Tag: switch

  • October 25, 2020

    October 25, 2020

    ARMY DAY Romania has today a modern and well trained army, able to ensure compliance with the commitments taken within NATO and in terms of implementing the EU common security and defence policy, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis said on the celebration of the Romanian Army Day on October 25. Its significant contribution to strengthening regional stability in South Eastern Europe makes the Romanian Army a security provider at the Black Sea, a region facing multiple and dynamic challenges, the president added. The new generations of troops are paying tribute to all the heroes that have sacrificed their lives in theatres of operations, the defence minister Nicolae Ciucă said in his turn, mentioning that in World War II Romanian troops fought heroically to free the country, turning October 25, 1944 into a symbol of national emancipation from foreign occupation. In building our defence, we rely on our NATO and EU membership, as well as on the Strategic Partnership with the US, which is now stronger than ever, the Romanian defence minister also said. In keeping with its NATO commitments, Romania is already hosting a number of Allied command and control structures, and in the near future the South-East Multinational Command will also be opened in Sibiu. At present, 1,150 Romanian military are deployed in foreign theatres of operation.



    COVID-19 Bucharest is considering the reintroduction of night curfews in several parts of the country, the PM Ludovic Orban said after 3 counties in central Romania (Alba, Cluj and Harghita) as well as the capital Bucharest have passed 3 infections per thousand inhabitants this week. According to the most recent national update, 3,855 new cases and 73 deaths were reported in 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 6,391. Over 800 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care. Romania is one of the 23 European countries where the pandemic causes serious concern at EU level, both in terms of the daily infection numbers among the elderly, and in terms of the death rate, which is the second-largest in Europe.



    PANDEMIC A growing number of countries have introduced further restrictions as the number of COVID-19 cases is rising at a fast pace. Spain and France are seeing the largest numbers of infections, over 1 million cases each, out of the total 8.5 million reported in Europe as a whole. Most of Poland is rated as COVID red zone, with restaurants and schools partly closed down, weddings banned, shops and churches closed and people over 70 requested to stay at home. Slovakia has a curfew in place until November 1, while in the Czech Republic travel restrictions are valid until November 3. Slovenia also ordered a partial lockdown, while Greece imposed a night curfew in Athens and Thessaloniki, and face covering is compulsory outdoors. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has once again called on German citizens to reduce social interaction. Belgium shut down all sports and cultural activities as of Monday, and several regions in the French Wallonia are under lockdown. In the UK, Wales is in lockdown until November 9, with Ireland also introducing a 6-week lockdown. Denmark has also introduced tougher restrictions, and in Bulgaria Sofia and other major cities are closing down today all night restaurants and pubs. Across Europe, the number of COVID-19 related deaths has passed 260,000.



    AL-QAEDA Afghan forces have killed Abu Muhsin al-Masri, a top Al-Qaeda leader wanted by the United States, the National Directorate of Security in Afghanistan announced. Abu Muhsin al-Masri had been accused of providing materials and resources to a foreign terror group and of plotting to kill American citizens. Abu Muhsin al-Masri, believed to be Al-Qaedas number-two, was targeted in Ghazni province. Also in Afghanistan, funerals were held for the victims of Saturdays suicide bomb attack in the capital city Kabul, claimed by the ISIS group. Scores of people were killed or wounded in the blast that took place in the mostly Shiite area of the city, with many students of a private education centre among the victims.



    WINTER TIME On Saturday night, Romania switched to winter time, with the local 4 am becoming 3 am. 2020 may be the last time the seasonal change of clocks occurs, as the European Commission has proposed scrapping this practice in Europe. Member states will be able to choose whether to remain on permanent winter time or summer time. Countries choosing to stay on summer time will make the last change next March, while those that wish to remain on winter time will perform the last switch in October next year. (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

  • October 23, 2020 UPDATE

    October 23, 2020 UPDATE

    COVID-19 A new record-high number of new SARS-CoV-2
    cases in 24 hours in Romania, 5,028 out of 35,351 tests, was reported on
    Friday. So far, 201,032 people have tested positive for the virus, and 144,429
    of them have recovered. The Strategic Communication Group also announced that
    another 82 people died, taking the death toll to 6,245. A total of 10,427
    COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalised, 782 of them in intensive care-the
    largest number so far. Of the Romanians living abroad, 6,851 have so far
    tested positive, and the number of deaths remains 126, the authorities also
    announced.


    PANDEMIC Global coronavirus cases are nearing 42 million, while the number
    of fatalities has passed 1.14 million, according to Worldometers.info. Europe
    is seeing a large number of infections in the second wave. Spain has passed 1
    million cases. Ireland has seen over 2,000 daily cases and its government has
    imposed strict measures. The UK has also reported its highest number of daily
    cases, 27,000. Germany has also seen a record number of new 11,000 infections.
    Poland’s PM announced on Friday that the entire country would be classified as
    COVID red zone, with restaurants and primary schools partly closed down. The
    Warsaw National Stadium will be converted into a temporary field hospital and
    similar facilities will be arranged elsewhere in the country, after over 13,600
    new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. On Friday Slovakia initiated a
    3-week mass testing programme. Belgium and Czech Republic have the highest
    number of infections per number of inhabitants. Beginning on Saturday, Greece
    will impose travel restrictions in Athens, Thessaloniki and other badly hit areas.
    France has extended its night curfew imposed in the main cities to most of the
    country, beginning on Saturday.


    MOBILITY On Friday the government of Romania challenged several provisions
    in the EU Mobility Package I at the Court of Justice of the EU. Bucharest views
    these provisions as having a negative impact on the domestic market and
    affecting competitiveness of commodity transport in the Union. The move concerns,
    among other things, the ban drivers on taking their compulsory weekly rest
    hours on board of vehicles, the obligation for drivers to return to the
    employer’s office or to their place of residence on a regular basis, and the
    obligation to return vehicles to a company office within 8 weeks from
    departure. The claim submitted to the Court of Justice of the EU follows
    repeated efforts by the Romanian authorities against the restrictive and
    disproportionate nature of these provisions in the Mobility Package I, the
    Romanian Foreign Ministry said. Romania voted against the 3 regulations,
    alongside 8 other EU member states (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
    Lithuania, Malta and Poland).


    VISIT Romania’s PM Ludovic Orban will be on an official visit to
    France on Monday and Tuesday. According to the Romanian Government, Ludovic
    Orban will have meetings with his French counterpart Jean Castex, with the
    speakers of the National Assembly, Richard Ferrand, and the Senate, Gerard
    Larcher, and with the leader of the centre-right party ‘Les Republicains’,
    Christian Jacob. The Romanian PM will also take part in a meeting of the
    Council of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The visit
    also includes a meeting with members of the Romanian community in France.


    CORRUPTION The Liberal George Scripcaru, the outgoing
    mayor of Braşov in central Romania, has been charged with blackmail and is
    under judicial supervision. According to the National Anti-Corruption
    Directorate, while running for a new seat he threatened to cause problems to an
    advertising company unless it posted his election ads on public transport buses
    in the city. On September 27, Scripcaru lost the election to Allen Coliban
    (Save Romania Union). Meanwhile, 2 former mayors of the Black Sea port city of Constanţa,
    Decebal Făgădău and Radu Mazăre, both from the Social Democratic Party, have
    been indicted in a new corruption case. They are accused of having unlawfully authorised
    the construction of a luxury building on a beach.


    NATO The Romanian defence minister Nicolae Ciucă
    took part on Friday in a conference call of NATO defence ministers. The online
    meeting focused on ongoing Allied missions and operations, with a focus on
    those in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nicolae Ciucă reiterated Romania’s commitment to
    NATO missions, in a flexibly planned contribution that enables its
    reconfiguring in line to future Allied decisions and the dynamic of specific
    operational needs.


    FOOTBALL The Romanian football champions CFR Cluj on Thursday night defeated the
    Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia 2-nil in their opening Europa League Group A match.
    In the same group, the Italian side AS Rome defeated the Swiss side BSC Young
    Boys 2-1. Next week, AS Rome will be playing CSKA Sofia and CFR will be playing
    BSC Young Boys. Eliminated from the Champions League in the preliminary
    matches, CFR are the only Romanian side in the European competitions this year.
    (translated by: A.M. Popescu)

  • October 26, 2019

    October 26, 2019

    MILITARY Nearly 1,400 Romanian and foreign troops with 220 vehicles are taking part in the multinational exercise Scorpions Legacy 2019, held between October 25 and November 8 in Cincu, Braşov County, in central Romania, the press office of the Multinational Brigade South-East announced. The goal of the exercise is to train the staff of the multinational brigade headquartered in Craiova and of the affiliated units in Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal, though computer-assisted command drills, field training practice and shooting practice. The Headquarters Multinational Brigade Southeast ensures high-level capability to command forces deployed in the south-east of the Allied territory.




    DST Romania switches to winter time tonight, with clocks set one hour back, from 4:00 AM to 3:00 AM. Sunday will be the longest day of the year. The switch does not affect railway traffic timetables. The European Commission suggested that Europe should give up seasonal DST switches in Europa, and member states will decide whether they want to keep the summer time or winter time permanently as of 2021.




    MIGRANTS Border police from the Nădlac checkpoint, western Romania, found 20 citizens from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and India hiding in a truck while attempting to cross the border illegally. The police say they were trying to reach Western Europe. Investigations are now conducted against the truck driver, suspected of human trafficking and against the foreign citizens for attempted illegal border crossing.




    BREXIT The ambassadors of the 27 EU member states have deferred a decision regarding the Brexit postponement period to next week. Recently, they have agreed in principle on a new postponement of Britains exit from the Union, scheduled for October 31, and are now to reach a consensus on a new deadline. The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, recommended a 3-month extension, to January 31. The European Parliament also agrees with this date, which would allow Britain to clarify its position and the EP to properly fulfil its duties.




    TECHNOLOGY Sixteen Romanian ITC companies took part in the worlds largest mobile communications exhibition – Mobile World Congress 2019, held in Los Angeles. According to the Romanian Ministry for the Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship, the Romanian participants presented their products in a national pavilion of around 150 sq.m. The Los Angeles fair is the third specialised event, after the ones in Barcelona and Shanghai, which brings together technology providers and producers, influencers and innovators in the ITC industry.




    TENNIS The Romanian Simona Halep, number 5 in the world, landed in the Purple Group of the WTA Finals in Shenzhen (China), held between October 27 and November 3. On Monday she will play against the Romanian-born Canadian Bianca Andreescu, no 4 WTA. Halep, winner of this years Wimbledon trophy, takes part in the tournament of the worlds elite 8 for the 6th time in her career. The Purple Group also includes Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) and Elina Svitolina (Ukraine), according to Fridays draw release. This edition has record-high prizes—14 million USD, twice as much as last year.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Theaterpremieren in Temeswar: gelebte Multikulturalität

    Theaterpremieren in Temeswar: gelebte Multikulturalität

    Es gibt keine Gegend in ganz Europa, in der die Ethnien so vielfältig sind wie im Banat“, schrieb im letzten Jahrhundert der englische Historiker und Politiker R. W. Seton Watson in seinem Werk Europe in the Melting Pot“. Temeswar, ein ausgesprochen multikultureller Raum, ist eine Stadt, die drei öffentliche Theater im demselben Gebäude beherbergt, die Schauspiele in drei unterschiedlichen Sprachen inszenieren: Rumänisch, Deutsch und Ungarisch. Es handelt sich um das rumänische Nationaltheater, das Deutsche Staatstheater und das Ungarische Staatstheater Gergely Csiky“ in Temeswar. Neben den rumänischen Regisseuren, die hier tätig sind, gehört zur Strategie der drei Theater die Einladung ausländischer Regisseure. Beweis dafür stehen die drei Premieren, die am Ende des Jahres aufgeführt werden und über die wir heute sprechen.



    Pál Frenák, einer der bekanntesten europäischen Choreografen und Tänzer teilt sein Künstlerleben zwischen Paris und Budapest. Die Temeswarer sind mit seinen Schöpfungen bereits vertraut, denn Frenák wurde an mehreren Auflagen des FEST — FDR (das Europäische Schauspielfestival Temeswar — Festival der Rumänischen Dramaturgie) eingeladen und war auch der erste ausländische Gastregisseur, der unter dem Motto sWitch“ eine Tanztheateraufführung am Temeswarer Nationaltheater inszenierte. Anfang Dezember schlugen Pál Frenák und das Temeswarer Nationaltheater dem Publikum die Theater- und Tanzaufführung Im Traum“ vor, einen umgekehrten Road-Movie, in dem sich Theater, Tanz und Kino verflechten. Ada Hausvater, die Leiterin des Nationaltheaters Temeswar:



    Es handelt sich um Geschichten unserer Zeit, die auf zeitgerechte Art erzählt werden. Es sind verschiedene Geschichten, die durch den Körper erzählt werden. Und auch viel Energie. Es sind wunderbare Bilder, die Schauspieler sind wunderbar, es sind einige fabelhafte Tänzer dabei. Alles wird durch den Tanz erlebt! Es ist eine schöne Geschichte, mit einem echten Cadillac in der Mitte der Bühne. Wir befinden uns im Auto, auf der Autobahn; abhängig von den persönlichen Anhaltspunkten haben wir die Gelegenheit, an berühmte Persönlichkeiten zu denken. Je mehr man wei‎ß, desto glücklicher ist man. Es ist ein besonders herausforderndes und intelligentes Schauspiel. Das ist für mich das Wichtigste, was Pál geschaffen hat. In diesem Schauspiel bleibt die Emotion der Hauptantrieb.“




    Der Multikulturalismus der Stadt am Bega-Fluss widerspiegelt sich auch in der Strategie des Nationaltheaters Temeswar. Ada Hausvater, die Leiterin der Anstalt:



    Es ist für uns sehr wichtig, mit Künstlern aus anderen Ländern zu arbeiten, gemeinsam unsere Erfahrungen und Ideale ins Nationaltheater zu bringen und jene Gemeinsamkeiten zu finden, die das Theater und das Schauspiel weiterbringen. Meiner Ansicht nach ist es unsere Pflicht, als Nationaltheater unsere Türen dem Neuen gegenüber zu öffnen. Damit uns das gelingt, müssen wir der Vielfalt Bedeutung verleihen. Es war wichtig für mich von Anfang an, dass das Theater sich nicht nur in einer Richtung öffnet und nicht zu urteilen: Das ist gut, das ist schlecht. Was uns wichtig als Mentalität erscheint, ist, die Kreativität zu fördern, die Fähigkeit des Einzelnen, originell und sensibel zu sein.“




    Zur Strategie des Deutschen Staatstheaters Temeswar gehört auch die Einladung einiger Regisseure aus dem Ausland. Lucian Vărşăndan, Leiter des Deutschen Staatstheaters in Temeswar (DSTT):



    Das Deutsche Staatstheater Temeswar hat als Ziel die Vorführung von deutschsprachigen Künstlern in Rumänien. Das erinnert mich an ein Gespräch mit einer Zuschauerin vor einigen Jahren, die mir gesagt hat, sie möchte im Deutschen Theater ab und zu sehen, wie man Theater im deutschsprachigen Raum macht. Die heutige Dramatik gehört zu den interessantesten und ist den grundlegenden Themen des zeitgenössischen Menschen gewidmet. In diesem Kontext ist es für uns wichtig, die Werke bedeutender Regisseure aus diesem Raum vorzustellen, von Regisseuren, die ihren Ruhm nicht nur im deutschsprachigen Raum erlangt haben, sondern auch über die Grenzen dieses Kulturraums hinaus bekannt sind. Ganz gewiss ist Volker Schmidt einer der Künstler, die all diese Voraussetzungen erfüllen. Seine Unterschrift, sei es als Regisseur oder als Dramaturg, findet sich auf Plakaten in vielen europäischen Ländern wieder, in zahlreichen Sprachen. Er ist also ein Regisseur und ein Schöpfer, der dem zeitgenössischen Theater stark verbunden ist.“




    Der Österreicher Volker Schmidt verzeichnet seine dritte Zusammenarbeit mit dem Deutschen Staatstheater in Temeswar. Er hat an diesem Jahresende seinen eigenen Text inszeniert — Eigentlich schön“ hei‎ßt die Produktion. Ein Schauspiel über das persönliche Leben der Menschen im heutigen Europa, das manchmal bei Weitem nicht so schön und fröhlich ist, wie sie in den Social Media oft inszenieren. Volker Schmidt:



    ›Eigentlich/actually/de fapt‹ ist das das Wort unserer Generation, sagt man. Dieses sagt aus, dass alles in Ordnung sei, aber in Wirklichkeit fehlt etwas. Ich hatte die Idee, diesen Titel zu verwenden, um darüber ein Theaterstück zu schreiben. Dieses dreht sich um diese leere Mitte. Es handelt von der Generation im Alter von rund 30 Jahren oder der Generation ›Eigentlich‹, die in einer Welt aufgewachsen ist, die alles hatte, aber politisch nicht korrekt handelt. Sie wollen alles offen lassen, alle Möglichkeiten haben, die ganze Zeit die Wahl haben, aber sie wollen sich nicht selbst erklären, sich selbst definieren.“




    Wir schlie‎ßen mit dem Ungarischen Staatstheater Gergely Csiky“, natürlich in Temeswar. Hier hat auch am Ende dieses Jahres Zoltán Puskás, unabhängiger Regisseur und Schauspieler aus Zenta (Serbien), das berühmte Musical Hair“ inszeniert. Die Einladung ausländischer Regisseure gehört auch zur Strategie des Theaters Gergely Csiky“. Schauspieler Attila Balázs, Leiter der Anstalt:



    Wir sind in diesem Teil des Banats, wo wir sehr nahe an Ungarn, an Serbien leben… Man kann sogar sagen, dass wir dieselbe Sprache sprechen. Auch wenn wir unterschiedliche Sprachen sprechen, verstehen wir uns sehr gut. Regisseur Zoltán Puskás hat bereits Musikaufführungen auf der Bühne des Ungarischen Theaters in Temeswar inszeniert. Ich denke, dass wir uns jetzt Mut gemacht haben und mit dem Musical »Hair« einen gro‎ßen Schritt nach vorne gemacht haben. In dieser Spielzeit haben wir auch eine Zusammenarbeit mit einem weiteren Regisseur aus Serbien, der in Montenegro geboren wurde. Der Balkan ist sehr interessant und lebendig. Da wir uns in unmittelbarer Nähe befinden, wissen wir, was da passiert, denn es gibt das Euroregionale Theaterfestival TESZT. Natürlich möchten wir auch weitere Regisseure einladen. Z.B. ziehen wir auch einen amerikanischen Regisseur in Erwägung. Aber nicht das ist wichtig. Die Linie, die das Ungarische Theater in Temeswar befolgt, ist wichtig. Es ist eine zeitgenössische Linie, mit lebendigen Schauspielen, mit einem energischen Ensemble, das gute Ergebnisse erzielen möchte.“