Today’s Sunday invites you to discover the city of Oradea and its main attractions, including the Christmas Market that will soon open.
We’ve prepared for you a special report about the Sustenlandia CEO Forum, an event organized by the Embassy of Sustainability in Romania.
Today’s edition is devoted to a truly great story teller, Heather Morris, who last month came to Bucharest for the launch of the Romanian-language version of her 2023-released novel, Sisters Under the Rising Sun, a novel about sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the face of the hardships of WWII. Best-known for her debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which has also been turned into a TV mini-series, Heather Morris was shortliested and received countless international awards.
Over 1703-1707, Mihai Cantacuzino, a member of a famous noble family, built a hospital and a school on the estate of Colțea Doicescu. The first name of this great boyar, who was in charge of supplying the royal court, remained inscribed in the topography of the city to this day, and will definitely remain a memorable landmark. Colțea’s estate stretched from the present-day kilometer 0 milestone northwards, and from there the center of today’s Bucharest started to flourish. Starting with the end of the 19th century, the estate was systematized, while a side street of today’s Brătianu boulevard, linking the hospital to Saint George Church, where the kilometer 0 milestone is located, preserved its name, Colțea Street, a small urban relic reminding the dwellers of the capital-city of something that existed 150 years ago.
On what was once the old street of Coltea, with its famous tower located in the middle of today’s Brătianu boulevard, a tower demolished in 1888, the central artery of the present Bucharest emerged, at the crossroads of the current Carol and Elisabeta boulevards east-west, and Brătianu and Magheru boulevards north-south. Colțea Street would help the new Bucharest breathe more freely by reducing overcrowding on Victory Road, the first north-south artery of Bucharest. Museographer Cezar Buiumaci from the Bucharest City Museum is in charge of the memory project devoted to Colțea Street. With a map in front of your eyes, it is much easier to follow the old route of the famous street. Cezar Buiumaci provides all the details that help build a mental map, with the help of works of art by 19th-century artists who painted the street. Everything falls in place as one pictures the street from Șuțu Palace, located just across Colțea Church.
“Here we are, on Colțea Street, just across Colțea Church. This is where the slums and Colțea tower were, landmarks in the middle of our city that back then were on the outskirts. This is Colțea, a winding street, where people could find the Royal Court, Colțea Inn, Colțea Tower, a street that started from Saint George square, from the Church of Saint George, at the crossroads with Lipscani street, that took you all the way to Clemence Street. That’s where it ended, the present-day C. A. Rosetti Street”.
A walking tour of Bucharest is even more helpful in restoring the memory of the old Colțea Street. Cezar Buiumaci told us how far Bucharest expanded starting from the new arteries drawn under mayor Pache Protopopescu, a name that must also be remembered.
“Here, where Colțea Street ended, was the end of the city. It was the peripheral area on the current road that starts from North Station, goes on Titulescu road and reaches Victory Square. It continues on Iancu de Hunedoara, on Ștefan cel Mare roads and so on. It is the road that surrounds the city, a peripheral road based on the French model. How would Colțea Street look later, when it was designed? This happened in the second half of the 19th century, at the end, when the boulevard was built, the east-west artery that connected Obor to Cotroceni. It was the first boulevard. When it was marked, it didn’t even have a name, it was known simply as the Boulevard, it was the only one in the city. And on it were the most important edifices of the developing Romanian state, such as the Ministry of Agriculture or the Ministry of War. Nearby we have the hospital, just across the street, the first hospital in Wallachia, we have the University, we have the University Square which is opposite the University. It was a semi-circular square where we find the statues laid out like in a national pantheon. The boulevard was set up like that due to the May 10 parades, which were organized here on the national day”.
Bucharest under the crown and scepter of King Carol I was becoming an increasingly European city. Cezar Buiumaci points out only a few of the key landmarks that appeared on the new boulevards in Colțea Street.
“The statue of Michael the Brave was placed there in 1874, 150 years ago. Then followed the declaration of Carol I, which assumed the union of all Romanians under his reign, there were also declarations of independence and unification that Carol made during his reign. Further on, one came across a number of major institutions, print shops, there was the Military Circle, across the street there was a hotel, the Grand Hotel du Boulevard, a hotel that took its name from the boulevard. Then we have other important institutions, Eforia, a series of military institutions, the Donation House, and then the Official Gazette, but also Cișmigiu Park and a series of restaurants and cinemas”.
Colțea Street in old Bucharest no longer exists today, but it is the one that gave birth to the city. And the iconographic sources of the time still keep it alive. (VP)
This week on our show:
* report on Asia Fest 2024, the biggest festival in South-Eastern Europe devoted to Asian culture, gastronomy and traditions.
* UVT Liberty Marathon and the Arenas Cross, two great and healthy opportunities to spend your autumn weekends.
* report on Baby Boom, the autumn expo devoted to current and future parents.
A new show kicks off this Sunday on RRI, each week bringing you fresh updates on entertainment opportunities in Bucharest and beyond, quality music, interviews with remarkable people and innovators. The show will cover topics of interest for community life and youths, festivals, concerts, topics related to family life, holiday destinations, local activities impacting urban life, cultural news, the latest technological and scientific breakthroughs and other topics meant to create a laidback atmosphere for our listeners.
This week in our show:
* a talk with Romania’s Ambassador at UNESCO, Simona-Mirela Miculescu about the conference “Celebrating a Century of Intellectual Cooperation: From Legacy to Future Action” and its importance for Romania
* highlights of Alpin Film Festival, with details provided by Raluca Andreescu from the Marketing and Communication Department
* a new edition of East European Comic Con hosted by Bucharest
* sports and exercising opportunities over the weekend, with a focus on “Come, Learn and Play”, an initiative organized by the Romanian Basketball Federation. More details about this initiative from Cătălin Burlacu.
Dinamo Bucharest men’s handball team on Wednesday grabbed its second consecutive win in this year’s edition of Champions League. The Romanian team defeated Polish champions Wisła Płock, 28-26 away from home, in a match counting towards Group A. Dinamo’s top scorer was the Czech player Stanislav Kašpárek, who scored five goals. We recall that in the debut of the Champions League campaign, Dinamo last Thursday defeated 37-28 the Danish team Fredericia at home. Next Thursday, the Romanian champions will play Eurofarm Pelister Bitola from North Macedonia on home turf.
In women’s handball, let’s note Wednesday saw matches counting for the fourth round of the National Women’s League. Romania’s champions CSM Bucharest defeated CSM Târgu Jiu away from home, score 28-25. Vice-champions Rapid Bucharest also prevailed away from home against Gloria Buzău, 32-22. Romania’s third representative in Champions League, Gloria Bistriţa-Năsăud, the revelation of the autumn campaign at European level, defeated SCM Universitatea Craiova narrowly, 26-25 at home, thanks to a goal scored on the last second of the game. In Champions League, on Saturday, Gloria will play the Slovenian team Krim Ljubljana at home, and CSM will play Podravka Koprivnica away from home. On Sunday, Rapid will face the German side Ludwigsburg at home, the finalist of the last edition of Champions League, when it performed under the name Bietigheim.
In news from basketball, in the first leg of the preliminary round of the women’s Euroleague, CSM Constanţa lost at home to the Spanish team Casademont Zaragoza, score 75-57. The Romanian champions were evenly matched with the Spanish side only in the first half of the match. The second leg will be played on Tuesday, in Zaragoza. The team that fails to qualify in the Euroleague group phase will continue in the second-tier European competition, the EuroCup.
We go out with news from football. Romanian squad player Radu Drăguşin played for the entire duration of the match that his team, Tottenham Hotspur, won 2-1 against second-tier team Coventry City. The game counted for the third round of the English League Cup (EFL Cup). (VP)
EDUCATION – Poverty is severely affecting school performance, internships are discriminatory, some students end up unmotivated and most of them would like to leave the country– a report drawn up by the Save the Children Romania organization states. According to European data, school dropout is affecting an increasing number of Romanian children. A 16% dropout rate was reported among students in Romania’s secondary education cycle in the 2022-2023 school year and 25% among high-school pupils. High dropout discrepancies have been reported in various environments, 3% in the big cities, 14% in the country’s smaller cities and 27% in the rural area. At national level, two in five students in the country’s secondary education system have failed to pass their final exams. Their number is 2.5% higher in the rural area.
EXPO – “As strategic partners and as NATO allies, we stand together in the face of Russia’s unprovoked and illegal aggression, to support Ukraine and strengthen collective deterrence and defense within the Alliance”, the ambassador of the United States in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, said while attending the opening of a photo exhibition in Galați (east) marking 25 years of Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Titled “We, the people” the aforementioned photo exhibition explores the security, diplomatic, cultural and economic relations between the two countries.
ROMANIA-JAPAN RELATIONS – Romania’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIRR), has extensively promoted economic relations with Japan. Romania can represent a business opportunity for Japanese companies given the results obtained by the Romanian entrepreneurs in the fields of IT&C, green energy and innovative technologies, CCIRR president Mihai Daraban said. On Thursday, Mihai Daraban had an official meeting with the Japanese ambassador in Bucharest, Katae Takashi, who underlined the importance and potential of the economic cooperation between the two countries. Japan sees Romania as a strategic partner in Eastern Europe and encourages Japanese investors to explore the business and investment opportunities here, the Japanese ambassador pointed out.
AGRICULTURE – Romanian farmers whose crops were affected by this year’s draught will be compensated by October 15, Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu said. During a visit to Mehedinți (southwest), a county seriously impacted by the shortage of rainfall, the Romanian official said compensations will stand at 200 EUR per hectare. The wheat and corn harvest this year is enough for the upcoming year, the Romanian official gave assurances. The wheat yield this year is by 1.8 mln tons higher compared to 2023, while the corn harvest will cover both internal consumption and exports. The Agriculture Ministry is considering handing out loans with fixed interest rates of 1.95% to help struggling farmers, as well as the suspension of foreclosure procedures for farmers whose crops have been completely compromised.
MOLDOVA – Hungary unequivocally and firmly supports Moldova’s EU accession, Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, said during a visit to Chişinău. On the sidelines of talks with his Moldovan counterpart, Mihai Popşoi, the Hungarian official said his country will do everything in its power during Hungary’s term at the helm of the EU Council to ensure EU enlargement proceeds as smoothly as possible. Each candidate state must be assessed individually, to prevent the stalling of countries that reported quicker progress, Minister Szijjártó explained. EU enlargement can provide new impetus to the community bloc, the Hungarian diplomat went on to say. Péter Szijjártó also met the president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, giving assurances Hungary will fully support Moldova’s EU accession. 50 public officials from Moldova with a key role in negotiations with the EU will travel to Hungary where they will be trained by Hungarian experts. The first 32 will arrive in Budapest next week.
HOUSING – Housing prices continue to go up faster than the EU or the Eurozone average, although the pace is slower compared to other states in the region, Florin Dragu, the head of the Financial Stability Department with the National Bank of Romania has said. Housing went up 5.5% in the first quarter, compared to nearly 18% in Poland or 16% in Bulgaria, the Central Bank official explained. The price hikes are also determined by higher construction costs, which went up 10% in the last year, while the work volume went down 13% across the sector. The demand for new housing continues to rise amidst Romanians’ higher purchasing power. The number of real estate transactions went down 11% at national level, with Bucharest, Iași, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Brașov and Constanța accounting for nearly 60% of total transactions. (DB & VP)
INTEREST RATE – The Central Bank board is today analyzing the possibility of further reducing the monetary policy interest rate, currently standing at 6.75%. According to an internal analysis, consumer loans continue to go up amidst the reduction of interest rates for new loans and the relaxation of loaning terms due to growing competitiveness among banks. According to Eurostat, Romania reported the biggest increase of retail sales at EU level in June 2024 compared to the same period of last year.
NATO – A detachment of the Spanish Air Forces will conduct enhanced air policing missions under NATO command, in partnership with the Romanian Air Forces. Spanish pilots are thus taking over command of the operation from their British and Finnish counterparts at the Air Base in Mihail Kogălniceanu (southeast). For four months, they will be overflying the Black Sea region to ensure the security of Romanian and NATO air space. This is the third rotation for the Spanish Air Forces in Romania, where NATO deployed allied troops in 2014 following the illegal annexation of Crimea, to ensure the security of the Black Sea region, an area facing complex threats in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
MIDDLE EAST – The world’s diplomats are working around the clock to prevent an attack from Iran and its allies on Israel. The United States have called on countries in the region to convince Teheran an attack would not serve its best interests. Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are today convening in Teheran to discuss the matter. The situation remains tense, with Israeli authorities on high alert after Iran promised a swift retaliation in response to the recent assassination of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh.
AID FOR UKRAINE – The EU Council has disbursed the first installment worth 4.2 bln EUR as part of the Ukraine Facility financial assistance plan. Kyiv is bound to receive 50 bln EUR in grants and loans to finance the state budget and stimulate investment. According to Radio Romania’s Brussels correspondent, Ukraine must implement reforms in public finance management, the functioning of state-owned enterprises, the business sector and energy, as part of the Ukraine Facility Plan agreed with the European Commission. Economic recovery, reconstruction and modernization in the wake of the Russian aggression are also key points in the Plan.
UNTOLD – The 9th edition of the Untold Music Festival kicks off on Thursday in Cluj-Napoca (west). Some 250 Romanian and international artists will be holding concerts during the four days, including renowned artists and DJs such as Lenny Kravitz, Salvatore Ganacci, Sam Smith and Burna Boy. The latter is the only African artist with two consecutive sold-out events on London Stadium. Burna Boy will perform on the last day of the festival. Untold is the biggest and most popular music festival in Romania, attracting fans from all over the world every year.
OLYMPICS – Romanian athletes are today competing in athletics, weightlifting, canoeing and wrestling at the Paris Olympics. So far, Romania ranks 16th in the medal standings, with 3 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze. On Tuesday, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation announced it has submitted a notification to the International Gymnastics Federation, calling for an investigation into the faulty examination of Sabrina Voinea’s floor routine in the Olympic gymnastics event. Federation officials have also submitted notifications to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) to restore Sabrina Voinea’s bronze medal, who went to Jordan Chiles of the USA following an inquiry at the end of her routine. Voinea’s routine was rated with a penalty deduction due to the gymnast allegedly stepping out of bounds, something video footage fail to confirm, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee wrote. In turn, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressed outrage at the whole affair, announcing he would not attend the closing ceremony as a sign of protest.
FOOTBALL – FCSB and Sparta Prague were tied 1-1 on Tuesday evening in the first leg of the Champions League third preliminary round, played in Prague. The return leg is slated for August 13 in Bucharest. In case of a win, FCSB will play the winner of the match pitting Malmö FF of Sweden against PAOK Thessaloniki of Greece. In case of a loss, FCSB will continue in Europa League, playing against LASK Linz of Austria. (VP)
Are you ready to go back in time and exprience what life in the Middle Ages felt like? If so, get ready for an immersive experience as part of a new project titled “Brașov, our Citadel”. Held over August 9-11 in Brașov, central Romania, the event is organized by Terra Ultrasilvana, Cimpoierii din Transilvania – the Pipers of Transylvania and the Made in Bistrița-Năsăud Association. Over the course of three days, the organizers will bring back to life the impressive material and immaterial heritage of Brașov County – the old fortifications in the city center, alongside its turrets, bastions and gates. The Guard Fortress will also host a medieval camp, with a vibrant arts and crafts Medieval fair consisting of various workshops, concerts and games. On the sidelines of the event, guests will be able to take part in various medieval artisans’ workshops, from pottery and glass painting, to blacksmithing, handicraft objects and weaving. Reenactments of historical battles will be staged by the Terra Ultrasilvana Association. And of course, it wouldn’t have been a medieval fair proper without the appropriate music setting, ensured by the Pipers of Transylvania.
The project addresses the general public, but in particular the beneficiaries of the SCUT Brașov day center, thus seeking to contribute to the social inclusion of people with disabilities, helping them develop their artistic abilities. More details about the event from Peter Moynahan, one of the organizers of the event and a member of the band the Pipers of Transylvania.
“Historical reenactment and mediaeval music will be back in Brasov city between the 9th and 11th of August. Terra Ultrasilvana will be in charge with the reenactment that will take place near the Fortress on the Hill, while the Pipers of Transylvania will be cheering up the crowds through the streets of the Old Town. The most important defensive elements of the old city will be brought back to life, also emphasizing some of its squares. Our project will include a small mediaeval fair with some of the most important craftsmen from Transylvania and they will also do workshops for the audience. The project manager is the Terra Ultrasilvana Association in partnership with “Produs în Bistrița-Năsăud”, a craftsmen association from Bistrița-Năsăud County, the Transylvania Medieval Association and the social services Association from Brașov – SCUT. The project is financed by the Town Hall of Brașov City”.
On the sidelines of the 75th anniversary summit in Washington, NATO leaders pledged to strengthen collective defense, highlighting the substantial progress reported on defense spending, forward defense, high-readiness forces, command and control, collective defense exercises.
The ongoing conclift in Ukraine, with its specific challenges for the Eastern Flank and the Black Sea region, has determined NATO allies and partners to continuously adapt the Alliance’s strategy for Europe. Today’s edition offers some precious insight shared by General David Petraeus, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and commander of US Forces Afghanistan.
Turkish citizens who work legally in Romania will benefit from the recognition of seniority, when calculating pensions, following a protocol signed by the Romanian Minister of Labor, Simona Bucura-Oprescu and her Turkish counterpart, Vedat Işikhan. The provisions of the agreement will also benefit Romanian citizens with unique residence and work permits, valid in Turkey. Under the said protocol, the social security institutions in Romania and Turkey will work closer together to make sure Turkish citizens working in Romania, but also the Romanians working in Turkey, are provided with the necessary framework to better protect their rights. The top priority is to ensure the receipt of pensions, Minister Oprescu said. In turn, the Turkish official expressed confidence that the partnership will strengthen ties between his country and Romania. The Romanian Minister said that the first meeting of the Turkey-Romania Joint Working Group in the field of labor and social security has already taken place, expressing confidence that the action plan for the 2024-2025 period will further develop cooperation. According to the Romanian Minister, the records of the Labor Inspection show that there are approximately 10,000 Turkish citizens working in Romania.
From the start of the war in Ukraine until mid-July, over 23,000 Ukrainians registered with the National Employment Agency in Romania. The biggest number of registered Ukrainian refugee citizens, 7,201, reside in Bucharest and Ilfov County, 5,704, in Constanța County, in the southeast, 1,585 in Maramureș County, in the northwest, and 1,492 in Brașov County, in the center. According to official data, 3,154 Ukrainian citizens were active on the labor market as a result of the employment services provided by the National Employment Agency. Ukrainians have taken up jobs in the automotive industry, textile manufacturing, constructions, freight transport, tourism, public catering, IT, education, music and the administration. At present, 5,934 jobs offered by 693 employers are available to Ukrainian refugees residing in Romania. The main fields where jobs are available are the hospitality sector, the car-manufacturing industry and constructions. The National Employment Agency specifies that Ukrainian citizens who register with the Agency are offered free-of-charge services providing them with information and professional advice, labour mediation, professional training and assistance from the European Employment Services (EURES).
Nine citizens from Nepal were detained by Romanian Border Police on the Romanian-Serbian border while trying to illegally leave the country to reach Western Europe. Following an inspection, the Border Police discovered that the Nepalese citizens, aged between 20 and 37, entered the country legally on the basis of work visas. Pending the finalization of the inquiry, the suspects risk expulsion and even a ban upon returning to the European Union for a period of 5 years. (VP)
The 2024 edition of the Oradea Medieval Festival consisted of a medieval fashion parade, tournaments, reenactments of historical battles, and a TAP-fight tourney, bringing together participating knights from 9 countries.
Organizers prepared a wide variety of activities, from bow shooting, pottery and tannery workshops for children, to medieval puppet theatre shows, storytelling, dance and magic shows, hunting parties, juggling and other contests, and of course, medieval music and concerts.
SHOOTING – Former US president Donald Trump was shot in the right ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The president was rushed off stage quickly by Secret Service. According to preliminary reports, the shooter fired multiple shots from an “elevated position” overseeing the stage before US Secret Service personnel “neutralized” him. Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told the media that one audience member was also killed in the ensuing panic. According to law enforcement officials, the shooting is now investigated as an attempted assassination.
One of Trump’s senior campaign advisers released a statement after the attack, stating that “President Trump is doing well and grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their fast action”.
Shortly after the attack, president Joe Biden was briefed on the developments. “I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it”, president Biden said in a statement.
Scores of other US former and current officials have condemned the attack, wishing the former president a speedy recovery.
Trump is expected to receive a formal nomination at the Republican National Convention, slated for Monday in Milwaukee, which will proceed on schedule, one party official said. (VP)
In early June, the Politehnica University of Science and Technology in Bucharest hosted a new edition of Poli SpaceFest, the place where technology developers meet astronauts and astro physicists to present their latest achievements in the effort to explore space.
A number of high-profile astronauts were invited as special guests this year: Michael Lopez Alegria, Susan Kilrain and Dominic Antonelli, whom the public were very eager to meet, ask questions and take pictures with.
SpaceFest 2024 brought many other interesting workshops and presentations to the general public, including AR and VR immersive experiences, satellite workshops, real-life homemade rocket launches, but also students for school children, space art, technology and innovation exhibitions, as well as countless other activities for visiting families.
