Radio România Internațional

Tag: WTA standings

October 31, 2022

VISIT – Chief
of General Staff, General Daniel Petrescu is on a 10-day visit to the USA. The
Romanian official will meet the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Committee, the Chiefs of Services and representatives of certain think-tanks in
the security field. The visit of the Chief of General Staff is part of the constant
actions meant to consolidate the military cooperation with the USA. According
to a Defense Ministry press release, the current solid collaboration between
the two armed forces is one of the objectives of the Strategic Partnership between
our country and the USA, in line with Romania’s national interests in promoting
stability in Europe.

MOLDOVA – The
Moldovan Foreign Ministry has firmly condemned Russian missile attacks on Kyiv
and other settlements in neighboring Ukraine, including the missile taken down
by Ukraine’s air defenses that landed in northern Naslavcea, in the Republic of
Moldova, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Vodă has said.
According to the Moldovan official, these attacks, which continue to escalate
the security context, are a blatant violation of humanitarian international law
that forbids the targeting of civilians. The Moldovan Foreign Ministry
reiterated the fact that any attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
translates into huge economic and social losses for the entire European
continent, including the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who are affected
by the economic fallout from the war. The Republic of Moldova has strongly
condemned Russia’s use of energy resources as a weapon, Daniel Vodă went on to
say. Ukrainian authorities on Monday reported a new Russian drone attack on the
Dnestrovsc dam in Ukraine, located some 10 kilometers from Naslavcea. The dam
did not sustain any structural damage, although the attack did affect part of
the electronic equipment.

REFUGEES – The
Romanian Border Police announced that some 104 thousand people entered Romania
on Sunday, of whom approximately 8,800 were Ukrainian nationals, accounting for
a 7% drop compared to the previous day. According to a press release published
on Monday, some 2.7 million Ukrainians have entered Romania starting February
10. Most of them were in route to countries in Western Europe. Over 86,500 have
chosen to stay.

SANDU -
Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu, on Tuesday is attending the international
conference Women MPs in Romania and promoting gender equality as a national
priority, an event hosted by the Romanian Parliament. During her visit,
president Sandu will meet her Romanian counterpart, Klaus Iohannis, Romania’s
Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, as well as representatives of the Club of
Businessmen from Bessarabia.

COVID-19
– The Health Ministry has announced that 21 COVID-related deaths
were reported over October 24-31 in Romania. In the last week, 3,077 new
infections were reported across the country, a slight drop compared to the
previous week. Since the start of the pandemic, 67,186 thousand people diagnosed
with COVID-19 have died.

DEFENSE – Senator
Angel Tîlvăr is the new Defense Minister of Romania. He will replace Vasile
Dîncu, who stepped down after making a series of controversial statements about
Ukraine. Angel TÎvăr said his main concern right now is Russia’s unprovoked and
unjustified invasion in neighboring Ukraine, as well as Romania’s contribution
to peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. Angel Tîlvăr also
insisted on earmarking 2.5% of the GDP to defense spending.

TENNIS – Tennis
player Simona Halep continues to rank 10 in WTA standings. The Romanian is
under a temporary suspension after failing a drug test at the US Open. Another
five Romanian tennis players are ranked in the WTA Top 100, Irina Begu (34),
Sorana Cîrstea (38), Ana Bogdan (48) and Gabriela Ruse (98). In the doubles WTA
standings, Romania has three representatives: Monica Niculescu (47), Irina Bara
(86) and Gabriela Ruse (93). (EE &
VP)

31 October 2022
October 31, 2022

VISIT – Chief
of General Staff, General Daniel Petrescu is on a 10-day visit to the USA. The
Romanian official will meet the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Committee, the Chiefs of Services and representatives of certain think-tanks in
the security field. The visit of the Chief of General Staff is part of the constant
actions meant to consolidate the military cooperation with the USA. According
to a Defense Ministry press release, the current solid collaboration between
the two armed forces is one of the objectives of the Strategic Partnership between
our country and the USA, in line with Romania’s national interests in promoting
stability in Europe.

MOLDOVA – The
Moldovan Foreign Ministry has firmly condemned Russian missile attacks on Kyiv
and other settlements in neighboring Ukraine, including the missile taken down
by Ukraine’s air defenses that landed in northern Naslavcea, in the Republic of
Moldova, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Vodă has said.
According to the Moldovan official, these attacks, which continue to escalate
the security context, are a blatant violation of humanitarian international law
that forbids the targeting of civilians. The Moldovan Foreign Ministry
reiterated the fact that any attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
translates into huge economic and social losses for the entire European
continent, including the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who are affected
by the economic fallout from the war. The Republic of Moldova has strongly
condemned Russia’s use of energy resources as a weapon, Daniel Vodă went on to
say. Ukrainian authorities on Monday reported a new Russian drone attack on the
Dnestrovsc dam in Ukraine, located some 10 kilometers from Naslavcea. The dam
did not sustain any structural damage, although the attack did affect part of
the electronic equipment.

REFUGEES – The
Romanian Border Police announced that some 104 thousand people entered Romania
on Sunday, of whom approximately 8,800 were Ukrainian nationals, accounting for
a 7% drop compared to the previous day. According to a press release published
on Monday, some 2.7 million Ukrainians have entered Romania starting February
10. Most of them were in route to countries in Western Europe. Over 86,500 have
chosen to stay.

SANDU -
Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu, on Tuesday is attending the international
conference Women MPs in Romania and promoting gender equality as a national
priority, an event hosted by the Romanian Parliament. During her visit,
president Sandu will meet her Romanian counterpart, Klaus Iohannis, Romania’s
Prime Minister, Nicolae Ciucă, as well as representatives of the Club of
Businessmen from Bessarabia.

COVID-19
– The Health Ministry has announced that 21 COVID-related deaths
were reported over October 24-31 in Romania. In the last week, 3,077 new
infections were reported across the country, a slight drop compared to the
previous week. Since the start of the pandemic, 67,186 thousand people diagnosed
with COVID-19 have died.

DEFENSE – Senator
Angel Tîlvăr is the new Defense Minister of Romania. He will replace Vasile
Dîncu, who stepped down after making a series of controversial statements about
Ukraine. Angel TÎvăr said his main concern right now is Russia’s unprovoked and
unjustified invasion in neighboring Ukraine, as well as Romania’s contribution
to peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. Angel Tîlvăr also
insisted on earmarking 2.5% of the GDP to defense spending.

TENNIS – Tennis
player Simona Halep continues to rank 10 in WTA standings. The Romanian is
under a temporary suspension after failing a drug test at the US Open. Another
five Romanian tennis players are ranked in the WTA Top 100, Irina Begu (34),
Sorana Cîrstea (38), Ana Bogdan (48) and Gabriela Ruse (98). In the doubles WTA
standings, Romania has three representatives: Monica Niculescu (47), Irina Bara
(86) and Gabriela Ruse (93). (EE &
VP)

31 October 2022
Athlete of the Week on RRI – Tennis player Irina Begu

Bucharest last
week played host to the Țiriac
Foundation Trophy, a WTA 125 competition offering 115 thousand USD in total
prizes. The competition’s top eight seeds were players ranked in the WTA Top
100, starting Romanians Sorana Cîrstea, WTA 38, and Irina Begu, WTA 41. Sorana
however was knocked out in the opening round by Simona Waltert of Switzerland,
WTA 118. Irina, on the other hand, reached and won the final, which is why we
have designated her Athlete of the Week on RRI.

Irina had a
stellar performance in Bucharest, finishing the competition without losing a
single set. In the first round she eased past Laura Pigossi of Brazil, 6-3,
6-1. In the second round she took on another Romanian player, Irina Bara,
winning 6-0, 6-2. In the quarterfinals, Irina won 6-1, 6-1 against Kateryna
Baindl of Ukraine. In the semi-finals, Irina played Sara Errani of Italy, whom
she defeated 6-2, 6-2. It was a little harder in the final, where Irina played Reka-Luca
Jani of Hungary. Irina eventually won 6-3, 6-3 at the end of nearly 2 hours of
playtime. For her win in Bucharest, Irina was awarded a 15-thousand-USD check
and 160 WTA points. She thus climbed 8 positions in the WTA standings and is
now ranked 33rd.

Irina-Camelia
Begu was born in Bucharest. She turned 32 on August 26. The win in Bucharest
marked the second WTA tournament won in 2022, after the one in Palermo in July.
It adds to the competitions won in Tashkent in 2012, in Seoul in 2015, in
Florianopolis in 2016, and in Bucharest in 2017. In doubles competitions, Irina
Begu has won nine trophies, in Hobart in 2012 alongside Monica Niculescu, in
‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2013 with Anabel Medina Garrigues, in 2014 in Rio de
Janeiro with Maria Irigoyen, then later that year in Seoul with Lara
Arruabarrena, and in 2017 in Bucharest, where she paired up with Raluca Olaru.
Also in 2017 she won the trophy in Tianjin together with Sara Errani. In 2018,
Begu won another two WTA doubles titles, in Shenzhen with Simona Halep, and in
Bucharest with Andreea Mitu. Her last doubles trophy was won in 2019 at the
Thailand Open, alongside Monica Niculescu. (VP)

20 September 2022
February 21, 2022 UPDATE

COVID-19 – The number of Covid-19 infections in Romania is going down significantly, with 30% fewer cases than last week being reported. The number of infections per one thousand inhabitants is also on the wane, but it still is above 3/1,000 in Romanias counties. The infection rate in the capital Bucharest is 32.8/1,000. Almost 7,700 new cases have been reported in Romania on Monday, by 4,000 less than a week ago. This is the smallest daily number of new infections since the beginning of the 5th wave, more than a month ago. Some 85 related deaths have also been announced. 1,100 people are treated in intensive care units. The biggest number of daily infections in Romania was reported on February 1st – 40,018.

CRISIS IN UKRAINE – Russias president, Vladimir Putin, on Monday said he is looking into the request of pro-Moscow separatists in Eastern Ukraine to recognize the independence of the two self-proclaimed peoples republics in Donbas. Putin said this topic will be raised on the sidelines of the countrys Security Council, which experts say convenes on special occasions. The Russian president also said the peacemaking process in the region has no prospect of success. Previously, the leaders of the two separatist territories in Eastern Ukraine called on Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of these territories and to enforce a so-called defense cooperation strategy. In December, 2021 the president of the DNR and LNR republics, Leonid Pasenchnik and Denis Pushilin, became members of the United Russian presidential party. This year, they called on the Kremlin leader to recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of the two breakaway republics. In other news, on Monday Ukraine official dismissed of having sent saboteurs to Russia. Previously, the Russian army claimed to have killed five Ukrainian saboteurs in the borderland region of Rostov, accusing Ukrainian military vehicles of forcing to cross the border. The incident, which analysts say is the most serious since the crisis broke out, follows after the United States earlier this month said it holds evidence proving that Russia plans on filming false Ukrainian attacks as a pretext to invade this country. Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, said Russia could also produce a propaganda film depicting bodies and pretended families in mourning, buildings destroyed by Ukrainian and Western armies, either in Russia or in Eastern Ukraine.

ROMANIA AND UKRAINE – Romanias Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, argued in favor of continuing efforts to come up with a diplomatic solution to the current crisis in Ukraine, while at the same time finalizing a comprehensive set of sanctions against Russia, as a firm and reliable response of the European Union, in close coordination with the United States, Great Britain and Canada. Attending Mondays meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels, Minister Aurescu underscored the importance of cooperation between the EU and NATO regarding the developments in Ukraine. Bucharest has expressed its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbor. As an EU and NATO member state, Romania has rallied to all the sanctions introduced against the Russian Federation. The Romanian media writes that, should Russia invade Ukraine, Bucharest authorities have also considered receiving a steady flow of migrants from Ukraine. The Romanian community in Ukraine totals over 400 thousand people, mostly clustered in northern Bukovina, northern and southern Bessarabia and in the Hertsa region. These territories were annexed by the USSR in 1940 and then taken over by Ukraine in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

SIIJ – The Chamber of Deputies on Monday adopted a draft law for the dismantling of the Section Investigating Crime in Justice (SIIJ). According to the law, the prerogatives of the Section will be transferred to the Prosecution and Forensics Department with the High Court of Cassation and Justice. The investigations will be handled by prosecutors nominated by the Superior Council of Magistracy and appointed by the Prosecutor General for a period of four years. Justice Minister Cătălin Predoiu says the dismantling of SIIJ had a clear deadline for implementation in the governing program and might contribute to Romanias Schengen accession. Minister Predoiu went on to say the bill is the result of transparent consultations, including with Romanias foreign partners. Set up under the former Social-Democrat administration controlled by Liviu Dragnea, who in the meantime was sentenced for corruption, the Section Investigating Crime in Justice was considered by many analysts an instrument to strong-arm magistrates.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep went down four spots in the WTA standings and is now ranked 27th. This is the lowest ranking since July 2013 (30 WTA) for Halep, a former world no. 1, despite the semi-final played last week in Dubai. Ashleigh Barty of Australia is in top position, followed by Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic. Romania has six players in WTA Top 100, Simona Halep, Sorana Cîrstea (31 WTA), Irina-Camelia Begu (55 WTA), Elena-Gabriela Ruse (56 WTA), Jaqueline Cristian (71 WTA) and Ana Bogdan (99 WTA). Additionally, there are six Romanian players also represented in the doubles standings: Raluca Olaru (36 WTA), Monica Niculescu (40 WTA), Irina-Camelia Begu (52 WTA), Irina Bara (70 WTA), Elena-Gabriela Ruse (97 WTA) and Andreea Mitu (98 WTA). In other news from tennis, on Monday, at the WTA tournament in Doha, Simona Halep was ousted by Frances Caroline Garcia in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round. Another Romanian, Irina-Camelia Begu, was also knocked out by Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-1. (EE & VP)

21 February 2022
October 25, 2021 UPDATE

COVID-19 – Romania on Monday reported over 9,000 new Covid cases and a further 301 related fatalities as new restrictions came into place on Monday. Face mask wearing is mandatory in both enclosed and outdoor spaces and access to most public spaces requires the Covid green pass. Night-time movement is banned for people who are not fully vaccinated and kindergartens and schools are on an unplanned two-week holiday.

ARMY DAY – The army remains a solid landmark and enjoys public trust, contributing to maintaining the stability needed to develop Romanian society, said president Klaus Iohannis on Monday at an event marking Army Day. He thanked all those who served their country and emphasized that the professionalism and commitment shown by the military in theatres of operation contributed to Romania’s Euro-Atlantic and European path and to the consolidation of its solid Strategic Partnership with the United States. Low-key festivities were held on Monday to celebrate Army Day, including an event outside the WWII Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Bucharest, with Romanian Air Force planes conducting a flypast. Similar events are taking place at memorials in honor of Romanian soldiers in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, the Republic of Moldova and Hungary. According to defense ministry figures, more than 90,000 Romanian soldiers were killed, almost 60,000 reported missing in action and more than 330,000 wounded in combat in WWII.

KING MICHAEL – Various events on Monday marked a century since the birth of Romania’s last sovereign, King Michael I. He was the last of the four monarchs of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen to be crowned king of Romania. Born October 25, 1921, Michael ascended to the throne in 1940 after his father, the unpopular king Charles II, stepped down. On August 23, 1944, during WWII, King Michael I had Marshal Ion Antonescu arrested, the de facto ruler of Romania and ordered Romania break ties with Nazi Germany and enter the war on the side of its traditional allies, the United States and Great Britain, a decision historians say shortened the war by at least six months, helping save hundreds of thousands of lives. Three years later, when the country was under Soviet military rule, led by the communist regime, King Michael was forced to abdicate and flee the country. In exile, he supported the actions of the Romanian National Committee, seen as a government in exile, although Western democracies never recognized its status. The Monarch returned to Romania after the 1989 revolution, regaining Romanian citizenship along with part of his properties seized by the communists. King Michael I lobbied for Romania’s NATO and EU accession. He passed away on December 5, 2017. His eldest daughter, Princess Margaret, is King Michael’s successor at the helm of the Royal House and Custodian of the Crown.

POLITICS – Monday’s round of talks aimed at securing support for a minority government made up of the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union and Ethnic Hungarians in Romania yielded no result. Prime Minister designate Nicolae Ciucă says the governing program is ready, although he hasn’t made it public. The Liberal official met with representatives of Save Romania Union, who again refused to support a minority government. USR president Dacian Cioloş pleaded for restoring the ruling coalition with PNL and UDMR. PNL leader and acting Prime Minister, Florin Cîţu, reiterated the responsibility of overcoming the political deadlock rests with USR and PSD, which together with AUR voted the no-confidence motion against the Cîţu Cabinet on October 5. The Prime Minister has until the end the week to present Parliament with a governing program and a list of ministers.

MOLDOVA – The Republic of Moldova will call on Russia to set a fair tariff for natural gas imports, Moldova’s deputy Prime Minister, Andrei Spânu said on Monday, adding that negotiations would continue in Saint Petersburg on October 26, when he is to meet the head of Gazprom, Alexey Miller. Russia too says the dialogue with the Republic of Moldova in the field of energy must continue, although president Vladimir Putin has no intention of continuing discussing this topic with the current administration in Chişinău, the Kremlin spokesman, Dimtry Peskov said. Gazprom has threatened the Republic of Moldova of suspending its natural gas deliveries to this country starting December 1 unless the government in Chişinău pays in full its debt, which now stands at 709 million USD, including penalties. Chişinău has called for an extension of the contract with Gazprom, although at a lower price. Moldova currently pays 790 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, give times higher than the average paid last year.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, former world no. 1, went up 1 place in WTA standings, now ranking 18th as of this week. Romanian-born Emma Răducanu, this year’s winner at US Open, also climbed up 1 spot to 23rd place. Sorana Cîrstea is ranked 38th, Irina Begu is now in 57th place, while Gabriela Ruse is ranked 85th. In women’s doubles, Raluca Olaru is ranked 36th, Monica Niculescu 39th and Irina Begu 65th. Raluca Olaru and Nadia Kicenok may qualify to the women’s WTA finals, now ranking 11th in WTA Race. (CM & VP)

25 October 2021
Athlete of the Week – Tennis player Simona Halep

Romanian tennis
player Simona Halep, world no. 2, on Monday won her third WTA tournament in
2020. She won her first Internazionali BNL d’Italia title after defeating
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, who withdrew in the second set. For
her achievement at the Foro Italico, we have designated Simona Halep Athlete of
the Week on RRI.

Simona Halep has
thus grabbed her 14th consecutive win this year. Her last defeat was
at the Australian Open in January, when she lost in the semi-finals to Spain’s
Garbine Muguruza. The Romanian won the rematch in Rome, where she ousted
Muguruza in the semis after a close match, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. It was actually the
only match in Rome where Simona lost a set. The Romanian player is next
preparing for the Roland Garros, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year,
where she is seeded first.

Born September
27, 1991 in Constanta, Simona Halep made her debut in professional tennis in
2006, when she played her first games in the ITF circuit. In 2010 she became a
Top 100 player. In 2014, in August, she was ranked 2nd in WTA
standings, a position which, at the time, marked a premiere for Romanian
women’s tennis. In October 2017 she became world no. 1, a position she kept until
January 2018. She reclaimed the top position in the standings and remained
world leader until early 2019. She was world number one for 64 weeks. She was
won two Grand Slam tournaments so far: Roland Garros in 2018 and Wimbledon in
2019.

(Translated by
V. Palcu)

22 September 2020
Athlete of the Week – Tennis player Simona Halep

Romanian tennis
player Simona Halep, world no. 2, on Monday won her third WTA tournament in
2020. She won her first Internazionali BNL d’Italia title after defeating
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, who withdrew in the second set. For
her achievement at the Foro Italico, we have designated Simona Halep Athlete of
the Week on RRI.

Simona Halep has
thus grabbed her 14th consecutive win this year. Her last defeat was
at the Australian Open in January, when she lost in the semi-finals to Spain’s
Garbine Muguruza. The Romanian won the rematch in Rome, where she ousted
Muguruza in the semis after a close match, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. It was actually the
only match in Rome where Simona lost a set. The Romanian player is next
preparing for the Roland Garros, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year,
where she is seeded first.

Born September
27, 1991 in Constanta, Simona Halep made her debut in professional tennis in
2006, when she played her first games in the ITF circuit. In 2010 she became a
Top 100 player. In 2014, in August, she was ranked 2nd in WTA
standings, a position which, at the time, marked a premiere for Romanian
women’s tennis. In October 2017 she became world no. 1, a position she kept until
January 2018. She reclaimed the top position in the standings and remained
world leader until early 2019. She was world number one for 64 weeks. She was
won two Grand Slam tournaments so far: Roland Garros in 2018 and Wimbledon in
2019.

(Translated by
V. Palcu)

22 September 2020
November 4, 2019

VOTE -
Parliament is today convening in a joint session to vote on the program and
structure of the Liberal Government led by Ludovic Orban. The Orban Cabinet
needs 233 votes to be sworn into office. Ludovic Orban has signed political
agreements with Save Romania Union, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians,
the People’s Movement Party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and the
group of national minorities. The Social-Democratic Party has chosen not to attend
Monday’s vote, while the PRO Romania Party claims it will not vote the new
government.

NATO -
The King Ferdinand Frigate of the Romanian Military Navy, joined by a Puma
battleship and a unit of the Special Ops Navy Forces onboard, are taking part
in the NATO-led Sea Guardian 19 military operation until Thursday. The frigate
is carrying out missions to deter any illegal activities on the eastern flank
of NATO and the EU, under maritime allied command. Today the frigate is making
a stopover in the port of Haifa, Israel. The frigate has previously made stops
in Askaz, southern Turkey, as well as in Alexandria, Egypt, where the crew met
with members of the Romanian community in Egypt.

ELECTION -
The candidate of the Moldovan Socialist Party, Ion Ceban, has won the election
for the Chisinau city hall in Sunday’s second round of local elections.
According to preliminary results made public by the Central Election
Commission, Ceban won 52% of the vote, while his main opponent, pro-European
Andrei Nastase, won only 47% of the vote. The voter turnout stood at some 38%. The
second round of the local election was held in 384 towns and villages in the
Republic of Moldova, with total voter turnout close to 40%.

PROTEST -
Thousands protested on Sunday night in Bucharest and other cities across the
country in the Forest Rally, staged to voice protest both with the rising death
toll of forest rangers and against illegal logging. Representatives of
environment NGOs claim conservationists and forest officers must call on the
authorities to take effective measures that should put an end to illegal
logging.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona
Halep will end the season in 4th position in WTA standings. She
climbed one spot in the tables after the WTA finals in Shenzhen, China, where
she failed to qualify to the semi-finals after losing to Karolina Pliskova of
the Czech Republic, world no. 2. Halep had ended 2017 and 2018 in the number
one position in the standings. Romanian-born Canadian player Bianca Andreescu
will finish her first season in the top 100 in 5th place. Romania
has another two players in the top 100 at present: Sorana Cirstea (72) and
Irina-Camelia Begu (99). Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, this year the winner of
Roland Garros and the Shenzhen tournament, will end the season in top place,
followed by Karolina Pliskova and Naomi Osaka of Japan.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

4 November 2019
July 30, 2018 UPDATE

WEATHER — The weather is unstable in Romania, particularly in the centre, east and north. The authorities have issued a code yellow alert against rainfalls, thunderstorms and gusty wind valid for those regions until Monday evening. Rain water might exceed 20 l/square meter and even 50-60 l/square meter locally. Hydrologists have issued code yellow and orange alerts for several rivers in the country, valid until Wednesday, at midnight. At least two people lost their lives because of heavy rains and flooding over the past few days, many households have been submerged and traffic has been disrupted on several national and county roads.

BREEZE 18 — Three ships belonging to the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group are currently docked at the Constanta Military Port on the Black Sea Coast, until Tuesday. The participating ships include ROS Lt. Lupu Dinescu, TCG Anamur, and FGS Rhein. The ships have made stops in the ports of Burgas, Bulgaria and Odessa in Ukraine. They participated in the multinational exercise BREEZE 18, in Bulgaria’s territorial waters and in the Black Sea international waters, and took part in joint exercises at sea, with Ukrainian ships. Exercise BREEZE provided training to the participants in various fields of maritime warfare and enhanced interoperability among NATO Navies. On Sunday, the ships were open to visitors.

ACTIVITY REPORT — Minister for Romanians Worldwide Natalia-Elena Intotero on Monday presented the activity report for the first six months, outlining the main actions and projects carried out by the ministry she represents, as well as the ongoing projects addressing Romanians across the borders. Some 24 projects of organizations and associations of Romanians worldwide have been approved, with funding standing at over 1 million lei. The Ministry has also sent 3,200 Romanian-language books to the Republic of Moldova, and 1,000 scholarships have been awarded to Romanian children studying in Ukraine.

GREECE — 91 people died in the wildfire that devastated the eastern coast of Attica in Greece, the latest provisional death toll made public by the Greek authorities shows. Several children are among the victims, as well as four foreign nationals-two Poles, an Irish and a Belgian citizen. An investigation carried out by the Greek fire-fighters shows a local would be at fault for starting the first fire and the Greek authorities know who he is. PM Alexis Tzipras has said he assumes full political responsibility for the tragedy, whereas the Opposition has accused the Government of being incapable of protecting the citizens’ lives. We recall the two Romanian military aircraft, one used for extinguishing fire and the other one providing logistical support, which were sent to Greece by the Bucharest authorities shortly after the wildfire broke out, completed their mission on Saturday and returned to Romania.

UNEMPLOYMENT — The unemployment rate stood at 3.48% in late June, the lowest in the last 26 years for the second month in a row, according to data released by the National Employment Agency. The total number of unemployed people was 304 thousand, of whom 51 thousand receive unemployment benefits. Most of them are aged between 40 and 49, while the lowest number are young people aged 25-29. In terms of education, people with basic or no education hold the largest share of the total number of unemployed. The authorities say the rate goes down in the summer months, given that a large number of people get temporary employment as seasonal workers in constructions, farming or the services industry.

INTERNET — Over 500 towns and villages in Romania have been fitted with high-speed Internet connections under the RO-NET program in the last six months, Communications and Information Society Minister Bogdan Cojocaru has said. The Romanian official hopes that over 400 thousand households as well as public institutions in the area will have high-speed Internet access by the end of September. A new project devoted to expanding broadband connections to underdeveloped areas will also be implemented, Minister Cojocaru has announced. With a budget of 64 million euros, the project is aimed at equipping 170 thousand households with Internet access.

OLYMPIAD — Romania’s delegation has won five medals at the International Physics Olympiad this year, one gold, two silver and two bronze, the Education Ministry has announced. Students with the International Computer Science High School in Bucharest and the Mircea cel Batran National College in Constanta are the recipients of the awards. The 49th edition of the Olympiad was hosted by Lisbon, Portugal over July 21-29, bringing together 400 competitors from 90 countries. The first edition was held in 1967 in Poland, Romania being one of the five participating countries. Romania has hosted the Olympiad twice, in 1972 and 1983.

TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep continues to be no.1 WTA, according to the world ranking made public on Monday. She is followed by Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki and the American Sloane Stephens. Halep is no.1 for the 39th week, thus equalling the performance of French Amelie Mauresmo. Other best ranking tennis players are Mihaela Buzărnescu (24), Sorana Cârstea (54), Irina Begu (56), Monica Niculescu (60) and Ana Bogdan (87).

(Translated by D. Vijeu & V. Palcu)

30 July 2018
Athlete of the Week on RRI – Tennis Player Monica Niculescu

Several world-class tournaments are underway in Asia right now. Last week the city of Seoul in South Korea played host to a WTA tournament totaling 226,750 dollars in prize money. Two Romanian players were seeded among the favorites. Irina Begu, WTA 23rd ranked, was seeded first, while Monica Niculescu, 55 WTA at the time, was seeded 5th. Also representing Romania in the main draw was Patricia Tig, 135th WTA.

Irina Begu was knocked out in the round of 16 by Jana Cepelova of Slovakia. Patricia Tig on the other hand produced a big surprise by reaching the semi-finals. Tig brushed aside more experienced players, such as Marina Erakovic of New Zealand or the sixth-seed Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium. Patricia lost in the semi-finas to Lara Arruabarrena of Spain.

Monica Niculescu on the other hand made it all the way to the finals, and she did so without losing a single set. In the final game the Romanian lost to Lara Arruabarrena of Spain in three sets, 0-6, 6-2, 0-6. For reaching the finals, Monica was awarded a 21,400-dollar check and 180 WTA points, also promoting us to designate her Athlete of the Week on RRI.

Monica Niculescu was born on September 25, 1987 in Slatina. She moved to Bucharest at the age of four. She took up tennis a year later and turned pro in 2002. Her highest ranking in WTA singles was in February 2012, when she was 28th placed. Now she is 49th ranked in WTA standings, climbing six places after playing the Seoul final. In the WTA singles she was won two titles, in 2012 in Florianopolis and in 2014 in Guangzhou.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

27 September 2016
Athlete of the Week on RRI – Tennis Player Monica Niculescu

Several world-class tournaments are underway in Asia right now. Last week the city of Seoul in South Korea played host to a WTA tournament totaling 226,750 dollars in prize money. Two Romanian players were seeded among the favorites. Irina Begu, WTA 23rd ranked, was seeded first, while Monica Niculescu, 55 WTA at the time, was seeded 5th. Also representing Romania in the main draw was Patricia Tig, 135th WTA.

Irina Begu was knocked out in the round of 16 by Jana Cepelova of Slovakia. Patricia Tig on the other hand produced a big surprise by reaching the semi-finals. Tig brushed aside more experienced players, such as Marina Erakovic of New Zealand or the sixth-seed Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium. Patricia lost in the semi-finas to Lara Arruabarrena of Spain.

Monica Niculescu on the other hand made it all the way to the finals, and she did so without losing a single set. In the final game the Romanian lost to Lara Arruabarrena of Spain in three sets, 0-6, 6-2, 0-6. For reaching the finals, Monica was awarded a 21,400-dollar check and 180 WTA points, also promoting us to designate her Athlete of the Week on RRI.

Monica Niculescu was born on September 25, 1987 in Slatina. She moved to Bucharest at the age of four. She took up tennis a year later and turned pro in 2002. Her highest ranking in WTA singles was in February 2012, when she was 28th placed. Now she is 49th ranked in WTA standings, climbing six places after playing the Seoul final. In the WTA singles she was won two titles, in 2012 in Florianopolis and in 2014 in Guangzhou.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

27 September 2016
Athlete of the Week on RRI – Tennis player Simona Halep

The tennis tournament in Madrid has become a tradition for Romanian tennis players. One of the reasons is that the main sponsor of the competition is Ion Tiriac, a former member of Romania’s Davis Cup team and currently a renowned businessman. Another reason is the prize money. This year, in both the men’s and in the women’s singles, total prizes stood at 912 thousand euros.

In 2016, in the women’s competition, the big winner was Simona Halep. In the final match, Halep defeated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in two sets, 6-2, 6-4.

For her remarkable performance, we have designated Simona Halep Athlete of the Week on RRI.

This is Simona Halep’s first win in 2016, which brought her 1,000 WTA points, helping her climb in WTA standings, from 7th to 5th place.

Simona Halep was born on September 27, 1991 in Constanta, eastern Romania. She made her professional debut in 2006, when she won her first titles in the ITF circuit. In 2010 she was among the world’s best 100 players. 2013 was a great year for Halep, who won six WTA tournaments. In August 2014, she was ranked 2nd in WTA standings, the highest ranking ever held by a Romanian tennis player. Since then she has ranked constantly among the world’s top 10 players.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

10 May 2016
Athlete of the Week on RRI – Tennis player Simona Halep

The tennis tournament in Madrid has become a tradition for Romanian tennis players. One of the reasons is that the main sponsor of the competition is Ion Tiriac, a former member of Romania’s Davis Cup team and currently a renowned businessman. Another reason is the prize money. This year, in both the men’s and in the women’s singles, total prizes stood at 912 thousand euros.

In 2016, in the women’s competition, the big winner was Simona Halep. In the final match, Halep defeated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in two sets, 6-2, 6-4.

For her remarkable performance, we have designated Simona Halep Athlete of the Week on RRI.

This is Simona Halep’s first win in 2016, which brought her 1,000 WTA points, helping her climb in WTA standings, from 7th to 5th place.

Simona Halep was born on September 27, 1991 in Constanta, eastern Romania. She made her professional debut in 2006, when she won her first titles in the ITF circuit. In 2010 she was among the world’s best 100 players. 2013 was a great year for Halep, who won six WTA tournaments. In August 2014, she was ranked 2nd in WTA standings, the highest ranking ever held by a Romanian tennis player. Since then she has ranked constantly among the world’s top 10 players.

(Translated by V. Palcu)

10 May 2016