two countries can register a new qualitative leap, by updating the Strategic Partnership. The Korean official hailed the intensive bilateral dialogue and the intensification of economic cooperation, by increasing mutual investments. At the same time, Han Duck-soo shared the same vision with that of Klaus Iohannis regarding regional and global challenges, against the backdrop of the consequences of the war launched by Russia against Ukraine. With the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, the Seoul official agreed to strengthen relations in areas such as investments and industry, including the defense and cyber security industries. The Korean side expressed readiness to contribute to the construction of the new reactors 3 and 4 at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, as well as to the development of small modular reactors. On this occasion, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between the administrations of the ports of Constanta and Busan in South Korea, the fifth busiest port in the world by tonnage and the largest in Northeast Asia in terms of transshipment capacity.



    Defense – The Chief of the Defense Staff of Romania, General Daniel Petrescu, is taking part on Wednesday and Thursday in the meetings of the NATO Military Committee and the EU Military Committee, respectively. Defense chiefs from the 31 Allied states, with the Swedish chief of defense as a guest, will look at the dynamics of the war in Ukraine. Talks will focus on analyzing the implementation of measures aimed at strengthening NATOs defense and deterrence posture, ahead of the decisions to be made at the NATO Summit in Vilnius. The participants will also look at ways to continue supporting Ukraine. Another major topic of the meeting is the analysis of member and partner states participation in EU missions and operations.



    Independence – Romania celebrated its National Independence Day on Wednesday. On May 10, 1877, Prince Carol I, who would subsequently become the first king of Romania, signed the countrys Proclamation of Independence from the Ottoman Empire. The document had been read in Parliament the day before by the foreign minister Mihail Kogălniceanu, and endorsed by Parliaments two chambers. The occasion was celebrated in Bucharest with a ceremony at the Heroes Monument in front of the National Defense University, while military and religious ceremonies were also held in cities across the country.



    Gaudeamus – The Gaudeamus Radio Romania Book Fair opened its doors on Wednesday in Oradea (north-west). On an area of ​​over 660 square meters, until May 14, editorial events, contests with prizes in books and workshops for children will take place. At this edition, more than 50 brands are present in 45 stands, among which the most prestigious publishing houses and Romanian and foreign book distribution agencies. The editorial offer is completed by a selection of educational games and quality music, as well as by a new area called Bookoteca, for second-hand books. The honorary president of this edition is the historian PhD Constantin Demeter, an active personality in the cultural life of the city.



    Gas – The European Commission launched, on Wednesday, the first-ever international tender for joint purchasing of EU gas supplies in a move to help boost security of supply and tackle high energy prices. The EC representatives say that the joint purchasing of gas will help the European industry not only through prices, but also through the establishment of economic relations for contracting alternatives, given that the member states want to completely eliminate Russian gas from consumption. The first tender will take place until May 15 and targets gas to be delivery as of June 2023 until May 2024. (LS, AMP)



  • May 10, 2022

    May 10, 2022

    MAY 10 – On May 10, Romania
    celebrates Independence Day, the day Romania obtained its independence from the
    Ottoman Empire in 1877 at the end of the Russian-Ottoman war. On this occasion,
    president Klaus Iohannis said independence is one of the pillars of the
    Romanian modern state, while celebrating Independence Day is a suitable
    opportunity to commemorate the milestones that helped create the Romanian
    nation. Also today Romania marks Monarchy Day, which was the National Day of
    Romania from 1866 to 1947. May 10 marks the start of the 48-year-long rule of
    Charles I of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, the first in a dynasty of four kings.
    The Royal Train is today on a symbolic tour of the country to mark this event.
    The train was first used by the Royal House of Romania in 1928. May 10 also
    marks Balkan Romanianness Day. In 2021, president Klaus Iohannis ratified a law
    establishing this day as a public holiday. The event seeks to raise public
    awareness regarding national and cultural solidarity with the Megleno-Romanians
    and Aromanians living in Balkan countries. Over the years, Bucharest
    authorities have provided support to Romanian schools and churches in the
    Balkans by means of various programs and funding projects.




    BANKING – The National Bank of Romania is
    expected to increase the monetary policy interest rate from 3% to 4%. This is a
    substantial increase determined by inflation, which has now reached the highest
    levels of the last decade. The last time the Central Bank increased the
    monetary policy interest rate by 1% was in February 2008. The Bank thus follows
    a wider regional trend, considering that the monetary policy rate is closing in
    on 6% in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Commercial banks will next
    increase their interest rates in order to discourage loan-taking and diminish
    consumption.




    EBRD – The European Bank
    for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered its estimate regarding Romania’s
    economic growth in 2022 and 2023, after an economic recovery of 5.9% reported
    in 2021, determined mainly by private consumption, an EBRD reports reads.
    Romania’s economy is expected to grow by 2.5% this year compared to the
    original forecast of 2.8% issued in March, and by 3% next year, compared to the
    previous estimate of 4.1%. The EBRD also believes that Romanian economy was
    weakened in 2022, the GDP reporting a slump of 0.1% in the last quarter of
    2021.




    EXERCISES – The Getica Training Center in Cincu
    is today hosting the opening ceremony of Resolute Castle 22, a multinational
    exercise involving the participation of military engineers with Romanian Land
    Forces and structures of the US Land Forces Command for Europe and Africa and the
    British Ministry of Defense, the Romanian Ministry of Defense reports. The
    purpose of Resolute Castle 22 is to increase the level of interoperability
    means of constant training and implementing innovative solutions to joint
    engineering problems. Also starting today, the village of Comăneşti in Bacău County is hosting a multinational
    military exercise the will unfold over the course of five days, involving
    military personnel and equipment of the Romanian Defense Ministry and NATO.




    GOVERNMENT – The Government on
    Monday adopted the disbursement of meal vouchers to people with low income. The
    50-meal vouchers will be paid on special cards once a month. Cards will be
    distributed starting June 1. The measure is backed with non-reimbursable EU
    funds. Also on Monday, the Government adopted measures to boost investment,
    such as adjusting prices for construction materials for ongoing projects funded
    by the EU.




    REFUGEES – Approximately 900
    thousand Ukrainian refugees have entered Romania since the start of the war in
    neighboring Ukraine, the Border Police announced. On Monday some 5,530
    Ukrainian citizens entered the country (down by 27.9% compared to the previous
    day). The border police has deployed additional units to the border areas,
    working together with other institutions with a view to sharing data and
    information and taking joint action.




    EUROVISION – The first semi-final of
    the 66th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is held tonight in
    Turin. This is the third edition of Eurovision hosted by Italy, after the ones
    held in Naples in 1965 and Rome in 1991. The first 10 best-ranked countries will
    advance to Saturday’s final. Romania’s representative, WRS, will perform the
    song Llámameˮ in the second semi-final on Thursday. Romania’s best ranking in
    the Eurovision Song Contest was third place in 2006 in Kyiv and in 2010 in Oslo
    (Luminiţa Anghel & Sistem; Paula Seling & Ovi) and fourth place in Athens
    in 2006 (Mihai Trăistariu).




    CHESS – The best-ranked Romanian chess
    player, Bogdan Deac, world no. 59, drew against Iranian-born French player
    Alireza Firouzja, world no. 2, in the fifth round of the Superbet Chess Classic
    Romania 2022 on Monday. Tuesday is a rest day, while tomorrow matches will
    resume as part of round 6. Superbet Chess Classic romania 2022 is the first of
    the five-stage edition of this year’s Grand Chess Tour, being held over May
    5-15. Total prizes stand at some $350,000. (VP)





  • May 10, 2020 UPDATE

    May 10, 2020 UPDATE

    Relaxation of measures — Another 9 people have died of COVID-19 in Romania taking the total death toll to 961 – the Strategic Communication Group announced on Sunday evening, the total tally of coronavirus infections exceeding 15,300. Of the people testing positive for COVID-19, over 7 thousand have recovered. More than 2,750 Romanians from abroad have been infected with the new coronavirus, mostly in Italy, Spain and Great Britain. Since the start of the pandemic, 100 Romanians from abroad have died. In Romania, restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic will be relaxed as of May 15, however, certain rules will have to be strictly observed. People have to wear face masks in enclosed public spaces, in shops, public transportation means and at the work place. Companies and institutions will have to re-schedule employees’ working hours to avoid overcrowding of transportation means and to allow employees to work from home, if possible. Still forbidden are the open-air events and meetings as well as indoor cultural, artistic, sport and religious events.



    COVID – 19 world — Over 4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection have been reported at global level, show data collected by the American University Johns Hopkins. The number of deaths the world over has exceeded 277,000. The US is the hardest hit country by the pandemic, accounting for more than a quarter of the confirmed cases of infection and for one third of the deaths. Experts warn that the real number of infections is probably much higher, given that the testing rate in many countries is quite low. The number of deaths reported daily continues to drop in some states, but there is fear that relaxing restrictions might bring about ‘a second wave’ of contaminations. Moreover, governments are preparing for an economic downturn since the pandemic has affected the global markets and the supply chains.



    Parliament — The Romanian health minister Nelu Tataru, the labor minister Violeta Alexandru and the foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu are called on Monday in Parliament to brief MPs on the way in which they managed the situation during the state of emergency. A sensitive issue on the agenda of discussions is the situation of the Romanian seasonal workers who left to work abroad in full COVID-19 crisis. Minister Bogdan Aurescu needs to explain how the Romanian workers went abroad and why they worked in insecure conditions. The labor minister also has to answer the MPs questions related to the Romanian employees’ furlough and to the promised pension increase and the measures the government is going to take in this respect. The health minister is expected to provide answers related to how many individuals have been tested for COVID-19 so far and how many tests were made across Romania and also to what is going to happen after the easing of restrictions following May 15.



    PSD — The speaker of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies and the interim leader of the Social Democratic Party PSD felt sick during a press briefing held at his party’s headquarters. He was presenting the journalists with some of the provisions of an economic recovery plan called “Restarting Romania.” The press conference was suspended and the official was taken to hospital, the doctors concluding that it was just a fainting spell.



    May 10 — University professors from Cluj (northwest) are asking that May 10, which marks Royalty Day at present, should be declared the National Day of Romania alongside December 1. They suggested the model of Poland, which has two national days, or that of Hungary which has 3 such holidays. May 10 has a triple significance for Romanians: in 1866 the Hohenzollern dynasty was instated in Romania, with the coming to power of the German Prince Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; in 1877 Romania proclaimed its independence after, one day before, Parliament had called on Carol I to sever all ties with the Ottoman Empire; and in 1881 Romania was proclaimed a kingdom. May 10 was the National Day of Romania until 1947 when Romania’s last king Mihai I was ousted by the then puppet Communist regime instated by the Soviet troops. In the past years, May 10 has been marked through various public events in Bucharest and other cities of Romania as well as in the neighboring Republic of Moldova. Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania on Sunday conveyed a message saying that the royal family joins all those who are celebrating the Crown of Romania, the country’s modern history and its aspirations of freedom, progress and democracy. (translation by L. Simion)

  • May 10, 2020

    May 10, 2020

    Relaxation of measures – In Romania restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic will be relaxed as of May 15, however, certain rules will have to be strictly observed. Therefore, people have to wear face masks in enclosed public spaces, in shops, public transportation means and at the work place. Companies and institutions will have to re-schedule employees’ working hours to avoid overcrowding of transportation means and to allow employees to work from home, if possible. Still forbidden are the open-air events and meetings as well as indoor cultural, artistic, sport and religious events. Nevertheless beauty salons, dental clinics and parks will be re-opened and people will be allowed to travel to another city while strictly observing the rules of prevention. The relaxation measures are being publicly debated on the websites of the Interior Ministry and of the National Public Health Institute. The Strategic Communication Group announced that the number of deaths reported in Romania has reached 952, the total tally of coronavirus infections exceeding 15,300. Of the people testing positive for COVID-19, over 7 thousand have recovered. More than 2,75o Romanians from abroad have been infected with the new coronavirus, mostly in Italy, Spain and Great Britain. Since the start of the pandemic 100 Romanians from abroad have died.



    Coronavirus world — The EC has called on member countries and the Schengen associated countries to extent the temporary restriction of non-essential trips within the EU by June 15. Although some member states are already easing restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the situation is still fragile in Europe and the world, the EC officials underlined. Almost 4 million cases of COVID-19 infection have been reported around the world and over 274 thousand deaths, but countries have started to gradually relax restrictions. In Europe the number of new infections is on a downward trend in such states as Italy and Spain. In Europe, the biggest number of deaths has been reported in the UK — over 31 thousand while the number of confirmed infections is way over 211 thousand. In the US the number of deaths has risen to more than 77 thousand and the number of contaminations exceeded 1.2 million against the backdrop of people’s discontent with record unemployment figures.



    Parliament — The Romanian health minister Nelu Tataru, the labor minister Violeta Alexandru and the foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu are called on Monday in Parliament to brief MPs on the way in which they managed the situation during the state of emergency. A sensitive issue on the agenda of discussions is the situation of the Romanian seasonal workers who left to work abroad in full COVID-19 crisis. Minister Bogdan Aurescu needs to explain how the Romanian workers went abroad and why they worked in insecure conditions. The labor minister also has to answer the MPs questions related to the Romanian employees’ furlough and to the promised pension increase and the measures the government is going to take in this respect. The health minister is expected to provide answers related to how many individuals have been tested for COVID-19 so far and how many tests were made across Romania and also to what is going to happen after the easing of restrictions following May 15.



    May 10 — The traditional events held by the Royal House of Romania to mark May 10 have been cancelled. Therefore, the military ceremony and wreath laying at the statue of King Carol I have been cancelled, as well as the open air party at the Elisabeth Palace, which used to be attended by thousands of guests from Romania and the neighboring Republic of Moldova each year. On May 10, 1866 Prince Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen came to Bucharest to be crowned ruler of Romania. Thus, May 10 remained known as Royalty Day. May 10 is equally related to Carol I and a victory of Romania: in 1877 Romania announced its independence from the Ottoman Empire and with Carol I leading the Romanian army and the allied Russian army, Romania won its independence. On May 10, 1881, Prince Carol I was crowned King of Romania. His rule ended after 48 years, being the long rule of a king in history. He was succeeded to the throne by his nephew Ferdinand under whose rule Romania had the largest territorial expansion. The Hohenzollern dynasty ruled Romania until the abdication of King Mihai I in 1947, when the Communists took over power. (tr. L. Simion)



  • Romania has marked Royalty Day

    Romania has marked Royalty Day

    May 10th used to be Romania’s National Day before the coming to power of the communist regime. The communists banned the celebration of this day as it was tightly connected to the history of the Romanian monarchy. On May 10th 1866, prince Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen became the ruler of the United Romanian Principalities. A new Constitution was issued in which the name of Romania was used for the first time in official documents and the new ruler set out to reform and modernize the young Romanian state.



    11 years later, on May 10th 1877, Romania proclaimed its independence from the Ottoman Empire and after four more years, also on May 10th, in 1881, the country officially became a kingdom with Carol 1st crowned king of Romania. The king chose the same day for the crowning ceremony in order to celebrate four years since the country had obtained its independence and 15 years of his rule. May 10th used to be Romania’s national day until 1947 when the communists came to power and forced the abdication of King Mihai 1st, Romania’s fourth and last Sovereign.



    A national holiday nowadays thanks to its triple significance, May 10th is also celebrated by the Royal family and by Romanians through a series of events including a military ceremony, a marathon, an exhibition and a Royal Concert given by the National Radio Orchestra. The peak of these festivities was the traditional Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace, the Bucharest residence of the royal family.



    According to tradition, three of king Mihai’s five daughters, including crown custodian Princess Margareta, have welcomed from the balcony several hundred of guests coming from all over Romania as well as from the neighboring Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova. The princesses addressed the people gathered in the garden where a huge portrait of their father had been posted.



    Tens of doves were released and over 1,000 balloons went up into the sky. A Romanian Army brass band performed on the occasion but the party was shadowed by the remembrance of King Mihai’s death at the age of 96 on December 5th. The king was buried on December 16th in Curtea de Arges, southern Romania, where the other Romanian sovereigns are also buried. “This is the first May 10th without King Mihai but we must go on. For his legacy, for our country. We are very fine and, as I’ve already told you, we are not alone” — Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown said.

  • May 10, 2018

    May 10, 2018

    DIPLOMACY – The Romanian Foreign Ministry is confident that diplomatic efforts will continue towards a real progress and a final and sustainable solution to the Iranian file, reads a communiqué issued by the Ministry. Also, the document states that Romania will keep collaborating with the international community and the US, its main strategic partner, to properly manage the cases concerning nuclear programmes. Bucharests reaction comes after Washington decided to pull out from the nuclear agreement with Iran, against the background of a negative view of the US Administration regarding the policies promoted by Iran and the lack of real guarantees regarding regional policy and the development of its ballistic programme. The historic agreement was concluded in 2015, after 12 years of crisis and 21 months of negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the US, Russia, China France and Great Britain), plus Germany. The document provides for a limitation of the Iranian nuclear programme in exchange for lifting international sanctions. The EU has deeply regretted the USs decision to withdraw from the agreement.



    ROYALTY DAY – May 10th marks three major events in the Romanian history: the beginning of the rule of Carol I, state independence and the coronation of the first king of Romania. The events dedicated to Royalty Day started with a marathon and a military ceremony at the statue of King Carol I, honoring the memory of the founder of the national dynasty and of the Romanian state. Guests from across the country and also from the neighboring Republic of Moldova are expected at the Elisabeta Palace this afternoon to attend the already famous Garden Party. The day will end with the opening of the exhibition titled May 10th, Royalty Day”, organized under the auspices of the Royal House of Romania. The last king of Romania, Michael I, died last year, on December 5th, aged 96. He died in Switzerland, but he was buried on December 16th in Curtea de Arges in Romania, which is also the final resting place for his wife Queen Anne and the other three sovereigns of Romania.



    CONSTITUTIONAL COURT – The Constitutional Court of Romania is today debating the notification filed by Romanias President Klaus Iohannis regarding the law that clears all interdictions applied to MPs in the 2007-2013 period for conflict of interests. The head of state believes that the law lacks clarity and predictability. He has drawn attention to the fact that by removing these interdictions, the stability of the legislative framework is affected with regard to integrity and the law runs counter to the commitments made by Romania under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. We recall that under this mechanism, the European Commission has been monitoring the Romanian judiciary ever since the countrys EU accession in 2007.



    CORRUPTION – The High Court of Cassation and Justice might rule today on the Rovinari-Turceni case, in which the former prime-minister and Social Democratic leader Victor Ponta has been tried for forgery, accessory to tax evasion and money laundering, committed while he was a lawyer. The National Anticorruption Directorate has called for a sentence of imprisonment, and the High Court has so far postponed five times a ruling. Also on trial in the same case is the former Transport Minister and Social Democratic Senator Dan Sova, for accessory to influence peddling, forgery, aggravated tax evasion and money laundering. Prosecutors say that Victor Ponta, through his private practice, got from another law firm, Sova and Associates, the amount of 39,000 Euros for an alleged cooperation, which has not happened in reality. The aim was apparently to award Victor Ponta for the contracts that Sova and Associates concluded with the state-owned energy companies, says the Anticorruption Directorate.



    EUROVISION – The band The Humans is representing Romania at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest hosted by Lisbon with a song titled Goodbye. This evening the band will perform in the second semi-final of the contest, alongside soloists and bands from another 17 countries. 19 countries were represented in the first semi-final held on Tuesday, of which 10 have qualified for the final. Besides Portugal, which is the host country, the so called Eurovision Big Five (Germany, Italy, France, Great Britain and Spain) have qualified straight into the big final due on Saturday. Last year, Portugal won with a song titled Amar pelos dois, performed by Salvador Sobral.



    TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, no.1 in the WTA rankings, is today playing against the Czech Karolina Pliskova, no.6 in the WTA classification, in the quarter finals of the WTA tournament in Madrid, with 6.7 million Euro in prize money. The two players have met seven times before, and the Romanian has won six times. Karolinas only success was at the 2016 Fed Cup. Simona Halep has won the latest two editions of the tournament hosted by the Spanish capital.

  • May 10, 2015

    May 10, 2015

    King’s Day is marked in Bucharest today with a marathon around Herastrau Park, a ceremony at the statue of King Carol I in the Palace Square and a special concert at the Romanian Athenaeum. Radio Romania celebrated the event on Friday with a Royal Concert and the launch of an album called “May 10th. The Royal House of Romania in radio programmes, 1930-1944”. May 10th marks three major events in Romania’s modern history. On May 10th, 1866, Prince Carol, of the German family Hohenzollern–Sigmaringen, was sworn in as ruler of Romania, founding the dynasty that King Mihai I belongs to. On May 10th, 1877, Carol I proclaimed Romania’s independence from the Ottoman Empire, and four years later he was crowned King of Romania. May 10th was Romania’s national holiday until the communists came to power in 1947, forcing Mihai I to leave the throne and the country. King Mihai returned to Romania after the December 1989 revolution, which ended the communist regime. In an interview to Radio Romania, he urged the Romanian people to have faith in the future. Last month, the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest voted that May 10 would be an official holiday in Romania.



    The US Government and private sector are determined to help Romania, a strategic and economic partner, to strengthen its defence line in the cyber sector, said Bruce Andrews, Deputy Secretary of Commerce. Between May 11 and 13, Andrews will head a trade mission of the US Department of Commerce in Bucharest, focusing on cyber security. Given Romania’s economic growth, the skilled labour force and openness to American products, the American businessmen pay growing attention to the opportunities in this country, the US official said in a news release. During the mission, representatives of 20 air companies, some of them operating in Romania for decades already, will analyse business opportunities with current and prospective Romanian partners, and with members of governmental agencies. The mission overlaps a regional cyber security summit held in Bucharest and organised jointly by the governments of Romania and of the USA, with 11 countries in the region taking part.



    The German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold talks in Moscow on Sunday, on the crisis in Ukraine and a possible relaunch of bilateral relations, which are at their lowest in the post-Soviet period. Russia’s trade with its main European economic partner dropped last year by 6.5%, because of the international sanctions on Moscow for its involvement in the Ukrainian crisis. The Radio Romania correspondent in Moscow mentioned that, like many other Western leaders, the Chancellor of Germany boycotted yesterday’s parade in Moscow marking 70 years since the Allies’ victory in World War II.



    Poland is voting today in the first round of a presidential election. The incumbent president, the right-of-center Bronislaw Komorowski, was in the lead in polls, with 35% to 40%, whereas Andrzej Duda, running for the Law and Justice Party, in opposition, looks likely to get 27-29% of the votes. Pawel Kukiz, a 51-year old rock musician, who intends to change the current political system, was ranking third, with 15% – a significant increase from the 6% in early April polls. Another eight candidates, including five anti-EU right-wing populists, are also in the race. According to all polls, Bronislaw Komorowski and Andrzej Duda will face each other in the runoff scheduled for May 24th.



    The Romanian-Indian pair Florin Mergea and Rohan Bopanna are playing on Sunday in the doubles final of the Madrid tennis tournament, worth 4.2 million euros. They defeated the all-Spanish pair Marcel Grannollers and Marc Lopez in three sets. Mergea and Bopanna are playing against Marcin Matkowski (Poland) / Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia).