Radio România Internațional

Tag: Rome tournament

May 20, 2018

Regional policy – The European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu will pay a 2 — day visit to Romania as of Monday to discuss sustainable urban development. On Monday Commissioner Cretu will participate alongside PM Viorica Dancila and the minister for European funds Rovana Plumb in a conference devoted to urban investments hosted by Bacau, in the east. Commissioner Cretu will also visit the astronomic observatory in Bacau that benefited from European funds. On Tuesday Corina Cretu and minister Plumb will participate in a dialogue with the citizens at the Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau. In a communiqué issued ahead of her visit to Romania, Commissioner Cretu said that more than one billion Euros would be invested in urban development in Romania.

Chisinau — Sunday will see the first round of the early elections for the city halls of Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, and Balti, the second largest city of Moldova, in the north. The seats became vacant after the mayors elected in June 2015, pro-European Liberal Dorin Chirtoaca in Chisinau and pro-Russian populist Renato Usatii from Balti stepped down following criminal prosecution in cases that both labeled as investigations on political command. The early elections are considered a test ahead of the parliamentary elections to be held in autumn. Analysts quoted by Radio Romania’s correspondents to Chisinau say that the vote also has a geopolitical importance, as the situation between the pro-European and the pro-Russian supporters will be clarified. One third of Moldova’s population lives in Chisinau, producing half of the country’s GDP.

Cannes — The Japanese film director Hirokazu Kore-eda won the Palme d’Or trophy of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for his movie Shoplifters. The film has been described as an Oliver Twist of modern times, a story about misfits and crooks. On Saturday American Spike Lee received the Grand Prize for BlacKkKlansman, a pamphlet movie in which the director from Brooklyn denounces racism and far right extremism. The Jury’s prize went to Lebanese Nadine Labaki for the movie Capharnaum, which tells the story of Zain, a 12-year old street child who is fighting with his parents who refuse to send him to school and beat him. The best actress award went to Samal Esljamova, from Kazakhstan for the role of Ayka, while the best actor award was won by Italian Marcello Fonte for his role in Dogman.

Tennis — World’s no. 1 player, Romanian Simona Halep will take on today the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (4 WTA) in the final of the Rome tournament, which has total prizes worth 2.7 million Euros. Last year the final was won by the Ukrainian player. On Saturday, in the semifinals, Halep defeated the Russian Maria Sharapova while Elina Svitolina eliminated Estonian Anett Kontaveit. The winner of the Rome tournament will receive 507 thousand Euros and 900 WTA points. The defeated player will receive about 253 thousand Euros and 585 WTA points.

Justice — Several hundred Romanian magistrates on Saturday protested before the Palace of Justice in Bucharest against the modification of the criminal codes, of the justice laws and against the authorities’ refusal to take into consideration GRECO’s critical report and to wait for the specialist opinion of the Venice Commission. The magistrates adopted a resolution in which they call on the Romanian President, the speakers of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies to urgently consult the Venice Commission in relation to certain aspects regarding the modification of Romania’s criminal codes. They also call for the immediate suspension of debates in the special parliamentary committee until the Venice Commission gives its opinion. The magistrates also called on the justice minister to abstain from actions meant to intimidate the prosecutors and which affect the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. (news translated by Lacramioara Simion)

20 May 2018
May 17, 2017 UPDATE

SUMMIT – Romanias partnerships with the EU and the US are equally important and choosing between them has never been an option, said Romanias President Klaus Iohannis in Sofia, where he attended the EU – Western Balkans summit. One of the topics discussed in the first session of the summit was connectivity in infrastructure, energy and digital networks and the Romanian head of state stressed that macro-regional strategies in these fields must be given additional support. In the second session, focusing on common challenges, Klaus Iohannis said that the EU and the Western Balkans are in a relation of interdependence, given their geographic proximity, and therefore boosting cooperation remains a top objective, with a view to protecting national security and regional stability. At the end of the summit, the EU heads of state adopted a declaration which explicitly reiterates the support for the regions European prospects.

DIPLOMACY – The Romanian Foreign Ministry took note of the Ramallah authorities decision to call for consultations the Palestinian Ambassador to Bucharest and issued a communiqué stressing the need to avoid any action that might jeopardize the peace process. According to the Ministry, a strong political dialogue is needed more than ever, supported also by means of strong diplomatic cooperation, with a view to ensuring a constructive stand on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Also, the Foreign Ministry reiterates Romanias support for the solution of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. On Wednesday, the Ambassador of Palestine to Romania Fuad Kokaly was urgently called to Ramallah for consultations, given that Romania is one of the countries that have blocked the EU declaration regarding the relocation of the member states diplomatic missions from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

VISIT – On Thursday, the Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila had talks in Bucharest with the European Commissioner for Single Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elżbieta Bieńkowska. The main topic on the agenda of talks was the future budget of the EU, which, according to the Romanian Prime Minister, should support efforts to bridge the gaps between the member states. In turn, the European Commissioner appreciated Romanias economic development and said that the future budget should earmark more for cooperation between the member countries defense industries. In another development, also on Thursday, Prime Minister Dancila met with the Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin. The two officials discussed the growing cooperation between Romania and Israel in the tourism sector, and the development of a joint tourism programme.

NOTIFICATION – The leader of the opposition National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban has announced he has filed a notification with the Prosecutors Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest concerning the Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and the leader of the ruling Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea, who is also the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. According to Orban, the notification is about the memorandum recently adopted by the Romanian Government on the relocation of the Romanian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Orban accuses the two officials of high treason and usurpation of public office. Dragnea has stated that Orbans move was a coup attempt.

AIR QUALITY – On Thursday, the European Commission referred Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU, alongside another five countries, for failing to respect agreed air quality provisions. The Commission has sanctioned France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary and Romania “for failing to respect agreed air quality limit values and for failing to take appropriate measures to keep exceedance periods as short as possible”. France, Germany and Great Britain will be referred to the Court of Justice for failure to respect limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and Hungary, Italy and Romania are referred to the Court over persistently high level of particulate matter.

TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number one in the world, has qualified to the quarter finals of the WTA tournament in Rome, with 2.7 million Euro in prize money, after the American player Madison Keys, ranking 14th in the WTA classification, withdrew due to an accident. In another move, Haleps main adversary Garbine Muguruza, number three in the world, was eliminated in the second round by the Australian Daria Gavrilova.

17 May 2018
May 17, 2017 UPDATE

SUMMIT – Romanias partnerships with the EU and the US are equally important and choosing between them has never been an option, said Romanias President Klaus Iohannis in Sofia, where he attended the EU – Western Balkans summit. One of the topics discussed in the first session of the summit was connectivity in infrastructure, energy and digital networks and the Romanian head of state stressed that macro-regional strategies in these fields must be given additional support. In the second session, focusing on common challenges, Klaus Iohannis said that the EU and the Western Balkans are in a relation of interdependence, given their geographic proximity, and therefore boosting cooperation remains a top objective, with a view to protecting national security and regional stability. At the end of the summit, the EU heads of state adopted a declaration which explicitly reiterates the support for the regions European prospects.

DIPLOMACY – The Romanian Foreign Ministry took note of the Ramallah authorities decision to call for consultations the Palestinian Ambassador to Bucharest and issued a communiqué stressing the need to avoid any action that might jeopardize the peace process. According to the Ministry, a strong political dialogue is needed more than ever, supported also by means of strong diplomatic cooperation, with a view to ensuring a constructive stand on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Also, the Foreign Ministry reiterates Romanias support for the solution of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. On Wednesday, the Ambassador of Palestine to Romania Fuad Kokaly was urgently called to Ramallah for consultations, given that Romania is one of the countries that have blocked the EU declaration regarding the relocation of the member states diplomatic missions from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

VISIT – On Thursday, the Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila had talks in Bucharest with the European Commissioner for Single Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elżbieta Bieńkowska. The main topic on the agenda of talks was the future budget of the EU, which, according to the Romanian Prime Minister, should support efforts to bridge the gaps between the member states. In turn, the European Commissioner appreciated Romanias economic development and said that the future budget should earmark more for cooperation between the member countries defense industries. In another development, also on Thursday, Prime Minister Dancila met with the Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin. The two officials discussed the growing cooperation between Romania and Israel in the tourism sector, and the development of a joint tourism programme.

NOTIFICATION – The leader of the opposition National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban has announced he has filed a notification with the Prosecutors Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest concerning the Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and the leader of the ruling Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea, who is also the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. According to Orban, the notification is about the memorandum recently adopted by the Romanian Government on the relocation of the Romanian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Orban accuses the two officials of high treason and usurpation of public office. Dragnea has stated that Orbans move was a coup attempt.

AIR QUALITY – On Thursday, the European Commission referred Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU, alongside another five countries, for failing to respect agreed air quality provisions. The Commission has sanctioned France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary and Romania “for failing to respect agreed air quality limit values and for failing to take appropriate measures to keep exceedance periods as short as possible”. France, Germany and Great Britain will be referred to the Court of Justice for failure to respect limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and Hungary, Italy and Romania are referred to the Court over persistently high level of particulate matter.

TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number one in the world, has qualified to the quarter finals of the WTA tournament in Rome, with 2.7 million Euro in prize money, after the American player Madison Keys, ranking 14th in the WTA classification, withdrew due to an accident. In another move, Haleps main adversary Garbine Muguruza, number three in the world, was eliminated in the second round by the Australian Daria Gavrilova.

17 May 2018
May 21, 2017

HEARINGS – A parliamentary committee that probes into the presidential election of 2009 is to start hearings on Monday, and the first to be heard is the journalist and former political adviser Dan Andronic. He has recently stated that the heads of major public institutions at that time, including the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Prosecutor Generals Office, influenced the outcome of the vote to the benefit of Traian Basescu. The latter won a second presidential term in office in 2009, after a very narrow victory against the Social Democrat Mircea Geoana. Prosecutors have initiated criminal proceedings in this case, for suspected abuse of office and forgery of documents and election records.

EU – The Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Ana Birchall, takes part in Brussels on Monday in a meeting of the General Affairs Council held in an EU27 format, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. The participants will adopt a decision authorising the opening of the Brexit negotiations with the UK and nominating the Commission as the EU negotiator, and will endorse negotiating directives. On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Ana Birchall will have talks with her Estonian counterpart, Matti Maasikas, about the priorities of the Estonian presidency of the EU Council and the main topics of discussion at EU level. The Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs mentioned that Bucharest attaches great importance to protecting the rights and interests of the Romanians living in UK.

FRANCE – The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, receives the PM of Italy Paolo Gentiloni in Paris today. According to AFP, the meeting takes place days ahead the G7 summit that brings together the leaders of the USA, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Italy and Canada in Sicily, southern Italy. A major topic on the agenda will be the Paris Agreement on climate change, at a time when the US President Donald Trump, who will attend the meeting in Sicily, threatens to take his country out of this process, AFP also notes.

INTERNATIONAL – While on his first international tour, the US President Donald Trump is to address in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, today leaders of over 40 Muslim countries. BBC reports that the US President will mention the need to open a common front against religious extremism and against intolerant ideologies. On Saturday, the first day of the tour, the parties signed contracts amounting to 380 billion US dollars, primarily in the oil sector and in arms procurement.

TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 4 in the world, plays today the final of the tournament in Rome, which has 2.7 million US dollars in total prize money, against the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (no. 11 WTA). In the semi-final, Halep outplayed the Dutch Kiki Bertens (20 WTA). Last week, the Romanian player won the Madrid tournament for the second consecutive year. This is the 24th tournament final for Halep, who has won 15 titles so far. If she wins today, Halep goes up to no. 3 in the world rankings.

FOOTBALL – Dinamo Bucharest won the Romanian Leagues Cup after Saturday nights 2-0 victory against ACS Poli Timisoara. The match was played in Bucharest. This is the second competition organised by the Romanian Professional Football League, after the championship. This year the League awarded the champions title to FC Viitorul. FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharest, threatened however that it would challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the Switzerland, on grounds that both teams finished the championship with the same score and that overall it won in the direct matches against Viitorul. Two other teams from southern Romania, FC Voluntari and Astra Giurgiu, will play for the Romanian Football Cup.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

21 May 2017
May 20, 2017 UPDATE

FAC — Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu will be leading the Romanian delegation at the Foreign Affairs Council and the Summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, which will take place on Sunday and Monday in Istanbul, Turkey. According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Summit is devoted to boosting economic cooperation at Organization level. At the same time, the Foreign Affairs Council is set to discuss documents that will be submitted for adoption at the upcoming summit.

TRUMP –Donald Trump is as of Saturday in Saudi Arabia on his first external visit as US president. King Salman bin Abdulaziz has decorated president Trump with the highest distinction ever awarded to a civilian in Saudi Arabia, for his efforts to consolidate bilateral relations. On Sunday Trump will address leaders from over 40 Muslim countries as part of a summit devoted to the fight against radical organizations. The visit is part of an eight-day tour of the Middle East with the White House leader also expected to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories before reaching Europe, more precisely Brussels, the Vatican and then Sicily to attend the NATO and G7 summits.

ELECTIONS IN IRAN — The president re-elect of Iran Hasnan Rohani has said he will promote greater openness for Iran on the international stage. Rohani won a second term in office after winning Friday’s first round of the presidential election, defeating his opponent, the Conservative Ebrahim Raisi. According to official results, Rohani grabbed 57% of the vote to Raisi’s 38,3%. Voter turnout stood at 73%. Pundits recall that Rohani’s first term in office was marked by the nuclear agreement reached two years ago with the world superpowers, drawing Iran out of isolation and lifting the sanctions suffocating the country’s economy. Still, the BBC writes that the religious supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds the real authority in this country, alongside the powerful Revolutionary Guards.

MEETING — French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday is meeting Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni in Paris, two days ahead of the G7 Summit to be held in Sicily, southern Italy. The main topic on the agenda is the Paris agreement on climate change, at a time when US president Donald Trump, who is also to attend the summit, threatens the US will withdraw from this process, France Press reports.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, ranked 4th in WTA standings, on Saturday defeated Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, 20 WTA, in the semi-finals of the Rome tournament, totalling 2,7 million dollars in prize money. Aged 25, Halep defeated Bertens in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1. In the final match Simona will take on Elina Svitolina of Ukraine Last week Simona Halep won the WTA tournament in Madrid for the second year in a row. The final in Rome will be the 24th of Halep’s career, of which the Romanian won 15. (Translated by V. Palcu)

20 May 2017
May 20, 2017

EUROPEAN NIGHT OF MUSEUMS — 212 cultural institutions in Romania are tonight taking part in the 13th edition of the Night of Museums, when access will be free of charge. Hundreds of events await visitors in museums, art galleries and unconventional venues, such as exhibitions, concerts, creative workshops, film screenings addressing all ages and tastes. The event is enjoying a growing success from one year to the next at international level, as millions of Europeans are marking this event. A total of 3,000 museums all over Europe are taking part in the event. On the same day, museums in Romania are staging the largest nationwide protest since the anti-communist revolution of December 1989. Museum employees will gather in front of the National History Museum in Bucharest to signal the fact they are part of a professional category that has been overlooked by the recent salary increases and that the current salary bill places them in a discriminating and unfair position.

COMMUNITIES — The Hungarian Government has decided to extend the economic development programs addressing the Hungarian communities in Romania, and will launch a pilot program worth 3,2 million euros. The announcement was made on Friday by State Secretary with the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Levente Magyar. According to the Hungarian official, the Government has already launched two similar programs addressing the Hungarian communities in Vojvodina, Serbia and Carpathian Ruthenia, Ukraine.

TRUMP — Donald Trump is as of today in Saudi Arabia on his first external visit as US president. Trump will meet King Salman in Riad while on Sunday he will address leaders from over 40 Muslim countries as part of a summit devoted to the fight against radical organizations. The visit is part of an eight-day tour of the Middle East with the White House leader also expected to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories before reaching Europe, more precisely Brussels, the Vatican and then Sicily to attend the NATO and the G7 summits.

ELECTIONS IN IRAN — The acting president of Iran Hasnan Rohani has won a second term in office after winning Friday’s first round of the presidential election, the Iranian public television station has announced. Rohani defeated his opponent, the Conservative Ebrahim Raisi. According to official results, Rohani grabbed 57% of the vote to Raisi’s 38,3%. Voter turnout stood at 73%. Pundits recall that Rohani’s first term in office was marked by the nuclear agreement reached two years ago with the world superpowers, drawing Iran out of isolation and lifting the sanctions suffocating the country’s economy. On the other hand, some voices criticize the president for his appetite for reforms, while others say he’s done too little to change the country. The most influential man in this country, the religious supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seems to support his opponent, Raisi, a clergyman who’s leading one of Iran’s most powerful charitable organizations. Raisi promised more social protection, more jobs as well as a return to economic isolationism.

HEARING — Former FBI Director James Comey, last week sacked by US President Donald Trump, will testify before the Senate’s special committee. Comey was fired by the White House leader while the FBI was investigating Russia’s alleged involvement in the presidential election held in 2016, USA. The hearing will take palce after Memorial Day, which this year is celebrated on May 29. According to news agencies, Donald Trump had purportedly asked James Comey in February to close the investigation into Michael Flynn, his national security advisor, charged with having had suspicious contacts with Moscow. Flynn immediately resigned after the Justice Department warned he could be blackmailed by the Russian Federation.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, ranked 4th in WTA standings, is today playing Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, 20 WTA, in the semi-finals of the Rome tournament, totalling 2,7 million dollars in prize money. Aged 25, Halep is seeded 6th in the competition, and is playing her third semi-final in Rome after the ones in 2013 and 2015. This is also the fourth time Halep will play Bertens, Halep winning two games and losing once. Last week Simona Halep won the WTA tournament in Madrid for the second year in a row. (Translated by V. Palcu)

20 May 2017
Tennis player Irina Begu

The tennis tournament in Rome has again brought Romanian tennis in the spotlight.. Irina Camelia Begu reached the semi-finals of the womens singles, a competition offering 2.4 million euros in prize money. For her remarkable performance, we have designated Irina Begu Athlete of the Week on RRI.

In the Rome tournament, Irina Begu played Margarita Gasparyan of Russia in the first round, whom she defeated 6-3, 6-nil. In the second round, Begu grabbed a spectacular win against fourth-seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, 6-3, 6-2. In the quarterfinals, Begu played Daria Kasatkina of Russia, whom she defeated easily 6-1, 6-4. In the semifinals Irina Begu knocked out Misaki Doi of Japan, 6-2, 7-6. In the semi-finals however Irina Begu couldnt beat Serena Williams of US, the number one seed who eventually won the tournament.

Irina Camelia Begu was born in Bucharest on August 26, 1990. In 2006 she obtained her first notable performance, winning the European title in the under-16 competition. She then climbed steadily in the WTA womens singles rankings. In 2011 she was ranked 38 in WTA standings. Begu then had a poor spell, losing games and her ranking. In 2013 she was ranked 124. The next year Begu made a spectacular comeback, with good performances in singles and doubles events. In 2015 she was ranked 31st in the WTA singles and 30th in doubles standings. After her good run in Rome, Irina Begu is now ranked 28th in WTA singles and 37th in the doubles.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

17 May 2016