Tag: Wimbledon

  • Weekend sportiv

    Weekend sportiv

    Simona Halep s-a calificat, joi, în runda a treia a turneului de tenis
    de la Wimbledon. Cap de serie numărul 16, românca a trecut greu, în două
    seturi, cu 7-5, 6-4, de Kirsten Flipkens, din Belgia, o jucătoare de 36 de ani,
    numărul 190 mondial. Câștigătoare, acum 3 ani, a turneului londonez, Simona i
    se alătură, în turul trei, compatrioatei sale Irina Begu, calificată miercuri,
    după ce a trecut cu 6-4, 6-4 de italianca Elisabetta Cocciaretto. La dublu,
    Irina, care a evoluat alături de Anhelina Kalinina, a părăsit competiția încă
    din primul tur. Perechea româno-ucraineană a fost învinsă, joi de favoritele
    numărul 11, poloneza Alicja Rosolska și
    neo-zeelandeza Erin Routliffe, cu 6-4, 6-4.


    Naţionala masculină de baschet a României şi-a asigurat prezenţa în
    runda a doua a precalificărilor competiției FIBA EuroBasket 2025. Joi, la
    Timișoara, baschetbaliștii tricolori au învins echipa Luxemburgului cu scorul
    de 78-67. Cel mai bun jucător al echipei antrenate de Dragan Petricevic a fost
    Rolland Torok, cu 21 de puncte, 3 recuperări și 6 pase decisive. Prin victoria
    de la Timișoara, Naționala României și-a asigurat câștigarea Grupei B. Pentru
    locul 2 se luptă Luxemburg și Albania. În ultimul joc, România va înfrunta, pe 3
    iulie, echipa Albaniei, la Durrës. Câştigătoarele celor trei grupe şi cea mai
    bună formaţie de pe locul secund se califică în faza a doua a precalificărilor
    FIBA EuroBasket 2025.


    Trecem la handbal feminin. La Campionatul mondial de tineret din
    Slovenia, echipa națională a României, compusă din jucătoare sub 20 de ani, a
    câștigat un nou meci de clasament. Jucătoarele tricolore au învins dramatic,
    joi, echipa Slovaciei, cu scorul de 31 la 30, în lupta pentru pozițiile
    inferioare ale ierarhiei mondiale. Cele mai eficiente marcatoare ale echipei
    antrenate de Horațiu Pașca au fost Mălina Ioana Bichir, care a înscris 7
    goluri, Alexandra Gabriela Dumitraşcu, care a punctat de 6 ori, și Mihaela
    Andreea Mihai, cu 5 reușite. Vineri, în meci direct pentru locurile 17 – 18,
    România – Polonia.


    Echipa de fotbal Rapid București se află la pregătire în Austria.
    Gruparea feroviară are programate, în următoarele zile, jocuri cu formația
    poloneză KS Cracovia, cu austriecii de la LASK Linz şi cu echipa cehă Slavia
    Praga. În primul meci din stagiul de pregătire, feroviarii bucureșteni au fost
    învinși de formaţia austriacă de ligă secundă Spusu Sankt Pölten cu scorul de 3-2.


  • June 30, 2022

    June 30, 2022

    HEAT WAVE
    The National Meteorology Agency issued a code-red alert for extreme heat for
    Thursday and Friday in 6 counties in the west and north-west of the country.
    According to weather experts, highs of 38-39 degrees Celsius will be reported
    in these counties, an absolute record for this time of the year. The rest of
    the country is mostly under orange-code alerts, for temperatures of up to 36-38
    degrees Celsius, and code-yellow alerts, for highs of 33 to 36 degrees Celsius.
    On the other hand, 18 counties in the east and centre of the country are today
    under a code-yellow alert for atmospheric instability.


    NATO NATO leaders are focusing today, the second day of the
    summit in Madrid, on the challenges and threats in the southern neighbourhood,
    including the food crisis deepened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The
    participants will discuss the progress in the fight against terrorism, means to
    ensure food security, and Allied support options for the organisation’s
    southern partners. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Madrid,
    president Klaus Iohannis will highlight Romania’s contribution in providing
    humanitarian aid to Ukraine and in reducing risks related to food security. He
    will also underline Romania’s support for vulnerable partners, particularly the
    neighbouring R. of Moldova and Georgia. On Wednesday, the first day of the
    summit, NATO adopted a new strategic concept, which defines Russia as the most
    significant and direct threat to Allied security and stability.


    EXAMS After the appeals stage, the share of 8th-graders
    who passed the national evaluation this year is 82.4%, the Education Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu announced. The number of children who
    got straight As has also increased to 237. Minister Cîmpeanu said last week that the
    number of pass grades among students sitting the national evaluation exam
    reached an absolute record this year compared to the last 10 years, namely 82.3%,
    which means 122,166 children had passed the exam prior to appeals. Last year
    the figure was 5.5% smaller. The grades obtained in the national evaluation are
    the main criterion for high school admission.


    UKRAINE On Thursday the Russian Army announced pulling out of the Serpent
    Island, a strategic location in the Black Sea controlled by Moscow ever since
    the beginning of its invasion in Ukraine. Russia’s defence ministry described
    this as a proof of good will, which should facilitiate Ukraine’s grains exports.
    This decision will not enable Kyiv to take advantage of the imminent food
    crisis by claiming that it is unable to export grains because of Russia’s
    complete control over the north-western part of the Black Sea, the Russian
    defence ministry added, and said mine sweeping is expected on the Black Sea
    coast, including ports. In turn,
    Kyiv had announced that Russian troops had been forced out of
    the remains of their unit on Serpent Island, following a successful Ukrainian
    operation.





    TENNIS The Romanian tennis player Irina Begu (43 WTA) moved
    up into the 3rd round of the Wimbledon tournament, after defeating Italy’s
    Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-4, 6-4. Next, Begu is to take on Jelena Ostapenko of
    Latvia (17 WTA), seed no. 12. Another Romanian player, Sorana Cîrstea, lost the
    second round to Tatjana Maria of Germany. Four other Romanians are scheduled to
    play in the second round today: Simona Halep against Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium),
    Mihaela Buzarnescu against Coco Gauff (USA), Irina Bara against Paula Badosa
    (Spain) and Ana Bogdan against Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic).

  • RRI Sports Club

    RRI Sports Club

    At
    the Wimbledon tennis tournament, 6 Romanian players have moved past the first
    tour in the singles competition. Each of them has secured at least GBP 78,000,
    but no points in the world ranking, given that the WTA and ATP will not assign
    points for this year’s tournament in Britain. The 2 international professional
    associations made this decision after the British organisers banned Russian and
    Belarusian athletes from taking part.




    The first Romanians to qualify into the second round
    were Sorana Cîrstea and Irina Begu. On Monday, Cîrstea, no. 32 in the world, won
    7-6, 7-6 against Alexandra Krunic, of Serbia, WTA 107. Begu, ranking 43rd
    WTA, had an easier job playing the Georgian Ekaterine Gorgodze, no. 114 in the
    world, whom she defeated 6-4, 6-1.




    On Tuesday, Mihaela Buzărnescu, ranked 127 among the
    world’s professional players, defeated Nastasja Schunk of Germany, 6-4, 6-2.
    Ana Bogdan, no. 111, was the first Romanian athlete to defeat a better-ranked
    player, i.e. Ukrainian Dayana Yastemska, no. 74. At her second participation in
    the All England Club competition, after the 2017 season, Bogdan won 6-2, 6-2.




    Next came Simona Halep, the 2019 Wimbledon champion
    and the best-placed Romanian player in the WTA ranking (18th). She
    beat the Czech Carolina Muchova in 2 sets, 6-3, 6-2. And last but not least, Irina
    Bara, no. 122 WTA, outplayed Chloé Paquet of France, 6-2, 6-4.




    The only
    Romanian left behind is Elena Gabriela Ruse, no. 54 WTA. She had to take on the
    young American Cori Gauff, seed no 11 and no 12 in the world standings. After a
    dramatic match, Gauff won 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, and Ruse won GBP 50,000. (AMP)

  • RRI Sports Club

    RRI Sports Club

    At
    the Wimbledon tennis tournament, 6 Romanian players have moved past the first
    tour in the singles competition. Each of them has secured at least GBP 78,000,
    but no points in the world ranking, given that the WTA and ATP will not assign
    points for this year’s tournament in Britain. The 2 international professional
    associations made this decision after the British organisers banned Russian and
    Belarusian athletes from taking part.




    The first Romanians to qualify into the second round
    were Sorana Cîrstea and Irina Begu. On Monday, Cîrstea, no. 32 in the world, won
    7-6, 7-6 against Alexandra Krunic, of Serbia, WTA 107. Begu, ranking 43rd
    WTA, had an easier job playing the Georgian Ekaterine Gorgodze, no. 114 in the
    world, whom she defeated 6-4, 6-1.




    On Tuesday, Mihaela Buzărnescu, ranked 127 among the
    world’s professional players, defeated Nastasja Schunk of Germany, 6-4, 6-2.
    Ana Bogdan, no. 111, was the first Romanian athlete to defeat a better-ranked
    player, i.e. Ukrainian Dayana Yastemska, no. 74. At her second participation in
    the All England Club competition, after the 2017 season, Bogdan won 6-2, 6-2.




    Next came Simona Halep, the 2019 Wimbledon champion
    and the best-placed Romanian player in the WTA ranking (18th). She
    beat the Czech Carolina Muchova in 2 sets, 6-3, 6-2. And last but not least, Irina
    Bara, no. 122 WTA, outplayed Chloé Paquet of France, 6-2, 6-4.




    The only
    Romanian left behind is Elena Gabriela Ruse, no. 54 WTA. She had to take on the
    young American Cori Gauff, seed no 11 and no 12 in the world standings. After a
    dramatic match, Gauff won 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, and Ruse won GBP 50,000. (AMP)

  • June 28, 2022 UPDATE

    June 28, 2022 UPDATE

    NATO. Romania’s President,
    Klaus Iohannis, is attending the NATO summit in Madrid until Thursday. The war
    in Ukraine and the security crisis in the Black Sea region are the main topics
    on the agenda of the summit. According to the Romanian Presidential
    Administration, during the summit, the Romanian president will welcome the fact
    that the current security situation was reflected in the Alliance’s new
    strategic concept, starting from the recognition of Russia as the main threat
    to NATO, and the fact that the strategic importance of the Black Sea region for
    Euro-Atlantic security was mentioned for the first time. Klaus Iohannis will
    emphasize Romania’s significant contribution to supporting Ukraine at
    humanitarian level, as well as the most vulnerable partners, especially those
    in the eastern neighborhood, mainly the Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet
    country with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population) and Georgia. Klaus
    Iohannis will reiterate Romania’s firm support for NATO’s open doors policy,
    including the accession of Finland and Sweden to the North Atlantic Alliance.














    Partnership. The two Chambers of
    Romania’s Parliament adopted on Tuesday, in a joint session, a Declaration on
    the 25th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the US.
    The two countries, the document states, share common values ​​and interests, a
    deep commitment to democracy and a lasting strategic relationship. We
    particularly welcome the important progress made in the cooperation between the
    two countries in the field of security, in order to strengthen NATO’s eastern
    flank, including in the Black Sea region, reads the document adopted with a
    majority of votes by the Romanian senators and deputies. They welcome the
    intensification of the dialogue to meet the conditions for Romania’s inclusion
    in the Visa Waiver program, a program that would allow Romanian citizens to
    travel to the US for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days, without needing
    a travel visa. During the speeches, both the ruling coalition and the
    opposition representatives underlined the importance of the Strategic
    Partnership between the two countries.







    Gas. The Romanian Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciuca, stated on Tuesday that the country’s gas storage facilities are currently at a fill rate of 41%, and the capacity is expected to reach 80% by November 1st. A decision has been made at EU level and each member country has to start winter at 80% of its storage capacity, he explained. Romania can become energy independent and an energy security provider in the region, as well as a transport corridor for gas and green energy in the Caspian Sea – said, in turn, the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu. The two officials participated in the ceremony organized in Vadu, Constanţa County (southeast), to mark the starting of the exploitation of natural gas in the Black Sea, part of the Midia project, operated by the Black Sea Oil & Gas Company. Popescu voiced hope that the investment in the Neptun Deep perimeter of Romgaz and OMV Petrom will be completed, which will lead to Romania’s total energy independence from resources in other countries.




    Moldova. The Republic of
    Moldova on Tuesday marked 82 years since the occupation of Bessarabia by the
    Soviet Union on June 28, 1940. Back then, the Soviet troops annexed Bessarabia,
    northern Bukovina and Hertsa land, regions with a predominantly
    Romanian-speaking population, following an ultimatum to Bucharest. Radio Chisinau
    recalls that the annexation led to the establishment of a totalitarian
    communist regime, which meant forced collectivization, the replacement of the
    Latin alphabet with the Cyrillic one and Russification, political oppression
    and deportations. Tens of thousands of people were deported to Kazakhstan and
    Siberia, many of them dying on the way to or in the USSR camps. Historian Ion
    Varta said that under the Soviet regime forcefully established on the left bank
    of the Prut River, ‘about 400,000 people were victims of organized famine’,
    ‘626,000 people were subject to forced labor’, and between 120,000 and 130,000
    people were deported. It was a true genocide, the historian
    concluded. The territories annexed in 1940 now belong to the former Soviet
    republics of Moldova and Ukraine, which gained their independence from Moscow
    in August 1991, after the failure of the neo-Bolshevik coup against the last Soviet
    leader, the reformer Mikhail Gorbachev.




    Immunity. The Romanian
    Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday lifted the parliamentary immunity of the former
    Social-Democratic minister of agriculture, Adrian Chesnoiu, accused by the
    anti-corruption prosecutors of abuse of office. There were 251 votes ‘for’ and
    25 ‘against’, and 2 were annulled. On Monday, the Chamber’s Legal Commission
    gave a favorable reply to DNA’s request in this regard. The interim office
    of agriculture minister was taken over
    by the Minister of Transport, Sorin Grindeanu.





    Tennis. Six Romanian tennis player have qualified for the second round of the Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon. Mihaela Buzarnescu defeated Nastasja Schunk of Germany on Tuesday, Ana Bogdan won the match against the Ukrainian Daiana Iastremska, Simona Halep defeated the Czech Karolina Muchova and Irina Bara (the French Chloé Paquet. Irina Begu and Sorana Cirstea had qualified on Monday. (MI)

  • 28.06.2022 (mise à jour)

    28.06.2022 (mise à jour)

    Partenariat
    stratégique
    – Le Parlement bicaméral de Bucarest a adopté mardi une déclaration
    à l’occasion du 25ème
    anniversaire du Partenariat Stratégique roumano- américain. Les deux
    pays partagent les mêmes intérêts et valeurs, le même engagement pour la
    démocratie et une relation stratégique durable, peut-on lire dans le
    document. Dans cette déclaration, les deux parties saluent les progrès
    importants enregistrés dans leurs rapports de coopération dans le domaine de la
    sécurité, pour un meilleur renforcement du flanc oriental de l’Alliance,
    notamment dans la région de la Mer Noire. Les parlementaires roumains ont
    également salué la consolidation du dialogue bilatéral censé permettre à la
    Roumanie de répondre aux critères d’adhésion dans le programme d’exemption de
    visa, Visa Waiver.




    Gaz – Le premier ministre roumain, Nicolae Ciuca, a déclaré mardi que le niveau de
    stockage du gaz dans les dépôts nationaux était actuellement de 41%, mais qu’il
    sera de 80% d’ici le 1 novembre, selon la volonté de l’UE. La Roumanie pourrait
    obtenir son indépendance énergétique, tout en étant un fournisseur de sécurité
    énergétique dans la région et un corridor de transport pour le gaz et les
    énergies vertes de la Mer Caspienne, a fait savoir le ministre roumain de
    l’Energie, Virgil Popescu. Les deux responsables de Bucarest ont participé à
    une cérémonie organisée à Vadu, dans le département de Constanta, à l’occasion
    du début des travaux d’exploitation gazière en Mer Noire par la société Black
    Sea Oil and Gaz. Et le ministre Popescu d’espérer que l’exploitation dans le
    périmètre Neptun Deep par Romgaz et OMV Petrom soit bientôt finalisée afin que la
    Roumanie devienne indépendante envers les ressources gazières en provenance
    d’autres pays.


    Chisinau – La
    République de Moldova a commémoré mardi 82 ans écoulés depuis le moment de l’occupation
    soviétique de la Bessarabie, le 28 juin 1940. Radio Chisinau rappelle que
    l’annexion à l’époque, de la Bessarabie, de la Bucovine du Nord et du Pays de
    Hertsa par les troupes soviétiques a permis la mise en place d’un régime
    totalitaire communiste. Celui-ci a collectivisé les habitants de force, a
    remplacé l’alphabet latin par celui cyrillique, a déporté et russifié la
    population locale. Des dizaines de milliers de personnes ont été déportées en
    Kazakhstan et en Sibérie dont une grande partie est morte dans les camps de
    l’URSS. Aux dires de l’historien Ion Varta, « suite à l’installation du
    régime soviétique sur la rive gauche de la rivière Prut, quelque 400.000
    personnes ont été victimes de la famine, 626.000 personnes se sont trouvées
    sous le joug du travail forcé et entre 120.000 et 130.000 ont été
    déportées » ? Les territoires annexés en 1940 ont gagné leur
    indépendance envers Moscou en août 1991 et appartiennent de nos jours à la
    République de Moldova et à l’Ukraine.








    OTAN – Le président roumain, Klaus Iohannis, participe, jusqu’à jeudi au sommet de
    l’OTAN à Madrid. La guerre en Ukraine et la crise sécuritaire dans la
    région de la mer Noire sont les principaux sujets à l’agenda du sommet. Selon
    l’administration présidentielle de Bucarest, dans le cadre du Sommet, le chef
    de l’Etat doit présenter la manière dont la situation sécuritaire actuelle se
    reflète dans le nouveau concept sécuritaire de l’Alliance. Les principaux
    repères sont la qualification de la Russie comme principale menace à l’adresse de l’OTAN, ainsi
    que la reconnaissance de l’importance stratégique de la région de la mer Noire
    pour la sécurité euro-atlantique. Klaus Iohannis mettra également en lumière le
    soutien accordé par la Roumanie à l’Ukraine, sur le plan humanitaire et celui
    offert à ses partenaires vulnérables du voisinage oriental, notamment à la
    République de Moldova. Klaus Iohannis soulignera aussi l’appui ferme de la
    Roumanie à la politique Ot
    anienne des portes ouvertes, y compris pour ce qui
    est de l’adhésion de la Finlande et de la Suède.




    Ministre de l’agriculture
    -
    Le plénum de la Chambre des Députés de Bucarest a levé mardi avec 251 voix
    pour, l’immunité parlementaire de l’ex-ministre social-démocrate de
    l’agriculture, Adrian Chesnoiu, accusé par les procureurs anticorruption d’abus
    de fonction. Lundi, la Commission juridique de la Chambre basse a donné son
    avis favorable à la demande formulée en ce sens par la Direction nationale
    anticorruption. L’intérim au ministère de l’Agriculture est assumé par le
    ministre des Transports, Sorin Grindeanu.















    Pivoine
    – La pivoine est en passe de devenir la fleur nationale de la Roumanie, sur une
    initiative soutenue à majorité de voix, par le Sénat. La proposition prévoit
    que les autorités locales organisent régulièrement des expositions et mettent
    en place dans les parcs et les jardins publics des espaces où cette fleur soit
    mise à l’honneur. Un festival de la pivoine sera également organisé chaque
    année. Cette fleur a de multiples significations pour le peuple roumain.
    Associée à l’amour, au dévouement et au sacrifice, la pivoine est aussi symbole
    des vétérans de guerre. La proposition a besoin du vote de la Chambre des
    députés pour qu’elle se concrétise.














    Tennis
    – La joueuse roumaine de tennis, Mihaela Buzarnescu, s’est qualifiée mardi au
    deuxième tour du tournoi de Grand Chelem de Wimbledon, après une victoire contre
    l’Allemande, Nastasja Schunk. Une autre Roumaine, Ana Bogdan, s’est également
    qualifiée au second tour après avoir battu l’Ukrainienne, Daiana Iastremska.
    Mardi encore, Gabriela Ruse, de Roumanie, s’est inclinée devant Cori Gauff, des
    Etats-Unis. Lundi, deux autres sportives roumaines – Irina Begu et Sorana Cîrstea-ont
    obtenu leur qualification au second tour du même tournoi.


    TIFF
    – La 29ème Edition du Festival international de théâtre de Sibiu dans le centre
    de la Roumanie se poursuit. Jusqu’au 3 juillet, le festival dont le thème cette
    année est la Beauté continuera d’accueillir des spectacles de théâtre, de
    danse, de cirque, des films, des comédies musicales et des opéras. Mais aussi
    des spectacles de théâtre de rue, des concerts, des lancements de livres et des
    expositions. Dix jours durant, de grands noms de la scène internationale
    offrent au public la possibilité d’applaudir certains des spectacles les plus
    appréciés au monde, reconnus internationalement et récompensés de distinctions
    prestigieuses.








    Météo- Les météorologues annoncent des températures caniculaires mercredi, en
    Roumanie, notamment dans le nord et le nord-ouest. Neuf départements de l’ouest
    et du nord-ouest seront concernés mercredi par une vigilance orange à la grande
    chaleur, en vigueur jusqu’à vendredi. Trois jours durant, les maximales
    monteront jusqu’à 38 degrés. Mercredi, à Bucarest, on aura 35 degrés à midi.

  • Sports roundup

    Sports roundup

    Our sports programme begins today with tennis with the upcoming Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon, where Romania is represented only in the womens competition. The competitions main draw has 7 players from Romania, Simona Halep, Sorana Cirstea, Gabriela Ruse, Irina Begu, Ana Bogdan, Irina Bara and Mihaela Buzarnescu.



    Romania ended the ECA Junior & U23 Canoe Sprint European Championship in Belgrade with two bronze medals. Adrian Stepan and Andrei Costache came third in the mens junior C2 1000 m final. In the K2 1000-meter final, George Ţenţa and Darius Zaharia, also from Romania, stepped onto the third step of the podium.



    Romanias handball selection failed to qualify for the main groups of the Womens Junior World Championships in Slovenia. Our handballers came third in group E after beating Angola 26-23, and Lithuania 29-20, but they lost to the Czech Republic 25-32. With a better goal average Angola and the Czech Republic came first and second in the group respectively.



    Romanias football side CFR Cluj secured a 2-0 win against Croatian runner-up Hajduk Splitin their last friendly in Austria. Ciprian Deac converted a penalty shot for Romania in the 39th minute and Cristian Manea added a second three minutes later. CFR ended their training campaign only with victories and no goal received. They defeated Slovenias runner-up FC Koper 2-0, then secured a 3-0 against Serbian side Napredak Krusevac, and 1-0 against Partizan Belgrade. In the first Champions League qualifiers, CFR Cluj will be up against Piunik Yerevan of Armenia. The first match is due in Armenia, on July 5 and the return game in Cluj-Napoca, western Romania, on July 13.


    (bill)

  • Sports roundup

    Sports roundup

    Our sports programme begins today with tennis with the upcoming Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon, where Romania is represented only in the womens competition. The competitions main draw has 7 players from Romania, Simona Halep, Sorana Cirstea, Gabriela Ruse, Irina Begu, Ana Bogdan, Irina Bara and Mihaela Buzarnescu.



    Romania ended the ECA Junior & U23 Canoe Sprint European Championship in Belgrade with two bronze medals. Adrian Stepan and Andrei Costache came third in the mens junior C2 1000 m final. In the K2 1000-meter final, George Ţenţa and Darius Zaharia, also from Romania, stepped onto the third step of the podium.



    Romanias handball selection failed to qualify for the main groups of the Womens Junior World Championships in Slovenia. Our handballers came third in group E after beating Angola 26-23, and Lithuania 29-20, but they lost to the Czech Republic 25-32. With a better goal average Angola and the Czech Republic came first and second in the group respectively.



    Romanias football side CFR Cluj secured a 2-0 win against Croatian runner-up Hajduk Splitin their last friendly in Austria. Ciprian Deac converted a penalty shot for Romania in the 39th minute and Cristian Manea added a second three minutes later. CFR ended their training campaign only with victories and no goal received. They defeated Slovenias runner-up FC Koper 2-0, then secured a 3-0 against Serbian side Napredak Krusevac, and 1-0 against Partizan Belgrade. In the first Champions League qualifiers, CFR Cluj will be up against Piunik Yerevan of Armenia. The first match is due in Armenia, on July 5 and the return game in Cluj-Napoca, western Romania, on July 13.


    (bill)

  • June 26, 2022 UPDATE

    June 26, 2022 UPDATE

    FLAG DAY Events were organised in county capitals and in Romanian
    localities hosting military units, to celebrate National Flag Day on the 26th
    June. The National Flag Day was introduced to mark the day in 1848 when the
    revolutionary government proclaimed the red, yellow and blue flag as the
    national colours of all Romanians. The National Flag Day was introduced under a
    1998 law.


    MOLDOVA Russia’s ex-president and PM Dmitri Medvedev threatens that
    the Republic of Moldova will see its natural gas supplies cut and exports of
    agri-food products to the Russian market banned, if Chişinău joins the West’s
    economic sanctions against Moscow. Medvedev, currently the vice-president of
    the Security Council, posted on his Telegram channel an extensive article on
    the Republic of Moldova, which Thursday was recognised as an EU candidate country.
    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Moscow, Medvedev says the
    accession process may take decades, which makes Moldova’s annexation by Romania
    an easier option. And, Medvedev argues, both Bucharest and Chişinău are making
    efforts in this respect. The Romanian foreign ministry says Dmitri Medvedev’s
    statements are part of Kremlin’s already known false rhetoric, disseminated in
    the Republic of Moldova both before, and after the illegal, unjustified and
    unprovoked aggression of Russia against Ukraine.


    FESTIVAL The Sibiu International Theatre Festival continues in central
    Romania until the 3rd July. This year’s motto is Beauty. This 29th
    edition of the festival brings together artists from around the world in
    theatre, dance, cinema, musical, opera and circus performances. Concerts, book
    shows and exhibitions are also organized as part of the festival. Some of the
    performances taking place in cultural or unconventional venues can be watched
    on the Festival’s official website, digital streaming platform www.scena-digitala.ro,
    and on the event’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.


    INCOMES The average monthly income per household in Romania was
    nearly EUR 1,100 in 2021, up 8.9% since the previous year, according to the
    National Statistics Institute. The total incomes were 3.6 times higher in
    households whose members are higher-education graduates. Also, families in the
    35-49 year bracket earned the most, while in terms of geographic regions the
    highest incomes were reported in Bucharest-Ilfov (south), and the lowest in the
    north-east of the country.


    G7 The group of 7 rich democracies announced a ban on Russian gold
    imports, during a summit held on Sunday, in the context of the war in Ukraine
    and its impact on the energy and grains markets. According to Reuters, this
    adds to sanctions already introduced against Moscow after Russia invaded
    Ukraine at the end of February. The new measures will directly affect Russian
    oligarchs and strike at the heart of Putin’s war machine, the
    British PM Boris Johnson said. We need to starve the Putin regime of its
    funding. The UK and our allies are doing just that, Mr. Johnson added.


    TENNIS The Romanian player Simona Halep, no 19 WTA and former
    world leader, will take on the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova (82 WTA), in
    the first round of the Wimbledon tournament. Halep, winner of the Wimbledon trophy
    in 2019, is seed no. 16 this year in the competition. Another Romanian player,
    Sorana Cîrstea, 32 WTA and seed no. 21, plays against Aleksandra Krunic of
    Serbia (53 WTA). Gabriela Ruse (55 WTA) has the most difficult match in the All
    England Club first round, against the American Coco Gauff, no. 12 in the world.
    Irina Begu (43 WTA) is facing Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia (112 WTA), in the
    same round, while Ana Bogdan (109 WTA) plays against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska
    (74 WTA), and Irina Bara (121 WTA) against Chloe Paquet of France (101 WTA). In
    turn, Mihaela Buzărnescu (126 WTA) will play against Natasja Schunk of Germany (156
    WTA). This year’s Wimbledon tournament has record-large amounts in prize money
    (over GBP 40 million) but the WTA and ATP announced they will not assign any
    points, after the British organisers decided to bar Russian and Belarusian
    players from taking part, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (AMP)

  • June 26, 2022

    June 26, 2022

    FLAG DAY Events are organised in county capitals and in Romanian
    localities hosting military units, to celebrate National Flag Day on the 26th
    June. National Flag Day was introduced to mark the day in 1848 when the
    revolutionary government proclaimed the red, yellow and blue flag as the
    national colours of all Romanians. National Flag Day was introduced under a
    1998 law.


    REFUGEES The Romanian Border Police announced that on the 25th
    June, 12,570 Ukrainian nationals (down 2.6% since the previous
    day) crossed the border into Romania. Since Ukraine’s invasion by the Russian
    army on the 24th February, until midnight Saturday, Romania received 1,324,823 Ukrainian
    citizens. Of them, 80,000 chose to stay in Romania and benefit from the
    protection and safety provided by the Romanian authorities, the PM Nicolae
    Ciucă said. The government of Romania came up with a national protection
    and inclusion plan addressing the Ukrainian nationals that benefit from
    temporary protection. The plan includes children’s access to education and
    access to jobs for the adults.


    UKRAINE Heavy blasts were heard on Sunday at dawn in Kyiv,
    affecting a residential compound near the centre of the city, international
    news agencies report. The incident comes hours before the opening of a G7 summit
    in Germany, discussing the situation in Ukraine. Kyiv had previously been hit
    in early June, while another shelling was reported in late April, during a
    visit by the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres.


    MOLDOVA Russia’s ex-president and PM Dmitri Medvedev threatens the
    Republic of Moldova that it will see its natural gas supplies cut and exports
    of agri-food products to the Russian market banned, if Chişinău joins the
    West’s economic sanctions against Moscow. Medvedev, currently vice-president of
    the Security Council, posted on his Telegram channel an extensive article on
    the Republic of Moldova, which Thursday was recognised as a EU candidate country.
    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Moscow, Medvedev says the
    accession process may take decades, which makes Moldova’s annexation by Romania
    an easier option. And, Medvedev argues, both Bucharest and Chişinău are making
    efforts in this respect. He mentioned a recent joint meeting of the parliaments
    of the 2 countries and said the president of Moldova, pro-Western Maia Sandu, would
    be ready to renounce the country’s independence. Medvedev also argues that
    these plans are supported by the US and the EU. Founded on part of the eastern
    Romanian territories annexed by Stalin’s Soviet Union in 1940, today’s R. of Moldova
    declared its independence from Moscow in 1991.

    FESTIVAL The Sibiu International Theatre Festival continues in central
    Romania until the 3rd July. This year’s motto is Beauty. This 29th
    edition of the festival brings together artists from around the world in
    theatre, dance, cinema, musical, opera and circus performances. Concerts, book
    shows and exhibitions are also organized as part of the festival. Some of the
    performances taking place in cultural or unconventional venues can be watched
    on the Festival’s official website, digital streaming platform
    www.scena-digitala.ro, and on the event’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.


    TENNIS The Romanian player Simona Halep, no 19 WTA and former
    world leader, will take on the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova (82 WTA), in
    the first round of the Wimbledon tournament. Halep, winner of the Wimbledon trophy
    in 2019, is seed no. 16th this year in the competition. Another
    Romanian player, Sorana Cîrstea, 32 WTA and seed no. 21, plays against Aleksandra
    Krunic of Serbia (53 WTA). Gabriela Ruse (55 WTA) has the most difficult match
    in the All England Club first round, against the American Coco Gauff, no. 12 in
    the world. Irina Begu (43 WTA) is facing Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia (112
    WTA), in the same round, while Ana Bogdan (109 WTA) plays against Ukraine’s Dayana
    Yastremska (74 WTA), and Irina Bara (121 WTA) against Chloe Paquet of France (101
    WTA). In turn, Mihaela Buzărnescu (126 WTA) will play against Natasja Schunk of
    Germany (156 WTA). This year’s Wimbledon tournament has record-large amounts in
    prize money (over GBP 40 million) but the WTA and ATP announced they will not
    assign any points, after the British organisers decided to bar Russian and
    Belarusian players from taking part, in response to Russia’s invasion of
    Ukraine.

  • Ukraine – dernières évolutions

    Ukraine – dernières évolutions

    A présent, en Ukraine, les combats les plus rudes sont menés dans l’est du pays, dans ce que l’on appelle la « lutte pour le Donbass ». La situation est toujours extrêmement grave dans la ville-port de Marioupol (sud-est), presqu’entièrement détruite. Là, les soldats assiégés dans les usines Azovstal lancent un appel désespéré à être sauvés et emmenés sur le territoire d’un pays tiers. La conquête de Marioupol est importante pour Moscou, parce qu’elle assure la liaison entre la Crimée, annexée, et les régions séparatistes du Donbass. L’Ukraine est arrivée à un accord avec la Russie sur la création d’un corridor humanitaire d’évacuation des civils de la ville, le premier des cinq derniers jours. Les enfants, les femmes et les personnes âgées pourraient être évacuées par ce corridor humanitaire, et le trajet fixé est la ville de Zaporijjia. Le secrétaire général de l’ONU, Antonio Guterres, a dénoncé l’offensive russe dans l’est de l’Ukraine, et a demandé aux parties en conflit d’arrêter les combats pour une trêve humanitaire de 4 jours, à l’occasion des Pâques orthodoxes. L’Occident a transmis ce mercredi un message de soutien à l’Ukraine par la visite à Kiev du président du Conseil européen, Charles Michel. « L’histoire n’oubliera pas les crimes de guerre d’Ukraine », a-t-il déclaré. Plus de cinq millions d’Ukrainiens ont quitté le pays depuis le déclenchement de l’invasion russe, selon les nouveaux chiffres publiés mercredi par l’ONU. Par ailleurs, les Russes et les Biélorusses, à commencer par Daniil Medvedev, ont été exclus ce mercredi de l’édition 2022 du tournoi de tennis de Wimbledon, en réponse à l’invasion de l’Ukraine, ont annoncé les organisateurs de la compétition, selon l’AFP.

  • Athlete of the Week

    Athlete of the Week

    Simona Halep remains Romania’s highest-ranking tennis
    player. On Monday she made a comeback among the world’s first 20 players, with a
    7 position jump currently placing her on the 19th position. That was
    possible thanks to the performance she obtained at WTA 1000 in Indian Wells, where
    she made it to the semifinals. For her latest Californian performance, Radio
    Romania International has designated Halep Athlete of the Week.






    At Indian Wells, Simona entered directly into the
    second round and played Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova whom she defeated 6-2,
    4-6, 6-2. In the third round she secured a two-set win against Cori Gauff of
    the USA, 6-3, 6-4. In the round of 16, she clinched a 6-1, 6-4 win against her
    compatriot Sorana Cîrstea and defeated Croatian player Petra Martic in the
    quarterfinals, 6-1, 6-1. It was third-seeded Iga Świątek of Poland who stopped
    Halep in her tracks in the semifinals with a 7-6, 6-4 win. The Polish player
    eventually won the tournament after a two-set win 6-4, 6-1 against Maria
    Sakkari of Greece.






    Simona Halep was born on 27th September
    1991, in Constanţa, south-eastern Romania and made her debut in international
    competitions in 2006, when she played her first games in the ITF tournament. In
    2010, she became part of Top 100 and four years later she made it to the second
    position in the world ranking, which at that time was the best performance
    obtained by a Romanian tennis player. Three years later, in October 2017, she
    became the world’s best tennis player, a position she left in January 2018. She
    made a comeback to that position that year in February and kept it until early
    2019 after the Australian Open. She topped the WTA ranking for 64 weeks and her
    prize closet includes two Grand Slam trophies, Roland Garros in 2018 and
    Wimbledon 2019.






    (bill)

  • Athlete of the Week

    Athlete of the Week

    Simona Halep remains Romania’s highest-ranking tennis
    player. On Monday she made a comeback among the world’s first 20 players, with a
    7 position jump currently placing her on the 19th position. That was
    possible thanks to the performance she obtained at WTA 1000 in Indian Wells, where
    she made it to the semifinals. For her latest Californian performance, Radio
    Romania International has designated Halep Athlete of the Week.






    At Indian Wells, Simona entered directly into the
    second round and played Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova whom she defeated 6-2,
    4-6, 6-2. In the third round she secured a two-set win against Cori Gauff of
    the USA, 6-3, 6-4. In the round of 16, she clinched a 6-1, 6-4 win against her
    compatriot Sorana Cîrstea and defeated Croatian player Petra Martic in the
    quarterfinals, 6-1, 6-1. It was third-seeded Iga Świątek of Poland who stopped
    Halep in her tracks in the semifinals with a 7-6, 6-4 win. The Polish player
    eventually won the tournament after a two-set win 6-4, 6-1 against Maria
    Sakkari of Greece.






    Simona Halep was born on 27th September
    1991, in Constanţa, south-eastern Romania and made her debut in international
    competitions in 2006, when she played her first games in the ITF tournament. In
    2010, she became part of Top 100 and four years later she made it to the second
    position in the world ranking, which at that time was the best performance
    obtained by a Romanian tennis player. Three years later, in October 2017, she
    became the world’s best tennis player, a position she left in January 2018. She
    made a comeback to that position that year in February and kept it until early
    2019 after the Australian Open. She topped the WTA ranking for 64 weeks and her
    prize closet includes two Grand Slam trophies, Roland Garros in 2018 and
    Wimbledon 2019.






    (bill)

  • Athlete of the Week

    Athlete of the Week

    North America has recently become
    home to top international tennis competitions. These are presently being hosted
    by the United States and Canada before the upcoming US Open in Flushing
    Meadows, due to kick off on August 30th. The Canadian city of
    Toronto last week hosted a major tennis tournament with total prize of more
    than 2,850,000 dollars. Romania was represented only by Horia Tecau, who,
    together with German player Kevin Krawietz, had made it to the semifinals. The
    Romanian-German pair was eventually stopped in its tracks by top-seeded Nikola
    Mektic and Mate Pavic of Croatia who won the game 7-6, 7-6.






    For his performance in Toronto,
    Radio Romania international has designated Horia Tecau athlete of the week.






    Tecau, who comes 20th in
    ATP doubles ranking, was born in Brasov, southern Romania on January 19th
    1985 and took up tennis at the age of 7. In 2002 he became champion in the
    under-21 competition in Wimbledon together with his compatriot Florin Mergea.
    He turned professional a year later and since 2008 he has been among the
    world’s top 100 players.






    In November 2009 he joined the
    world’s best 50 players and has gone up in the doubles ranking until the second
    position, which he occupied in November 2015 after his winning together with
    his Dutch teammate Jean Julien Rojer the Champions Tournament in London. Tecau
    and his compatriot Florin Mergea became silver medalists in the doubles contest
    of the Olympic Games in Rio. In the mixed doubles Tecau should have played
    together with Simona Halep, Romania’s best female player at present.
    Unfortunately, injuries have prevented Halep from playing in Tokyo.




    (bill)

  • Athlete of the Week

    Athlete of the Week

    North America has recently become
    home to top international tennis competitions. These are presently being hosted
    by the United States and Canada before the upcoming US Open in Flushing
    Meadows, due to kick off on August 30th. The Canadian city of
    Toronto last week hosted a major tennis tournament with total prize of more
    than 2,850,000 dollars. Romania was represented only by Horia Tecau, who,
    together with German player Kevin Krawietz, had made it to the semifinals. The
    Romanian-German pair was eventually stopped in its tracks by top-seeded Nikola
    Mektic and Mate Pavic of Croatia who won the game 7-6, 7-6.






    For his performance in Toronto,
    Radio Romania international has designated Horia Tecau athlete of the week.






    Tecau, who comes 20th in
    ATP doubles ranking, was born in Brasov, southern Romania on January 19th
    1985 and took up tennis at the age of 7. In 2002 he became champion in the
    under-21 competition in Wimbledon together with his compatriot Florin Mergea.
    He turned professional a year later and since 2008 he has been among the
    world’s top 100 players.






    In November 2009 he joined the
    world’s best 50 players and has gone up in the doubles ranking until the second
    position, which he occupied in November 2015 after his winning together with
    his Dutch teammate Jean Julien Rojer the Champions Tournament in London. Tecau
    and his compatriot Florin Mergea became silver medalists in the doubles contest
    of the Olympic Games in Rio. In the mixed doubles Tecau should have played
    together with Simona Halep, Romania’s best female player at present.
    Unfortunately, injuries have prevented Halep from playing in Tokyo.




    (bill)