Radio România Internațional

Tag: prize

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    Three tennis players from Romania this coming weekend will play in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, an event with almost 9 million dollars in prize money. In the first round on Wednesday, Irina Begu defeated Ann Li of the USA, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.

    Begu will next go against 25th- seeded tennis player, Great Britain’s Katie Boulder. On Thursday, Jaqueline Cristian defeated Russian opponent Veronika Kudermetova, 6-2, 6-3. This coming weekend, Cristian takes on 27th-seeded player, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. Sorana Cîrstea will also go against another seeded player, US opponent Emma Navarro, 10th-seeded in Indian Wells.

    We recall Cirstea in the first round outclassed Australian challenger Maya Joint, who came straight from the qualifiers, 6-2,7-5.
    At the World Women’s Boxing Championships in Nis, Serbia, due to kick-start this coming Saturday, Romania will dispatch a 10-strong delegation of boxers. European champion in 2019 and vice-word champion in 2022, Lacramioara Perijoc stands the greatest chances to winning a medal. Perijoc’s record also includes European silver medals, in 2023 and 2024. In Nis, Lacramioara Perijoc will compete in the 57-kilogram category.

    Also keeping her hopes alive to winning a medal is Claudia Nechita, a boxer who initially competed in the 57-kilogram category and now fights in the 60-kilogram category. We recall Nechita participated in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. In 2024 at the European Championships in Belgrade Nechita walked home with the silver medal.

    The prize money for the medal is impressive: 100, 000 USD for gold, 50, 000 USD for silver and 25, 000 USD for the bronze medal. 10,000 USD go to the 5th-placed boxer. Prize money all told amounts to almost three million USD.

    Football matches are scheduled at the weekend, counting towards the 30th round, the last one, of Romanian Superleague’s regular season. On Friday, Oţelul Galaţi are pitted against Poli Iaşi, while Farul Constanţa play Universitatea Cluj. In Ploiesti on Saturday, the local side Petrolul play Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. In Sibiu, Hermannstadt take on Rapid Bucharest.

    In the first fixture on Sunday, CFR Cluj play a home match against Gloria Buzău. On Sunday evening in Bucharest, round 30th’ derby will see top-of-the-table team FCSB facing the runner-up team Universitatea Craiova. Bucharest team FCSB are fresh from a 1-3 defeat in the Europa League’s round of 16, in the first leg of the tie against French team Olympique Lyonnais.

    The regular season’s last two fixtures are scheduled on Monday, as FC Botoşani are pitted against Unirea Slobozia, while UTA go against Dinamo. FCSB are at the top of the as-it-stands table, with 53 points. Universitatea Craiova follows suit, with 52 points.

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash

    Romanian women’s table tennis team on Wednesday has advanced to the quarterfinals as part of the World teams Championships in Seoul and the Olympic Games in Paris. In the round of 16, Romania’s Bernadette Szőcs, Elizabeta Samara and Adina Diaconu defeated Egypt, 3-nil

     

    We recall Romania came in 5th at the 2014 edition of the World Championships in Japan, and at the World Championships in Sweden, in 2018. Romanian table tennis team’s most recent performance in South Korea has raised to 76 the number of athletes who have qualified to the Olympic Games in Paris, according to the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, quoted by Agerpres. Romania’s men’s table tennis team was unable to go past the round of 16 in South Korea, having sustained a nil-3 defeat by China.

     

    Results in fixtures counting towards the Romanian Women’s National Handball League’s 17th round have been predictable, with a win-all record for the favorite teams. Holders CSM Bucharest defeated Minaur Baia Mare, 33 – 28. Vice-champions Rapid Bucharest defeated Dacia Mioveni, 27-22. In their match against Handbal Club Zalău, Gloria Bistriţa grabbed a 28-23 win. The other Romanian team to have made it to the Europa League’s quarterfinals, Dunărea Brăila, outclassed Magura Cisnadie, 25 – 21. CSM Bucharest are still at the top of the as-it-stands table, being 6 points clear of 2nd and 3rd-placed teams, Rapid Bucharest and Gloria Bistritsa, respectively.

     

    In the National Women’s National Basketball league on Wednesday. Baschet Arad grabbed a 63 – 47 home win against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. In the wake of a lackluster European run, Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe has yet against put on a disappointing performance, this time in the domestic championship, with a negative record of scored points and with the second defeat in their last three domestic championship fixtures.

     

    In April this year, Bucharest will play host to an ATP 250 tennis tournament. After a eight-year gap, Ţiriac Open will be resumed in Romania’s capital city: the event will have 580 thousand USD in prize money. Matches will be played on a clay court and the winner will be granted 250 ATP points. The first top-flight tennis player who has confirmed his participation to the Tiriac Open was the Canadian Denis Shapovalov, a former WTA no 10.

  • June 4, 2023 UPDATE

    June 4, 2023 UPDATE

    Pentecost — The majority Orthodox Christians in Romania and the Greek Catholics will celebrate on Monday, the second day of Pentecost, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. On the second day of Pentecost in some areas of the country pots are offered to people, which should be decorated with flowers and be accompanied by a bread ring with a candle on top for those who have passed away. Beautifully decorated plates are also given away for the living. Pentecost or the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles marks the foundation of the Christian Church and is celebrated 50 days after Easter. According to the New Testament, the 12 Apostles, gathered in a house, received the Holy Spirit, who gave them the power to preach in languages ​​they had never spoken before. Following the sermon of the Apostle Peter, 3,000 people were baptized and formed the first Christian community. In churches, on Pentecost day, the faithful receive blessed walnut leaves, symbols of the flames that appeared above the heads of the Apostles, at the time of the Descent of the Holy Spirit.



    Prize – Human rights and human dignity are key elements for the construction of societies characterized by freedom, democracy and solidarity, President Klaus Iohannis said on Sunday, upon receiving the Franz Werfel Prize for Human Rights for the year 2023, during a ceremony held in Frankfurt on Main. The head of the Romanian state showed that for Romania, the people belonging to national minorities represent not only a rich cultural and human heritage, but also a real added value for the whole society. During the ceremony, the Laudatio speech was delivered by Jean-Claude Juncker, former President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, who highlighted the merits of President Klaus Iohannis in the fight against corruption, in the observance of the rule of law and the protection of minorities. On Saturday, also in Germany, the Romanian president received the German Civic Award, granted by the Bad Harzburg Civic Foundation, in Dusseldorf. In his acceptance speech, Klaus Iohannis reiterated Romanias support for the European values, which gives legitimacy to the citizens desire to benefit from integration into the Schengen Area. He reminded that Romania fully meets the criteria for integration, managing the external borders with responsibility and efficiency. The foundation decided to award the prize based on the evaluation of the entire political career of the Romanian head of state.



    Visit — King Charles III of Great Britain continues his private visit to Romania. On Saturday and Sunday, the British sovereign walked the streets of Valea Zălanului village in Covasna county (center), where he owns three houses. Dressed casually, the king was welcomed by the locals with flowers. He talked with the villagers and tourists who came especially to see him, and he also visited some picturesque places in the area. I love to come to Romania, said the monarch. Charles III was received, on Friday, at the Cotroceni Palace, by President Klaus Iohannis. It is the first visit that a British monarch pays to Romania, and also the first foreign trip of the sovereign since his coronation, which took place last month. As a Crown Prince, Charles visited Romania several times, the first time in 1998 and he declared himself an admirer of the country. He got involved in preserving the Romanian cultural heritage, buying and restoring old houses in the countryside, which he saved from destruction. In 2017, the Presidency granted him the National Order “Star of Romania” in the rank of Grand Cross.



    Tennis — The Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse and Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine lost, on Sunday, in three sets, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, the match in the round of 16 of the womens doubles in the Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros, against Jessica Pegula and CoCo Gauff, both from the USA. Ruse and Kostyuk were seeded 13th at Roland Garros, one of the most important international tennis tournaments.



    Turkey – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on behalf of Romania, for his reconfirmation as President of Turkey and wished him success in fulfilling his new mandate, during the investiture ceremony that took place on Saturday. The event was attended by heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Ankara, among whom the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. He is in Turkey also for discussions aimed at solving the objections of the Ankara administration regarding the ratification of Swedens request for NATO membership. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Romanian officials participation in the ceremony reflects Romanias desire to strengthen the bilateral Strategic Partnership, based on consistent political dialogue and close cooperation in a wide range of sectoral fields. For Romania, Turkey is the second commercial partner outside the EU and the first destination of Romanian exports outside the Union, last year the volume of exchanges registering almost 9.6 billion dollars. Recep Tayyip Erdogan took oath as president for the third time. On May 28, in the second round of voting, he defeated the candidate of the united opposition, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The Turkish leader dominated the countrys politics for 20 years, first as prime minister, then as president, but critics accuse him of authoritarianism and mismanagement of the economy. (LS)

  • June 4, 2023

    June 4, 2023

    Visit — King Charles III of Great Britain continues his private visit to Romania. On Saturday, the British sovereign walked the streets of Valea Zălanului village in Covasna county (center), where he owns three houses. Dressed casually, the king was welcomed by the locals with flowers. He talked with the villagers and tourists who came especially to see him, and he also visited some picturesque places in the area. I love to come to Romania, said the monarch. Charles III was received, on Friday, at the Cotroceni Palace, by President Klaus Iohannis. It is the first visit that a British monarch pays to Romania, and also the first foreign trip of the sovereign since his coronation, which took place last month. As a Crown Prince, Charles visited Romania several times, the first time in 1998 and he declared himself an admirer of the country. He got involved in preserving the Romanian cultural heritage, buying and restoring old houses in the countryside, which he saved from destruction. In 2017, the Presidency granted him the National Order “Star of Romania” in the rank of Grand Cross.



    Prize — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis receives Sunday in Frankfurt am Main, the Franz Werfel prize for human rights, granted by the Center against Expulsions. Romania’s Presidential Administration specifies that the decision to grant this award represents the recognition of his activity in the field of promoting human rights and good coexistence between ethnic groups, throughout his political career. On Saturday, Romania’s president received the German Civic Award, offered by the Bad Harzburg Civic Foundation, in Dusseldorf (Germany). In the thank-you speech delivered in German, the Romanian head of state recalled the efforts made by Romania to contribute to securing the EU borders. Klaus Iohannis reiterated Romanias support for the European values, which gives legitimacy to the citizens desire to benefit from integration into the Schengen Area. He reminded that Romania fully meets the criteria for integration into the Schengen Area, managing the external borders with responsibility and efficiency. The foundation decided to award the prize based on the evaluation of the entire political career of the Romanian head of state, emphasizing the support for the harmonious coexistence of different ethnicities, the commitment to freedom, democracy and pluralism, the restoration and modernization of his hometown Sibiu (the center of Romania), the support for the anti-corruption fight and attachment to the idea of ​​a united Europe.



    Pentecost — The majority Romanian Orthodox Christians and the Greek Catholics celebrate, Sunday, the Pentecost or the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, an event that marks the foundation of the Christian Church. According to the New Testament, the 12 Apostles, gathered in a house, received the Holy Spirit, who gave them the power to preach in languages ​​they had never spoken before. Following the sermon of the Apostle Peter, 3,000 people were baptized and formed the first Christian community. In churches, believers receive blessed walnut leaves, symbols of the flames that appeared above the heads of the Apostles, at the time of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, during the Pentecost mini-holiday, tens of thousands of tourists are in the resorts on the Prahova Valley (south) or on the Black Sea Coast (southeast). Many Romanians chose to spend their free time outside the country, especially in Bulgaria and Greece.



    Tennis — The Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse and Marta Kostiuk from Ukraine are playing, today, in the round of 16 of the womens doubles in the Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros, against Jessica Pegula and CoCo Gauff, both from the USA. Ruse and Kostiuk qualified, on Saturday, after, in the second round of the Parisian competition on clay court, they defeated the pair made up of the Belgian Kirsten Flipkens and the American Shelby Rogers, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Ruse and Kostyuk are seeded 13th at Roland Garros, one of the most important international tennis tournaments.



    Turkey – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on behalf of Romania, for his reconfirmation as President of Turkey and wished him success in fulfilling his new mandate, during the investiture ceremony that took place on Saturday. The event was attended by heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Ankara, among whom the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. He is in Turkey also for discussions aimed at solving the objections of the Ankara administration regarding the ratification of Swedens request for NATO membership. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Romanian officials participation in the ceremony reflects Romanias desire to strengthen the bilateral Strategic Partnership, based on consistent political dialogue and close cooperation in a wide range of sectoral fields. For Romania, Turkey is the second commercial partner outside the EU and the first destination of Romanian exports outside the Union, last year the volume of exchanges registering almost 9.6 billion dollars. Recep Tayyip Erdogan took oath as president for the third time. On May 28, in the second round of voting, he defeated the candidate of the united opposition, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The Turkish leader dominated the countrys politics for 20 years, first as prime minister, then as president, but critics accuse him of authoritarianism and mismanagement of the economy. (LS)

  • June 3, 2022 UPDATE

    June 3, 2022 UPDATE

    Ukraine — On Friday it’s 100 days since Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, during which time the Russian military failed to achieve any of its initial campaign goals, according to the British Military Intelligence Service. The Russians were unable to capture the capital, Kyiv, or the Ukrainian power centers. After losing the battle for Kyiv, Moscow decided to focus its efforts on Donbas, an area made up of ​​two regions of Ukraine where the Russian army has been pressing for weeks. The Russians have resorted to heavy artillery fire there, including on the localities, and have made some tactical progress, the British experts show. The Russian army has advanced not only into eastern Ukraine but also into the southern region. All in all, the attackers managed to occupy about 20% of Ukraines territory, according to the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. He added that the entire Russian-occupied territory was a disaster area and that Moscow was solely responsible for it. The Russians have destroyed cities, bombed homes and civilian targets, and have been charged with numerous war crimes. They have also been subjected to a number of international economic and political sanctions. Ukraine hopes to turn the tide of battle, with the arrival of heavy weapons promised by the West, especially high-performance missile systems.



    Drill – Romanian soldiers and allies from five European countries and the United States are participating in a multinational exercise at the NATO Smârdan Center in eastern Romania. Both ground and air combat equipment is used. The exercise, which has been taking place since May 24, is attended by over 1,000 Romanian soldiers along with comrades-in-arms from France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal and the United States. The training aims to increase interoperability through computer-assisted command exercises, field troop training and tactical training with real combat ammunition. Through such training events, the Command of the Southeast Multinational Brigade is being trained to be able to command forces deployed in the NATO Southeast region, in order to ensure the contribution of this structure to the collective defense of the Alliance, the Romanian Defense Ministry says.



    Film – The 3rd edition of the Romanian Film Festival in Washington, the largest event promoting Romanian cinema in the USA, begins on June 3rd at Miracle Theatre. Organised by the Embassy of Romania to Washington and the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, the festival is devoted to the 25 years since the signing of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the USA. Screened as part of the event, under the heading “Reinventing realism: the Romanian New Wave,” are 12 feature films: “Blue Moon”, “Berliner”, “The Windseeker”, “Poppy Field”, “Mikado”, “Unidentified”, “#dogpoopgirl”, “Luca”, “Man and Dog”, “Lebensdorf”, “Otto the Barbarian”, and “Miracle”. The festival will come to an end on June 19.



    School — For the Romanian 8th graders, Friday was the last day of school, and also the last day of enrollment for the National Assessment Exam, the high school final exam that is the basis for high school admission. The tests are scheduled for the middle of this month. However, the high school graduates will be the first ones to take the Baccalaureate exam, which starts on Monday with the oral examination in the Romanian language subject. The school year ends on June 10, and the next one, with a radically modified structure, will begin on September 5.



    Prize — On Saturday, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will be awarded the European Charlemagne Prize of the Sudeten German Homeland Association for 2020. The ceremony will take place in Hof, Germany. The association decided to award him the distinction in recognition of his merits in terms of the understanding and cooperation between the peoples and countries of Central Europe. In the context of the pandemic, the ceremony could not be held, being rescheduled for June 4 this year, when the Day of Sudeten Germans is also celebrated. (LS)

  • November 26, 2021 UPDATE

    November 26, 2021 UPDATE

    Government — The coalition government in Bucharest, led by the Liberal Nicolae Ciuca and instated on Thursday, approved a budget rectification on Friday, the second of this year. The decision was considered an emergency, so as not to delay the payment of pensions and salaries next month. The Ministries of Finance, Health and Labor received money while the Agriculture and Transport Ministries lost funds. According to official data, the budget deficit remains at 7.13% of Gross Domestic Product. The autumn forecast shows an economic growth rate in Romania of 7% for the current year. On Thursday, in the inaugural meeting, an emergency ordinance on the reorganization of the government was adopted, because the new cabinet has two more ministries as compared to the previous one. The law also stipulates that the prerogatives of the two deputy prime ministers, from the parties allied with PNL, Sorin Grindeanu (PSD) and Kelemen Hunor (UDMR), are established by the decision of the prime minister. The ordinance also allows for occupying the vacancies in public institutions.



    Covid — Romanian schools are beginning to receive noninvasive tests for rapid detection of the novel coronavirus. The first tranche, of about 6.5 million saliva tests, was distributed on Thursday, the Education Minister, Sorin Cîmpeanu announced. The rapid testing of preschoolers and students is set to begin next week and will be done twice a week for children attending classes. 1,958 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the last 24 hours and 160 deaths, of which 45 were registered before the reference period, the Strategic Communication Group announced on Friday. The National Public Health Institute announced that over 70% of the cases registered in the last week were in unvaccinated people. Since the start of the vaccination campaign, a little over 7.7 million people have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.



    AWARD — The Romanian swimmer David Popovici won the 2021 Summer Piotr Nurowski “Best European Young Athlete” Prize (PNP) in Europe, awarded by the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees during an event hosted by Samorin, Slovakia. Aged 17, Popovici won gold in 2021 at the European Short Course Swimming Championships, and another three gold medals in European Youth Championships. He broke two world junior records in the 100m and 200m freestyle events, and ranked 4th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 100m freestyle event. Enrolled at Dinamo sports club in Bucharest, Popovici fought for the prize against four other athletes, Sky Brown from Great Britain (skateboarding), Adriana Cerezo Iglesias from Spain (taekwondo), Viktoria Listunova from Russia (artistic gymnastics) and Adriana Vilagos from Serbia (athletics). The Piotr Nurowski award was created in memory of Piotr Nurowski, former President of the Polish Olympic Committee who died in a plane crash in 2010. In 2012, the Romanian gymnast Larisa Iordache was voted 2012 Summer Piotr Nurowski “Second Best European Young Athlete”.



    B9 – On November 25 and 26, Romania co-chaired with Poland the 3rd meeting of the defense ministers of the Bucharest 9 or Bucharest Format, representing Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The meeting in Bucharest was a continuation of the discussions held this spring, on the occasion of the B9 Summit held in Romania, with the extraordinary participation, in a videoconference, of the US President, Joe Biden. The agenda was structured in two main sessions: the first was dedicated to the results of the NATO summit in Brussels, of June, to the process of developing the new Strategic Concept of the Alliance and implementing the NATO 2030 agenda. The second session focused on cooperation between NATO and the European Union, the Strategic Compass, resilience and military mobility. The meeting in Bucharest takes place in an important context for the security and stability of the allied eastern flank and the Euro-Atlantic area, being an opportunity to send a clear message on the unity and solidarity of the states in this region, show a Defense Ministry communiqué. (LS)

  • October 1, 2021 UPDATE

    October 1, 2021 UPDATE

    Fire – A strong fire broke out on Friday at the ICU of the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Constanţa (southeastern Romania), resulting in 7 deaths. The entire hospital was evacuated, and the patients were transferred to other health units in the county. A criminal investigation into negligence and man slaughter has been opened in this case. Dysfunctions and irregularities regarding the fire alert system had been identified in this hospital during two previous controls, says the Interior Minister Lucian Bode. Sanctions were imposed, but the problems were not remedied. The Romanian PM Florin Cîţu asked for the dismissal of the manager of the Constanţa Infectious Diseases Hospital and dismissed the president of the National Authority for Quality Management in Healthcare. This is the 10th fire in less than 12 months to take place in one of Romania’s hospitals, many of which are COVID units. Similar tragedies occurred at the end of last year, at the County Hospital in Piatra Neamţ (northeast), and at the beginning of this year at the Matei Balș Institute in Bucharest. Both incidents resulted in deaths and injuries among patients treated for Covid 19 in intensive care. Controls launched at Romanian hospital units showed that some of them do not have a fire safety certificate.



    Aachen – The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, stated on Friday, in Aachen, during a debate, that the European Union must go through a deep integration and that he does not believe in eliminating countries from the bloc, as he likens the EU to a family. President Iohannis also said at the accession of candidate countries from the Western Balkans should be accelerated. Iohannis spoke of Romanias neighbors – Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova – as ‘states that want to move things together with us.’ The Romanian head of state is present in Germany in the context in which, on Saturday, he receives the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen – For the Unity of Europe.



    Covid Ro — The Romanian authorities announced, on Friday, almost 10,900 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection out of over 67,000 thousand tests. 169 COVID-associated deaths were also reported, most in unvaccinated people. All deaths were in patients with other health conditions. The number of hospitalized people also continued to increase. At present there are over 12,500 hospitalized people, 5,500 more than one week ago. 1,391 people are in intensive care.



    Measures – The National Committee for Emergency Situations has decided that it is mandatory to wear a protective mask in all indoor and outdoor public spaces when the infection rate for a period of 14 days exceeds 6 per thousand inhabitants. Regardless of the aggregate incidence rate, the Health and Education Ministries can allow the physical participation of all children in classes. On the other hand, shops will close at 10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays if the Covid-19 incidence exceeds the threshold of 6 per thousand inhabitants and at the same hour in the rest of the week, if the infection rate in the respective locality is higher than 7.5 per thousand, the National Committee for Emergency Situations has also decided. Restaurants, performance halls and gyms will not close when the incidence reaches 6 per thousand inhabitants, but they will be able to operate at only 50% of their maximum capacity. Access will be allowed only to vaccinated people or people who have recovered from the disease. The rule also applies to private events, such as weddings or baptisms.



    Pandemic – The Romanian Committee for Emergency Situations has updated the list of countries and territories of high epidemiological risk. Romania has joined the red zone, along with the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, Armenia, Belarus and Greenland. Following the drop in the incidence rates, Austria, Switzerland, Gibraltar, Iran, the Maldives and the Bahamas are now in the yellow zone. The green zone now includes, among other countries, the Netherlands, Germany and France. Those vaccinated against COVID-19 would not be quarantined if they come from yellow or red list areas. The committee has decided to exempt from the quarantine measure the drivers of goods and passenger vehicles if they provide a negative RT-PCR test result. The new list takes effect on October 3.



    UK – As of October 1, EU citizens will need a passport to enter the UK, showing that they came to work, study or as tourists. Identity cards are no longer accepted as valid travel documents following Brexit. Nearly six million EU citizens, who were in the UK on 31 December 2020, were eligible to apply for residency and over 90% of them have received it. In their case, the identity card will continue to be accepted as a travel document until January 1, 2026. The new immigration system introduced this year means much more border controls, because the EU citizens no longer enjoy freedom of movement. According to the British newspaper “The Guardian”, in the first six months of the year, 7,249 European citizens were stopped at the Great Britain’s bordres and 60% of them were from Romania.



    Football — Romania’s football champions, CFR Cluj (northwest) ended in a draw 1-all the match played on Thursday, on home turf, against the Danish team Randers FC, in Group D of the Europa Conference League. In the other match of the group, the Dutch team AZ Alkmaar defeated Jablonec, from the Czech Republic, at home, 1-0. CFR ranks last in the group and will play the next match against Alkmaar, in Cluj, on October 21. CFR Cluj is the only representative of Romania in the continental competitions. (LS)

  • October 14, 2020

    October 14, 2020

    COVID-19 4,016 new cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in Romania on Wednesday, the biggest daily figure since the start of the pandemic. The number of patients with severe forms of the disease is up, with 686 people in ICU. Another 66 COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,601. The Government extends the state of alert by 30 days, as of October 15. The National Committee for Emergencies decided that face masks will be compulsory outdoors as well, in areas with more than 3 cases per 1,000 capita, and private events will be banned until the number of infections drops.



    PRIZE The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis is awarded in Magdeburg, Germany today the Emperor Otto Prize, for “great merits in the European unification process. According to the Romanian Presidency, the award ceremony will take place at the Magdeburg Cathedral (Magdeburger Dom, the Cathedral of Saints Maurice and Catherine), home to the tomb of Otto I the Great, Holy Roman Emperor. The Emperor Otto Prize is awarded every 2 years to personalities and organisations with outstanding merits in the European unification process and in promoting European values. It was first granted in 2005, when the city of Magdeburg celebrated 1,200 years. Former recipients include the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former president Richard von Weizsacker, former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga, as well as the former EU diplomacy chief Federica Mogherini. In 2015, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe was the first institution to receive this award.



    INCIDENTS Incidents were reported in Iasi, in the east, where the Orthodox pilgrimage to Saint Parascheva the New continues. Groups of believers clashed with the police during this event, traditionally the largest in Romania and one of the most important in Europe. After the National Committee for Emergency decided that only believers residing in Iasi may take part in the event, the Romanian Orthodox Church rated the measure as discriminatory and said the Patriarchate was not consulted. On Tuesday president Klaus Iohannis said “a direct dialogue between the 2 major authorities would lead to better solutions. Born near Constantinople in the early 11th Century and celebrated on October 14, Saint Parascheva the New has been the patron saint of Moldavia since 1641.



    AUTOMOTIVE In Romania, the market for electric and Hybrid Plug-in cars rose significantly in the first 9 months of the year compared to 2019. Statistics point to a 40% increase in electric car sales and a 140% in Hybrid Plug-in sales since the beginning of the year. On Thursday, the largest Romanian carmaker, Dacia, taken over by the French group Renault in 1999, will unveil Spring, its electric model, 7 months after releasing the first photos of the concept. Dacia Spring will be the least expensive electric car in Europe, around 3-4,000 euro cheaper than its competitors.



    ELECTIONS In the Republic of Moldova the campaign for the presidential election due on November 1 continues. The latest polls indicate that only 2 out of the 8 candidates stand chances to win—the incumbent Socialist pro-Russian president Igor Dodon and the former pro-Western PM Maia Sandu, who were the main contenders in the presidential race 4 years ago as well. Radio Romanias correspondents in Chisinau say Dodon targets ethnic minorities and Soviet supporters, whereas Sandu has to win over the extremely divided right-wing voters.



    MEASURES Italy has added further exceptions from the COVID-19 rules applicable to travellers from Romania. Individuals showing no symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the ones who have not travelled to countries like Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Republic of Moldova are no longer required to self-isolate under medical supervision. Exceptions also include the travellers who transit Italy for up to 36 hours and short-term visitors who stay in the country up to 120 hours. The same exception applies to medical personnel coming into Italy to practice their profession. The new rules are in force until November 13.



    FOOTBALL Romanias football team is playing tonight in Ploiesti against Austria, in the UEFA Nations League Group 1B. On Sunday, Romania lost 0-4, away from home, to Norway. In the first 2 matches in the group, Romania drew 1-1, at home, with Northern Ireland and beat Austria 3-2. On Thursday Romania failed to qualify into next years European Championship final tournament, after losing 1-2 against Iceland in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Romanias U21 team defeated Malta 4-1 (4-0), on Tuesday night in Giurgiu, in Group 8 of the European Youth Championship qualifiers. Denmark ranks first in the group with 25 points, followed by Romania with 19, Ukraine with 10, Finland with 10, Northern Ireland with 0 points and Malta with 1 point. Romania will play a decisive match on November 17 against Denmark in Ploiesti. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

  • February 5, 2020

    February 5, 2020

    Motion — The no confidence motion initiated by the Social Democrats against the Liberal government led by Ludovic Orban is being voted today in Parliament. The document, signed by MPs from the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, accuses the government of infringing on the democratic principles by assuming responsibly for the election of mayors in two rounds of voting. On Tuesday the government approved several emergency decrees. One of them introduces new rules for the early parliamentary elections as follows: the deadline for calling the ballot is reduced from 90 to 50 days and regulations are introduced for the national vote on additional lists and the 3-day vote aboard. As regards education, the government approved the payment of pupils’ transportation to school, the extension of the ‘Hot Meal’ program and salary increases for teachers. In the healthcare system, patients will be able to choose either state-owned or private hospitals for treatment without paying more money.



    Delegation — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that the International Charlemagne Prize he was awarded is an opportunity to present Romania as a solid and trustworthy partner within the EU. He added that this prize offered him the opportunity to get involved in the consolidation of the European project. Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday received in Bucharest a delegation of the Board of Directors of the ‘Society for the Conferring of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen’. Talks focused on the schedule of ceremonies to take place in Aachen on May 21, when the Romanian head of state will receive the Charlemagne Prize for European unity in 2020. The Society board of directors decided to grant the prize to the Romanian President who is considered a remarkable promoter of European values, of freedom and democracy, of protecting the minorities and the cultural diversity, a personality that essentially contributed to the consolidation of the rule of law and the defense of justice system’s independence, which is a prerequisite for the progress of European integration. The Prize is granted annually in Aachen to public personalities or organizations that gained recognition through their involvement in achieving European unity and cooperation among member states. The prize commemorates Charlemagne, ruler of the Frankish Empire, the first emperor recognized in Western Europe after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, who ruled and was buried in Aachen.



    WHO — The general director of the WHO said the world still has time to prevent the new coronavirus from spreading and causing a larger-scale global crisis. Dr. Tedros pointed out that the epidemic is first of all an emergency for China, and managing the situation at the virus epicenter is the best way to stop its spreading. So far over 24,000 people have been contaminated with the new coronavirus and almost 500 have died from the virus. In Europe, the people who came from China and are suspected of being infected are being monitored. During Tuesday’s meeting in Bucharest, the government approved the setting up of emergency care stocks for epidemic situations and the required quarantine measures through an emergency decree, which also provides for the purchase of thermal scanners to equip the country’s 16 airports.



    Paris — The Romanians who need lung transplant will be received by the Foch University Hospital, one of the most important hospitals in France and Europe, the health minister Victor Costache announced. Minister Costache is paying a 3-day visit to France. The Romanian and French health ministries intend to sign a memorandum of understanding which provides for establishing partnerships and exchanges of experiences and good practices in several fields of medical care. Victor Costache’s visit to France started on February 4 and also includes a meeting with the Romanian physicians working in medical centers in France.



    Washington — 9 months ahead of the presidential election in the US, Donald Trump spoke, in the annual State of the Union address, about his ‘kept promises and the growing economy, but avoided referring to his impeachment process, one day before the issuance of a verdict. The White House leader approached all the themes of his campaign for the upcoming November election: ‘the strong wall’ against immigrants from Mexico, the ban on ‘late-term’ abortions and his accusations against the Democrat candidates who are militating, in his opinion, for a Socialist control of the US healthcare system. In relation to foreign policy, Donald Trump reviewed the confrontation with Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan before reiterating his wish to bring back home the American soldiers from Afghanistan. (translation by L. Simion)

  • October 11, 2019

    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)

  • September 23, 2019 UPDATE

    September 23, 2019 UPDATE

    Presidential election – The official list of candidates running for the presidential election in Romania, which was scheduled for November 10, will be announced on Tuesday. The registration deadline for presidential candidacies was Sunday at midnight. Possible challenges can be submitted by Wednesday at the Constitutional Court. The final list of candidates will be announced on Friday. Running in the presidential race are the acting President Klaus Iohannis and the PM Viorica Dancila, among others.



    Prize – The ASTRA National Museum Compound in Sibiu (central Romania) received the Luigi Micheletti prize from the European Museum Academy for its involvement in connecting different minorities and their histories as well as for the considerable effort of organizing festivals, shows and demonstrations to better meet their purpose. The European jury appreciated especially the project ‘Open Heritage’ that the ASTRA Museum has run over the past years. 19 European museums, of which 3 from Romania, signed up for the 2019 competition for the European Museum Academy prizes, the performance of the Museum from Sibiu being a first for Romania. The awards ceremony was held at the weekend in Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. (update by L. Simion)

  • August 17, 2019 UPDATE

    August 17, 2019 UPDATE

    VISIT The head of the Romanian state, Klaus Iohannis, will be on an official visit to Washington D.C. on August 19 and 20, at the invitation of the US president, Donald J. Trump. The 2 leaders will have a meeting on August 20, to discuss ways to strengthen and further develop the strong and dynamic strategic partnership between Romania and the US, in all its components. The Romanian president will emphasise on this occasion that his country will remain a reliable ally and strategic partner of the USA, one of the priorities of Romanias foreign policy being to consolidate the trans-Atlantic relation and Euro-Atlantic security. Klaus Iohannis said he also intended to talk to Donald J. Trump about the American troops in Romania and about the countrys capacity to host more US troops. The issue of US visa requirements for Romanian citizens will also be approached. Meanwhile, according to the White House, the US president looks forward to celebrating the 30th year since the fall of communism and the 15th year of Romanias NATO membership with president Iohannis. Klaus Iohannis and Donald Trump previously met at the White House in 2017, when they discussed the prospects for deepening and broadening the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the US.



    CLIMBER One of the best known Romanian climbers, Torok Zsolt, (45) was found dead on Saturday near Negoiu Peak in Fagaras Mountains, central Romania, the Sibiu mountain rescue service announced. Torok Zsolt broke several records in Romanian and world climbing. In 2016, Torok Zsolt climbed 5 Himalayan peaks, 3 of them accompanied by Vlad Căpuşan. They made the first ever ascent of Peak 5, in Makalu region, a 6.421m top that had not been climbed since the opening of the route in 2003. In 2013, Torok Zsolt was the leader of the Romanian team that climbed the 8.126m Nanga Parbat, which is still the most notable achievement in Romanian mountain climbing.



    MIGRANTS The Romanian authorities, alongside several other EU member states, have agreed to receive some of the nearly 150 migrants on board of the Spanish humanitarian vessel Open Arms, off the Italian island of Lampedusa. According to a news release issued by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the agreement concerns the relocation of 10 people from Malta. The decision proves Romanias willingness to contribute to the solidarity efforts in such situations, and concerns vulnerable people, who need protection. The response poses no pressure on the Romanian asylum system, reads the release. Bucharest says there have been other similar situations this year, and Romania has responded to 3 such calls coming from the European Commission, namely 2 from Italy for 10 people, and one from Malta for 5 people in need of protection. Eleven of these have reached the country so far.



    FILM ‘Ivana the Terrible, Ivana Mladenovics second feature film, has won the special prize of the jury in the Cineasti del Presente section of the Locarno Film Festival, which came to an end on Saturday. The section is devoted to directors at their first, second or third films. ‘Ivana the Terrible, a Romanian-Serbian co-production, is an unconventional story about people and places, based on an event in the directors life. Ivana Mladenovic was born in 1984, in Serbia, she went to law school in Belgrade and then moved to Romania. She made several shorts and documentaries awarded in international festivals, and is best known for her debut feature, ‘Soldiers. A story from Ferentari’.



    ACTOR The American actor Peter Fonda, son of Henry Fonda and brother to Jane Fonda, died at the age of 79, in Los Angeles (USA), after battling lung cancer. He shot to fame after playing in the 1969 cult classic Easy Rider. In 1971 he directed his first film, “The Hired Hand, in which he also played the lead role. He had an Oscar nomination for best actor, in “Ulee’s Gold, 1998, which also won a Golden Globe. His last film, The Last Full Measure, featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman and Laurence Fishburne, is scheduled for release in late October in the US.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • GOVORA: Spa tourism at European level

    GOVORA: Spa tourism at European level

    Dear friends, you are invited to participate in a new prize-winning contest here on RRI: “Govora: Spa tourism at European level”, which is devoted to Baile Govora spa resort, to spa tourism as well as to the international meetings the resort is going to host during Romania’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.



    Baile Govora spa has been certified as a spa resort of national and European interest. The Balneary Park in Govora, the biggest such park in Romania, which spans almost 20 hectares and has alleys of 5-6 km in length, was designed by landscape architect Emil Pinard in 1930 and it is unique through its early 20th century architecture.



    The history of the Baile Govora spa resort is related to two Romanian personalities: Ion C. Bratianu (1821-1891), a former prime minister of Romania, and general and doctor Nicolae Popescu Zorileanu. 130 years ago, they laid down the foundations for this spa resort where people can find cure for respiratory and rheumatic diseases as well as for skin disorders. More than 100 years ago, the Baile Govora spa resort was, according to some sources, the place with the cleanest air in Europe. The development of the resort is also due to the medical research to which the famous Romanian engineer Anghel Saligny contributed.



    The resort’s beauty makes it the most appropriate venue for various events to be held in the context of Romania’s half-year presidency of the EU Council in 2019. In May 2019, Baile Govora will host a conference on “Spa tourism: An EU strategy for trans-national development.”



    You are invited to listen to RRI’s broadcasts, to follow RRI’s website www.rri.ro and Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn profiles, and answer the questions of this contest, in writing. If you answer correctly, you may win a prize. The closing date is February 28, 2019 mailing date (February 28, 2019, 24:00 hours Romanian time, for online contributions).



    The Grand Prizes will consist in two full board, 8-night trips for one person, between June 15 and 30, 2019, sponsored by the Palace Hotel in Baile Govora spa resort, in Valcea County. A historical monument designed by the French architect Ernest Dornaud, the Palace Hotel was built between 1910 and 1914. As usual, you will have to provide for your own transportation to and from Romania and to obtain a visa for Romania, if necessary. We’ll also have prizes and honorable mentions consisting mainly of cultural promotional items. The contest is organized jointly with the Valcea County Council, the City Hall of Govora, the Valcea branch of the Fine Artists Union, the Archbishopric of Ramnic and the Valcea branch of the SALROM National Salt Society.



    Now here are the questions:



    Where is Romania’s largest balneary park located?



    What international event is going to be held in May 2019 in Baile Govora spa resort?



    In which county of Romania is Baile Govora spa resort located?



    Please tell us what prompted you to participate in the contest and why you are listening to RRIs broadcasts and following RRIs content online. Our address is: Radio Romania International, 60-64 G-ral Berthelot Street, Sector 1, Bucharest, PO Box 111, code 010165, fax 00.40.21.319.05.62, e-mail: engl@rri.ro. Please send your answers by February 28, 2019, mailing date (February 28, 2019, 24:00 hours Romanian time, for online contributions). The rules and regulations of this contest are available HERE and on RRIs Facebook profile. Good luck!

  • April 26, 2016 UPDATE

    April 26, 2016 UPDATE

    ABU – The 4th edition of the ABU Radio Song Festival was held in Beijing, China. This event, organised by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, is the Asian equivalent of the Eurovision Song Contest, but it only addresses radio stations. A special guest of the festival this year was Romania’s representative, Analia Selis. The festival marks the end of this year’s Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Conference. On the sidelines of the Festival was held the Media 2020 Conference, organised by Radio Romania and Radio China International. The Conference focused on the need to further maintain the relevance of radio, by adjusting its content. An example of how to use radio to promote culture was offered by Radio Romania’s President and Director General, Ovidiu Miculescu, who talked about the Gaudeamus International Book Fair.




    SURGERY – On Tuesday, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis was operated on his right shoulder at the “Dr. Carol Davila” Military Hospital in Bucharest. The surgery went well and the President will resume his duties as of Wednesday.




    ELECTIONS — In Romania, April 26 was the deadline for parties, election alliances, ethnic minority organisations and independent runners to submit their candidacies for the local elections. Candidacies may be challenged until May 1, and remain final as of May 4. The election campaign begins on May 6 and ends on June 4, one day before the elections. Competing in the local elections are established political parties like the Social Democrats, the Liberals, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats or the People’s Movement Party, as well as many new parties, given that as of last year the Romanian legislation allows for political parties to be set up by at least 3 members. It is for the third time since 1989 that a technocratic government organises elections in Romania, after the Theodor Stolojan Cabinet in 1991-1992, and the Mugur Isărescu Cabinet in 1999-2000.




    NEGOTIATIONS — The authorities in Bucharest carry on talks with trade unions on a new emergency ordinance concerning salaries in the public sector. The Labour Minister, Dragoş Pîslaru, has announced that the priority in these negotiations is to do away with imbalances in the system. The order on public sector salaries is to be subject to public debate starting mid-May and to take effect as of June 1. In the last three-party meeting, the main trade union federations demanded an increase of all public sector salaries, instead of only the smaller ones, as the Government intends, and warned that otherwise protests might be resumed.




    LOAN — The Romanian Senate endorsed a law concerning a 150 million euro loan to be granted by Romania to the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, for the financing of the country’s budget deficit. Last November, the law was sent back to Parliament by President Klaus Iohannis, against the backdrop of political tensions in Chisinau and of uncertainties related to the implementation of the reforms. The loan is to be transferred in maximum three instalments.




    COLECTIV — The interim Prosecutor General of Romania, Bogdan Licu, announced the opening of a criminal investigation into the leaking of information in the Colectiv case, after a few days ago the media published a copy of the indictment. The Colectiv case, concerning the fire that killed 64 people last October in a nightclub in Bucharest, is to be tried in the forthcoming period. According to the information made public by the media, six people are reportedly sent to court: the three owners of the nightclub, two pyrotechnicians and the owner of a fireworks company. The tragedy was followed by large-scale street protests, which led to the resignation of PM Victor Ponta.




    CHERNOBYL – Ukraine commemorated on Tuesday 30 years since the worst nuclear accident in history, the explosion of one reactor in the Chernobyl nuclear plant. During the 10-day fire that followed, huge amounts of radioactive substances were spread in the atmosphere. There are no official data concerning the total number of victims, but 25,000 people are known to have died in decontamination operations alone. According to experts, the death toll is a lot higher. A UN survey indicates that nearly 5 million people affected by radiation exposure still live in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.



    (Translated by Elena Enache)

  • April 26, 2016

    April 26, 2016

    ELECTIONS – In Romania, today is the deadline for parties, election alliances, ethnic minority organisations and independent runners to submit their candidacies for the local elections. Candidacies may be challenged until May 1, and remain final as of May 4. The election campaign begins on May 6 and ends on June 4, one day before the elections. Competing in the local elections are established political parties like the Social Democrats, the Liberals, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats or the Peoples Movement Party, as well as many new parties, given that as of last year the Romanian legislation allows for political parties to be set up by at least 3 members. It is for the third time since 1989 that a technocratic government organises elections in Romania, after the Theodor Stolojan Cabinet in 1991-1992, and the Mugur Isărescu Cabinet in 1999-2000.



    NEGOTIATIONS – The authorities in Bucharest carry on talks with trade unions on a new emergency order concerning salaries in the public sector. The Labour Minister, Dragoş Pîslaru, has announced that the priority in these negotiations is to do away with imbalances in the system. The order on public sector salaries is to be subject to public debate starting mid-May and to take effect as of June 1. In the last three-party meeting, the main trade union federations demanded an increase of all public sector salaries, instead of only the smaller ones, as the Government intends, and warned that otherwise protests might be resumed.



    LOAN – The Romanian Senate endorsed a law concerning a 150 million euro loan to be granted by Romania to the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, for the financing of the countrys budget deficit. Last November, the law was sent back to Parliament by President Klaus Iohannis, against the backdrop of political tensions in Chisinau and of uncertainties related to the implementation of the reforms. The loan is to be transferred in maximum three instalments.



    COLECTIV – The interim Prosecutor General of Romania, Bogdan Licu, announced the opening of a criminal investigation into the leaking of information in the Colectiv case, after a few days ago mass media published a copy of the indictment. The Colectiv case, concerning the fire that killed 64 people last October in a nightclub in Bucharest, is to be tried in the forthcoming period. According to the information made public by the media, six people are reportedly sent to court: the three owners of the nightclub, two pyrotechnicians and the owner of a fireworks company. The tragedy was followed by large-scale street protests, which led to the resignation of PM Victor Ponta.



    THEATRE – Romania is hosting for the first time the award gala of the Europe Theatre Prize. This year the prize goes to the Swedish choreographer and director Mats Ek, while a special award will be presented to the Romanian director Silviu Purcărete. Established in 1986, as a European Commission pilot project, and granted for the first time in 1987, the Europe Theatre Prize rewards artists and theatre institutions that contribute to better understanding among Europes nations.



    CHERNOBYL – Ukraine commemorates today 30 years since the worst nuclear accident in history, the explosion of one reactor in the Chernobyl nuclear plant. During the 10-day fire that followed, huge amounts of radioactive substances were spread in the atmosphere. There are no official data concerning the total number of victims, but 25,000 people are known to have died in decontamination operations alone. According to experts, the death toll is a lot higher. A UN survey indicates that nearly 5 million people affected by radiation exposure still live in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.



    TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Irina Begu is facing today the Dutch Richel Hogenkamp, in the first round of the Rabat tournament in Morocco, with 230,000 US dollars in prize money. In the same round, another Romanian, Andreea Mitu, plays today against New Zealands Marina Erakovic. A third Romanian player taking part in the competition Monday lost her match against Russian Ekaterina Makarova, in two sets.