Radio România Internațional

Tag: unions

  • January 23, 2025

    January 23, 2025

    Protest – Railway workers, reserve military, policemen, miners, foresters, steel workers or employees of the Bucharest Subway system are expected, on Friday, at a rally organized near the government headquarters, against the background of the dissatisfaction generated by the social and salary policies of the governing coalition made up of the PSD-PNL-UDMR, the Federation of Railway Transporters’ Unions from Romania (FSTFR) announces. It estimates the number of participants in the protest will stand at 30,000.

     

    Corruption – The mayor of Sinaia, the most popular resort on the Prahova Valley (southern Romania), the liberal Vlad Oprea, was brought to the headquarters of the National Anticorruption Directorate on Thursday, to be heard in a case. According to the prosecutors, he claimed and received bribe of almost 240,000 Euros from a businessman, in order to facilitate the issuance of the necessary documentation for the construction of a hotel in the city. Oprea is also accused that, between July 2019 and January 2024, he allowed the unauthorized activity of providing public catering services for a restaurant in Sinaia, in order to obtain undue benefits.

     

    Captivity – The Romanian Foreign Ministry announces that the Romanian sailor from the crew of the ship “Galaxy Leader”, freed from Yemen, is safe and sound. The crew has been in captivity for more than a year after the Houthi rebel group captured the ship, at the start of a series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea motivated by Israel’s war against the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. The 25 sailors from the Philippines, Mexico, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine were detained in November 2023 by Houthi fighters, who used a helicopter to board the cargo ship running between Turkey and India. A Houthi-controlled Yemeni television station said the crew had been freed and handed over to Oman, following the completion of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, which took effect on Sunday. The release comes after months of diplomacy work involving the sailors’ home countries, as well as the UN’s International Maritime Organization. The Romanian Foreign Ministry specifies that the action is the result of the efforts of the Foreign Intelligence Service and the other institutions within the crisis cell. The Romanian authorities also thank the external partners, especially the Sultanate of Oman and neighboring Bulgaria, for the important support given to solving this complex and extremely difficult case.

     

    Football – The Romanian football champion, FCSB, from Bucharest, plays, this evening, away from home, in Baku, against the Azerbaijani team Qarabag FK, in the seventh stage of the Europa League. With two stages before the end of the main phase of the competition, FCSB is in 10thplace, with 11 points, and Qarabag is in 33rdplace, with 3 points. The first eight teams in the ranking will qualify for the round of 16, while the teams from 9th to the 24th positions will play a play-off to qualify for the round of 16. FCSB still is to play the famous English team Manchester United, at home, on January 30.

     

    Reorganization – The reorganization of central public institutions and of state-owned companies in Romania, with a view to reducing budget expenses, is dissatisfying more and more employees. Several ministries have already announced reorganizations and staff reductions. The Parliament leadership also announced the reduction of civil servant positions by approximately 400, which led to a spontaneous protest by the employees in the halls of the institution.

     

    Drones – A new disinformation by the Russian media, regarding last week’s drone attacks against the civilian port infrastructure in Ukraine, near the border with Romania, was denounced by the Romanian Ministry of National Defense. The Kremlin propaganda falsely claimed that the Russian attack drones targeted an operation to transport Romanian soldiers or Romanian mercenaries from the Romanian shore to the Ukrainian one. According to the phantasmagoric scenario, the forces of the Romanian Army would have intervened in the unfolding of the events and would have opened fire on the Russian drones with equipment deployed on the Romanian territory. The alleged confrontation would have resulted in numerous victims on the Romanian side, dead and wounded. But all this did not happen, states the Romanian Defense Ministry. These “ungrounded aberrations”, as the Defense Ministry calls them, are part of the pattern of Russian operations to influence and manipulate public opinion in both the Romanian and NATO areas.

     

    TikTok – The vice-president of the European Parliament, the Romanian social democrat Victor Negrescu, states that the EC will present in a relatively short time its report on the interference, through the Chinese network TikTok, in the presidential election in Romania. The European Commission can come up with specific recommendations or impose a fine for that network – said the social democratic MEP. He added that the Vice-President of the Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, spoke about the possibility that all social networks, not just TikTok, which intervene in democratic debates and elections, could be subject to stricter control and could be sanctioned if they violate the European legislation in the matter. (LS)

  • May 21, 2023

    May 21, 2023

    EDUCATION
    In Bucharest, the Liberal PM Nicolae Ciucă, the Social Democratic leader Marcel
    Ciolacu and the labour minister Marius Budăi invited trade unions in public
    education to talks in order to avoid an all-out strike announced for tomorrow. Unionists
    said protests could only end when the solutions to their demands, particularly
    concerning salaries, were introduced in officially endorsed legislation. The
    finance minister Adrian Câciu said the teaching staff’s demands could have been
    solved, if Romania had received the money in the second disbursement round
    under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is currently suspended
    because of targets that have not been met in the field of energy, for which the
    National Liberal Party is responsible. On the other hand, PM Nicolae Ciucă said
    the solution to the unions’ demands has to do with the unified salary law that
    the labour ministry headed by the Social Democrats has failed to finalise in
    spite of the support of the entire ruling coalition. Amid these disagreements, the
    president of the Social Democratic Party, Marcel Ciolacu, demanded that
    negotiations on the new cabinet make-up following the PM rotation should be
    suspended until the issue in the education sector has been solved, and the Democratic
    Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, a junior partner in the ruling
    coalition, agreed. The Liberals on the other hand argue that the government
    transition should be completed quickly in order to maintain stability and
    balance. Under a protocol signed by the 2 parties, on 26 May the Social
    Democrats should take over the prime minister post from the Liberals, for the
    next 1,5 years, until the next general elections.


    MOLDOVA
    A large-scale rally is held in Chişinău today, at the
    initiative of president Maia Sandu, in order to prove Moldovans’ support for
    the country’s EU accession. Europe is the Republic of Moldova. The Republic of
    Moldova is Europe. Moldova is not alone, the president of the European
    Parliament, Roberta Metsola said in Romanian at the European Moldova National
    Assembly. Participants adopted a resolution confirming the support of Moldovan
    citizens for the country’s EU accession efforts. The rally takes place as the Republic
    of Moldova, an EU accession candidate country, would like to begin accession
    negotiations by the end of this year. For this stage to begin, Moldova must
    complete 9 recommendations, which will be assessed by this autumn in a European
    Commission report. In Bucharest, the Organisation of Moldovan Students
    organised a similar rally in front of Moldova’s Embassy. Scores of people
    watched the speeches in Chisinau jointly with the Moldovan Ambassador to
    Bucharest, Victor Chirila.


    UKRAINE The US president Joe Biden Sunday announced new military aid
    measures for Ukraine, following talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy,
    on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. The new aid package will
    consist of ammunitions, artillery and armoured vehicles, Joe Biden explained, just
    days after approving the provision of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. According
    to Reuters, this new package is worth up to USD 375 mln and is designed to
    strengthen Ukraine’s defence in the war against Russia. The British PM Rishi
    Sunak also announced in Hiroshima that his country would start training
    Ukrainian pilots this summer, to support Ukraine’s air forces in the conflict.
    Rishi Sunak added that no one wants peace more than Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but
    the terms for peace, he added, should be based on Ukraine’s principles. In the
    3-day summit in Japan, the G7 nations voiced their willingness to stand by
    Ukraine in the long run.


    FLOODING
    In Italy, code red alerts for heavy rainfalls with landslide risks are valid
    today as well, in the Emilia Romagna region in the north of the country, already
    affected by unprecedented flash floods. Fourteen people died and 36,000 others
    were evacuated by the authorities. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent
    in Italy, in Ravenna province alone, the most severely hit by the floods, over 16%
    of the territory has been evacuated. A preliminary estimate by Confagricoltura,
    the association of Italian farmers, indicates that the flooding in Emilia
    Romagna caused crop damages of over EUR 1.5 bln.


    GREECE
    Greece is holding elections today for its single-chamber 300-seat parliament, with
    around 9.5 million people expected to take part in the vote. As many as 36 parties
    and political associations are running for parliamentary seats, for which they
    need at least 3% of the votes. The most likely to win is incumbent PM Kyriakos
    Mitsotakis’s party, New Democracy, with 33% of the voting intentions in polls. The
    left-of-centre Syriza party, headed by Alexis Tsipras, is predicted to carry
    26% of the votes. A novelty in this election is the scrapping of the 50-seat
    bonus for the winning party. Unless the parties manage to form a new
    government, early elections will be held in July, with a return to the previous
    bonus system. (AMP)

  • May 10, 2023

    May 10, 2023

    EDUCATION Trade
    unions in Romanian public education organise a protest rally in Bucharest today, as a way to sound
    the alarm on the problems facing the Romanian education sector. The unions demand pay raises in the sector, as well as an
    annual increase in investments in order to improve the relevant infrastructure
    and equipment. Unionists also warn that a poll
    is under way among education staff, with respect to an all-out strike starting
    on May 22. Meanwhile, new draft
    education laws are being discussed in the Chamber of Deputies for a first vote,
    after the specialist committee introduced a number of amendments to the
    original bills, including a national plan to curb violence in schools.


    VISIT The PM of the Republic of Korea, Han
    Duck-Soo, is on a visit to Bucharest today, and is scheduled to have meetings
    with president Klaus Iohannis and with PM Nicolae Ciucă. The 2 prime ministers
    are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Romanian Maritime Port
    Authority and the Busan Port Authority. The Korean official is also scheduled
    to have a meeting with the Chamber of Deputies speaker, Marcel Ciolacu.


    DEFENCE The Romanian chief of defence,
    general Daniel Petrescu, is taking part today and tomorrow in the meetings of
    the NATO Military Committee and the EU Military Committee, respectively. Defence
    chiefs from the 31 Allied states, with the Swedish chief of defence as a guest,
    will look at the dynamics of the war in Ukraine. Talks will focus on analysing
    the implementation of measures aimed at strengthening NATO’s defence and deterrence
    posture, ahead of the decisions to be made at the NATO Summit in Vilnius. The
    participants will also look at ways to continue supporting Ukraine. Another
    major topic of the meeting is the analysis of member and partner states’
    participation in EU missions and operations.


    INDEPENDENCE Romania celebrates its
    National Independence Day today. On May 10, 1877, Prince Carol I, who would
    subsequently become the first king of Romania, signed the country’s
    Proclamation of Independence from the Ottoman Empire. The document had been
    read in Parliament the day before by the foreign minister Mihail Kogălniceanu, and
    endorsed by Parliament’s two chambers. The occasion is celebrated in Bucharest
    with a ceremony at the Heroes Monument in front of the National Defence
    University, while military and religious ceremonies are also held in cities
    across the country.


    EUROPE In a message on Europe Day, celebrated on May
    9, president Klaus Iohannis said Romania is a mature and responsible member
    state, with a solid and credible European profile, recognised and appreciated
    by our partners. In turn, PM Nicolae Ciucă said Romania is part of the
    solution to the security challenges that the EU is facing, and that now is the
    time for Romania to be acknowledged as a full Schengen member.




    TRANSPORT The European Commission for
    Transport, Adina Vălean, is in Romania today and tomorrow, to hand over to
    Romanian beneficiaries 2 grants for military mobility, in Constanta, in the presence of the
    Romanian transport minister Sorin Grindeanu, the European Commission announced.
    The two projects concern the design and building of the Ungheni bridge and
    upgrading the railway infrastructure in the port of Constanţa, a critical
    element of the EU – Ukraine solidarity lanes. (AMP)

  • February 8, 2023 UPDATE

    February 8, 2023 UPDATE

    EARTHQUAKE The massive earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday killed around
    12,000 people, according to the latest reports. Two-thirds of the total
    casualties are reported in Turkey. Tens of thousands of people were injured. In
    spite of the freezing cold, rescuers are struggling to find survivors. President Tayyip Erdogan declared
    disaster areas in the 10 provinces affected by the quakes, and introduced a
    3-month state of emergency. Seventy countries have so far provided support in
    the search and rescue operations. Romania joined the international aid efforts
    and sent nearly 120 search and
    rescue specialists, doctors and nurses, as well as search and rescue dogs.
    Many Romanian nationals have contacted the Embassy in Ankara to report the situation there, but few of them
    requested to be repatriated. Turkey is located in one of the world’s
    main seismic areas. In 1999, an
    earthquake occurring in Düzce, in the north of the country, killed over 17,000 people. As regards Syria, Romania is going to provide mostly humanitarian aid,
    following that country’s request to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.


    PATRIOT Romania has received a second Patriot system, out of the total
    four, that were contracted for the first stage of the country’s Air Force
    equipping programme. According to the defence minister Angel Tilvar, the four
    systems represent the first stage in achieving state-of-the-art ground-based
    air defence capability, which can be fully integrated into the NATO system.
    Patriot systems were first delivered to Romania in 2020, and 2023 is the year
    when the first stage of the equipping programme is to be fully completed,
    according to the Defence Ministry. The Patriot system is one of the most
    advanced air protection systems of the US military arsenal. It is a mobile
    system that usually includes a powerful radar, a control station, a power
    generator, launch stations and support vehicles.


    EU The European Council on Thursday will hold a summit in Brussels to
    discuss the war in Ukraine, the EU economy and migration. A video-conference
    chaired by the European Council President, Charles Michel, was held on Tuesday
    and was also attended by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who said talks
    focused on the support granted to Ukraine, consolidating the competitiveness of
    the EU economy and implementing concrete measures of combating illegal
    migration. Although Schengen enlargement is not officially on the agenda,
    President Iohannis might approach it informally in the plenary or during
    bilateral meetings with his counterparts.


    MOTION The Chamber of
    Deputies Wednesday dismissed the simple motion tabled by the opposition against
    the interior minister Lucian Bode. The document signatories accuse Bode of plagiarism
    and blame him for Romania’s failure to join the Schengen area. In Monday’s
    debates on the motion, Lucian Bode argued that the opposition’s claims were
    untrue and prompted by the forthcoming elections.This is the
    second failed motion against minister Bode, after the one in October.


    PROTESTS Members of the Sanitas Trade Union Federation Wednesday held
    protest rallies in Bucharest, for the 3rd consecutive day, picketing
    political party offices. Several hundred unionists from around the country
    protested against the Salaries Law and the under-financing of healthcare
    institutions and social assistance in Romania. The list of demands includes a
    minimum 15% pay raise. The unionists warned that unless the authorities meet
    their demands, further protests may be planned. (E.E., A.M.P.)

  • December 16, 2022

    December 16, 2022

    SCHENGEN
    The losses incurred by Romania for the rejection of its Schengen accession bid
    are over EUR 25 bln, says the Romanian interior minister Lucian Bode. For 11 years
    we have been securing Schengen’s border, investing in human resources,
    capabilities and modern technologies. The losses incurred by Romania during all
    this time, since it has fulfilled the criteria but has not benefited from the
    related rights, are immeasurable, Mr. Bode said at a meeting of EU gendarme
    chiefs. The topic of Romania’s Schengen accession and of the negative vote
    given by Austria in the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting last week was
    also raised by president Klaus Iohannis at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.
    Senior European officials conveyed a message of support for Romania’s and
    Bulgaria’s Schengen accession. The EC president Ursula von der Leyen and the
    Council president Charles Michel said further discussions would be held on this
    topic and progress was expected in the following months.


    FUNDING The
    Romanian ministry for EU funding and investments has submitted to the EC the
    second payment request, amounting to EUR 3.228 bln, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The 3rd payment request, amounting to EUR 3.1 bln, is to be submitted
    to the Commission next spring. Romania benefits from over EUR 29 bln for the
    implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, including grants
    of up to EUR 14.24 bln and loans of nearly EUR 15 bln. The country has already
    cashed in 2 pre-financing instalments totaling EUR 3.79 bln.


    EU The president of
    the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will attend in Bucharest on
    Saturday the signing of an agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan,
    Georgia, Romania and Hungary concerning the Strategic Partnership in the
    development and transport of green energy. The agreement will be signed by the
    president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the PM of Georgia
    Irakli Garibashvili, the PM of Romania Nicolae Ciucă, and the PM of Hungary
    Viktor Orban. According to the Romanian Presidency, the document is based on
    the interests of the 4 states concerning a strengthened national and regional
    energy security. The agreement will provide a financial and technical framework
    for the construction of an underwater renewable energy transport cable between
    Romania and Azerbaijan, via Georgia and the Black Sea, and further on for the
    transport of this energy to Hungary and the rest of Europe.

    INFLATION The EU
    annual inflation rate dropped from 11.5% in October to 11.1% in November, but in
    8 member countries the rate rose from one month to the other, including in
    Romania, where it went from 13.5% to 14.6%, Eurostat announced on Friday. In November,
    the EU member states with the highest inflation rates were Hungary, Latvia, Estonia
    and Lithuania. At the opposite pole, the lowest inflation rates were reported
    in Spain, France and Malta.


    PROTEST Hundreds
    of employees in the Romanian public education system are today picketing
    prefect offices in several counties, primarily demanding the full
    implementation of a law concerning their incomes. Education unions say the net
    salaries for this category are up to EUR 440 and warn that 2023 will bring a
    new series of union actions unless the government solves the problems in this
    sector. The trade unions also criticise the government’s failure to pay for
    overtime and travel expenses and to adjust revenues to the inflation rate.


    TIMISOARA Romania
    commemorates today 33 years since the start of the anti-communist uprising in Timişoara,
    western Romania. The anniversary is marked by a traditional solemn meeting of
    the Local Council. The participants, including members of revolutionary
    associations, discuss the events of December ’89 and observe a moment of
    silence to honour those who died during those days. Exhibitions, film
    screenings, round tables, a concert entitled Folk for the Revolution as well
    marches are also organised on this occasion. 33 years ago, in Timişoara, a
    solidarity rally for the Reformed pastor Laszlo Tokes grew into an uprising
    that spread across the country and led to the fall of the communist regime.


    RESCUERS Romanian
    mountain rescuers were awarded in Paris at the International Rescuers Congress,
    attended by relevant institutions, associations and research institutes from
    over 60 countries in the world. Salvamont Romania was acknowledged as one of
    the best drone-assisted search and rescue services, and the distinction was
    received for the Data Analysis Centre in Târgu Jiu. The centre uses special software
    and drones for victim identification. (AMP)

  • Trade union protests

    Trade union protests

    Inadequate salaries prompted the employees of the Mechanical Plant and Arms Plant in Cugir, central Romania, to take to the streets late last week. The protest continued this week as well, when over 700 people marched the streets of the town between the 2 industrial units.



    They demand better working standards and an increase in salaries, which they say barely cover their heating and electricity bills. They argue they have not had a pay raise in 2 years. “(We are) Overworked and underpaid,” a female employee says, adding that after 40 years of work, in February she was only paid nearly 320 euro.



    “We will not give in,” and “Unity” were the protesters main slogans. They say they will not give up until their main demand, a 30% pay raise, is fulfilled.



    The Board of Directors of the Cugir Mechanical Plant convened on Monday and offered a 6.5% salary increase. The trade union leader Virgil Matei said people were not happy with the offer.



    The Cugir Mechanical Plant produces various types of weapons, 9mm automatic and semi-automatic pistols and accessories. The unit was set up in 1799, when the region was part of the Habsburg Empire, and was called the Steel and Iron Works. In 2004, the company split into the Cugir Mechanical Plant and the Arms Plant.



    The latter produces semi-automatic rifles, intended for hunting and shooting sports, for the civilian market, in particular in the US. In the military segment, the units produce AKMs for foreign markets.



    Trade unions in the steel industry have also gone on protest. The employees of ALRO Slatina (south) and ALUM Tulcea (south-east), 2 companies running on mostly Russian capital, picketed the government headquarters.



    The workers want a one-year cap on natural gas and energy prices, at the level reported for December 2020, as well as financial assistance for the companies that benefitted from state aid in the past.



    According to sources in the trade union, the slow-down in operations at ALRO Slatina has already triggered negative effects, leading to over 12,000 employees idled in various other industries.



    The leader of the “Aluministulˮ Union, Constantin Popescu, explained that ALRO Slatina has closed down two electrolysis units, with a 3rd one also preparing for shutdown, which is why nearly 500 people were made redundant.



    A total of 40,000 jobs in various related industries are jeopardised if ALRO Slatina downsizes operations, the union leader also said, and warned that the last 2 remaining units risk being closed down. According to Constantin Popescu, the government should help ALRO purchase energy at fair prices. (A.M.P.)

  • Trade union protests

    Trade union protests

    Inadequate salaries prompted the employees of the Mechanical Plant and Arms Plant in Cugir, central Romania, to take to the streets late last week. The protest continued this week as well, when over 700 people marched the streets of the town between the 2 industrial units.



    They demand better working standards and an increase in salaries, which they say barely cover their heating and electricity bills. They argue they have not had a pay raise in 2 years. “(We are) Overworked and underpaid,” a female employee says, adding that after 40 years of work, in February she was only paid nearly 320 euro.



    “We will not give in,” and “Unity” were the protesters main slogans. They say they will not give up until their main demand, a 30% pay raise, is fulfilled.



    The Board of Directors of the Cugir Mechanical Plant convened on Monday and offered a 6.5% salary increase. The trade union leader Virgil Matei said people were not happy with the offer.



    The Cugir Mechanical Plant produces various types of weapons, 9mm automatic and semi-automatic pistols and accessories. The unit was set up in 1799, when the region was part of the Habsburg Empire, and was called the Steel and Iron Works. In 2004, the company split into the Cugir Mechanical Plant and the Arms Plant.



    The latter produces semi-automatic rifles, intended for hunting and shooting sports, for the civilian market, in particular in the US. In the military segment, the units produce AKMs for foreign markets.



    Trade unions in the steel industry have also gone on protest. The employees of ALRO Slatina (south) and ALUM Tulcea (south-east), 2 companies running on mostly Russian capital, picketed the government headquarters.



    The workers want a one-year cap on natural gas and energy prices, at the level reported for December 2020, as well as financial assistance for the companies that benefitted from state aid in the past.



    According to sources in the trade union, the slow-down in operations at ALRO Slatina has already triggered negative effects, leading to over 12,000 employees idled in various other industries.



    The leader of the “Aluministulˮ Union, Constantin Popescu, explained that ALRO Slatina has closed down two electrolysis units, with a 3rd one also preparing for shutdown, which is why nearly 500 people were made redundant.



    A total of 40,000 jobs in various related industries are jeopardised if ALRO Slatina downsizes operations, the union leader also said, and warned that the last 2 remaining units risk being closed down. According to Constantin Popescu, the government should help ALRO purchase energy at fair prices. (A.M.P.)

  • August 3, 2021

    August 3, 2021

    COVID-19 On Tuesday 233 new SarsCov2 cases were reported in Romania, the largest number in 2 months. The number of coronavirus patients in hospitals remains over 400, with 60 of them in ICUs. Five COVID-related deaths were also reported. The number of new coronavirus cases in growing in Europe, whereas in Romania containment measures are more relaxed than in other countries, state secretary Raed Arafat said. Nonetheless, he emphasized, Romanians fail to observe them and have largely given up wearing face masks in public transport means. In spite of repeated warnings on an imminent new wave of infections, the vaccine rollout is also lagging. Romania has recently managed to reach 5 million people receiving at least one dose of the vaccine, a target originally set by the authorities for early June.




    BUDGET In Bucharest, the Liberal PM Florin Cîţu announced a first draft of the mid-year state budget adjustment bill is ready and will be forwarded soon to the leaders of the right-of-centre ruling coalition. The prime minister also said he was still waiting for all ministers to report the budget execution for the first half of the year, and called for more responsibility in public spending in the next 6 months. In an internet post, Florin Cîţu reminded his cabinet members that they must reach all the budget targets undertaken at the beginning of this year.




    TENSIONS Tensions between Israel, the UK and the US are deepening following the drone attack on an oil tanker managed by an Israeli businessman in the Arabian Sea, which killed a Romanian and a British crew members on July 29. Israel described the incident as a violation of international law. In Bucharest, the Foreign Ministry firmly condemned the attack and summoned the Iranian ambassador to an emergency meeting. Similar measures were also taken in London, where PM Boris Johnson said Iran must face the consequences. Britain and the US harshened their criticism of Iran, accusing it of being behind the attack. The government in Tehran invited the charges daffaires with the embassies of the UK and Romania to talks, protesting the accusations against Iran.




    HOLIDAYS 28% of the EU citizens cannot afford a one-week holiday away from home. An analysis of Eurostat data conducted by the European trade union confederation found that inequity in terms of access to holidays between people with incomes below 60% of average salary and those with incomes above this threshold has deepened in 16 member states over the past decade. Romania has the widest gap in this respect in the EU, according to the Cartel Alfa trade union federation.




    VACCINE The European Union has reached a major goal of providing at least one dose of anti-coronavirus vaccine to 70% of the adults in the Union, but member states must step up vaccination rates in order to contain the quicker-spreading variants, the European Commission chief warned on Tuesday. Ursula von der Leyen said that, apart from the first dose target being met, 57% of the EU adults are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 68% of the adults in the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have received their first dose, whereas 53.7% of the approximately 400 million adults in the 31 countries are fully vaccinated.




    FOOTBALL The Romanian football champions CFR Cluj are playing at home today against the Swiss side Young Boys Bern, in the first leg of the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League. The second leg is scheduled for August 10 in Switzerland. CFR Cluj qualified into the 3rd round after defeating Lincoln Red Imps FC of Gibraltar, while the Swiss champions beat Slovan Bratislava. Should it get past the Swiss opponents, CFR Cluj will take on the winner of the match pitting Ferencvaros Budapest against Slavia Prague in the Champions League play-offs, according to Mondays draw in Nyon (Switzerland). (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • February 16, 2021

    February 16, 2021

    COVID-19 2,676 new SARS-CoV-2 cases were reported
    in Romania in the last 24 hours, out of nearly 33,000 tests conducted
    nation-wide, according to the Strategic Communication Group. So far Romania has
    had around 766,000 confirmed coronavirus infections. Nearly 90% of the patients
    have recovered. The authorities also announced another 81 COVID-19 related
    deaths, taking the death toll to over 19,500. Another 943 patients are in
    intensive care.

    ECONOMY PM Florin Cîţu says a “V-shaped recovery of the Romanian economy is certain, after data made public by the National Statistics Institute for the last quarter of 2020 point to a 5.3% growth rate. He mentioned that in 2020, Romanias economy, just like the global economy, was hit by the biggest crisis of the last century. Florin Cîţu also added that last year Romania performed 5% better than originally estimated, and 2.5% in average better than all forecasts made by international institutions, the EC, financial rating agencies and other financial institutions.



    PROTESTS Representatives of the hospitality industry organise in Bucharest today new protests against the pandemic containment measures introduced by the authorities. Employers in the sector demand the payment of the promised compensations for last year, when their operations declined by 70%. In Mondays meeting with hospitality representatives, the economy minister Claudiu Năsui promised that the government earmarked over 510 million euros for financial support in the draft budget. On Monday, members of Sanitas Union Federation picketed the Finance Ministry headquarters to warn that a smaller budget for public healthcare in a year with a coronavirus pandemic is not only an injustice to the workers in the system, but also deeply immoral to Romanias citizens.



    MOTION The Chamber of Deputies is to vote on Wednesday on the first simple motion of this legislative term, tabled by the Social Democrats in opposition against the health minister Vlad Voiculescu. The Deputies discussed the motion on Monday. The Social Democrats claim that minister Vlad Voiculescu was not sufficiently involved in the immunisation and testing programmes, and that he issued messages conflicting with the coordinators of the national vaccination campaign, discouraging the healthcare workers involved in the process. Vlad Voiculescu replied that during his 2 months in office, he earmarked close to 19 million euros for investments in hospitals.



    DIPLOMACY Slovakias foreign minister, Ivan Korcok, is on an official visit to Bucharest today, when he has meetings scheduled with his counterpart Bogdan Aurescu and PM Florin Cîţu. According to the Foreign Ministry, the visit is a new opportunity to reconfirm the excellent bilateral relation and the continuity of the dialogue and historical ties between the 2 countries. The officials will also discuss the coordination of topics of mutual interest at EU level, such as fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing the multi-annual framework and the European Recovery Plan, the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Eastern Partnership and the EU enlargement process.



    TENNIS The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 2 in the world, Tuesday lost in Melbourne to the American Serena Williams (no 11 WTA), 6-3, 6-3, in the eighth-finals of the Australian Open. Halep and Williams have so far had 11 matches in professional competitions, with Williams winning 9 of them. The latest match was the Wimbledon final of 2019, when the Romanian won 6-2, 6-2. In 2019, they also played against each other in the eighth-finals in Melbourne, when Williams won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • The Week in Review 17-23 January, 2021

    The Week in Review 17-23 January, 2021


    National anti-Covid vaccination programme continues


    Romanias coronavirus vaccination programme reached its second phase last week. After a first stage, targeting healthcare personnel, last Friday a second phase was initiated, focusing on the elderly and chronic patients regardless of age. Workers in key sectors will also receive vaccines at this point. The Government subsequently added to these categories sea and river navigation personnel, diplomatic mission staff, athletes taking part in international competitions as well as the homeless and the disabled.



    Under a new rule, 75% of the appointments available will be earmarked for chronic patients and the elderly, and only 25% for staff in key sectors.



    Across the country, there are about 300 immunisation centres, giving some 30,000 vaccine doses a day, but the number is set to increase as the country receives more doses from Pfizer or Moderna. According to PM Florin Cîțu, Romania has 2.4 million vaccine doses set aside until the end of March.



    But not everything is running smoothly, hence the discontent among people and opposition MPs. Since its launch, the governmental platform designed for online appointments has run into technical problems, which is why those who tried to book a place were unable to enrol individually, and had to resort to their family physicians or their employers. Similar solutions were used by people who do not own a computer, who lack basic computer skills and have no one to help them. Moreover, some chronic patients are not included in the records of the National Health Insurance Agency, and have had difficulties proving their status.



    There are also counties having already run out of vaccine doses. Romanias representative at the WHO, dr. Alexandru Rafila, a Social-Democratic Deputy, believes the flawed booking app and the inclusion in the second stage of categories that have not been properly prioritised may prevent the adequate vaccination of citizens.



    Meanwhile, EU leaders decided in an online meeting this Thursday not to close the Unions internal borders, but to introduce new travel restrictions in order to contain the spread of the virus and of its newer variants.




    Trade unions, disgruntled


    A number of social or professional categories once again took to the streets this week, to protest the current right-of-centre governments handling of the pandemic that has severely impacted Romanias economy. Picketing the offices of the presidency, the government, various ministries, prefecture offices or even political parties, Romanians voiced their discontent.



    Cartel Alfa—one of the countrys largest trade unions—initiated protests on January 14, which are scheduled to last until February 28. Their main demands include decent wages, fair pension benefits, high-quality public services, fair taxation, compliance with the law and a restart to collective bargaining.



    According to deputy PM Dan Barna, some of the demands can be solved in the forthcoming period. He explained that there are also demands that must be seen in the context of an economy hit by a crisis and of a budget that must meet the 7% of GDP deficit target.



    The Social Democrats in opposition side with the unionists unhappy with salary decisions, and argue that it is quite feasible to increase wages and pensions, while at the same time staying within the deficit ceiling targeted by the Cîţu Cabinet. On January 27, the Social Democrats are to present an alternative budget bill.



    Meanwhile, the draft state budget has been analysed by PM Florin Cîţu, deputy PM Dan Barna, finance minister Alexandru Nazare and the Minister for European Funds Cristian Ghinea, who were once again invited to talks with president Klaus Iohannis. The budget bill may reach Parliament early next month.




    Romania congratulates the new US president


    President Klaus Iohannis congratulated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, who were sworn in as the new president and vice-president of the US on Wednesday. ‘I am confident that together we will continue to develop and strengthen our Strategic Partnership, to the benefit of our peoples, and to work in the true spirit of trans-Atlantic values,’ Klaus Iohannis posted on Twitter.



    At the inauguration of the 46th president of the US, Romania was represented by Ambassador George Cristian Maior. In a news release, the Romanian Embassy in Washington expresses confidence that during the new presidents term in office, both parties will reaffirm their commitment to strengthening and developing the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between Romania and the US, signed a decade ago. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • January 14, 2021 UPDATE

    January 14, 2021 UPDATE

    VACCINATION More than 3,500 new coronavirus cases and 66 related deaths were recorded on Thursday in Romania. The total number of confirmed cases is now over 684,000, while the death toll is 17,035. 1,101 Covid patients are in intensive care. 90% of Romanians who caught the virus have recovered. Some 155,000 healthcare workers and those working in social care have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in Romania. Phase two of the vaccination campaign gets under way on Friday, targeting the elderly, chronic patients and workers in key sectors, totalling some 5 million people. PM Florin Cîțu says the pace of vaccination will be stepped up, the target being the immunisation of more than 10 million people by September. 62% of Romanians say they want to be given the vaccine according to a poll conducted by Reveal Marketing Research between 6th and 11th January.



    SALARY LAW The government is looking at bonuses in the public sector and if they are justified as part of drafting the state budget for this year, PM Florin Cîţu said on Thursday. He explained that he is considering amending the salary law to eliminate inequalities in the public sector. He said the pensions law would also be amended this year to take into account the contribution principle. The government on Wednesday increased the gross minimum wage by approx. 3%.



    SCHOOLS Most schools in Romania will reopen on February 8, if the COVID-19 situation stays the same as in the past few weeks, president Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday. He had a meeting with the PM Florin Cîţu, the education minister Sorin Cîmpeanu, the health minister Vlad Voiculescu, the head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, and the head of the National Centre for Infectious Disease Monitoring and Control, Adriana Pistol. Iohannis explained that when the infection rate in a locality goes above 6 per thousand, a lockdown will be introduced. He also said the situation will be re-assessed prior to opening schools, with a final decision to be made on February 2. As far as universities are concerned, each institution will be free to decide. With the exception of two months, schools have been closed in Romania since March last year, with teaching being conducted online.



    PROTEST Healthcare trade unions in Solidaritatea Sanitara federation picketed the government building in Bucharest and prefecture offices around the country to demand more protection measures for healthcare workers amid the pandemic. They also demand a rise in the basic salary for all healthcare staff as of January 1 this year, to the level stipulated in the salary law for 2022. The federation also wants the government to give up on the reduction of the basic salary as a result of a government order issued at the end of 2020, and to grant all healthcare workers special bonuses and a risk incentive for the entire duration of the pandemic.



    AIR FORCES Four Romanian F-16 aicraft with Air Base 86 in Borcea (south-eastern Romania), together with US Air Force aircraft deployed in Europe, took part on Thursday in the Prime Accord multinational military exercise. The exercise included escort and combat patrol missions. According to the Romanian defence ministry, the action was designed to reinforce NATO assurance measures in south-east Europe, and to check the integration of Romanian and NATO command and control structures. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • November 17, 2020

    November 17, 2020

    COVID-19 Romania reports the highest SARS-CoV-2 test positivity rate in 24 hours: over 43%. On Monday the authorities announced 4,931 cases out of around 11,200 tests. The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic in late February is now over 365,000. With the 149 deaths reported on Monday, the death toll exceeds 9,000, whereas the number of patients in intensive care is now 1,187. Nearly 70% of the total number of patients have recovered. As of today, 5 towns and a village in Alba County, central Romania, are under a 2-week lockdown because of the large number of coronavirus infections. Also as of today, Constanta city in the south east is closing parks and playgrounds, and streets, pavements and market places will be disinfected on a daily basis. The city of Sibiu (centre) and 3 other localities in the same county also introduced a lockdown on Monday, while the city of Bistriţa (centre) is waiting for approval from the National Public Health Institute to implement the same measure.



    FIRE Investigators have completed inquiries into the fire that occurred on Saturday at the ICU of the Piatra Neamt County Hospital, treating Sars-Cov-2 patients. The criminal case concerns manslaughter and bodily harm offences, as 10 people died and 7 others were injured. Five of the victims could not be identified and DNA tests were required. Doctor Ioan Cătălin Denciu remains in a serious condition—he tested positive for COVID-19 prior to being transferred to Belgium, and the injuries are more severe than originally thought. The physician has 2nd degree burns on 75% of the body, which he suffered while trying to rescue the patients from the intensive care unit during the fire. The manager of the Piatra Neamţ Hospital has resigned. Joint teams from Public Health Directorates and the General Inspectorate for Emergencies have been conducting inspections, since Monday, in all intensive therapy units across the country, to check electrical installations and the state of medical equipment. The health minister Nelu Tătaru says many hospitals underwent rushed revamping in 2020, and now the authorities have to check whether safety rules were complied with.



    UNIONS Members of the SANITAS healthcare workers union Tuesday observed a moments silence for the victims of the Piatra Neamt hospital fire, in front of the Government headquarter. SANITAS had scheduled a rally for Tuesday, but the union decided to replace the protest with a commemoration of the victims and of the healthcare workers who lost their lives on the job. Unionists warn that the tragedy may occur again, anywhere in the country, because of the worn out equipment and overworked personnel. They call on civil society to put pressure on politicians to reform the Romanian public healthcare sector. SANITAS officials Monday submitted a list of demands to all county prefect offices.



    GAUDEAMUS The 27th edition of the Gaudeamus Book Fair organised by Radio Romania since 1994, is taking place online until November 22nd. The event will end on Sunday and will take place exclusively online due to the new coronavirus pandemic. Attending the event are more than 100 companies, among which prestigious book publishers and distributors, music and educational games producers. Hundreds of events can be followed online on gaudeamus.ro, the website of the event, which this year is organised jointly with elefant.ro. Writer Norman Manea, nominated several times for the Nobel Prize for Literature, is the honorary president of this edition of the Gaudeamus book fair.



    MOLDOVA The Republic of Moldovas ex-PM, the Pro-European Maia Sandu, is the first woman elected president of the country. In Sundays ballot she won 57.75% of the votes, according to the final data announced by the Electoral Committee in Chişinău. The incumbent president, pro-Russian Igor Dodon, who got 42%, announced however he was challenging the result. Maia Sandus priorities include ending corruption and public money theft and reforming the political class. The election result is a moral victory of pro-European forces which want genuine change, political commentators in Chisinau say. However, they warn that a tense period may follow, because Igor Dodons Socialists hold the largest number of seats in Parliament. (translated by A.M. Popescu)

  • July 28, 2020

    July 28, 2020

    PARLIAMENT The speakers of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, Robert Cazanciuc and Marcel Ciolacu, respectively, have sent a letter to PM Ludovic Orban asking him to present Parliament with a report on the measures considered by the Government in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus until the local elections due on September 27 and the start of the new school year on September 14. Government officials said it is still too early to discuss the postponement of the local elections. As for the new school year, the authorities are looking at several scenarios, including the rotation of students between face-to-face and online classes.



    COVID-19 In Romania, the number of new COVID-19 cases has been steadily over 1,000 per day for a week. The total number of cases is over 47,000, with 1,151 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, some 26,000 patients recovered and a total death toll of 2,239. Out of around 5,500 Romanian nationals who have tested positive abroad, 123 died. Local lockdown has been introduced in the past few days in several localities in Romania, and authorities are considering additional measures to contain the disease. Meanwhile, a growing number of countries are introducing restrictions for Romanian citizens. The Republic of Moldova, Cyprus, Finland and Lithuania have closed their borders to Romanian tourists. Travellers arriving in Greece from Romania are required to produce a negative Covid-19 test conducted no more than 72 hours prior. The measure is in place until August 4. Other countries, including Italy, the UK, Ireland, Norway, Estonia and Latvia have introduced 14-day isolation requirements for travellers from Romania, the Netherlands recommends self-isolation, while Hungary, Belgium and France recommend testing.



    PANDEMIC In spite of national and global efforts, the novel coronavirus continues to spread at unprecedented rates around the world. Many states are closing their borders to citizens from high-risk areas, or are introducing quarantine and testing requirements, but a coordinated strategy is yet to be implemented. While recognising the difficulty of a global strategy, the World Health Organisation says nonetheless that travel restrictions will not be enough to contain the spread of the virus. The WHO director general says the coronavirus pandemic is by far the most severe global health emergency ever experienced. According to worldometers.info, over 16.5 million cases have been confirmed worldwide, and the death toll exceeds 650,000. The worst hit is the USA, which has reported so far over 4.4 million cases and some 150,000 deaths. Europe remains the most affected continent by number of deaths (over 200,000, of which 45,000 in the UK, 35,000 in Italy, 30,000 in France and 28,000 in Spain). Meanwhile, European tourism continues to suffer, with the absence of tourists triggering chain reactions that impact restaurants, cultural sites, retail and the leisure industry.



    UNIONS Romanias PM Ludovic Orban and health minister Nelu Tătaru have today met with representatives of Sanitas and Solidaritatea Sanitară trade union federations, to discuss the problems facing healthcare staff during the pandemic. Unionists want better working conditions, shorter working hours and longer paid leaves, especially in intensive care wards, which experience staff shortages. The PM explained that some of the problems can be solved by posting healthcare staff from other hospitals, and said one of the issues discussed with the unions was that of bonuses to be paid to certain categories of healthcare personnel.



    CHILDREN The finance minister Florin Cîțu announced an increase of child benefits by around 15%, with a further increase scheduled as of January 1. Florin Cîțu emphasised that the increases will be operated without financial assistance from institutions like the IMF. In other news, budget execution figures 6 months into the year may be released today. One month ago the finance minister said Romanias budget deficit this year would reach 6.7% of GDP, with a negative 2.2% economic growth rate at year end.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • November 4, 2017

    November 4, 2017

    UNIONS – The “Solidaritatea Sanitara union federation announces its opposition to the Governments plan to transfer the payment of social security contributions from employers to employees, and says it will join the all-out strike planned by the countrys main union confederations. Previously, trade union federations Frăţia, Cartel Alfa and National Union Bloc had voiced fears that this transfer would entail a drop in salaries and the loss of jobs. In turn, employer associations say that should this measure be implemented, they will have to lay off employees, while the National Liberal Party in opposition announced it would notify the Constitutional Court unless the Government gave up these plans. President Klaus Iohannis described the Governments initiative as fiscal confusion through which average gross salaries would only go up by a rough 70 eurocents. In response, PM Mihai Tudose and his Social Democratic Party chief, Liviu Dragnea, say they do not understand the opposition to the measures announced for next year, given that in fact both employers and employees would stand to gain. The Cabinet postponed to Monday the meeting in which the new provisions were to be discussed, on grounds that some of the bills on the agenda had not received all the required approvals.




    BY-ELECTIONS – The town of Deva, in western Romania, as well as 16 villages in 12 counties are preparing for Sundays by-elections. 16 localities will elect their mayors tomorrow, and a village will elect its local council. In Deva, the mayor position has been vacant since the former mayor, Mircia Muntean, re-elected to office last summer, was sentenced to six months in prison for abuse of office and DUI.




    HEALTHCARE – The Romanian healthcare and tourism ministries will work together to come up with medical tourism packages. The announcement was made by the Healthcare Minister Florian Bodog at a medical tourism conference in Bucharest. The healthcare services in the highest demand from foreign patients in Romania are dental treatments, spa treatments, and plastic surgery, Bodog explained. He added that the Government is working to adopt the public-private partnership bill, which will allow foreign partners to invest in Romania, including in the healthcare sector. The Romanian official added that he had already received offers from foreign investors interested in setting up hospitals and cardiovascular surgery and recovery centres.




    CAMPAIGN – MEP Cătălin Ivan has announced he intends to start a signature campaign to ban bearer shares in Romania. Such shares, which are not registered, may be transferred from one holder to another without tax and accounting records. Ivan argues that this enables civil servants to own stock in companies that are awarded public procurement or service contracts, without any means of combating corruption. According to official data there are around 400 companies in Romania having issued bearer shares, and most of their have been awarded government contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros. Bearer shares have already been banned in countries like the UK, Belgium, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Malta and Cyprus.




    PUIGDEMONT – Belgian authorities announced having received the international arrest warrant issued by Spain against the ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and 4 members of his secessionist cabinet. The source added that prosecutors would study the documents before submitting them to a judge. The five Catalan ministers arrived in Brussels this week, after Spain issued an arrest warrant for sedition. Puigdemont insists that he is not in Belgium to escape justice, and that he is facing a potential 30-year prison sentence for keeping his promise to his voters. A Spanish court approved the arrest after the five failed to appear in court on Thursday to respond to accusations regarding the Catalan independence declaration. Before the arrest warrants were issued, the European Commission said the trial of the Catalan separatists was for the judiciary to settle.





    HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball team CSM Bucharest is playing this afternoon at home against the Danish side Nykobing, in the 4th round of Champions League Group A. Two weeks ago, CSM lost surprisingly in Denmark, 22-25. In the first 2 games in Group A, the Romanians defeated Krim Ljubljana of Slovenia and Vistal Gdynia of Poland. The top 2 teams in each of the 4 groups will qualify into the main group stage. Romanias target in the current competition season is to reach the Champions League Final Four. Also today, in mens handball, Romanias champions Dinamo Bucharest play away from home against Ademar Leon of Spain. Dinamo ranks last in Group C, and is left with next to no chances to move on in the competition.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • October 4, 2017

    October 4, 2017

    UNIONS – One of Romanias largest trade union confederations, Cartel Alfa, is holding in Bucharest today a protest rally in front of the Government headquarters in Bucharest. The unionists main reason for discontent has to do with the transfer of social security payments from employers to employees. On the other hand, they demand a restart of negotiations and the closing of collective bargaining agreements at all levels. Unionists are also unhappy with the Law on public sector salaries and the Social Dialogue Act. According to Cartel Alfa, some 10,000 people are to take part in the rally. During September 25 to 29, similar protests were held in several other Romanian cities.




    PARLIAMENT – The Chamber of Deputies in the Parliament of Romania is discussing and voting today on a simple motion tabled by the National Liberal Party and Save Romania Union, in the Opposition, on the subject of transport infrastructure. The debate had been scheduled for Tuesday, but was postponed at the request of PM Mihai Tudose, who announced Parliament that the Transport Minister Razvan Cuc was taking part in a joint meeting of the Governments of Romania and Bulgaria. Entitled ‘Romanias transport infrastructure is controlled by Social Democratic Party interests. Disillusion, demagogy and discouragement, the motion is aimed at dismissing Minister Razvan Cuc, accused of faulty management and lack of professionalism, as well as of blocking several major infrastructure projects.




    BANKS – The National Bank of Romania moved in the interbank market and lent a rough 2 billion euros to commercial banks, at 1.75% interest. The central bank did this after on Tuesday the 3-month Robor index, based on which most interest rates on loans in the national currency are calculated, had gone up for the 15th consecutive day, to 1.8%, the highest level since November 2014. We have more on this after the news.




    GERMANY – The reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990, paved the way for the unification of Europe as a whole, the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday night, at a dinner given by the Embassy of Germany in Bucharest. Himself a member of the German ethnic community in Romania, the President emphasised that the bilateral relation was a solid, strategic one, based on concrete achievements and on the will to build together a better European future. Iohannis also said that Romania, a Francophone country with a substantial German cultural heritage, must stand united with the French-German engine of the European Union.




    SPAIN – The European Parliament is discussing today, in an emergency session, the crisis in Spain further to Sundays Catalan independence referendum. The European Commission said repeatedly that this was a Spanish domestic politics issue, but Catalan officials insisted for EU mediation in the matter. The head of Catalonias Government, the secessionist Carles Puigdemont, said the region would proclaim its independence within days. According to the Radio Romania correspondent in Spain, King Felipe has given the okay for suspending Catalan autonomy. He accused the authorities in Barcelona of lack of loyalty, and reiterated that Sundays vote was illegal.




    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep (2 WTA) has today managed a major victory against the Russian Maria Sharapova (104 WTA), 6-2, 6-2, in the eighth-finals of the Beijing tournament, which has 6.4 million US dollars in total prize money. This is Simonas first win against Sharapova in 8 matches. Now, Simona Halep has a new chance to become no 1 in the world, overtaking Spains Garbiñe Muguruza, who withdrew from the tournament in the first round. Also today, in the 16th-finals, another Romanian player, Monica Niculescu (65 WTA) has been defeated by the Chinese Shuai Peng (25 WTA), 6-3, 6-2. The third Romanian player in this tournament, Sorana Cirstea (44 WTA), is playing on Thursday, also in the eighth-finals, against the Czech player Karolina Pliskova (4 WTA).


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)