Radio România Internațional

Tag: Youth Olympics

  • July 28, 2022

    July 28, 2022

    COVID — The number of Covid-19 cases in Romania has been constantly decreasing since the spring, but it has recently started to increase again. 9,339 people were confirmed with Covid-19, on Thursday, in Romania. The total number of infections is below that of the previous day, but by almost 50% higher than last week. The number of those who need hospitalization also continues to increase: over 3,700 people, of whom 253 are in intensive care. There are about 600 children with Covid in hospitals. Specialists say that the current variant of the coronavirus, Omicron, can bypass the protection given by both vaccination and the disease, and recommend the immunization of people from vulnerable categories. Anti-Covid vaccines adapted for the Omicron variant should be available in Romania as of the autumn.



    Funds — The prime minister Nicolae Ciucă has said Romania’s absorption rate of European funds as part of the 2014-2020 financial exercise stands at 64.5%, a level similar to that of Germany and only slightly lower than France, but ahead of older member states like Belgium (59%) and Italy, Spain and The Netherlands (each with a little over 56%). According to Ciucă, Romania absorbed 22 billion Euros out of the 35 billion it is allocated in the 2014-2020 period.



    Drought – Drought has so far affected 150,000 hectares of farmland in 20 different counties across Romania, said the agriculture ministry, based on daily reports on the state of the crops. The irrigation systems are struggling to cope, owing to the drop in the level of the water used to feed the irrigation stations. The biggest such station, in Brăila county, in the south-east, was shut down because of the low Danube water flow. The station was providing water for 250,000 hectares of land in the region. The water flow of the river Prut, in the east, is also dropping, having already reached a record low level. Agriculture minister Petre Daea said the animal breeding sector is also affected by drought.



    Olympics — On Wednesday, Romania won the gold medal in the womens team artistic gymnastics competition of the 16th summer edition of the European Youth Olympics Festival in Banska Bystrica (Slovakia). Amalia Puflea, Amalia Ghigoarţă and Sabrina Voinea have had the upper hand over the representatives of Germany and Italy. After three days of competitions Romania has four medals: gold in the artistic gymnastics event, two silver medals won by Amalia Puflea in the individual all-around event and Aissia Claudia Prisecariu in the 200 m backstroke swimming event as well as a bronze medal won by Ana Maria Vişan in athletics, in the disc throw event. Romania is represented at the 2022 European Youth Olympics Festival by 92 athletes in 8 sports disciplines – athletics, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, judo, volleyball, handball and tennis. At the previous summer edition that took place in Baku, in 2019, Romania won no less than 19 medals: 4 gold, 10 silver and 5 bronze.



    Visit — The Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, will receive the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, on Friday in Bucharest, on the occasion of her official visit to Romania, at the invitation of the Romanian head of state. It is the first direct bilateral meeting of the two heads of state after the Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population) received the status of candidate country to EU accesion. According to the Presidential Administration, Klaus Iohannis will reiterate Bucharests firm support for boosting the reform process in the Republic of Moldova, necessary for European integration. At the same time, the two officials will tackle regional developments in the context of the war launched by Russia against Ukraine as well as the ways to counteract its negative effects on Chisinau. Topics of central interest on the bilateral agenda will also be addressed, such as the energy security of the Republic of Moldova and sectoral cooperation in key areas – the Presidential Administration also shows. (LS)

  • 18 October 2018

    18 October 2018

    EU summit. The EU Council meeting continues in Brussels, with the EU
    heads of state and government today discussing migration, security and the
    future of the eurozone. Last night, Brexit negotiations ended with no result.
    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, the EU leaders are focusing on
    combating human trafficking, the European Commission’s proposals on the return
    of migrants, the cooperation with the countries of origin and transit and the
    consolidation of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. As far as internal
    security is concerned, talks focus on legal cooperation and combating
    terrorism, border security and the fight against cyber attacks. Romanian
    president Klaus Iohannis, who is attending the summit, is expected to highlight
    in his address the fact that the prevention and combating of radicalisation and
    terrorism must remain a priority for member states. The EU Council summit will
    be followed by the Euro summit in expanded format. On that occasion, president
    Iohannis will say that Romania supports the objective of consolidating the economic
    and monetary union, closely following the impact of all initiatives targeting
    this area, given Bucharest’s goal of joining the eurozone as soon as possible.




    Visit. The Romanian prime minister Viorica Dancila today continues her
    visit to the United Arab Emirates. On Wednesday, the heads of government in
    Bucharest and Abu Dhabi adopted a joint declaration on the establishment of a
    strategic economic partnership between the governments of Romania and the
    United Arab Emirates. The document underlines the important regional role
    played by the latter and Romania’s membership of the EU, which provides
    significant opportunities of bilateral cooperation in priority sectors for
    Bucharest, such as trade, investments, industry, agriculture, the financial and
    banking sector, energy, transport and infrastructure, the IT sector, education,
    culture, research and innovation and tourism. The declaration also highlights
    the important role of the Romanian and Emirati communities in the respective
    countries in the economic, social and cultural development of the two states.
    Also on Wednesday, the Romanian prime minister visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, after on Tuesday she travelled to Dubai for
    talks with the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whom she presented with the most recent investment
    opportunities in Romania. Viorica Dancila will next travel to Kuwait, the last
    leg of a tour that also took her to Turkey. She said the purpose of these
    official visits is to promote economic relations.




    EU funds.
    Romania has managed to recover 220 million euros accounting for around a
    quarter of the European funds allocated under the Regional Operational
    Programme, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu told
    Radio Romania. Thus, some of the 800 million euros available under this
    programme and which Romania was no longer able to spend by the end of the year
    due to a lack of applications, have been redirected to the development of small
    and medium sized enterprises and to purchasing medical equipment and ambulances
    for all counties in Romania. The European official also said the programme was
    modified at the request of the Romanian government.




    Erdogan visit. Turkey’s president Recep
    Tayyip Erdogan is paying a two-day visit to the Republic of Moldova, where he
    was welcomed with military honours by his counterpart Igor Dodon. During their
    talks, the two presidents spoke about the importance of the Strategic
    Partnership declaration signed by Chisinau, which in the opinion of the Turkish
    president, will change the relationship between the two states. News agencies
    write that none of the two officials mentioned the recent scandal about the
    expulsion of seven Turkish citizens working for the Orizont schools in the
    Republic of Moldova. Erdogan did mention the alleged coup in Turkey from two
    years ago, saying it was led by a terrorist organisation that also had members
    in the Republic of Moldova. He also said that two Turkish state banks would
    open branches in Moldova. The Turkish president also met prime minister Pavel
    Filip. Bilateral agreements in various fields, including military, were also
    signed.






    Tennis. Romanian and world no. one in women’s tennis Simona Halep has
    withdrawn from the WTA Finals held in Singapore between the 21st and
    the 28th of October and which brings together the world’s best eight
    players in 2018. Halep was recently diagnosed with a herniated disk injury
    which also forced her to forfeit the Moscow tournament and withdraw in the
    first round in Beijing. Halep, who won the French Open this year, ends the year
    in the top position regardless of the result in Singapore. Playing in the WTA
    Finals are Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, Angelique
    Kerber of Germany, Naomi Osaka of Japan, Karolina Pliskova of the Czech
    Republic, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, Sloane
    Stephens of the United States and Kiki Bertens of The Netherlands.




    Youth Olympics. Romania’s delegation to the Summer Youth Olympics in
    Buenos Aires finished the Games on the 27th position in the team
    ranking, with a total of 8 medals, including 2 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze. The
    Romanian Olympic team was made up of 34 athletes, who competed in 14
    disciplines. 4,000 young athletes aged between 15 and 18, from around the
    world, competed in this third edition of the Summer Youth Olympics hosted by
    Argentina.

  • July 30, 2017 UPDATE

    July 30, 2017 UPDATE

    DEFENCE – The Supreme Defence Council is to convene in Bucharest on Tuesday. The agenda of the meeting, chaired by President Klaus Iohannis, includes a presentation of the Plan of equipment procurement for the Romanian Army in 2017-2026. The plan provides for the implementation of a commitment made in 2015 by all political parties, with respect to earmarking 2% of the GDP for the defence sector for 10 years, starting in 2017. The latest Defence Council meeting was held on July 4, but at that time the Plan for army equipment procurement was withdrawn from the agenda of the meeting, in order to be adjusted to the politically agreed target of earmarking 2% of the GDP to this sector.





    HEALTHCARE – The Romanian Healthcare Minister, Florian Bodog, hopes Parliament will pass the new vaccination law quickly. He also welcomed the decision of Ludovic Orban, president of the National Liberal Party in opposition, to support compulsory vaccination. In turn, PM Mihai Tudose said in an interview on the public radio that the current situation requires the introduction of compulsory vaccination. On Thursday, the Cabinet discussed a draft law on vaccination, laying down responsibilities both for the authorities and healthcare staff, and for parents. The bill is designed to regulate the organisation and funding of vaccination in Romania, as well as to raise awareness on the benefits, safety, quality and possible adverse reactions to immunisation. The bill also provides for a national reserve stock covering at least the annual vaccine needs, with doses valid for at least one and a half years. The bill was drafted after the large number of measles cases and deaths caused by this disease prompted the World Health Organisation to include Romania in the 5 countries that total over 80% of the number of cases reported worldwide.




    TRAFFICKING – July 30 was the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, proclaimed by the UN 4 years ago in order to put an end to this crime and protect its victims. Statistics show that millions of people around the world, particularly vulnerable women and girls, are sold every year in modern slavery. The victims are recruited from poverty-striken countries and become subject to various forms of exploitation. This week alone, the authorities in Italy and Spain have found scores of Romanians exploited by their employers in those countries. The Romanian PM Mihai Tudose said the Minister for the Romanians living abroad Andreea Păstârnac would receive increased powers, so as to make sure that no Romanian citizen living abroad would be discriminated against. In this context, Mihai Tudose is to have a meeting in Bucharest on Monday with the Ambassador of Spain to Bucharest, Ramiro Fernandez Bachiller, and with Minister Andreea Păstîrnac.




    SECURITY – The security challenges currently facing Romania and NATO member states will be discussed in an event taking place in Bucharest between July 31 and August 5 and entitled ‘Defence and Dialogue in Eastern Europe’ (DDEE). International experts and Romanian officials will talk about hybrid threats, recent misinformation campaigns and large-scale cyber-attacks. Attending the event organised by Euro Atlantic Diplomacy Society will be around 200 young people from 36 countries.




    NATO – A British destroyer and a Turkish frigate are in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta for 2 days. They are part of the standing NATO group which, together with Ferdinand frigate of the Romanian Navy have taken part in joint training sessions and in sea traffic monitoring missions. On board the British destroyer, the commander of the standing NATO maritime group James Borley said the Alliance has a constant presence at the Black Sea because some riparian countries are also members of the Organisation.




    TERRORIST PLOT – The Australian security forces have foiled a presumably Islamist terror plan to detonate a bomb targeting an airplane, and four individuals have been arrested, PM Malcolm Turnbull has announced, according to AFP. He added that security was tightened in Australian airports. A total of 12 terrorist plots have been foiled in Australia and some 60 people have been sent to court since the alert level was raised in September 2014. Australia is taking part in the US-led international coalition conducting air raids against the Islamic State jihadist group in Iraq and Syria since the summer of 2014.




    SPORTS – Romania won 8 medals, 5 silver and 3 bronze, at the 2017 summer edition of the European Youth Olympics Festival, which came to an end on Saturday in Gyor (Hungary). On the last day of the competition the Romanian athletes won 3 more silver medals. The womens handball team lost the final to the host team, Hungary, 30-23, the tennis player Nicholas David Ionel was defeated in the final by the Italian Lorenzo Rottoli, and athlete Cristian Gabriel Voicu won the silver in the 800 m race. Romanias delegation in this edition of the Festival was made up of 77 athletes, competing in athletics, cycling, gymnastics, handball, swimming, judo, rowing and tennis.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • July 30, 2017

    July 30, 2017

    DEFENCE – The Supreme Defence Council is to convene in Bucharest on Tuesday. The agenda of the meeting, chaired by President Klaus Iohannis, includes a presentation of the Plan of equipment procurement for the Romanian Army in 2017-2026. The plan provides for the implementation of a commitment made in 2015 by all political parties, with respect to earmarking 2% of the GDP for the defence sector for 10 years, starting in 2017. The latest Defence Council meeting was held on July 4, but at that time the Plan for army equipment procurement was withdrawn from the agenda of the meeting, in order to be adjusted to the politically agreed target of earmarking 2% of the GDP to this sector.





    HEALTHCARE – The Romanian Healthcare Minister, Florian Bodog, hopes Parliament will pass the new vaccination law quickly. He also welcomed the decision of Ludovic Orban, president of the National Liberal Party in opposition, to support compulsory vaccination. In turn, PM Mihai Tudose said in an interview on the public radio that the current situation requires the introduction of compulsory vaccination. On Thursday, the Cabinet discussed a draft law on vaccination, laying down responsibilities both for the authorities and healthcare staff, and for parents. The bill is designed to regulate the organisation and funding of vaccination in Romania, as well as to raise awareness on the benefits, safety, quality and possible adverse reactions to immunisation. The bill also provides for a national reserve stock covering at least the annual vaccine needs, with doses valid for at least one and a half years. The bill was drafted after the large number of measles cases and deaths caused by this disease prompted the World Health Organisation to include Romania in the 5 countries that total over 80% of the number of cases reported worldwide.




    SECURITY – The security challenges currently facing Romania and NATO member states will be discussed in an event taking place in Bucharest between July 31 and August 5 and entitled ‘Defence and Dialogue in Eastern Europe’ (DDEE). International experts and Romanian officials will talk about hybrid threats, recent misinformation campaigns and large-scale cyber-attacks. Attending the event organised by Euro Atlantic Diplomacy Society will be around 200 young people from 36 countries.




    NATO – A British destroyer and a Turkish frigate are in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta for 2 days. They are part of the standing NATO group which, together with Ferdinand frigate of the Romanian Navy have taken part in joint training sessions and in sea traffic monitoring missions. On board the British destroyer, the commander of the standing NATO maritime group James Borley said the Alliance has a constant presence at the Black Sea because some riparian countries are also members of the Organisation.




    TERRORIST PLOT – The Australian security forces have foiled a presumably Islamist terror plan to detonate a bomb targeting an airplane, and four individuals have been arrested, PM Malcolm Turnbull has announced, according to AFP. He added that security was tightened in Australian airports. A total of 12 terrorist plots have been foiled in Australia and some 60 people have been sent to court since the alert level was raised in September 2014. Australia is taking part in the US-led international coalition conducting air raids against the Islamic State jihadist group in Iraq and Syria since the summer of 2014.




    SPORTS – Romania won 8 medals, 5 silver and 3 bronze, at the 2017 summer edition of the European Youth Olympics Festival, which came to an end on Saturday in Gyor (Hungary). On the last day of the competition the Romanian athletes won 3 more silver medals. The womens handball team lost the final to the host team, Hungary, 30-23, the tennis player Nicholas David Ionel was defeated in the final by the Italian Lorenzo Rottoli, and athlete Cristian Gabriel Voicu won the silver in the 800 m race. Romanias delegation in this edition of the Festival was made up of 77 athletes, competing in athletics, cycling, gymnastics, handball, swimming, judo, rowing and tennis.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)