Radio România Internațional

Tag: Pope Francis

  • February 26, 2025

    February 26, 2025

     

    TALKS Romania’s interim president Ilie Bolojan is holding consultations today with each parliamentary party, regarding Romania’s position at the extraordinary European Council due at the beginning of next month. In this complicated and dynamic context with changes at international level, Romania may have to adjust its foreign policy to the new challenges, Ilie Bolojan explained in a video message. “However, there are things that will not change, namely Romania’s national interests, a safe country, a prosperous country, a trustworthy country, at peace with its neighbours,” the interim president explained. “We are a safe country because we benefit from solid defence guarantees. We owe our security and that of Europe to the NATO shield and the guarantees entailed by the Strategic Partnership with the US. The presence of US and Allied troops on Romanian territory has done nothing but strengthen the security of Europe, and we will advocate for them to stay. The EU membership has ensured our progress as a country during these years. European investments and funds, access to markets and opportunities have generated prosperity and better living conditions. It is a path we must continue on”, Ilie Bolojan added. Also today, the interim president takes part in a conference call with the leaders of EU member countries, during which the French president Emmanuel Macron presents updates on his recent meeting with the US president Donald Trump.

     

    PARLIAMENT A no-confidence motion tabled by the self-styled sovereigntist opposition against the Romanian government is to be discussed and voted on this Friday. The signatories say that the current Cabinet is illegitimate, has lost its credibility as some of its members are linked to individuals involved in a high-profile criminal case, and is failing to implement its own governing program, in which it promised, among other things, an increase in pensions and allowances. Also in opposition, the declared pro-European USR announced that it would not back the motion. The ruling coalition comprising the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania say Romania needs serious solutions, not image strategies.

     

    UKRAINE Kyiv announced an agreement was reached with Washington on the joint development of Ukrainian mineral resources and the reconstruction of the country after the invasion launched by Russia 3 years ago. The deal, about which few details are known, could be signed in Washington this Friday. The arrangement was agreed after the US president Donald Trump demanded access to key Ukrainian minerals as compensation for the aid given to Ukraine in the war with Russia. Official sources quoted by Western media say that Washington has given up initial demands of USD 500 billion in revenues from natural resources, but has not provided the firm security guarantees demanded in exchange by Ukraine, which would be negotiated at a later date.

     

    VATICAN Pope Francis, 88, still in critical condition with double pneumonia, “spent a quiet night and is resting,” the Vatican said on Wednesday morning, the 13th day of his hospitalisation. According to the latest updates released on Tuesday evening, his condition is stable. The hospitalisation, the 4th and longest since the beginning of his term in 2013, raises serious concerns as Pope Francis is already weakened after a string of health problems in recent years, from colon and abdominal surgeries to difficulties walking.

     

    INVESTIGATION The former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu, a pro-Russian extremist, was taken in for questioning under a warrant by the General Prosecutor’s Office, judicial sources told AGERPRES. On Wednesday morning, prosecutors conducted dozens of searches across five counties, in a case related to the financing of his election campaign, the establishment of a fascist, racist or xenophobic organisation, as well as to promoting a cult of individuals guilty of genocide. Targeted by the investigation is also a close associate of Georgescu, Horaţiu Potra, the leader of a mercenary group that operated in Africa. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, investigations are conducted in this case for offences including actions against the constitutional order, failure to comply with the weapons and ammunition legislation, unlawful operations with pyrotechnic materials, public incitement, initiating or forming an organisation of a fascist, racist or xenophobic nature, as well as joining or otherwise supporting such a group. Investigations are also conducted for the public promotion of the cult of persons guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as the public dissemination of fascist, extreme right, racist or xenophobic ideas, views or doctrines.

     

    CORRUPTION Twenty individuals have been detained over bribery charges in an investigation into illicit activity in the Port of Constanta (south-eastern Romania). Among others, the head of the Constanta branch of the Social Democratic Party, Ion Dumitrache, and several officers for the Maritime Ports Administration were detained. According to Anticorruption prosecutors, in 2024 and 2025 several businessmen allegedly promised and gave public officials bribes ranging from EUR 2,000 to 100,000, as well as other goods, to help them develop their businesses in the Constanta Port area, by speeding up asset transfer procedures, extending a waste collection contract, winning tenders or ensuring exclusive access to certain berths. The businessmen in question have allegedly promised an estimated EUR 6 million in bribes. The Bucharest Court dismissed prosecutor’s request for pre-trial arrest of 7 of the defendants, placing them under court supervision instead. Similar requests for another 13 defendants are yet to be heard.

     

    EDUCATION The Romanian education minister Daniel David has encouraged all stakeholders’ involvement in the development of high school framework plans. In a fresh roundtable on the topic held in Iași (northeast), the minister promised that proposals would be taken into account, and the documents may be amended, as has already happened following discussions and meetings in recent weeks, since the projects were submitted for public review. He warned that high school curricula are of critical importance, given the high level of functional illiteracy in various fields. David explained that, after this construction period, the high school curricula will be tested in various schools. The public review period ends next week, on March 6, and the final documents are to be presented in early May. (AMP)

  • February 23, 2025 UPDATE

    February 23, 2025 UPDATE

    UKRAINE The interim president of Romania Ilie Bolojan takes part on Monday in an online summit on ‘Defence and Security Strategy of Unity. Action Plan’, organised in the neighbouring Russia-invaded Ukraine, the Romanian presidency announced. On Wednesday, Bolojan took part in a meeting on Ukraine and the security challenges in Europe in Paris. The interim president stated that participants in the meeting in Paris concluded that the best way to solve the crisis is collaboration between European countries and the United States of America, so that there is a ceasefire and a just peace, which cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and the European Union in the negotiations.

     

    COMMEMORATION Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that any responsible person wants a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and expressed hope that, despite the harsh political rhetoric of recent days, the efforts to end the war in Romania’s neighbouring country will be successful. The Romanian PM said in a Facebook post that Romanian companies should play an important role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. It is a project worth over EUR 500 billion, from which Romanian companies should gain as much as possible, Mr. Ciolacu added. On Sunday, around 150 people, mostly Ukrainian refugees, gathered in front of the Ukrainian embassy in Bucharest to mark 11 years of Russian aggression and 3 years since the start of the full-scale invasion. The participants carried Ukrainian and Romanian flags, as well as banners with messages against the war started by Russia and against the Russian president Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian ambassador to Bucharest also attended the protest.

     

    POPE FRANCIS Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery, in a message sent on Sunday on behalf of himself, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the clergy and all Romanian Orthodox believers. The Patriarch says he prays for Pope Francis to recover and resume his pastoral and missionary work as soon as possible. Aged 88, Pope Francis has been hospitalised in Rome for almost 10 days with bilateral pneumonia, and his health has worsened. Pope Francis was elected head of the Catholic Church in 2013.

     

    FILM The Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude was awarded the Silver Bear for best screenplay at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. The distinction was awarded for his latest film, “Kontinental ’25”, the story of a female bailiff in the grips of a moral crisis, filmed with a phone in just 10 days. In his acceptance speech, Radu Jude thanked his team and said that the award proves that there is a lot of talent in Romania. The Golden Bear for best film went to ‘Dreams (Sex Love)’/'(Drommer’), directed by the Norwegian Dag Johan Haugerud. The second most important trophy of the Berlinale, the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, was awarded to the Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro for the production ‘The Blue Trail’ (‘O último azul’), and the Silver Bear for best director went to the Chinese filmmaker Huo Meng for ‘Living The Land’ (‘Sheng xi zhi di’).

     

    ARREST Ten individuals close to a French drug trafficker arrested on Saturday in Romania, have been detained over suspicions of having participated in the escape and flight of the repeat offender, the Paris prosecutor announced on Sunday. The known leader of a drug trafficking group, the man had been wanted since his escape in France in May 2024, during which two police officers were killed. On Saturday, Romanian police identified and detained him near a shopping center in Bucharest, and handed him over to the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime.

     

    TENNIS The Romanian player Elizabeta Samara won the silver at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup, which brought together Europe’s best table tennis players in Montreux (Switzerland). On Sunday, the Romanian lost the final to Ying Han (Germany), 2-3. Another Romanian, Bernadette Szocs, lost the quarter-finals on Saturday. Szocs won the competition in 2018, in 2019 she lost the final, and in 2021, 2022 and 2024 she came out third. Elizabeta Samara also won a third place in 2018.

     

    HANDBALL  The Romanian women’s handball team HC Dunărea Brăila have qualified for the quarter-finals of the EHF European League, after a 33-33 draw against the Norwegian side Larvik on Sunday in their last match in Group A. The result won Dunărea Brăila the group stage. In the quarter-finals, they will face the second-placed team in Group B, Ikast Handbold (Denmark). In turn, SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea, the winners of Group B, will face Thueringer HC (Germany). The first leg games take place on March 22-23, and the return matches on March 29-30. Meanwhile on Sunday, CS Rapid Bucharest managed to qualify for the play-offs of the Women’s Handball Champions League, after drawing away from home against the Montenegrin team Buducnost Podgorica, 21-21, in the last round of Group B. (AMP)

  • The need for cultural dialogue

    The need for cultural dialogue

    Testing his endurance and strength after a series of health issues in recent months, Pope Francis on Sunday paid an official visit to Venice, the first since his election in 2013 and also the first time a Pontiff is visiting the Venice Art Biennale, a prestigious art exhibition. Romania too is represented at the Giardini della Biennale, as well as in the New Gallery of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Venice. The Pope’s visit was a reciprocation of the visit several artists paid to the Sisteen Chapen in June last year, the Pope said. “The world needs artists”, the Pope said on this occasion, arguing that artists are called to create genuine “citadels for escape”, with Biblical references, “working together to rid the world of senseless and now hollowed-out antinomies”, behind which there is always “the rejection of the other”. “I confess that next to you I do not feel like a stranger: I feel at home. And I think this actually applies to every human being, because, for all intents and purposes, art holds the status of a ’city of refuge,’ a city that disobeys the regime of violence and discrimination to create forms of human belonging capable of recognizing, including, protecting, embracing everyone. Everyone, starting with the last ones”, the Pope said during a meeting held at the Sancta Maria Magdalena Church, the Giudecca prison chapel, where the Pope started his visit by speaking to the women inmates there.

     

     

    Held over April 20-24 November this year, the Venice Art Biennale has reached its 60th edition, and comprises works by new contemporary artists. The project representing Romania is What Work Is, an exhibition curated by Ciprian Mureșan, featuring Șerban Savu as lead artist, exploring the complex balance between work and personal time. The Biennale this year is themed Foreigners Everywhere, a topic strongly resounding with Savu’s work, which explores feelings of disorientation and displacement, focusing on the difficulties experienced by workers abroad and their impact on feelings of belonging and identity. The Pope then went on to visit the Basilica della Salute, where he addressed young people. “We live in a world suffocated by products created by man, which make us lose our awe for the surrounding beauty. The Genesis teaches us to be creators of beauty ourselves, to create something never-before made. Life must be given, not managed. Let us break away with the mesmerizing world of social media that numbs our soul”, Pope Francis said. In his traditional Sunday prayer in San Marco Square, before a 10-thousand strong crowd, Pope Francis called for peace and urged people to “care for our common home”, a reference to the impact of overtourism on the environment. (VP)

  • August 3, 2023

    August 3, 2023

    Investments. In todays session, the Romanian Government has adopted the financing contract with the European Investment Bank for the support of the A7 Ploieşti (south) – Paşcani (northeast) highway project, worth 600 million euros. It is estimated that the work will be ready in 2025, one year earlier than the deadline assumed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Also, the executive is to adopt the program for schools by means of which students will receive milk, vegetables and fresh fruit at school. Funded by European money, it will continue for the next six years, the main goal being to teach the little ones healthy eating habits. Also today, a draft decision will be discussed regarding the establishment of the national registry for the collection of information on all types of cancer, in order to monitor the incidence at the national level, for the evaluation and control of the impact of the disease and the development of public health policies.



    Budget. The Bucharest government is preparing an extensive plan to reduce state spending and to meet the deficit target of 4.4% of the GDP. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the Minister of Finance, Marcel Boloş, have presented a package with 50 measures. These aim, among other things, to reduce management positions in public institutions, the number of secretaries of state, undersecretaries of state and similar positions by 20%, capping the income up to which vacation vouchers and food allowances can be granted, merging some institutions public bodies with similar responsibilities or the abolition of vacant positions in the budgetary apparatus. Norms will also be introduced for staff, per diem, transport, accommodation or mobile phone expenses for public companies, public institutions or autonomous institutions subordinate to Parliament. According to information appearing in the public space, the package also includes measures regarding the increase in taxes for small and medium enterprises, as well as changes in the VAT rates. Marcel Ciolacu has announced that, regarding the increase in revenues, the measures will be discussed at the Ministry of Finance, together with the budget adjustment, but also with decisions aimed at reducing tax evasion and digitizing the public sector. The opposition criticized the plan of measures assumed by the governing coalition, which it says will not help maintain the deficit target.



    Air Force. A ceremony dedicated to the end of the mission of the Italian Air Force, deployed in Romania to carry out reinforced Air Policing missions, takes place today, at the 57 Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base (south-east). Representatives of the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense from Bucharest, of the Italian Ministry of Defense, as well as of the Italian Embassy in Romania are participating. The approximately 150 soldiers (pilots and technical personnel) and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft that formed the Italian detachment performed, together with soldiers of the Romanian Air Force, Enhanced Air Policing missions under NATO command. “It is the third rotation at Mihail Kogălniceanu of the Italian Air Force, after those carried out in 2019 and 2021 and the present one, which took place between 01.12.2022-31.07.2023”, reads a press released issued by the Defense Minsitry. The joint air policing missions contributed to increasing the reaction and deterrence capacity, as well as to strengthening the interoperability between the Romanian and Italian Air Forces.



    Evacuation. The four Romanian citizens in Niger, who requested support for evacuation were picked up by two flights organized by the French authorities and arrived safely in Paris, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed. The ministry says there are currently no other requests for consular assistance and protection. According to the data available at the moment, there are another 20 Romanians on the territory of Niger who carry out their activities within the framework of two EU economic and military cooperation missions, and their evacuation procedures are managed by each mission separately. In order to avoid special situations in which Romanian citizens could find themselves, the MAE reminds that a travel warning has been issued for Niger. The United States has ordered the partial evacuation of its embassy in Niger following last weeks coup. Hundreds of foreign citizens have already been evacuated from the country, and the French embassy was attacked by protesters on Sunday.



    Pope. Today, in Lisbon, Pope Francis participates in the World Youth Day, a major event within the Catholic Church. About one million pilgrims from all continents are expected to participate. On Wednesday, the Sovereign Pontiff, who is on a five-day trip to Portugal, met with victims of sexual abuse committed by clerics of the Catholic Church and spoke about the need for its purification. Nearly 5,000 minors have been abused in Portugal by Catholic clergy over the past seven decades. Pope Francis also made a plea for peace and specifically referred to the war in Ukraine.



    UNTOLD. The 8th edition of the UNTOLD Festival, one of the largest in Europe, begins today in Cluj-Napoca (north-west Romania) and brings, for four days, on its eight stages, over 250 top Romanian and international artists. The theme of this years edition is “Phoenix Light, inspired by the legend of the Phoenix bird. The epicenter of the festival is the Cluj Arena stadium, where the main stage is set up. One of the best DJs in the world, Brazilian Alok, was chosen to officiate the opening ceremony. More than 400 thousand spectators are expected to attend UNTOLD. Among them are also music enthusiasts from Argentina, Germany, the USA or Great Britain, to enjoy artists such as Armin Van Buuren, Goran, David Guetta or Imagine Dragons. The organizers have taken special measures to ensure the safety of all participants.



    Football. Several Romanian teams are playing today in the Europa Conference League preliminaries. Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe (center) plays, at home, with ŢSKA Sofia from Bulgaria, after winning away from, with a score of 2-0. The Romanian champion, Farul Constanța (south-east), meets the Armenian team Urartu, after winning 3-2 a week ago. CFR Cluj (north-west), faces, also away from home, the Turks from Adana Demirspor, after the match ended in a draw in the first leg. Finally, FCSB takes on another team from Bulgaria, CSKA 1948 Sofia, after the Romanians won 1-0 the first match. (MI)


  • April 2, 2023 UPDATE

    April 2, 2023 UPDATE

    NATO – Romania will promote the strengthening of the transatlantic relationship and the strategic partnership between NATO and the EU, says President Klaus Iohannis, in the context of the 74-year anniversary of the establishment of the North Atlantic Alliance and NATO Day in Romania marked on April 2. “We will remain involved in allied missions and commitments, and strengthening the national defense capacity will continue to be a priority for Romania, including by allocating, starting this year, 2.5% of the GDP for Defense”, said the Romanian president, according to a communiqué issued by the Presidential Administration. “Europe is facing the worst security crisis since the Second World War, and in the face of these challenges, our countrys membership to the Euro-Atlantic community of values ​​is all the more relevant”, the Romania foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu also said. He recalled that in the 19 years since Romania became a member of NATO, the Romanian diplomacy has demonstrated its ability to fulfill its obligations based on this fundamental role. “We are constantly and significantly contributing to the consolidation of Romanias position within NATO and to its reputation as a provider of security and stability. We are engaged in complying with our commitments to allies and partners and, equally, we support the strengthening of our military capabilities, in the transatlantic relationship and in the allied solidarity”, said Bogdan Aurescu.



    Visit – Two European commissioners are coming to Romania to launch of national programs financed under the EU cohesion policy. The European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, and Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira will meet on Monday, in Bucharest, with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, with the Minister of European Projects, Marcel Boloş, and with the Labour Minister, Marius Budai, after which they will go to Iaşi (northeast) and Vaslui (east). The two European officials will also visit a center for Ukrainian refugees.



    Catholic Palm Sunday – Pope Francis said, on Sunday, the traditional Angelus prayer in St. Peters Square in the Vatican, after the Catholic Palm Sunday liturgy, which marked the entry into the Holy Week, preceding Easter. The 86-year-old pontiff was discharged from hospital the day before, after being treated for bronchitis during the week. The leader of the 1.3 billion Catholics has been suffering from health problems for several years, including knee pain that forces him to use a wheelchair and cane. Pope Francis celebrated ten years at the helm of the Catholic Church in early March. We remind you that, this year, Catholics and Protestants celebrate Easter a week earlier than the Orthodox and Greek Catholics.



    Paris – Parisians were called to decide, on Sunday, by referendum, whether or not to ban electric scooters for rent. In the five years since they were proposed as a means of transportation in Paris, people have accumulated a lot of dissatisfaction with scooters, considered by many a real danger for pedestrians, cars, as well as for unruly users. Last year alone, scooters were the cause of over 400 road accidents, three of which were fatal. The referendum does not refer to personal electric scooters, which, however, must obey stricter rules which have been recently announced by the Ministry of Transport. Children under 14 are no longer allowed to use scooters, they must be equipped with additional signaling and electronic systems for automatic speed limitation to 25km/h, and the fine for indiscipline in traffic increases from 35 to 135 Euros.



    Moldova – The President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu will have a meeting with the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, on Monday, during a visit to Romania. At the end of the meeting, Maia Sandu will sign the Golden Book of the Elisabeta Palace, opened in 1937. The visit will be attended by representatives of the Presidency of the Republic of Moldova and the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Bucharest, among whom the ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in Romania, Victor Chirilă. (LS)

  • September 15, 2022 UPDATE

    September 15, 2022 UPDATE

    WAR IN UKRAINE – The EU will support
    Ukraine for as long as it is necessary in its war against Russia, European
    Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told a press briefing on Thursday,
    held jointly with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. This is the
    third visit to Ukraine the EU official has paid since February 24, the start of
    the invasion. Meanwhile, Russian shelling continues on the ground. President Zelensky
    said cities and settlements recaptured by Ukrainian troops were found destroyed
    by the Russians. The Government has condemned the attacks, saying they come in
    response to Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the northeast.




    DECISION – The Romanian Government
    has passed a draft law on protecting the IT systems of public authorities and
    institutions in the context of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Thus, the
    Government will have all central and local authorities replace the Russian
    anti-virus software and apps for fear they may be used as spying tools by
    Moscow. The draft law, initiated by the Ministry of Research and Innovation, is
    in line with similar decisions taken by countries like Germany and Italy, which
    have decided to replace the Kaspersky anti-virus software used by public
    authorities in order to prevent any cyber-attacks from Russia.




    ENERGY – Romania’s gas
    stocks for the winter will exceed, by the end of this week, the minimum level
    of 80% set by the European Commission, Energy Minister Virgil Popescu has
    announced. According to Minister Popescu, Romania has enough stocks to get
    through winter, although there will be a complicated period in the entire EU,
    with uncertainties related to Russian gas supplies. Virgil Popescu said the new
    decree on capping the price of energy could be modified to support people whose
    life depends on oxygen devices that use a lot of energy and thus exceed the
    ceiling set by the law in force. The Government has also announced it considers
    granting bonuses to those who want to save energy.




    FUNERAL – Buckingham Palace
    has provided more details about Monday’s state funeral of Her Royal Majesty
    Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain. The first religious service will take place
    at 11 AM at Westminster Abbey. Some 3,000 guests, including heads of state,
    members of the royal family, high-ranking officials and representatives of
    humanitarian organizations are expected to attend. The coffin will subsequently
    travel to Windsor Castle in western London for a second religious service. In the
    evening, the Queen will be entombed at the George VI chapel as part of a
    private ceremony. Romania will be represented by president Klaus Iohannis. Her
    Royal Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania and Prince Consort
    Radu, will also attend.




    EUROSTAT – The highest share
    of the population exposed to the risk of poverty and social exclusion at EU
    level was last year reported in Romania (34%), followed by Bulgaria (32%),
    Greece and Spain (both with 28%), the Eurostat reports. By contrast, the lowest
    share was reported last year in the Czech Republic (11%), Slovenia (13%) and
    Finland (14%). In 2021, 95.4 million people were at risk of poverty and social
    exclusion, accounting for 21.7% of the population, a slight increase compared
    to 2020 (94.8 million people, tantamount to 21.6% of the population). Last
    year, some 73.7 million EU citizens were at risk of poverty, 27 million faced
    serious financial difficulties and social exclusion, while 29.3 million lived
    in households with very low work intensity.




    THE POPE – Pope Francis on
    Thursday sounded the alarm against the domino effect of military conflicts on
    international relations at the end of the end of a religious summit hosted by
    Kazakhstan that urged leaders to refrain from warmongering. On the sidelines of
    the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions
    hosted in the capital-city Nur-Sultan, representatives of 50 countries and
    various confessions adopted a joint statement urging world leaders to abandon
    aggressive and destructive rhetoric which leads to destabilization of the
    world. Participants said extremism, radicalism, terrorism and all other forms
    of violence and war have nothing to do with true religion and must be rejected
    in the strongest possible terms. The statement also promotes the dignity and
    rights of women and the improvement of their social standing as equal members
    of the family and society. (VP)















  • September 13, 2022 UPDATE

    September 13, 2022 UPDATE

    Funeral. The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, signed, on Tuesday, the book of condolences opened at the UK Embassy in Bucharest. The head of the Romanian state will participate in the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The Custodian of the Crown of Romania, HRH Margareta, and Prince Consort Radu will also attend the funeral service which will be held at Westminster Abbey in London, on September 19th, Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday. The day will be a bank holiday in Britain, as the new monarch, Charles III, authorized on Saturday in one of his first orders. World leaders, including the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and representatives of the royal houses are expected to attend the funeral of Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96. Meanwhile, the new king – Charles III – continues his tour around the kingdom with visits to each of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.



    Forum. Romania and the Republic of Moldova plan to intensify joint efforts to mitigate the negative effects of the current context generated by the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, the lack of material and human resources, the disruptions in the functioning of international trade chains and galloping inflation worldwide. The statement was made, in Bucharest, by the Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Ciucă, during the forum “Moldova – Romania: Capital Bridges” – the first high-level forum dedicated to the promotion of the capital markets on the two banks of the Prut. Romania will continue its support, including the technical and financial assistance program, based on the non-reimbursable aid of 100,000,000 euros made available to the Republic of Moldova, assured the Prime Minister, in the context of the visit to Bucharest of his counterpart from Chisinau, Natalia Gavriliţa. Nicolae Ciucă also said that Bucharest wants to contribute, in the future, to the implementation of projects that can help Chisinau join the European Union family more quickly.



    Visit. Romanian Defense Minister Vasile Dincu is paying a formal visit to Israel until Friday. According to a communiqué issued by the Defense Ministry, the Ministers agenda includes talks with his Israeli counterpart, formal ceremonies at the Yad Vashem memorial, the Holocaust Museum and the Childrens Memorial as well as visits to companies in the defense industry. The two ministers will be tackling topical issues such as security in the Middle East and the Black Sea, as well as the stage and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the field of defense.



    Pope. On Tuesday, on the first day of his apostolic journey to Kazakhstan, Pope Francis urged dialogue and multilateralism in the face of Russias “senseless and tragic war” in Ukraine. “I have come here as a pilgrim of peace, seeking dialogue and unity. Our world urgently needs peace: it needs to recover harmony”, Pope Francis said from the stage of the Qazaq Concert Hall in capital Nur-Sultan. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who supports the war in Ukraine, was expected to attend the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Kazakhstan, and Pope Francis had stated, several times, that he was willing to talk to him. The two met in 2016 in Cuba, the first meeting between a pope and a Russian Orthodox patriarch. At the meeting in Nur-Sultan, 100 delegates from 50 countries are present.



    Research. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă had, on Tuesday, in Bucharest, a meeting with the delegation of the Lockheed Martin company, led by the vice-president for international affairs, Ray Piselli. At the meeting, it was announced the launch in Romania of the American companys investment in AI R&D. According to a Government release, the results of the research, which will be carried out in the framework of the collaboration between Lockheed Martin and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, will be applied in the field of national security and environmental sciences. The Prime Minister welcomed the decision of the global aerospace and security company to start research and development activities in Romania, appreciating that it is a new proof of the strengthening of the Romania-USA Strategic Partnership. “The government supports investments, and the economic component comes to strengthen our partnership in the military field”, Nicolae Ciuca also said.



    Tennis. Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan (65 WTA) qualified, on Tuesday, for the second round of the WTA 250 tournament in Portoroz, Slovenia, with over 200 thousand euros in prize money. In the first round, she defeated the Australian player Ajla Tomljanovich. Also on Tuesday, the Romanian player Gabriela Ruse (96 WTA) was defeated by the Ukrainian Lesia Ţurenko (92 WTA), 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, in the first round of the tournament. Ruse and Bogdan will be partners in the doubles event. (MI)

  • September 13, 2021

    September 13, 2021

    COVID-19 – Another
    1,849 new cases of COVID-19 infection and 46 related fatalities were reported
    on Monday in Romania, at the start of the new school year. According to the
    Group for Strategic Communication, over 1,1 million people got infected since
    the start of the outbreak, of whom some 35 thousand died. Over 5,200 people are
    now being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals across Romania, 633 of whom in
    intensive care. There are 860 beds available for COVID patients requiring
    intensive care, and the authorities announced plans to supplement their number.
    5.2 million Romanians have completed the full anti-COVID-19 vaccination scheme,
    accounting for a third of the eligible population.




    VOTE – Constitutional
    Court judges expect the Government and Parliament to submit an opinion by
    Wednesday, whereby explaining the alleged institutional conflict invoked by
    Liberal Prime Minister Florin Cîţu in the case of the no-confidence motion
    filed by the USR-PLUS alliance, a former junior coalition partner, and AUR, an
    ultranationalist party in opposition. The Government claims the motion was
    filed and communicated without observing the proper channels. Once it receives
    the said opinion, the Constitutional Court will announce a date for examining
    the merits of the case. The latter will also serve as a deadline for the
    no-confidence vote. Parliament decreed that the motion will be debated only after
    the Constitutional Court has issued a ruling in this matter. On the other hand,
    the initiators of the motion want the motion to be voted on Tuesday, three days
    after having been read in Parliament, as stipulated by internal regulations.




    SCHOOL YEAR
    – Nearly 3 million school and pre-school children are starting a new school
    year today. The new year comprises 34 weeks, is divided in two semesters and is
    due to close on June 11, 2022. Education Minister, Sorin Cîmpeanu, said on the
    first day festivities are allowed with the participation of parents, although
    face masks and physical distancing are compulsory. In certain areas of the
    country, where the incidence rate has exceeded 6 per thousand inhabitants in
    the last 14 days, children will start school online. There are also some
    schools where repair works haven’t yet finished. Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu
    expressed hope more children will get vaccinate once school begins, considering
    the authorities are willing to set up mobile vaccination units that should immunize
    children in schools.




    INQUIRY -
    Parliament’s special committee investigating the recent increase in energy
    prices is due to start its activity this week. The committee was set up with
    the support of all parliamentary groups, after this summer energy distributors
    upped their prices by over 20%. Home consumers fear they will not be able to
    cope with the mounting financial pressure in the cold season. An analysis
    conducted by the National Statistics Institute shows that over 1 million
    families were having trouble paying their electricity and gas bills before the
    liberalization of the energy markets. Authorities have recently adopted a law
    on vulnerable consumers, but experts believe it will not be enough.




    POPE FRANCIS
    – Pope Francis is paying an official visit to Slovakia until Wednesday. His
    Holy Father previously paid a short visit to Budapest, where he called on
    Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, to extend his arms towards everyone.
    Today, the Pope is meeting members of the Jewish community in Slovakia,
    including Holocaust survivors. On Tuesday, he will travel to the country’s poor
    regions, to hold talks with representatives of the Roma community. On
    Wednesday, he will return to Bratislava where he will celebrate an open-air
    service. Slovakia is one the countries in the EU with the lowest rates of
    anti-COVID vaccination. The Government originally decided that festivities
    occasioned by the Pope’s visit should be accessible only to vaccinated people,
    which sparked discontent. Finally, the access has been extended to people
    presenting a negative test against COVID-19 or a certificate attesting they’ve
    had the disease. (VP)

  • December 26, 2020 UPDATE

    December 26, 2020 UPDATE

    VACCINE – The development,
    distribution and administration of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine in record time
    will help limit and eradicate the pandemic as quickly as possible, Romania’s
    Prime Minister, Florin Cîţu said on Saturday. The first doses of anti-COVID-19
    vaccine arrived in Romania on Friday, and on Saturday they were delivered to
    the military and medical institute in Bucharest, which will serve as a national
    center for stockpiling the vaccine. The head of the national vaccination
    campaign, the military doctor Valeriu Gheorghiţă, said there are currently few
    reasons advising against taking the vaccine, adding that communication and
    information will help everyone take the best decision for himself, his family
    and community as a whole. The first vaccines will be administered on Sunday to
    the medical workers in infectious disease hospitals. The first stage in the
    vaccination campaign will be finalized in January. In the second phase, people
    in at-risk categories and workers in key areas will be vaccinated, while
    vaccination for the bulk of the population is due to start in April. To ensure
    its efficiency, some 60 to 70% of the country’s population needs to take the
    vaccine. Right now, the acceptance rate for the COVID-19 vaccine stands at some
    40%. In hospitals, the acceptance rate is 90% in COVID wards.




    COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Over 614 thousand
    infections with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in Romania so far, some 1,400 new
    cases having been reported on Saturday. Most new cases were signaled in
    Bucharest. Another 85 COVID-related deaths have also been reported, taking the
    national death toll to some 15,000. 1,210 people are currently in intensive
    care. Nearly 85% of people who got infected have recovered.




    COVID-19 IN THE WORLD – Over 80 million
    people have got infected with COVID-19 since the start of the outbreak,
    accounting for 1% of the world’s population, the World Health Organization
    reports. On Christmas Day, over 655 thousand new infections were reported. The
    global death toll is closing in on 1.8 million. Most infections are reported in
    the United States, Europe and South Asia.




    CELEBRATION – On December 26, on
    the second day of Christmas, Romanian Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians celebrated
    the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God, a Christian holiday honoring Mary,
    mother of Jesus Christ. Roman-Catholics in Romania celebrated Saint Stephen,
    the first Christian martyr, who in the Eastern-Catholic and Orthodox Churches
    is celebrated on December 27.

    POPE FRANCIS – Due to the threat
    of the coronavirus, Pope Francis on Saturday delivered the Angelus traditional
    prayer via videolink from the library of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. In
    his prayer, Pope Francis underlined the importance of forgiveness and prayed
    for Christians who are being persecuted for their faith. Italy is in lockdown
    during the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Due to the restrictions in
    place, the Christian faithful could not gather in St. Peter’s square to attend
    the traditional mass, which has been moved to the Apostolic Palace. On Friday,
    observing the recently adopted restrictions, Pope Francis gave his Urbi et Orbi
    blessing during an online transmission broadcast from the Apostolic Palace in
    the Vatican. The Pope spoke of the fraternity of the world’s nations, urging
    them to share the vaccines developed to combat the COVID-19 virus. (V. Palcu)

  • December 26, 2020

    December 26, 2020

    VACCINE – The development,
    distribution and administration of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine in record time
    will help limit and eradicate the pandemic as quickly as possible, Romania’s
    Prime Minister, Florin Cîţu said on Saturday. The first doses of anti-COVID-19
    vaccine arrived in Romania on Friday, and on Saturday they were delivered to
    the military and medical institute in Bucharest, which will serve as a national
    center for stockpiling the vaccine. The head of the national vaccination
    campaign, the military doctor Valeriu Gheorghiţă, said there are currently few
    reasons advising against taking the vaccine, adding that communication and
    information will help everyone take the best decision for himself, his family
    and community as a whole. The first vaccines will be administered on Sunday to
    the medical workers in infectious disease hospitals. The first stage in the
    vaccination campaign will be finalized in January. In the second phase, people
    in at-risk categories and workers in key areas will be vaccinated, while
    vaccination for the bulk of the population is due to start in April. To ensure
    its efficiency, some 60 to 70% of the country’s population needs to take the
    vaccine. Right now, the acceptance rate for the COVID-19 vaccine stands at some
    40%. In hospitals, the acceptance rate is 90% in COVID wards.




    COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Over 614 thousand
    infections with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in Romania so far, some 1,400 new
    cases having been reported on Saturday. Most new cases were signaled in
    Bucharest. Another 85 COVID-related deaths have also been reported, taking the
    national death toll to some 15,000. 1,210 people are currently in intensive
    care. Nearly 85% of people who got infected have recovered.




    COVID-19 IN THE WORLD – Over 80 million
    people have got infected with COVID-19 since the start of the outbreak,
    accounting for 1% of the world’s population, the World Health Organization
    reports. On Christmas Day, over 655 thousand new infections were reported. The
    global death toll is closing in on 1.8 million. Most infections are reported in
    the United States, Europe and South Asia.




    CELEBRATION – On December 26, on
    the second day of Christmas, Romanian Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians celebrated
    the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God, a Christian holiday honoring Mary,
    mother of Jesus Christ. Roman-Catholics in Romania celebrated Saint Stephen,
    the first Christian martyr.




    POPE FRANCIS – Due to the threat
    of the coronavirus, Pope Francis on Saturday delivered the Angelus traditional
    prayer via videolink from the library of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.
    Italy is in lockdown during the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Due to
    the restrictions in place, the Christian faithful could not gather in St.
    Peter’s square to attend the traditional mass, which has been moved to the
    Apostolic Palace. On Friday, observing the recently adopted restrictions, Pope
    Francis gave his Urbi et Orbi blessing during an online transmission broadcast
    from the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. The Pope spoke of the fraternity of
    the world’s nations, urging them to share the vaccines developed to combat the
    COVID-19 virus. (V. Palcu)



  • September 20, 2020

    September 20, 2020

    Covid-19 RO. The Bucharest authorities reported 1,231 new cases of COVID-19, after
    performing over 13,300 tests. Since the start of the pandemic, at the end of
    February, more than 112,000 people have been infected with the new coronavirus
    in Romania. Of these, some 90,000 have been declared cured and 4,435 have died.
    470 patients are currently in intensive care. A protest against the protection
    measures implemented in schools was held in Bucharest on Saturday evening. Participants
    in the event challenged medical recommendations, such as wearing protective
    masks and keeping physical distance. They also challenged specialized studies
    that demonstrate the effectiveness of these measures in limiting the spread of
    the new coronavirus and even the risk it poses. Similar protests took place in
    Cluj (northwest), Timisoara (west), Oradea (northwest). In turn, specialists have
    again stressed that there are serious concerns about the risks associated with
    infection with the new coronavirus and have called for responsibility and compliance
    with health protection rules. Doctors emphasize that wearing a protective mask
    is one of the simplest and most effective measures to prevent infection.






    Anniversary. The capital of Romania celebrates, today, 561 years since it was first
    mentioned in documents. This year, the events part of the Days of Bucharest take place in a special context,
    caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Tonight, an online retrospective of the
    iMapp Bucharest International Festival is scheduled, with a review of the
    previous six editions. Video projections are also taking place on the facades
    of the National Theater, the InterContinental Hotel and the University
    buildings. The projections have no sound, and the artistic content will be short,
    to prevent people from stopping for too long and thus avoid congestion. Several
    tram sets, personalized with graffiti made by some of the best street art
    artists in Bucharest, are running, in an exhibition of moving urban art, to
    several areas of the capital.




    Pope. A plaque
    commemorating Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Romania was unveiled on Saturday
    at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Bucharest. The plaque includes a medallion
    representing the Holy Father giving the apostolic blessing to Romania. Last
    year, between May 31 and June 2, Pope Francis paid a historic three-day visit
    to Romania under the motto Let’s walk together. He made this visit
    20 years after that of Pope John Paul II, the first of a Sovereign Pontiff to a
    predominantly Orthodox country.






    Migration. The European Commission will present a draft reform of EU’s migration
    policy on Wednesday. Postponed several times, this new pact on migration and
    asylum was due to be presented on September 30, but the fire that destroyed the
    refugee camp in Moria (Greece) on September 9 emphasized the urgency of a
    lasting European solution. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
    has promised measures to fight traffickers, strengthen external borders and
    deepen partnerships with non-EU countries, and create legal access routes. In
    her first speech on the state of the EU held a few days ago, Ursula von der
    Leyen said that there would be common structures for asylum and return, as well
    as a strong new solidarity mechanism, in the context of countries at the
    forefront of migrants’ arrival – Greece, Malta or Italy – saying they had to
    deal with a disproportionate burden. In recent years, attempts to move asylum
    seekers within the EU have been hampered by the refusal of the Visegrad Group
    countries (Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) to accept migrants.






    Voting. On Sunday and Monday, Italians vote to reduce the number of
    parliamentarians, through a national referendum, organized in parallel with the
    local elections in seven regions. Italy has the second busiest parliament in
    Europe and the reduction of the legislature from 945 to 600 members is an
    electoral promise of the 5 Star Movement, which is governing together with the
    Democratic Party. At the same time, the left-wing government of Giuseppe Conte
    has to pass an important test of confidence in the local elections, given that
    in three of the seven regions the victory of the right is not ruled out.
    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Rome, there are also 50 Romanian
    candidates on the lists.








    Tennis. The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 2 in the world, plays,
    today, in the semifinals of the WTA tournament in Rome, against the Spaniard
    Garbine Muguruza (17 WTA). Also today, the Romanian-German pair Raluca Olaru /
    Anna-Lena Friedsam play in the final of the tournament, having as opponents the
    players Su Wei Hsieh (Taiwan) and Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic), the first
    seeds in the competition. The tournament in the Italian capital takes place
    without spectators, and competitors must follow strict rules to prevent
    infection with the new coronavirus. The prizes are worth a total of almost 1.7
    million euros. (M. Ignatescu)



















  • November 24, 2019 UPDATE

    November 24, 2019 UPDATE

    ELECTION
    – The second round of the presidential election is today taking place in
    Romania. Romanians have to choose between the acting president, Klaus Iohannis,
    supported by the National Liberal Party and the former Social-Democrat Prime
    Minister, Viorica Dancila. 2 hours before polling stations close, some 48% of
    the total of 18.2 million voters cast their votes. In the Diaspora the voting
    process started on Friday at noon and will end on Sunday at midnight. Some
    17.500 people living abroad voted by post. The total number of voting stations
    abroad stood at 838. So far some 860 thousand Romanians living abroad have cast
    their votes.




    FRIGATE – The King Ferdinand frigate has returned to the military port of
    Constanta after five weeks spent in the Mediterranean. The frigate took part in
    the NATO-led Sea Guardian 19 operation and in the Dogu Akdeniz 19 multinational
    exercise, during which it carried out joint missions to deter illegal
    activities on the eastern flank of NATO and the EU, by means of monitoring
    maritime traffic, under Allied Maritime Command.




    POPE FRANCIS
    – During his tour of Asia, which also included Thailand, Pope Francis visited
    Japan on Saturday, where he conveyed an emotion-evoking message against nuclear
    weapons. The Pope visited Nagasaki, one of the two cities struck in the Second
    World War. The Pope told Japanese bishops he hopes to meet some of the victims
    of the nuclear attacks, as well as the survivors of the Fukushima nuclear power
    plant disaster. Another goal of his visit to Japan is to encourage the Catholic
    community in this country, where only 1% of the population is Christian, half
    of which is Catholic. This is the first visit by a Pope to Japan in the last 38
    years and the second one in history.




    EUROPEAN COMMISSION – Ambassadors of EU Member States have
    agreed that the new European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen should
    start its activity on December 1 without a British Commissioner on the team,
    after the British Government refused to make a nomination. Ambassadors have
    adopted the list of the 27 Commissioners, which further requires Parliament’s
    vote, slated for Wednesday. Since Brexit has been postponed for January 31,
    2020, Great Britain was bound by EU treatises to make a nomination. Boris
    Johnson’s Cabinet stated that no nominations can be made ahead of a British
    election, as this country will host early legislative elections on December 12.
    Following London’s refusal, the European Commission launched infringement
    procedures against Great Britain on November 14.




    GAUDEAMUS – The Gaudeamus International Book Fair, organized in Bucharest by
    Radio Romania, came to a close on Sunday. On the last day of the fair, the
    awards of the 26th edition were presented. The Gaudeamus awards went
    to the Humanitas, Polirom and ART publishers. The award for the most
    sought-after book went to Radu Paraschivescu’s volume, The Man who moves
    Clouds. 7 Stories, released by Humanitas publishing house. In the media awards
    section, Evenimentul Zilei grabbed the award for best print publication, Pro TV
    won the award for best TV station, while Europa FM won the radio award. In the
    news agencies section, the award went to the national news agency Agerpres. The
    Award for Excellence went to the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi
    Publishing House. The Antoaneta Ralian translation prize went to Luminita
    Munteanu, for her translation of the Orhan Pamuk series into Romanian, as well
    as to Daniel Ionita, the coordinator of the bilingual edition of the anthology
    Testament. 400 years of Romanian poetry, released in Australia. 8,000 book
    stands were put up as part of this edition, devoted to the 30 years since the
    anti-communist revolution of 1989. A total of 900 different events were
    scheduled, including book launches, debates and book signing sessions.




    HANDBALL – Romanian handball club AHC Potaissa Turda is playing ZRHK TENAX
    Dobele of Latvia in the second round of the men’s Challenge Cup. In the first
    leg, the Romanian side won 38-35 away from home. Potaissa Turda won the
    Challenge Cup in 2018 after defeating the Greek side AEK Athens. On Saturday,
    another club, CSM Bucharest, advanced to the Challenge Cup’s round of 16
    despite losing to HC Masheka of Belarus, 28-25 away from home, in the second
    leg of the competition’s third round. Title holders CSM Bucharest had won the
    first leg 34-28 on Friday.




    (Translated
    by V. Palcu)

  • November 24, 2019 UPDATE

    November 24, 2019 UPDATE

    ELECTION
    – The second round of the presidential election is today taking place in
    Romania. Romanians have to choose between the acting president, Klaus Iohannis,
    supported by the National Liberal Party and the former Social-Democrat Prime
    Minister, Viorica Dancila. 2 hours before polling stations close, some 48% of
    the total of 18.2 million voters cast their votes. In the Diaspora the voting
    process started on Friday at noon and will end on Sunday at midnight. Some
    17.500 people living abroad voted by post. The total number of voting stations
    abroad stood at 838. So far some 860 thousand Romanians living abroad have cast
    their votes.




    FRIGATE – The King Ferdinand frigate has returned to the military port of
    Constanta after five weeks spent in the Mediterranean. The frigate took part in
    the NATO-led Sea Guardian 19 operation and in the Dogu Akdeniz 19 multinational
    exercise, during which it carried out joint missions to deter illegal
    activities on the eastern flank of NATO and the EU, by means of monitoring
    maritime traffic, under Allied Maritime Command.




    POPE FRANCIS
    – During his tour of Asia, which also included Thailand, Pope Francis visited
    Japan on Saturday, where he conveyed an emotion-evoking message against nuclear
    weapons. The Pope visited Nagasaki, one of the two cities struck in the Second
    World War. The Pope told Japanese bishops he hopes to meet some of the victims
    of the nuclear attacks, as well as the survivors of the Fukushima nuclear power
    plant disaster. Another goal of his visit to Japan is to encourage the Catholic
    community in this country, where only 1% of the population is Christian, half
    of which is Catholic. This is the first visit by a Pope to Japan in the last 38
    years and the second one in history.




    EUROPEAN COMMISSION – Ambassadors of EU Member States have
    agreed that the new European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen should
    start its activity on December 1 without a British Commissioner on the team,
    after the British Government refused to make a nomination. Ambassadors have
    adopted the list of the 27 Commissioners, which further requires Parliament’s
    vote, slated for Wednesday. Since Brexit has been postponed for January 31,
    2020, Great Britain was bound by EU treatises to make a nomination. Boris
    Johnson’s Cabinet stated that no nominations can be made ahead of a British
    election, as this country will host early legislative elections on December 12.
    Following London’s refusal, the European Commission launched infringement
    procedures against Great Britain on November 14.




    GAUDEAMUS – The Gaudeamus International Book Fair, organized in Bucharest by
    Radio Romania, came to a close on Sunday. On the last day of the fair, the
    awards of the 26th edition were presented. The Gaudeamus awards went
    to the Humanitas, Polirom and ART publishers. The award for the most
    sought-after book went to Radu Paraschivescu’s volume, The Man who moves
    Clouds. 7 Stories, released by Humanitas publishing house. In the media awards
    section, Evenimentul Zilei grabbed the award for best print publication, Pro TV
    won the award for best TV station, while Europa FM won the radio award. In the
    news agencies section, the award went to the national news agency Agerpres. The
    Award for Excellence went to the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi
    Publishing House. The Antoaneta Ralian translation prize went to Luminita
    Munteanu, for her translation of the Orhan Pamuk series into Romanian, as well
    as to Daniel Ionita, the coordinator of the bilingual edition of the anthology
    Testament. 400 years of Romanian poetry, released in Australia. 8,000 book
    stands were put up as part of this edition, devoted to the 30 years since the
    anti-communist revolution of 1989. A total of 900 different events were
    scheduled, including book launches, debates and book signing sessions.




    HANDBALL – Romanian handball club AHC Potaissa Turda is playing ZRHK TENAX
    Dobele of Latvia in the second round of the men’s Challenge Cup. In the first
    leg, the Romanian side won 38-35 away from home. Potaissa Turda won the
    Challenge Cup in 2018 after defeating the Greek side AEK Athens. On Saturday,
    another club, CSM Bucharest, advanced to the Challenge Cup’s round of 16
    despite losing to HC Masheka of Belarus, 28-25 away from home, in the second
    leg of the competition’s third round. Title holders CSM Bucharest had won the
    first leg 34-28 on Friday.




    (Translated
    by V. Palcu)

  • November 24, 2019

    November 24, 2019

    ELECTION
    – The second round of the presidential election is today taking place in
    Romania. Romanians have to choose between the acting president, Klaus Iohannis,
    supported by the National Liberal Party, the former Social-Democrat Prime
    Minister, Viorica Dancila. In the first six hours since voting stations opened,
    some 22% of the total of 18.2 million voters cast their votes. In the Diaspora
    the voting process started on Friday at noon and will end on Sunday at
    midnight. Some 17.500 people living abroad voted by post. The total number of
    voting stations abroad stood at 838. So far some 500 thousand Romanians living
    abroad have cast their votes.




    FRIGATE – The King Ferdinand frigate has returned to the military port of
    Constanta after five weeks spent in the Mediterranean. The frigate took part in
    the NATO-led Sea Guardian 19 operation and in the Dogu Akdeniz 19 multinational
    exercise, during which it carried out joint missions to deter illegal
    activities on the eastern flank of NATO and the EU, by means of monitoring
    maritime traffic, under Allied Maritime Command.




    POPE FRANCIS
    – During his tour of Asia, which also included Thailand, Pope Francis visited
    Japan on Saturday, where he conveyed an emotion-evoking message against nuclear
    weapons. The Pope visited Nagasaki, one of the two cities struck in the Second
    World War. The Pope told Japanese bishops he hopes to meet some of the victims
    of the nuclear attacks, as well as the survivors of the Fukushima nuclear power
    plant disaster. Another goal of his visit to Japan is to encourage the Catholic
    community in Japan, where only 1% of the population is Christian, half of which
    is Catholic. This is the first visit by a Pope to Japan in the last 38 years
    and the second one in history.




    EUROPEAN COMMISSION – Ambassadors of EU Member States have
    agreed that the new European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen should
    start its activity on December 1 without a British Commissioner on the team,
    after the British Government refused to make a nomination. Ambassadors have
    adopted the list of the 27 Commissioners, which further requires Parliament’s
    vote, slated for Wednesday. Since Brexit has been postponed for January 31,
    2020, Great Britain was bound by EU treatises to make a nomination. Boris
    Johnson’s Cabinet stated that no nominations can be made ahead of a British
    election, as this country will host early legislative elections on December 12.
    Following London’s refusal, the European Commission launched infringement
    procedures against Great Britain on November 14.




    GAUDEAMUS – The Gaudeamus International Book Fair, organized in Bucharest by
    Radio Romania, came to an end on Sunday. On the last day of the fair, the
    awards of the 26th edition were presented. On Saturday, the 4th
    day of the Fair, Prof. Thierry Wolton took part in the launch of the second
    volume of his trilogy A World History of Communism. In this volume, entitled
    ‘The Victims’, Wolton speaks about the tens of millions that suffered
    imprisonment, deportation, torture and even extermination for their
    anti-communist beliefs. 8,000 book stands have been put up as part of this
    edition, devoted to the 30 years since the anti-communist revolution of 1989. A
    total of 900 different events were scheduled, including book launches, debates
    and book signing sessions.



    (Translated by V.
    Palcu)

  • June 2, 2019 UPDATE

    June 2, 2019 UPDATE

    Pope Francis visit — Pope Francis on Sunday ended his 3-day visit to Romania whose motto was “Let’s Walk Together”. The visit occurred 20 years after the one paid by Pope John Paul II, which was the first visit by a Pope to a country with a majority Orthodox population. On Sunday, in Blaj (central Romania) the pontiff met with the Rroma minority representatives in that city in Alba county. On behalf of the Church he asked forgiveness to the Rroma community for the difficult moments in the history of this ethnic community when Rroma people were ill-treated, segregated and discriminated. Previously, in this Episcopal city, a spiritual center of Greek Catholics in Transylvania, Pope Francis held an official Mass during which 7 martyr Greek Catholic bishops killed during the Communist regime were beatified. According to the Pope, they left to the Romanian people a ‘precious’ heritage which can be summed up in two words: freedom and mercifulness. Pope Franscis underlined that the martyrs proved faith and great love for their people in the face of the Communist persecution. 100 thousand people attended the ceremony, among whom the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, the PM Viorica Dancila and the Crown Princess Margareta of Romania. On Saturday, the Pope visited Iasi, in northeastern Romania, which is home to a large community of Catholics. The pontiff visited the Cathedral ‘Holy Virgin Mary, Queen’, blessed 800 children, old and sick people and prayed for families and young people. Also on Saturday the pontiff held a Holy Mass at the Marian shrine in Şumuleu Ciuc in eastern Transylvania, a place inhabited by a majority ethnic Hungarian population, which venues annually the largest Catholic pilgrimage in Central and Eastern Europe. On Friday, in Bucharest, Pope Francis met with Romania’s high officials and said that despite many difficulties and shortcomings Romania managed to make progress in the democratic process it embarked on and he paid homage to the country’s sons and daughters, who, through their culture, values and work, enrich the countries where they emigrated. During his visit to Romania, Pope Francis was welcomed enthusiastically by hundreds of thousands of people.



    Weather forecast — Romanian meteorologists on Sunday issued a Code Orange alert for torrential rain and storms valid until Monday afternoon for 11 counties in the south and center of Romania. The amount of water will exceed 40 l/sqm and 50-70 l/sqm in isolated areas. For the same period, meteorologists issued a Code Yellow alert for unsettled weather and heavy rainfalls for the south, east and centre of the country. Over 200 people were helped by the Interior Ministry employees this weekend. 35 people were rescued and more than 170 were evacuated from the flooded areas. According to a communiqué, 76 localities in 25 counties were affected by the extreme weather phenomena. In Prahova county, in the south, three children drowned in the high flood, while a 4th child is reported missing. The government announced urgent measures to support the people and communities affected by the floods.



    Tennis — The defending champion in Roland Garros, 3rd seeded Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, will take on, on Monday, in the eighth finals, the Polish player Iga Swiatek (104 WTA). Halep in the only Romanian tennis player who continues in the singles. In the men’s doubles, Horia Tecau qualified to the quarterfinals together with his partner, the Dutch Jean Julien Rojer. (update by L. Simion)