Radio România Internațional

Tag: protests in Romania

  • January 14, 2024

    January 14, 2024

    WAR IN GAZA – Israel is determined to continue its military
    campaign in Gaza until victory against Hamas is achieved and all hostages are
    brought home, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on the 100th day since the
    start of the war in Gaza. The Israeli official also referred to the legal
    action taken by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of
    Justice in the Hague, the former accusing Israel of genocide. According to our
    correspondent in Israel, PM Netanyahu said supporters of neo-Nazis from all
    over the world dare accuse Israel of genocide, thus favoring terrorists who did
    not refrain from burning children alive, killing, raping and abducting women,
    men, elderly and sick people. In Tel Aviv, a 24-hour rally was organized by
    representatives of families of people still kept captive, attended by hundreds
    of thousands of people and marking 100 days since their abduction in Gaza. The
    war started after the brutal October 7 Hamas attack, when 1,200 people were
    killed and 240 were abducted by terrorists. Over 100 hostages have in the
    meantime been released and several have died, mostly in bombings or
    accidentally killed by Israeli security forces. Over 23,000 Palestinians have
    been killed in Gaza, and the majority population has been displaced. Military
    operations, massive destruction and the blockade on Gaza have triggered a
    severe humanitarian crisis, repeatedly criticized by UN representatives,
    international organizations and numerous countries.




    SUCCESSION – A new chapter in the history of Denmark
    started on Sunday with the abdication of Queen Margrethe II and the ascension
    to the throne of her heir, Frederik (55). Aged 83, Margrethe ruled for 52
    years, hers being the first abdication in the 900-year history of the Danish
    monarchy. The queen had previously stated she would remain in office for life,
    but surprised everyone with a New Year’s message expressing her intention to
    step down. She explained a back surgery she underwent last year made her
    rethink her future. The Danish monarchy enjoys tremendous popular support,
    Reuters writes. The latest surveys show 86% of Danes are happy with Margrethe’s
    reign, and 82% of them expect Frederik to be an even better king.




    ELECTION
    IN TAIWAN
    – The candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Lai Ching-te,
    was elected president as early as Saturday’s first round of the presidential
    election, grabbing 40.1% of the vote. The president elect promised to protect
    Taiwan from China’s threats, hailing the resilience of his people in the face
    of external influence in the election. The candidate of the pro-China
    opposition party conceded defeat. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
    of the People’s Republic of China said Taiwan is a part of China, and the
    election cannot stop the drive for reunification. In Washington, president Joe
    Biden said the US does not support Taiwan’s independence, saying China is the
    legitimate power in the island, although they will continue to deliver military
    assistance to Taipei. The European Union hailed the result of the election in
    Taiwan, expressing concern about growing tension in the Taiwan strait and opposing
    any unilateral attempt to change the status quo. In turn, Moscow preserved its
    view that Taiwan is a part of China.




    PROTEST – Representatives of
    transporters and farmers continued their protest on Sunday. They are expected
    to meet with Finance Ministry officials to discuss their demands, according to
    the government’s timetable. Following Saturday’s talks with Transport Ministry
    officials, a set of measures will be taken over the course of the next 30 days,
    including the creation of special transit lanes at the border and in the port
    of Constanța reserved for EU hauliers only, or exempting hauliers
    waiting at the border from paying road vignettes expiring during this period.
    The authorities also agreed to sanction the supplier and receiver of loads
    exceeding the maximum weight.




    HANDBALL – The Romanian men’s
    handball team is today playing Spain in its second Group B fixture at the
    European Handball Championship in Germany. On Friday, Romania lost to Austria
    31-24. Romania’s final match will be on January 16 against Croatia. Spain has
    won two European titles in 2018 and 2020 and played the finals in 2022, whereas
    Croatia played the final in 2020. The top two teams in each group will advance
    to the main group phase. (VP)



  • October 5, 2017 UPDATE

    October 5, 2017 UPDATE

    EPIDEMIC — The number of confirmed cases of measles reported in Romania has exceeded 9,400, the National Centre for Monitoring and Control of Viral Disease with the National Institute of Public Health announced on Thursday. So far the epidemic has killed 34 people. In another development, the draft law on organizing and funding vaccination activities was given a favourable opinion from the Senate’s Committee of Constitutionality. The new legislation is due to take effect on January 1, 2018.



    PROTESTS — Health Ministry representatives and trade unions in the healthcare system on Thursday held a new round of negotiations. They are against the bonuses policy, the unitary pay law and the transfer of social security payments from employers to employees. Also, they demand the elimination of the 30% cap on specific bonuses and the full application of salary increases for all healthcare and social assistance employees as of March 1, 2018. Protest actions have been held for almost two weeks in several cities in Romania, including Bucharest, where several thousand people gathered on Wednesday. Protests have been staged by one of the biggest trade union confederations in Romania, Cartel Alfa. A protesters’ delegation, including employees from the police, healthcare, transport, education and public administration sectors, attended the talks with the government. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Friday.



    EU PRESIDENCY — Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu said Romania is making progress regarding preparations for taking over the Presidency of the EU Council in 2019. According to the Romanian official, the effort will involve some 1,500 people, who will undergo training with Romanian and European Commission experts. Romania wants to be more active at EU level and will try to make the most of its term at the helm of the EU, Negrescu went on to say.



    EU BODY — The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a document whereby the European Prosecutor’s Office will become operational in 2020. The Prosecutor’s Office will focus on combating VAT and community funds fraud. So far, some 20 Member States, including Romania, have signed off on the project. The new body will have the authority to investigate and criminally prosecute cases of embezzlement of structural funds, tax evasion and other crimes that are detrimental to the EU’s financial interests. The Prosecutor’s Office will be headquartered in Luxembourg. Every year, public authorities across Europe incur VAT-related losses of nearly 50 billion euros.



    ROMANIAN INTELLIGENCE — During his visit to the Western University of Timisoara on Thursday, Romanian Intelligence chief Eduard Hellvig said he has repeatedly called on Parliament’s support for adopting the legislation on national security. Hellvig says the Romanian Intelligence Service is not involved in power games and wants a transparent and civil leadership of the Service, via the Parliament’s special committee. Hellvig added that the leadership of the service should not become a political instrument or tool for the media.



    CONFERENCE — Romanians trust the EU more than other citizens from the community bloc, and more often than not seek the answers to their problems in Brussels, the head of the European Commission’s Office in Bucharest, Angela Cristea said on Thursday. Cristea added that Romania is not one of those member states that react poorly to recommendations from Brussels. Angela Cristea attended the 6th edition of Bucharest Forum, devoted to geopolitical and economic issues and bringing together high-ranking officials, representatives of the business sector and world experts.



    SPAIN — Spain’s Constitutional Tribunal on Thursday decided to call off Monday’s plenary session of the Parliament of Catalonia, when the independence of this province was to be announced. In another development, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the only way out of the deadlock was to abandon the declaration of independence. In turn, European Commission Vice-president Frans Timmermans called for dialogue between the two parties, saying that this is a matter for Spain to resolve of its own accord.



    TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea no. 44 WTA qualified on Thursday to the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Beijing with more than 6.3 million dollars up for grabs, after defeating world no. 4 and former world leader Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 7-5. On Friday Cirstea will be up against Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, no. 9 in the world. Another Romanian player, Simona Halep, no. 2 in the world, qualified to the quarterfinals after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia and will next play against Russia’s Daria Kasatkina. (Translated by E. Enache & V. Palcu)

  • October 5, 2017 UPDATE

    October 5, 2017 UPDATE

    EPIDEMIC — The number of confirmed cases of measles reported in Romania has exceeded 9,400, the National Centre for Monitoring and Control of Viral Disease with the National Institute of Public Health announced on Thursday. So far the epidemic has killed 34 people. In another development, the draft law on organizing and funding vaccination activities was given a favourable opinion from the Senate’s Committee of Constitutionality. The new legislation is due to take effect on January 1, 2018.



    PROTESTS — Health Ministry representatives and trade unions in the healthcare system on Thursday held a new round of negotiations. They are against the bonuses policy, the unitary pay law and the transfer of social security payments from employers to employees. Also, they demand the elimination of the 30% cap on specific bonuses and the full application of salary increases for all healthcare and social assistance employees as of March 1, 2018. Protest actions have been held for almost two weeks in several cities in Romania, including Bucharest, where several thousand people gathered on Wednesday. Protests have been staged by one of the biggest trade union confederations in Romania, Cartel Alfa. A protesters’ delegation, including employees from the police, healthcare, transport, education and public administration sectors, attended the talks with the government. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Friday.



    EU PRESIDENCY — Minister Delegate for European Affairs Victor Negrescu said Romania is making progress regarding preparations for taking over the Presidency of the EU Council in 2019. According to the Romanian official, the effort will involve some 1,500 people, who will undergo training with Romanian and European Commission experts. Romania wants to be more active at EU level and will try to make the most of its term at the helm of the EU, Negrescu went on to say.



    EU BODY — The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a document whereby the European Prosecutor’s Office will become operational in 2020. The Prosecutor’s Office will focus on combating VAT and community funds fraud. So far, some 20 Member States, including Romania, have signed off on the project. The new body will have the authority to investigate and criminally prosecute cases of embezzlement of structural funds, tax evasion and other crimes that are detrimental to the EU’s financial interests. The Prosecutor’s Office will be headquartered in Luxembourg. Every year, public authorities across Europe incur VAT-related losses of nearly 50 billion euros.



    ROMANIAN INTELLIGENCE — During his visit to the Western University of Timisoara on Thursday, Romanian Intelligence chief Eduard Hellvig said he has repeatedly called on Parliament’s support for adopting the legislation on national security. Hellvig says the Romanian Intelligence Service is not involved in power games and wants a transparent and civil leadership of the Service, via the Parliament’s special committee. Hellvig added that the leadership of the service should not become a political instrument or tool for the media.



    CONFERENCE — Romanians trust the EU more than other citizens from the community bloc, and more often than not seek the answers to their problems in Brussels, the head of the European Commission’s Office in Bucharest, Angela Cristea said on Thursday. Cristea added that Romania is not one of those member states that react poorly to recommendations from Brussels. Angela Cristea attended the 6th edition of Bucharest Forum, devoted to geopolitical and economic issues and bringing together high-ranking officials, representatives of the business sector and world experts.



    SPAIN — Spain’s Constitutional Tribunal on Thursday decided to call off Monday’s plenary session of the Parliament of Catalonia, when the independence of this province was to be announced. In another development, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the only way out of the deadlock was to abandon the declaration of independence. In turn, European Commission Vice-president Frans Timmermans called for dialogue between the two parties, saying that this is a matter for Spain to resolve of its own accord.



    TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea no. 44 WTA qualified on Thursday to the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Beijing with more than 6.3 million dollars up for grabs, after defeating world no. 4 and former world leader Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 7-5. On Friday Cirstea will be up against Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, no. 9 in the world. Another Romanian player, Simona Halep, no. 2 in the world, qualified to the quarterfinals after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia and will next play against Russia’s Daria Kasatkina. (Translated by E. Enache & V. Palcu)