Radio România Internațional

Tag: World Rugby Cup

  • October 2, 2023

    October 2, 2023

    UNIVERSITY
    YEAR – The Francophonie House was opened
    today in the campus of the Polytechnics University of Bucharest, in a ceremony
    attended by president Klaus Iohannis opening the new academic year. The House
    is the second of its kind after the one in Paris. The building was erected in
    record time and will house 300 students and researchers involved in different
    scholarly projects. In 2023 Romania celebrates 30 years since it joined the
    International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). In the opening of the new
    academic year, Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu told students that observance
    of the law and respect for fellow citizens underlie just and prosperous
    societies. In turn, Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr attended the opening of the
    academic year at the Military Academy. Education Minister Ligia Deca and Health
    Minister Alexandru Rafila attended the opening ceremony at the Carol Davila
    University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest.




    STOCK
    EXCHANGE – The
    Bucharest Stock Exchange had an output of 22% in the first 9 months of the
    year, according to the Romanian Stock Market index (BET), rating 20 of the most
    traded companies in Romania. Factoring in the stock options provided by these
    companies, the stock market also recoded earnings of nearly 30%. A third of
    this growth was reported in September, when the two indexes reached an all-time
    high, growing by 9% and 10% respectively. The top three most traded companies
    last week were Hidroelectrica, OMV Petrom and Transilvania Bank.




    FLU – The anti-flu vaccination campaign kicks off this
    week, with a few changes compared to previous years. Certain categories of the
    population will continue to benefit from fully-subsidized vaccines, based on
    prescriptions provided by family physicians. People aged 65, children under 6,
    institutionalized people, pregnant women, chronically ill patients and medical
    staff will benefit from free-of-charge vaccination in medical practices. Right
    now, the anti-flu shots can also be administered in certain drug stores.
    Medical experts warn the flu virus could cause trouble this year amidst a
    resurge of COVID-19 cases.




    PNRR – Romania received the second installment of European
    funds as part of its national recovery and resilience plan (PNRR), worth 2.7
    bln EUR. Romania has so far fulfilled 49 of the 51 milestones linked to the second
    installment. Two milestones regarding investments in energy have not been fully
    implemented, yet Brussels believes Romania has taken measures to remedy the
    situation. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said the government must be efficient
    and transparent in administering these funds earmarked for a number of key
    reforms addressing green and digital transition. At the same time, Bucharest is
    focusing on implementing milestones and targets pertaining to the third
    installment, the Prime Minister added. So far Romania was disbursed 10 of the
    total of 29 bln EUR as grants and loans under PNRR.




    FOREIGN AFFAIRS – Foreign Minister
    Luminița Odobescu is today attending the informal meeting of EU Foreign
    Ministers hosted by Kyiv, Ukraine. In a post on social media, the Romanian
    official wrote she will convey Romania’s firm support for Ukraine and its
    people. Together we support the values of democracy, peace and freedom, the
    Foreign Minister added. Also on social media, the EU High Representative for
    Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said We are convening
    in a historic meeting of the EU foreign ministers here in Ukraine, candidate
    country and future member of the EU. We are here to express our solidarity and
    support to the Ukrainian people, Borrell said in his statement. Ukraine’s
    Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, hailed the first meeting of his European peers
    in Kyiv, held within what he described as the future borders of the European
    Union.




    ILLEGAL
    WASTE – Two transports of illegal waste from
    Italy were identified on Sunday on the premises of a company in Bihor County,
    prosecutors have announced in the wake of searches conducted in a number of
    counties in Western Romania. The authorities targeted the headquarters and
    operating halls of companies that illegally imported waste. Prosecutors have
    identified 57 such transports totaling some 1,500 tons of illegal waste. Other
    such transports were halted at the border.




    UNEMPLOYMENT – The unemployment rate stood at 5.4% in August, down
    by 0.1% compared to the previous month, the National Statistics Institute
    reports. Unemployment in men is 1% higher compared to women. Youth unemployment
    remains high, standing at some 22%. People aged 25-74 accounted for 78% of the
    total number of unemployed.




    NOBEL – The 2023 Nobel Prize in
    Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for
    their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the
    development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, the Royal Swedish
    Academy of Science announced earlier today.




    RUGBY – South Africa defeated Tonga 49-18 in a Pool B
    fixture on Sunday and is very close to securing qualifications to the
    quarterfinals of the World Rugby Cup hosted by France. South Africa leads the
    Pool tables with 15 points, followed by Ireland with 14 points, Scotland with
    10 points, Tonga and Romania with zero points. Romania conceded bitter defeats
    to Ireland, South Africa and Scotland. Romania’s last match at the World Cup is
    against Tonga on October 8. (VP)



  • Romania disqualified from the World Rugby Cup

    Romania disqualified from the World Rugby Cup

    Qualified to every edition of the World Cup, including next year’s edition to be hosted by Japan, Romania’s rugby team has been dealt a heavy blow from World Rugby, the international governing body in the field. World Rugby announced that, in light of an analysis conducted by its independent disputes committee, Romania, Spain and Belgium have been deducted points for fielding ineligible players in the qualifying tournament in the run-up to next year’s World Cup.



    Regulation 8 covering eligibility is essential to maintaining the unique characteristics and culture of elite competitions between unions, and the integrity of international matches depends on strict adherence to eligibility criteria set out in the regulation, World Rugby writes in an online statement. According to the international body, Romania used an ineligible player from Tonga in eight matches this season, six of which were in the qualification campaign for the 2019 World Cup. As a result, Romania was deducted 5 points for each game the player was used. Russia will replace Romania while Germany will take the place of Spain in the European playoff for the qualification to the World Cup.



    The Romanian Rugby Federation says it will attack the decision, claiming that it sent World Rugby all the necessary documents attesting the eligibility of the player in question ever since 2015. Moreover, the Federation says the player signed a statutory declaration which confirms he never played for his country’s national team. The Romanian Rugby Federation says it observed the verification procedure to the letter, as stipulated by World Rugby regulations, in the case of each foreign player in order to clear them as eligible for the national team.



    Although it does not enjoy the reputation of Romania’s rugby team in the 80s, a time when the country took on the world’s superpowers, Romania’s rugby team does have several important achievements, such as winning this year’s edition of Rugby Europe Championship, a competition devoted to lower-tier teams from Europe. In the absence of proper funding that should ensure its future development, Romanian rugby continues to feature quality players that are enjoying success in Europe’s top championships. Ever since the 1990s, Romanian rugby players have been playing for teams in Italy, England and France.

  • October 10, 2015 UPDATE

    October 10, 2015 UPDATE

    Romania firmly condemns the attacks in Ankara and restates its full support for Turkey, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday. The Romanian Foreign Ministry offered condolences to the Turkish authorities, the Turkish people and the victims’ families. In her turn, the EUs high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini, called on Turkey “to stand united against terrorists and against all those who try to destabilize a country that is facing many threats.” In Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan firmly condammned the blasts that killed at least 85 people and injured another 185. The explosions took place near the citys central train station as people gathered for a march asking for an end to the conflict between the Turkish government and the Kurdish militant group the PKK. A ceasefire agreement between the two parties expired in July and there have been regular attacks from both sides since then. The PKK is fighting for the territorial independence of the Kurds.




    An IMF delegation will travel to Romania next week for talks with the Bucharest authorities on the country’s budget in 2016 and the prospect of another precautionary agreement with Romania. The visit takes place against the background of the IMF having recently revised upwards its economic forecast on Romania. Thus, the country’s GDP is estimated to go up by 3.4% this year and by 3.9% in 2016. Romania’s fourth consecutive agreement with the IMF expired last month. The precautionary agreement was worth 2 billion euros but the Bucharest authorities did not access the funds. Romanian Finance Minister, Eugen Teodorovici, has recently stated that the country will officially ask for another agreement to be signed with the IMF.




    On Sunday the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the main party in the governing coalition in Romania will elect its president. More than 530 thousand members are expected to cast their vote. The only candidate to the party’s presidency is Liviu Dragnea, currently interim president of the party. He took over the presidency of PSD in July 2015, when Prime Minister Victor Ponta, the then party president, resigned his position as head of the party following the corruption scandal in which he is involved. The PM Victor Ponta has been prosecuted being accused of forgery, accessory to tax evasion and money laundering. After internal elections, the Social Democrats will meet in an extraordinary congress on October 18.




    Radio Romania’s Children Choir, conducted by Voicu Popescu, held a concert on Saturday, in Munich, as part of a choral music festival entitled “Let the Peoples Sing”. Radio Romania’s Children Choir, that qualified to the final alongside 8 other competitors from all over the world will perform tomorrow as part of the “Children and Youth Choirs” category. This year, Radio Romania’s Children Choir celebrates its 70th anniversary.




    Presiding over a massive military parade in Phenian, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country was “fully ready” to defend itself against any U.S. threat. In a celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers Party, hundreds of troops marched across the country’s main square, which was festooned with national and party flags. The North Korean leader said the Workers Party members were a “source of miracle” as they turned the country into a socialist power, which was both independent and able to protect itself from military threat. Phenian already carried out three nuclear tests, in 2006, 2009 and 2013 and says it’s preparing for a fourth one, in spite of the international sanctions in place.




    Romania’s national football squad will be up against the Faeroe Islands on Sunday. On Thursday the Romanians were held to a one-all draw by Finland. Northern Ireland has won the preliminary group. In order to book its ticket for Euro 2016, Romania is in dire need of a win in the match against the Faeroe Islands on Sunday, which is its last group stage fixture. In another move, Romanias national youth team defeated Luxembourg in an away match on Friday, counting towards the preliminaries of the European Under-21 Championship, scheduled for 2017. Bulgaria ranks first in this group, followed by Romania and Wales.




    On Sunday, Romania’s rugby team is playing its last match at the World Rugby Cup, underway in England and Wales. In Exeter, on Sandy Park stadium, the Oaks will go up against Italy. The stake of the game is the group’s third position, which guarantees qualification to the World Cup scheduled for 2019 in Japan. The Romanians lost to Ireland and France but came back from nil-15 to beat Canada in their last match in Pool D, which was officially recorded as the biggest comeback in World Cup history.