Radio România Internațional

Tag: Nobel

October 10, 2024 UPDATE

STOCKHOLM – The Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to the South Korean author Han Kang. Last year, the Norwegian writer Jon Fosse was awarded with the high distinction for his innovative plays and prose, which give voice to the unspoken. The Nobel Prize for Literature rewards the most valuable works of all literary genres, from poetry, short story, novel, to plays, essays or speeches. In 2009, the Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to the Romanian-born German writer Herta Müller.

CORRUPTION – The Liberal MP Nelu Tătaru, a doctor and former Minister of Health, is under investigation, on charges of bribe taking. According to prosecutors, between April 3 and July 12, 2024, as a doctor at the hospital in Huși, he allegedly received sums of money between 100 and 500 lei as bribes, as well as foodstuffs, from 45 people, patients and relatives, for surgical interventions, patient consultations, or to issue medical prescriptions. Also, a criminal investigation is conducted in the case another 27 persons suspected of bribe taking, prosecutors announced. According to Romanian law, parliamentarians can be investigated, charged and sent to court for breaking the law, but parliamentary immunity prevents investigators from conducting searches or detaining them, without an opinion from the House of which they belong. Nelu Tătaru was Minister of Health from March to December 2020, the first year of the COVID 19 pandemic. As a result of the investigation, Liberal president Nicolae Ciucă announced that Nelu Tătaru was dismissed from the management of the Vaslui branch of the party and from the leadership of the Health Commission in the Chamber of Deputies.

MOLDOVA – The Republic of Moldova will benefit a financial support package worth 1.8 billion euros in the next three years, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday. The Plan, which is the largest EU financial support package since Moldova’s independence, will boost Moldova’s economy, bring the country closer to EU membership by accelerating reforms and provide significant financial assistance. The Moldova Growth Plan has the potential of doubling the size of the country’s economy in a decade, the European official also said. Investments in schools, hospitals, the development of infrastructure and energy interconnection with Romania and the EU, access facilities to the single European market, but also support in carrying out reforms are the essential elements of the announced plan, Ursula von der Leyen explained. President Maia Sandu thanked for the support offered by the EU to the Republic of Moldova, in recent years, in complicated moments, such as the pandemic crisis or the increase in energy bills following the crisis generated by Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

MEETING – The Romanian Minister of National Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, had a bilateral meeting with his counterpart from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, in Sarajevo. The discussion agenda included topics regarding the strengthening of cooperation in the field of regional security, with an emphasis on the EUFOR Althea mission, in which Romania assumed a significant role. The bilateral defense cooperation agreement, signed in June 2024, was another important topic on the agenda of the two ministers’ discussions. The document establishes the framework for the deepening of military collaboration between the two states, including aspects of joint training, exchange of experience and logistical support.

DIPLOMACY – The head of the diplomatic representation of Romania in Rome, Gabriela Dancău, was designated “Ambassador of the year 2024” in Italy by the publication Gazzetta Diplomatica. The prize is awarded annually in memory of the Italian ambassador Giovanni Giannuzzi. The director of the newspaper, Marco Finelli, said that the Romanian diplomat received numerous votes from ambassadors, Italian parliamentarians, representatives of the business environment and the press. He specified that the ambassador carried out “a high-level and very important activity”. The award ceremony will take place on November 14, at the Rome City Hall.

10 October 2024
October 5, 2023 UPDATE

Summit. Additional anti-drone defense systems will be brought to Romania, in the context of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube, President Klaus Iohannis announced at the summit of the European Political Community that started on Thursday in Granada, Spain. He said the strikes on Ukrainian ports are war crimes because only civilian infrastructures are targeted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a discussion with the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez about military aid and EU enlargement. Sánchez has announced that a decision will be made on Friday regarding the establishment of a new strategy for the European Union regarding its enlargement from 27 to 35 members. He stressed that the enlargement of the EU must be done after a strong reform of the way it functions and how decisions are made in the community block. Related to this topic, the President of Romania stated that it is very important for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to take rapid steps towards European integration, but he termed as “unrealistic” the setting of deadlines for accession. In turn, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has stated that her country has high hopes that accession negotiations will begin in December, after the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding that they begin before the end of the year.

Accident. A Romanian family of four, the parents and two children, residing in Germany, are among the victims of the road accident involving a bus near Venice, which left 21 dead and 15 wounded. The vehicle fell off a bridge and caught fire. All the dead have been identified and the municipality decreed three days of mourning on Wednesday. The family was spending their holiday in Mestre. The real cause of the accident remains unknown. The prosecutors office in Venice has opened an investigation into the accident.

Government. The Romanian government approved on Thursday the emergency ordinance that regulates the betting and gambling industry. Thus, betting companies must be based in Romania. Also, in order to protect players or people at risk, alcohol will no longer be sold in gambling spaces, and slot machine games will no longer be allowed in bars. Other aspects concern advertising and publicity for gambling, while the annual licensing fees will rise considerably. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has stated that huge profits of such companies ending up outside the country must stop. “Its not normal for the betting industry to have so much power,” he said. The executives attention is also focused on a mechanism to protect Romanian farmers and national production from grain imports from Ukraine, after the lifting of restrictions by the European Commission. Ciolacu stated that the mechanism agreed with all the parties involved will allow the import only on the basis of an authorization for limited quantities of grain and will apply only to Romanian farmers and processors who demonstrate that they need to replenish their stocks.

Central Bank. The National Bank of Romania has maintained the monetary policy interest rate at 7% per year, a value set in January 2023. The Board has also kept unchanged the interest rate at which commercial banks can borrow from the Central Bank and the one they receive when keeping their money in deposits established at the central bank. According to current assessments, the annual inflation rate will continue to decrease until the end of the current year. Starting from 2024, inflation will be influenced by the existence of major risks arising from the new fiscal-budgetary measures adopted by the government and the degree of absorption of European funds, but also by the war in Ukraine and economic developments below expectations in Europe.

Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court of Romania decided, on Thursday, that the law prohibiting the aggregation of pension and salary is unconstitutional. The Court ruled that the published provisions regarding the prohibition of combining the pension with the salary contravene the fundamental right to work, guaranteed by the Constitution. On June 29, the High Court of Cassation and Justice notified the Constitutional Court regarding the amendments to the law on service pensions and to the law on the aggregation of the pension with the salary. Both laws were endorsed by Parliament on June 28. The law is now going back to Parliament.

Nobel. Norwegian writer Jon Fosse was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday for “his innovative plays and prose that give voice to the unsayable,” the Nobel Committee announced. Last year, the award went to French author Annie Ernaux “for the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory”. The 2023 Nobel season will continue with the awarding of the Peace Prize on October 6. The Riksbank Sveriges Prize in Economic Sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel will be announced on October 9. (MI)

5 October 2023
October 3, 2023 UPDATE

NOBEL – Researchers Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne LHuillier are the winners of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics. They were awarded for “experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter”, according to a press release by the Nobel Committee. In 2022, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to researchers Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for revolutionary discoveries in the field of quantum mechanics.

EXERCISE – The Valahia 2023 exercise is taking place as of Tuesday at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (south-eastern Romania). The exercise, which simulates a nuclear accident, is organized by the National Commission for the Control of Nuclear Activities and benefits the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority. By simulating a nuclear accident at the Cernavodă power plant, the emergency intervention capacities of all actors involved will be tested, as well as the assistance received from international partners. Valahia 2023 aims to improve nuclear security and safety in Romania, increase resilience to disaster and prepare to respond to nuclear and radiologic events. The exercise is funded through the Norwegian financial mechanism.

KYIV – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu, emphasized in Kyiv, the importance of continuing the European Unions multidimensional support for Ukraine, which was invaded by Russian troops, including through the creation of a military fund within the European Peace Facility. She expressed her strong dissaproval of Russias attacks on the civil infrastructure in Ukraine, in the close vicinity of Romania, and emphasized the need for a long-term strategic regional approach, in which the Republic of Moldova would be included. Luminiţa Odobescu participated, on Monday, in the informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU member states – the Council of Foreign Affairs (CAE), organized in Kyiv.

DRUGS – The Interior Ministry has drawn up special measures to combat drug trafficking in schools, Minister Cătălin Predoiu said Tuesday, in Parliament. He was invited to the Government Hour, at the request of the opposition party USR, to present the actions taken to combat the consumption of high-risk substances. Predoiu also said that the fight against drug and human trafficking and organized crime is a priority of his mandate, and that, during the last three months, 44 organized groups were dismantled and hundreds of kilograms of prohibited substances were confiscated. USR MPs, however, were unsatisfied with the answers received, arguing there are drugs in schools and no large network is being destroyed. They also told Minister Predoiu that he had corrupt people under his command. The Liberal minister responded to these accusations by saying that USR uses the drama caused by drug use for their election agenda.

GYMNASTICS — The Romanian womens gymnastics team qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, after coming out 8th in the qualifications of the 52nd edition of the World Championships in Antwerp (Belgium). Romania thus returns to the Olympic Games after a 12-year break, its last participation being in London in 2012. As many as 12 gymnastics teams will take part in the 2024 Olympics. The US, Britain and Canada already had their participation secured. Romania now has 60 athletes qualified for next year’s Olympic Games. (EE)

3 October 2023
October 4, 2022 UPDATE

ESPIONAGE Prosecutors with the Directorate Investigating Organised
Crime and Terrorism Offences (DIICOT) have indicted 4 Romanian and foreign
nationals as part of an espionage inquiry targeting the Serbian company NIS
Petrol, a subsidiary of the Russian energy giant Gazprom. Prosecutors have
ordered searches in Bucharest and Timișoara, both at the company headquarters, and
at the homes of a number of employees, confiscating documents and data storage devices.
The four are accused of having traded classified information and of
facilitating the unauthorised transfer of data concerning Romania’s mineral reserves,
prosecutors say. In 2009, Gazprom bought the majority stake in NIS under an
agreement signed by Belgrade and Moscow.

ECONOMY Romania’s economy
is expected to grow by 4.6% this year, the World Bank announced on Tuesday. The
estimate is better than the one made public in June, when the figure only
stood at 2.9%. The improvement is based on robust private consumption and early
signs that investments would pick up, but the outlook depends on the
developments in Ukraine and their impact on the European economy on the whole,
the institution says.

MOTION USR Deputies, in opposition, together with MPs from the Force
of the Right, have tabled a simple motion in the Chamber of Deputies against
the interior minister Lucian Bode, whom they accuse of incompetence and
protecting party interests. The USR leader Cătălin Drulă says Bode must answer,
among other things, to allegations that the Romanian Police purchased new cars
through public procurement procedures that favoured companies linked to the Liberal
Party. Bode is also criticised for failing to reach a number of targets,
including the electronic monitoring of offenders and the interior
ministry reform. The motion will be discussed and voted on next Tuesday.

LEGISLATION A draft law regulating the judge and prosecutor
professions was endorsed on Tuesday in the Chamber of Deputies. The bill had
passed all the required stages of the legislative process, including the approval
of the Higher Council of Magistrates, the justice minister Cătălin Predoiu said.
The act was criticised however by the USR and AUR parties, in opposition. The
decision-making body in this case is the Senate. The bill is the 3rd
normative act in a law package regulating the judiciary, next to one on the
Higher Council of Magistrates and the organisation of courts, which have
already been endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies.

FUNDING Romania may get about EUR 1.5 billion for energy
independence projects and for fighting energy poverty, following the
endorsement of the REpowerEU plan by the Economic and Financial Council in
Luxembourg. Romania is the 6th EU member state to benefit from the
new funding, said the finance minister Adrian Câciu. He explained that during
negotiations the funding earmarked for Romania practically doubled compared to
the original proposal made by the European Commission this May.

NOBEL The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to
Alain Aspect (France), John F. Clauser (USA) and Anton Zeillinger (Austria) for
their revolutionary experiments with entangled photons, establishing the
violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science.
Their findings have laid the foundation for a new era of quantum technology. (AMP)

4 October 2022
07.10.2021

Coronavirus -14 467 nouveaux cas de contamination au coronavirus ont été comptabilisés en Roumanie ces dernières 24 heures, sur 66 000 tests effectués au niveau national – a informé jeudi le Groupe de communication stratégique. 263 décès des suites de l’infection ont également été rapportés. 1 556 malades graves sont actuellement en réanimation. A présent, il ne reste plus de lits disponibles dans les unités de soins intensifs pour les malades de Covid-19, autres que les lits réservés aux patients soufrant de certaines pathologies qui sont testés positifs au coronavirus. Par ailleurs, l’exécutif de Bucarest a prolongé l’état d’urgence pour encore 30 jours à partir du 10 octobre. Autre décision des autorités : dans les communes où le taux d’incidence est supérieur à 6 cas pour mille habitants, le port du masque de protection est obligatoire à l’extérieur, sauf dans les rues ou les endroits peu fréquentés. Sont également exemptés les personnes qui se promènent dans les parcs, ceux qui font du sport et les cyclistes.

Energie – Les leaders des pays
européens, réunis hier en Slovénie, ont affiché leurs divisions
quant à la flambée des prix de l’énergie, relate l’AFP. D’un côté, la Roumanie,
la France, l’Espagne, la République Tchèque et la Grèce réclament une approche
européenne commune. De l’autre, l’Allemagne et les Pays-Bas prônent la
patience, arguant qu’il s’agit d’une situation temporaire liée aux limites de l’offre,
contrecoup de la crise sanitaire et sur fond de reprise économique. Bruxelles
proposera le 13 octobre un arsenal de mesures temporaires, mais il faudra
attendra le prochain sommet des chefs d’État et de gouvernement de l’UE, les 21
et 22 octobre, pour discuter des adaptations à plus long terme.

Auto
– Les immatriculations de véhicules neufs ont progressé en Roumanie de 4,3% de
janvier à septembre 2021 par rapport à la même période de l’année 2020. En même
temps, les véhicules électriques, les
hybrides et les hybrides rechargeable ont atteint un taux de marché
de 12%, en progression de 1,8% rapporté à janvier-septembre 2020, selon les
chiffres officiels. Les véhicules à essence ont connu une légère progression et
totalisent 67% des immatriculations, alors que les diesel ont connu un recul de
6,2% et comptent pour 21% du total des véhicules neufs immatriculées cette
année en Roumanie.

Nobel – Le Prix Nobel de littérature 2021 a été attribué au romancier tanzanien Abdulrazak Gurnah, a annoncé jeudi l’Académie suédoise, relate l’AFP. L’auteur a été récompensé pour sa narration « empathique et sans compromis des effets du colonialisme et du destin des réfugiés pris entre les cultures et les continents ». Né en 1948 a Zanzibar et exilé au Royaume-Uni depuis un demi-siècle, il est le premier auteur africain a recevoir la plus prestigieuse des récompenses littéraires depuis 2003, et le cinquième du continent au total. Les récompenses pour la médecine, la physique et la chimie ont été officialisées en début de semaine et vendredi ça sera au tour du lauréat ou de la lauréate du Prix Nobel de la paix à être dévoilé.e.

Handball – L’équipe féminine de
Roumanie de handball a remporté mercredi le match à domicile contre l’équipe
des Iles Féroé, score 26-19, dans le groupe 2 des éliminatoires du Championnat
d’Europe 2021-2022. Aujourd’hui, dans le même groupe, le Danemark rencontre
l’Autriche. La Roumanie jouera son prochain match à l’extérieur, le 10 octobre,
avec l’Autriche. Les équipes occupant les deux premières places du groupe se
qualifieront pour le tournoi final, qui aura lieu en novembre 2022 en Slovénie,
Macédoine du Nord et Monténégro.

Tennis – La joueuse roumaine de tennis Irina
Begu s’est qualifiée pour le deuxième tour du tournoi d’Indian Wells, en Californie.
La sportive a vaincu la Française Fiona Ferro 6-2, 7-6. Une autre Roumaine, Gabriela
Ruse, a quitté le tournoi dès le premier tour, après une défaite en deux sets,
6-3, 7-6, devant Alize Cornet, de France. Simona Halep et Sorana Cîrstea joueront
directement au deuxième tour de la compétition américaine. Halep rencontrera l’Ukrainienne
Marta Kostiuk, et Cârstea affrontera Misaki Doi, de Japon.

Météo – Le vent connaîtra des
intensifications sur une grande partie de la Roumanie jusqu’à vendredi matin.
Les rafales atteindront 45 à 55 km/h dans le sud, l’est, le nord-ouest et le
centre du pays. Le département de Caraş Serverin, situé dans le sud-ouest de la
Roumanie, est en vigilance jaune vents forts, avec des rafales pouvant
atteindre les 90 à 100 hm/h. Les températures sont basses partout sur le
territoire, avec des maximales allant de 11°C seulement à 19°. Ciel couvert et
12° à midi à Bucarest.

7 October 2021
07.10.2021

Coronavirus – L’état d’urgence a été prolongé en Roumanie pour encore 30 jours à partir du 10 octobre. La décision de l’exécutif de Bucarest était attendue, alors que les autorités sanitaires rapporte quotidiennement environ 15 000 nouveaux cas de contamination au coronavirus. Le port du masque de protection est devenu obligatoire à l’extérieur dans les communes où le taux d’incidence dépasse les 6 cas pour mille habitants, sauf dans les rues ou les endroits peu fréquentés. Sont également exemptés les personnes qui font du sport ou autres activités en plein air et les cyclistes.

Energie – Les leaders des pays européens, réunis hier à Ljubljana en Slovénie, ont affiché leurs divisions quant à la flambée des prix de l’énergie, relate l’AFP. D’un côté, la Roumanie, la France, l’Espagne, la République Tchèque et la Grèce réclament une approche européenne commune. De l’autre, l’Allemagne et les Pays-Bas prônent la patience, arguant qu’il s’agit d’une situation temporaire liée aux limites de l’offre, contrecoup de la crise sanitaire et sur fond de reprise économique. Bruxelles proposera le 13 octobre un arsenal de mesures temporaires, mais il faudra attendra le prochain sommet des chefs d’État et de gouvernement de l’UE, les 21 et 22 octobre, pour discuter des adaptations à plus long terme.

Auto – Les immatriculations de véhicules neufs ont progressé en Roumanie de 4,3% de janvier à septembre 2021 par rapport à la même période de l’année 2020. En même temps, les véhicules électriques, les hybrides et les hybrides rechargeable ont atteint un taux de marché de 12%, en progression de 1,8% rapporté à janvier-septembre 2020, selon les chiffres officiels. Les véhicules à essence ont connu une légère progression et totalisent 67% des immatriculations, alors que les diesel ont connu un recul de 6,2% et comptent pour 21% du total des véhicules neufs immatriculées cette année en Roumanie.

Nobel – Le Prix Nobel de littérature sera dévoilé ce jeudi, après les récompenses pour la médecine, la physique et la chimie officialisées en début de semaine. L’année dernière, le Nobel de littérature a été accordé à la poétesse américaine Louise Glück « pour sa voix poétique caractéristique, qui, avec sa beauté austère, rend l’existence individuelle universelle », avait motivé son choix l’Académie suédoise. Deux écrivains ont refusé par le passé le prix Nobel : le russe Boris Pasternak, obligé par l’Union soviétique de refuser la distinction en 1958, et le Français Jean-Paul Sartre qui l’a refusé de son propre gré en 1964. Accepter le prix Nobel de littérature l’aurait transformé en « institution », « élevé sur un piédestal » alors qu’il n’avait pas « fini d’accomplir des choses », « de prendre ma liberté et d’agir, de m’engager, avait expliqué l’écrivain. Demain, vendredi, ça sera au tour du lauréat ou de la lauréate du Prix Nobel de la paix à être dévoilé.e.

Tennis – La joueuse roumaine de tennis Irina Begu s’est qualifiée pour le deuxième tour du tournoi d’Indian Wells, en Californie. La sportive a vaincu la Française Fiona Ferro 6-2, 7-6. Une autre Roumaine, Gabriela Ruse, a quitté le tournoi dès le premier tour, après une défaite en deux sets, 6-3, 7-6, devant Alize Cornet, de France. Simona Halep et Sorana Cîrstea joueront directement au deuxième tour de la compétition américaine. Halep rencontrera l’Ukrainienne Marta Kostiuk, et Cârstea affrontera Misaki Doi, de Japon.

Météo – Le vent connaîtra des intensifications sur une grande partie de la Roumanie jusqu’à vendredi matin. Les rafales atteindront 45 à 55 km/h dans le sud, l’est, le nord-ouest et le centre du pays. Le département de Caraş Serverin, situé dans le sud-ouest de la Roumanie, est en vigilance jaune vents forts, avec des rafales pouvant atteindre les 90 à 100 hm/h. Les températures sont basses partout sur le territoire, avec des maximales allant de 11°C seulement à 19°. Ciel couvert et 12° à midi à Bucarest.

7 October 2021
October 6, 2020

COVID-19 On Tuesday in Romania record-high figures were reported both in terms of the number of deaths (73) and patients taken in intensive care in the last 24 hours (608). 2, 121 new infection cases were also reported, taking the total number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic to nearly 140,000. Some 110,000 of them have recovered. Romanian authorities announce new restrictions in localities with more that 1.5 cases per thousand capita in the past 14 days. The National Committee for Emergency Situations last night requested county committees to look at the local situation and introduce additional containment measures, such as banning private events or closing restaurants. Restrictions will also be introduced for travelers coming from countries with more coronavirus cases than Romania.

INDUSTRY The Romanian airspace company Romaero received from the American firm Raytheon a first order for components for Patriot anti-missile systems, more specifically for parts that will be included in the construction of the Patriot radar. After this first order has been completed, the Romanian company will have a chance to receive subsequent orders from all the 17 countries that own Patriot systems. Romaero is the second Romanian company to receive orders for parts and pieces, after Aerostar Bacău in 2019.

DEFENCE Romanias Supreme Defence Council is holding an online meeting today, chaired by president Klaus Iohannis, to look at defence and national security issues. The agenda includes topics like such as a strategic defence analysis, the White Paper on Defence, the implementation plan for the national defence strategy 2020 – 2024. The last meeting of the Council was held in late May. PM Ludovic Orban, deputy chairman of the Council, requested a COVID-19 test on Monday, after he was recently on a TV set with a person who tested positive for the virus. The Government subsequently announced that the test was negative, but that the PM will stay in quarantine until Thursday, working without physical contact with any other individuals. Ludovic Orban will be tested again on Thursday.

EUROSTAT Romania has imported face masks worth 272 million euros in the first half of 2020, according to data made public by Eurostat today. In the first 6 months of the year compared to 2019, the EUs face masks imports rose 1,800%, from 800 million euro to 14 billion euro. Data per capita point to substantial differences between member states. Luxembourg, which distributes face masks under a governmental policy, has imported by far the largest number of such products per capital in the EU (121 euro per capita). Next come Belgium, Germany and France, the only countries with imports above 50 euro per capita. At the opposite pole, imports were under 10 euro per capita in Cyprus, Poland, Sweden, Croatia, Greece and Bulgaria. Romania is ranked in the lower half of the list, with face masks imports amounting to 14 euro per inhabitant.

NOBEL Scientists Roger Penrose (UK),
Reinhard Genzel (Germany) and Andrea Ghez (USA) were awarded on Tuesday the Nobel
Prize for physics for their discoveries related to black holes. On Monday, researchers Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2020, for the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus. The recipients of the Nobel Prize for chemistry, literature and peace will also be announced this week. The winner of the Nobel Prize for Economy will be made public on October 12. With the latter’s exception, the other Nobel Prizes were created by the Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), the inventor of the dynamite. In 2020, each Nobel Prize will be accompanied by a $1.1 million check, which is more than in previous years. The Nobel Awards organisers have announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the prize recipients will most likely receive their awards in their home countries, without having to attend an award ceremony in Stockholm.

PANDEMIC The total number of COVID-19 cases worldwide is over 35.7 million, with over 1 million deaths, according to worldometers updates. The US president Donald Trump returned to the White House, after receiving treatment for the virus. He urged people, in a video message, not to be scared or overwhelmed by this disease. The US remains the country with the largest number of cases and deaths in the world. Record-high figures are also reported in a growing number of European countries, and additional protection measures are introduced across the continent. The Czech Republic and Slovakia reintroduced a state of emergency on Monday. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

6 October 2020
October 5, 2020 UPDATE

COVID-19 1,591 new cases of COVID-19 and 45 new fatalities have been reported nationwide in the last 24 hours, the Group for Strategic Communication announced on Monday. The total number of infections stands at 137,491, while the death toll stands at 5,048. 108,526 patients have recovered. There are currently 592 people in intensive care. 6,702 Romanians living abroad have tested positive for SARS CoV-2, while 126 have died. Most of these cases have been reported in Germany, Italy and Spain. The negative evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in recent days does not require the reintroduction of the state of emergency, authorities say, insisting however on the importance of basic health safety measures, such as the wearing of face masks, observing physical distance and rigorous hand hygiene. The head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, warned that harsher restrictions might be introduced in those areas where the infection rate has gone up significantly.

LOCAL ELECTIONS The unaffiliated candidate Nicuşor Dan, backed by the Liberals and the USR-PLUS alliance, won the election for Bucharest Mayor General with 42.81% of the votes (282,631), according to the final results of the local elections in Bucharest, posted on the home page of the Permanent Electoral Authority. The Social Democratic candidate Gabriela Firea got 37.97% of the votes, followed by Traian Băsescu, from the Peoples Movement Party, with 10.99%, Florin Călinescu (Green Party) with 2.08% and Călin Popescu Tăriceanu (ALDE) with 1.49%. In the Bucharest General Council, the Social Democratic Party holds 21 seats, followed by USR – PLUS with 17, the Liberals with 12 and the Peoples Movement Party with 5 seats. The turnout at the Bucharest local election on September 27 was 36.76%.

PRIME MINISTER On Monday Prime Minister Ludovic Orban tested negative for the COVID-19, but he will stay in quarantine until Thursday, working without physical contact with any other individuals, the Government announced. According to the source, the test was voluntary. The prime minister will be tested again on Thursday, 10 days after he was on a TV shooting set with a person who tested positive for the virus.

DEFENCE Romanias Supreme Defence Council will hold an online meeting on Tuesday, chaired by president Klaus Iohannis, to look at defence and national security issues, such as a defence strategic analysis, the White Paper on Defence, the implementation plan for the national defence strategy 2020 – 2024, national security risks, threats and vulnerabilities forecast for next year, the Presidency announced. The last meeting of the Council was held in late May.

ELECTION The investigation of local election fraud allegations and the elimination of taxes for three years in the hospitality industry rank high on Parliament’s agenda this week. Another topic under debate is the proposed postponement of the legislative election to March 14, 2021. The date originally set for the legislative election is December 6. Unaffiliated MP Adrian Dohotaru, who tabled this proposal, claims the legislative election should be postponed due to the alarming increase in the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Romania and the growing pressure on the health care system.

NOBEL PRIZE The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020 has been awarded jointly to researchers Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice for the discovery of Hepatitis C virus. The recipients of the Nobel Prize for physics, chemistry, literature and peace will also be announced this week. The winner of the Nobel Prize for Economy will be made public on October 12. With the latter’s exception, the other Nobel Prizes were created by the Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), the inventor of the dynamite. In 2020, each Nobel Prize will be accompanied by a $1.1 million check, which is more than in previous years. In 2019 the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to American researchers William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza and to British researcher Peter Ratcliffe for their study on how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability. The Nobel Awards organizers have announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the prize recipients will most likely receive their awards in their home countries, without having to attend an award ceremony in Stockholm. (translated by A.M. Popescu, V. Palcu)

5 October 2020
October 11, 2019

CONSULTATIONS In Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis has a first round of consultations with the parliamentary parties today, after Mrs Dancilas Social Democratic Cabinet was dismissed through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. The first to talk to the President were the Liberals. After the discussions, the Liberal leader Ludovic Orban said the National Liberal Party would prefer early elections, but that they are prepared to take over power. Save Romania Union, the next party invited to the Presidency, said they wanted early elections, which according to the party would put an end to the political crisis. The head of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, Kelemen Hunor, nominated a PM from his own party, and offered the alternatives of an independent prime minister from the financial sector or of a government headed by the Liberal leader. The head of the Peoples Movement Party Eugen Tomac voiced lack of confidence in the early election scenario and urged the President to consider the nomination of a prime minister from PMP. The Social Democrats, scheduled to be the last to see Iohannis today, announced they did not accept the invitation. The President said he wanted a Cabinet with a clearly defined mission, to ensure responsible and efficient governing until the forthcoming parliamentary elections, irrespective of their date.

ELECTION In Romania, the campaign for Novembers presidential election officially starts on Saturday, with 14 candidates in the race, including the incumbent President Klaus Iohannis, backed by the Liberals in opposition, the incumbent PM Viorica Dăncilă, backed by the Social Democratic Party, Dan Barna, backed by the USR-PLUS Alliance, Theodor Paleologu (Peoples Movement Party), Mircea Diaconu, supported by ALDE and Pro Romania, and Kelemen Hunor from the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania. Cătălin Ivan, Ninel Peia, Sebastian-Constantin Popescu, John-Ion Banu, Ramona-Ioana Bruynseels and Viorel Cataramă represent political parties from outside Parliament, whereas Bogdan Stanoevici and Alexandru Cumpănaşu run as unaffiliated candidates. The first round of the presidential election is due on November 10th, and the second on the 24th. Under a government order, the Romanians living abroad will be able to vote between November 8th and 10th in the first round, and again for 3 days, November 22nd to 24th, in the second round.

NATURAL GAS The ‘Transgaz’ SA National Gas Transport Company and Russias ‘Gazprom Export’ have agreed to extend their natural gas transport contract by another 3 months, until December 31. According to Transgaz, this extension ensures the continuity of natural gas transport from Russia to Turkey, Greece and other south-east European countries. Transgaz SA is the technical operator of the National Transport System for natural gas, and ensures the efficient, transparent, safe, fair and competitive implementation of the national strategy regarding the domestic and international natural gas transport, as well as research and design in the natural gas sector.

NOBEL Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, “for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. Ethiopia and Eritrea, involved in a war over disputed border territory between 1998 and 2000, resumed official relations in July 2018, after years of hostility. On Thursday, the 2018 Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk, after the postponement triggered by the sex assault scandal at the Swedish Academy, and the 2019 Prize went to Austrian Peter Handke. The last Nobel Prize this year is the one for economics, to be awarded on Monday.

FOOTBALL Romanias youth national team defeated Ukraine, 3-0 at home on Thursday night, in a match in Group 8 of the Euro 2021 qualifiers. On Monday the Romanians are to take on Northern Ireland, also on home turf. Last month, Romania lost its first qualifier game, 1-2 away from home against Denmark. The group also includes Finland and Malta. In June, Romanias Under 21 team qualified for the first time into the semi-finals of the continental tournament in Italy and San Marino, securing their tickets for next years Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile, the national team plays on Saturday against the Faroe Islands away from home, and on Tuesday against Norway at home, in Group F of next years European Championship. The group draw for Euro 2020 takes place in Bucharest on November 30. The Romanian capital city will also host 4 matches in the final tournament, 3 in the group stage and one in the round of 16.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

11 October 2019
October 7, 2019 UPDATE

JHA Romania’s Justice Minister, Ana Birchall, is attending the first Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting held under the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The 2-day meeting will focus on EU measures against corruption, combating cross-border crime by means of Eurojust, electronic evidence and the creation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. EU officials will also discuss the EU’s accession to the European Court of Human Rights, combating hate speech online, the protection of personal data as well as the relation between democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. Minister Birchall will meet with counterparts from Member States on the sidelines of the event.

MEETING The Romanian Foreign Minister Ramona Mănescu Monday had a meeting in Bucharest with the US Ambassador in Romania, Hans Klemm. The 2 officials initiated a monthly consultation process designed to cover all topics of bilateral interest. The Romanian Foreign Minister reiterated the countrys firm commitment to further broadening the cooperation between Romania and the US, including, among other things, by tapping the potential generated by the recently signed Memorandum of Agreement on cooperation in the civilian nuclear energy field. Ramona Mănescu also expressed Romanias interest in consolidating dialogue with the USA on all the topics related to regional security, including in terms of energy security. The parties also emphasised the positive effect of top-level visits to Washington and New York with respect to strengthening the strategic partnership between Romania and the US.

CHECKS Transport Minister Razvan Cuc announced additional checks and safety measures will be implemented in traffic considering that last week was marked by numerous accidents, the most serious of which killed 10 people and injured 7. The driver of a truck collided with a minibus on the oncoming lane, preliminary data indicating the possibility he might have fallen asleep while driving. A mixed task force made of representatives of the Police and the State Inspectorate for Traffic Control will examine tachographs to inspect rest hours for professional drivers.

CYBER THREATS Over half of European citizens say they aren’t sufficiently informed regarding cyber threats, 70% of enterprises stating they hold minimum knowledge regarding such risks while 80% of European enterprises having faced at least one cyber-security incident. The statement was made earlier today by Communications Minister Alexandru Popescu in Bucharest. The Romanian official said the authorities continue to invest significant resources in increasing the level of knowledge, training and pre-emptive capacity, as well as response capabilities in case of cyber-attacks. Minister Popescu went on to say that Romania has enhanced its cyber diplomacy by signing a memorandum of understanding this year with Israel, Poland and the United States regarding the cyber security of hardware and software infrastructure, of telecom networks and systems, including 5G.

NOBEL The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine on Monday was jointly awarded to William Kaelin Jr., Sir Peter Ratcliffe and Gregg Semenza for their pioneering research into how human cells respond to changing oxygen levels. The Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine is the first in the series of Nobel prizes awarded at this time of the year. Last year, the Nobel Prize went on to American researcher James P. Allison and Japanese scholar Tasuku Honjo for their achievements regarding the treatment of cancer.

FOOTBALL Romania’s national football team met in Bucharest to train for the matches to be played against the Faeroe Islands on October 12 and against Norway at home, on October 15, in the 2020 European Championship preliminaries. Spain is currently top of the tables with 18 points, followed by Sweden with 11 points, Romania with 10 points, Norway with 9 points, Malta with 3 points and the Faeroe Islands with zero points. The top two teams in each group will advance to the Championship. The draw for the 2020 European Championship will be held in Bucharest on November 30. Bucharest will host four matches, three in the group phase and one in the round of 16. Romania’s under-21 team is also playing Ukraine on Thursday at home, and Northern Ireland next Monday, also at home, as part of the 2021 European Championship preliminaries. We recall that this year Romania’s under-21 team reached the semi-finals of the European Championship hosted by Italy and San Marino.

(translated by: Vlad Palcu, Ana-Maria Popescu)

7 October 2019
October 8, 2018 UPDATE

REFERENDUM – 21.10% of the Romanian eligible voters took part in the referendum for rephrasing the constitutional definition of family as being based on the marriage of a man and a woman, rather than of “spouses, as it is at present. According to final data provided by the Central Election Bureau, the voter turnout in the 2 days of the vote, Saturday and Sunday, was below the validation threshold. To be validated, the referendum needed a minimum 30% turnout. Out of the participants in the referendum, some 91.5% voted in favour of changing the Constitution article, and only 6.5% voted against. The bill revising the Constitution was passed in Parliament and was based on a citizen initiative signed by 3 million people. On the other hand, the minister delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu announced that a bill regulating civil partnership will be tabled to Parliament next week. The bill is finalized, and it has been discussed with partners in political parties and civil society, Negrescu said.

INTERVIEW – The Prosecutor Department of the Higher Magistracy Council in Romania Monday issued a negative opinion on Adina Florea, nominated by the Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, for the position of chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate. The Councils opinion is consultative, and the appointment decision must be made by President Klaus Iohannis. In the project with which she applied for the post, Adina Florea says that, apart from the good things, the activity of anti-corruption prosecutors in recent years also comprised deviations from the requirements of the rule of law. The office of chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate has been vacant since July, when Laura Codruţa Kovesi was removed from office by President Klaus Iohannis, who was forced to implement a Constitutional Court ruling. In this respect as well, the Higher Council of Magistracy issued a negative consultative report.

MOTION – The Chamber of Deputies Monday debated a simple motion filed by the National Liberal Party, in opposition, against Economy Minister Danut Andrusca. The Liberals accuse Andrusca of deliberately destabilizing the country’s economy. According to the motion text, “industrial activity failed nearly to zero in August, the lowest level since February, economic growth is offset by inflation and managers expectations for the next 6 months remain pessimistic. Meanwhile, Liberal Deputies also filed on Monday a simple motion against the Culture Minister George Ivascu, whom they accuse of being unable to coordinate the historical celebration of December 1, when Romania marks the Union Centennial.

HEARING – The High Court of Cassation and Justice Monday postponed for November 5th the first hearing in the appeal filed by Social-Democrat leader and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea against a 3-and-a-half-year prison sentence from the court of first instance. In June, the court handed Dragnea this sentence for instigation to abuse of office. Anticorruption prosecutors say Liviu Dragnea ordered the fictitious employment of two party members at the Social Assistance and Child Protection Directorate. The two were paid with taxpayer money, although they allegedly worked exclusively for the Social-Democratic Party. Liviu Dragnea denied the accusations. In 2016, Dragnea was handed a suspended 2-year prison sentence for attempted election fraud. This summer the High Court cancelled the ruling to suspend the prison sentence. Dragnea is also prosecuted for abuse of office in 2 other cases, one of them re-opened last week, further to reports coming from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

JUDICIARY – The Romanian Supreme Court postponed for November 5 an appeal filed by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate against the acquittal of constitutional court judge Toni Grebla. In May, a Constitutional Court 3-judge panel dismissed the charges against Grebla, who had been indicted in 2015 for influence peddling, forgery, financial operations incompatible with his office, and setting up an organised crime group. In a government re-shuffling announced for October, Toni Greblă might become a secretary general of the Government. The president of the Social Democratic Party in power, Liviu Dragnea, proposed Grebla for this office in a late September meeting of the partys National Executive Committee.

EUROPEAN WEEK OF REGIONS – The 2018 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities started in Brussels on Monday, in the presence of European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Cretu, the head of the European Committee of the Regions, Karl-Heinz Lambertsz and European Parliament vice-president, Pavel Telicka. This year’s edition is a special one, devoted to the European Commission’s cohesion policy proposal for 2021-2027. Decision-makers and local, regional, national and European experts will take part in a series of debates as part of the most important event devoted to cohesion policies at European level.

NOBEL – The Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded this year to the Americans William Nordhaus and Paul Romer, for integrating climate change and technological innovation into long-run macroeconomic analysis. The Nobel in economics was introduced in 1968 by Swedens Central Bank and was first granted in 1969. Unlike the other Nobel prizes, which are funded by the Nobel Foundation, this award is financed by the Central Bank of Sweden. The 2018 Nobel season has concluded with the award of this last prize.

INTERPOL – The Interpol chief, Meng Hongwei, is probed into for bribe taking and other alleged offences, Chinas Ministry of State Security announced on Monday. Beijing confirmed that Meng Hongwei, who is also the deputy Minister for State Security in China, has resigned as Interpol chief. Meng Hongwei, 64, was announced missing last week, while on a trip to his home country. The Interpol will elect a new president at the General Assembly scheduled for next week in Dubai.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

8 October 2018
October 5, 2018 UPDATE

REFERENDUM — Nearly 19 million Romanian voters are invited on Saturday and Sunday to vote on a proposed redefinition of the concept of family in the Constitution. The initiators aim to define “family” as an institution based on the marriage of a man and a woman, rather than the marriage of spouses, as it is at present. The Parliament has passed a bill in this respect, based on a citizen initiative for which 3 million signatures have been raised. The referendum sparked fiery debates between the initiators, a Christian coalition primarily supported by the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the supporters of sexual minority rights. The Romanians living abroad may vote in 378 polls hosted by diplomatic missions, consular offices, cultural institutes and other locations. The largest number of polls abroad will be in Italy, Spain, the Republic of Moldova, the USA, UK, France and Germany. The referendum will be validated provided that at least 25% of the eligible voters cast valid votes.

MEETING – Hungary supports Romania’s efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday. The Hungarian official had a meeting on Friday with the Romanian Minister for the Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship, Stefan Radu Oprea, on which occasion they discussed topics of mutual interest. Péter Szijjártó said Romania is his country’s second largest export market for which reason Hungary is interested in strengthening cooperation with Romania in a number of sectors.

JUDICIARY — The former tourism minister Elena Udrea and the former chief of the anti-mafia prosecutor’s office (DIICOT) Alina Bica, will be detained for 2 months pending an extradition decision, said on Thursday the Interpol office in Costa Rica, where the 2 were apprehended. They had both filed asylum applications in that country. Elena Udrea has received a final 6-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court for bribe taking and abuse of office. The former head of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime, Alina Bica, was in turn sentenced to 4 years in prison for aiding and abetting. Udrea and Bica are not the only former high-level officials that have fled the country to escape prison sentences for corruption offences. This is the case with the former mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare, who is in Madagascar at present, and the former MP Sebastian Ghita, currently in Serbia.

NOBEL — The Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, who treated sex violence victims in his home country, and Nadia Murad, a Kurdish human rights activist having survived Islamic State sexual slavery, are the winners of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee explained that it has awarded the 2 “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war”. Both had a crucial contribution to raising awareness with respect to this type of war crimes and in fighting them. The Nobel season ends this Monday with the award of the Economy Prize in Stockholm.

EDUCATION – UNESCO estimates that 69 million teachers are still needed around the world, in order to reach the education targets set for the year 2030. The shortage of teaching staff particularly affects vulnerable categories, girls, children with disabilities, refugees and migrants, children from poor rural communities or isolated areas, the organisation warns on the International Education Day, celebrated on Friday in Romania as well. In her message, PM Viorica Dăncilă said education is a chance for individual development and the foundation of a strong, developed country, with a voice heard at international level, like Romania. In turn, President Klaus Iohannis emphasised that the education system must provide youth with the skills required in the labour market, including in terms of adjusting to the challenges of a digital society.

FRIGATE — “King Ferdinand” frigate is, as of Friday, under the Allied Sea Command (MARCOM) and carries out sea traffic surveillance missions in the Mediterranean, as part of Operation Sea Guardian, the Romanian Defence Ministry announced. Operation Sea Guardian was launched following the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016, to discourage threats against NATO partners, the said source added. The 240-strong crew of “King Ferdinand” frigate will conduct missions in the Mediterranean, thus confirming Romania’s status as a security provider holding operational platforms deployable in various unstable regions in the world, where NATO military presence is required for security reasons. The frigate will conclude its missions in the Mediterranean in late October.

GUAM — Chisinau hosted on Friday a meeting of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development — GUAM heads of government. The organisation comprises the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova. Participants discussed topics of mutual interest for the member states, with a view to improving cooperation between the 4 states. Moldovan PM Pavel Filip announced the initiation of talks regarding the setting up of a free trade area between the four states, of a common transport corridor and the prospect of removing roaming tariffs. The Moldovan official also emphasized the importance of cooperation in ensuring peace in the region. On the sidelines of the summit, the Moldovan PM Pavel Filip had meetings with his counterpart in Ukraine and Georgia, Volodimir Groisman and Mamuka Bakhtadze, and with the deputy PM of Azerbaijan, Ali Akhmedov. The Republic of Moldova this year is holding the rotating presidency of GUAM, an organisation created in 1997 as an alternative to the Community of Independent States.

5 October 2018
October 5, 2018

REFERENDUM – Nearly 19 million Romanian voters are invited on Saturday and Sunday to vote on a proposed redefinition of the concept of family in the Constitution. The initiators aim to define “family as an institution based on the marriage of a man and a woman, rather than the marriage of spouses, as it is at present. The Parliament has passed a bill in this respect, based on a citizen initiative for which 3 million signatures have been raised. The referendum sparked fiery debates between the initiators, a Christian coalition primarily supported by the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the supporters of sexual minority rights. The Romanians living abroad may vote in 378 polls hosted by diplomatic missions, consular offices, cultural institutes and other locations. The largest number of polls abroad will be in Italy, Spain, the Republic of Moldova, the USA, UK, France and Germany. The referendum will be validated provided that at least 25% of the eligible voters cast valid votes.

JUDICIARY – The former tourism minister Elena Udrea and the former chief of the anti-mafia prosecutors office (DIICOT) Alina Bica, will be detained for 2 months pending an extradition decision, said on Thursday the Interpol office in Costa Rica, where the 2 were apprehended. They had both filed asylum applications in that country. Elena Udrea has received a final 6-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court for bribe taking and abuse of office. The former head of the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime, Alina Bica, was in turn sentenced to 4 years in prison for aiding and abetting. Udrea and Bica are not the only former high-level officials that have fled the country to escape prison sentences for corruption offences. This is the case with the former mayor of Constanta, Radu Mazare, who is in Madagascar at present, and the former MP Sebastian Ghita, currently in Serbia.

NOBEL – The Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, who treated sex violence victims in his home country, and Nadia Murad, a Kurdish human rights activist having survived Islamic State sexual slavery, are the winners of this years Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee explained that it has awarded the 2 “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Both had a crucial contribution to raising awareness with respect to this type of war crimes and in fighting them. The Nobel season ends this Monday with the award of the Economy Prize in Stockholm.

EDUCATION – UNESCO estimates that 69 million teachers are still needed around the world, in order to reach the education targets set for the year 2030. The shortage of teaching staff particularly affects vulnerable categories, girls, children with disabilities, refugees and migrants, children from poor rural communities or isolated areas, the organisation warns on the International Education Day, celebrated today in Romania as well. In her message, PM Viorica Dăncilă said education is a chance for individual development and the foundation of a strong, developed country, with a voice heard at international level, like Romania. In turn, President Klaus Iohannis emphasised that the education system must provide youth with the skills required in the labour market, including in terms of adjusting to the challenges of a digital society.

FRIGATE – “King Ferdinand frigate is, as of Friday, under the Allied Sea Command (MARCOM) and carries out sea traffic surveillance missions in the Mediterranean, as part of Operation Sea Guardian, the Romanian Defence Ministry announced. Operation Sea Guardian was launched following the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016, to discourage threats against NATO partners, the said source added. The 240-strong crew of “King Ferdinand frigate will conduct missions in the Mediterranean, thus confirming Romanias status as a security provider holding operational platforms deployable in various unstable regions in the world, where NATO military presence is required for security reasons. The frigate will conclude its missions in the Mediterranean in late October.

GUAM – Chisinau is hosting today a meeting of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM heads of government. The organisation comprises the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova. Participants will discuss topics of mutual interest for the member states, with a view to improving cooperation between the 4 states, and will sign a cooperation protocol in the field of customs, Chisinau announced. On the sidelines of the summit, the Moldovan PM Pavel Filip will have meetings with his counterpart in Ukraine and Georgia, Volodimir Groisman and Mamuka Bakhtadze, and with the deputy PM of Azerbaijan, Ali Akhmedov. The Republic of Moldova this year is holding the rotating presidency of GUAM, an organisation created in 1997 as an alternative to the Community of Independent States.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

5 October 2018
George Emil Palade

George Emil Palade est le seul Roumain lauréat du Prix Nobel. Cette prestigieuse distinction, quil a reçue en 1974, aux côtés des chercheurs belges Albert Claude et Christian René de Duve, couronnait leurs découvertes dans le domaine de la biologie cellulaire. La carrière impressionnante dEmil Palade a commencé en Roumanie et allait atteindre son apogée à la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Il a émigré aux Etats-Unis en 1946 où il travaille comme chercheur à lUniversité Rockefeller de New York.

Emil Palade a reçu la nouvelle de sêtre vu décerner le prix Nobel, au Canada, en Nouvelle-Ecosse, où il donnait une série de conférences. En 1998, le Centre dhistoire orale de la Radiodiffusion roumaine a enregistré le docteur Palade se rappeler les circonstances dans lesquelles il avait appris la nouvelle : « Cette nouvelle, je lai reçue quand jétais à Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse, où javais été invité par lUniversité locale à donner une série de conférences. Javais donné la première, et je me préparais pour la deuxième. Quelques minutes avant de commencer, un des organisateurs ma transmis que ma secrétaire de lUniversité de Yale cherchait à me joindre par téléphone, avec un ton fébrile, et quelle avait quelque chose dimportant à me communiquer. Elle ma appris que javais reçu le Prix Nobel. Je lui ai dit de se calmer, de vérifier linformation et de me rappeler. Après la conférence, lorganisateur est revenu pour me dire que la secrétaire était encore plus excitée et que je devais lui parler. Elle avait vérifié linformation et la nouvelle était en effet officielle.»

Lélément le plus important des recherches de Palade a été celui dexpliquer le mécanisme cellulaire de production de protéines. Il a mis en évidence des particules intracytoplasmiques riches en ARN, au niveau desquelles a lieu la biosynthèse des protéines, et appelés ribosomes ou «corpuscules de Palade ».

En 1986, le docteur Palade se voit décerner aux Etats-Unis, la médaille nationale en biologie pour les « découvertes fondamentales dans le domaine dune série essentielle de structures supra complexes et très organisées, présente dans toutes les cellules vivantes. » (trad.: Alexandra Pop)

7 November 2017
Le Festival international de littérature et de traduction de Iaşi (FILIT)

Gao Xingjian, Prix Nobel de littérature en 2000, a compté parmi les invités. Les organisateurs avaient également annoncé la participation de Svetlana Aleksievitch, Prix Nobel de littérature en 2015, pourtant l’écrivaine a dû annuler son voyage pour cause de maladie. Un aperçu de cette édition avec l’écrivain Florin Lăzărescu, un des initiateurs du Festival : « Je suis heureux que ces noms attirent le public ; pourtant, nous avons prévu, en complément à ces présences, une centaine d’événements qui sont tous spectaculaires et intéressants. Et puisque nous parlons du Prix Nobel, je préciserais qu’à cette édition du Festival de littérature et de traduction ont été présents au moins 3 autres écrivains très bien classés et qui pourraient remporter le Nobel cette année même. Il s’agit tout d’abord du Roumain Mircea Cărtărescu, que tout le monde a lu, mais aussi d’Olga Tokarczuk de Pologne et de Nurruddin Farah de Somalie, deux auteurs très appréciés à travers le monde et qui ont tous les deux des chances de se voir décerner le Prix Nobel de littérature. Il y a enfin toute une pléiade d’écrivains très intéressants, traduits en 30 ou 40 langues, qui ont décroché des prix importants et dont les livres sont publiés par les plus grandes Maisons d’édition de Roumanie. Vesna Goldsworthy de Serbie et Lisa Strømme, qui est Anglaise mais qui vit en Norvège, auteur de « Si l’on nous sépare» (publié cette année en traduction roumaine aux Editions Humanitas) sont deux écrivaines que les lecteurs ont pu rencontrer au Festival. Pour ne plus parler de Jonathan Coe, qui a un succès extraordinaire en Roumanie et j’ai vu la réaction des gens lorsque sa présence a été annoncée. »

Après l’édition de 2013, le quotidien espagnol El Pais estimait que – je cite – le Festival FILIT « est déjà, dès sa première édition, le plus important festival littéraire d’Europe de l’Est. Le journal Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung écrivait, de son côté, qu’« un événement d’une telle envergure européenne n’avait jamais été organisé jusqu’ici en Roumanie ». Lors de cette 4e édition du Festival, le public a pu rencontrer les meilleurs auteurs roumains, dont deux vivant au-delà des frontières du pays – il s’agit de Jan Cornelius et Dana Grigorcea. Cette année, FILIT s’est doté de deux nouvelles « maisons ».

Lucian Dan Teodorovici, manager du festival, explique : « Il s’agit de deux nouveaux programmes : « La Maison de la fantaisie » et « La Maison de l’enfance ». Nous allons coordonner et réunir autrement les expositions que le Musée national de la littérature roumaine organise de toute façon. Une maison réelle, cette fois-ci – la Maison Pogor – comportant 4 espaces destinés aux expositions, regroupera chaque année, autour du même thème, 4 expositions différentes. Pour cette édition nous avons préparé le Musée d’histoire des Juifs de Iaşi, car cette ville a une riche histoire liée à la communauté juive. Même au 20e siècle, la communauté juive de Iaşi représentait plus d’un tiers de la population de la ville. Une tragédie est survenue, que l’on doit rappeler et assumer même aujourd’hui. »

De l’avis de l’écrivain Florin Lăzărescu, un des initiateurs du Festival, le sentiment de fête que celui-ci apporte demeure l’aspect le plus important : « Le fait que des dizaines de milliers de personnes y participent, que tout le monde s’y intéresse est quelque chose de vraiment extraordinaire. Même l’année dernière, quand nous avons organisé une édition de moindre envergure, le festival a attiré un public de 10 mille personnes. Je pense que c’est là le plus grand succès du Festival. Celui-ci est une immense campagne en faveur de la lecture et, après avoir participé aux événements du festival, beaucoup de personnes voient les livres avec d’autres yeux. J’ai entendu les gens dire : « Avant ce festival, mon enfant ne lisait pas. A présent, il s’achète tout seul des livres, car il est entré en contact avec des écrivains, il a vu qu’ils étaient spectaculaires. Cette année, un des événements a été organisé dans un lycée du comté. Le professeur m’a appelé pour me dire que les élèves sont enchantés de connaître des écrivains, car beaucoup d’entre eux n’avaient jamais rencontré un écrivain. A Iaşi, au fil du temps, nous avons organisé des événements dans une dizaine de lycées et nous avons commencé à avoir des demandes précises. Les professeurs nous transmettent les préférences des élèves. C’est que nombre de ces jeunes se sont liés d’amitié avec des écrivains. A présent ils ont des échanges Skype avec beaucoup d’écrivains qui avaient été présents au Festival, ils organisent dorénavant des événements tout seuls. »

La 5e édition du Festival international de littérature et de traduction de Iaşi (FILIT) s’est déroulée sous le haut patronage de la Représentation de la Commission européenne en Roumanie. C’est la 3e collaboration de ce genre après les éditions de 2014 et 2016, lorsque des événements littéraires professionnels conjoints ont été organisés pour promouvoir la diversité culturelle.

(Aut. : Corina Sabău, Carmen Săndulescu ; Trad. : Dominique)

14 October 2017