March 30, 2025
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 30.03.2025, 13:56
NATO. Romania will keep contributing to promoting global security and democratic values – said interim president Ilie Bolojan on Saturday, on the 21st anniversary of the country’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance. “Thanks to the NATO shield, Romania has become a safe place, where citizens have lived in peace and companies have invested, developing the economy. And this was especially due to the support offered by the United States of America, the most important force in the Alliance”, said the interim president. “This year we mark 145 years of diplomatic relations with the United States, a strategic partner and a trusted friend”, Ilie Bolojan added.
DIASPORA. The Department for the Relation with Romanians Abroad has launched the Non-Reimbursable Financing Session for projects intended for Romanians abroad who wish to preserve their linguistic, cultural and spiritual identity. By April 30, all those who aim to get involved in supporting Romanian communities abroad, inspire the younger generations and promote Romanian values and traditions are expected to submit projects. Associations, foundations, religious institutions, non-governmental organizations of Romanians abroad, authorized individuals or legal entities under public or private law from Romania or abroad can submit funding applications and documents, according to the information in the 2025 Financing Guide, which can be consulted on the website of the Department for Romanians Abroad. This year’s edition includes six funding programs in Education, Culture, Spirituality and Tradition, Civil Society, Mass Media and Community.
EMPLOYMENT. The Romanian government is introducing stricter rules for companies that mediate the employment of Romanian citizens abroad, as a measure to prevent cases of exploitation or human trafficking. Recruitment agencies must ensure that people who go to work have all the necessary documents and ensure the preparation of a copy of the employment contract in Romanian. In the case of seasonal workers, the obligation has been introduced for them to be informed about the accommodation conditions provided, and if rent is requested, the amount cannot exceed a quarter of the net salary. The costs of round-trip transportation between Romania and the workplace abroad must be covered by the employer, without the latter subsequently recovering these expenses from the workers, and they must be informed about health insurance or, as the case may be, private medical subscription for the contractual period.
DISEASE. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued warnings regarding the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease confirmed in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The authorities have warned the traffic of trucks transporting sheep and goats from Hungary to Romania is prohibited. Also, the transport of milk as a raw material for which it cannot be proven that it comes from animals tested negative for foot-and-mouth disease in the last 24 hours. In the Czech Republic, the transport of animals or raw materials originating from them is allowed only through certain border points, and in Slovakia additional safety measures have been taken, such as the mandatory control of all vehicles coming from Hungary, transit only through certain border points and the installation of disinfection equipment.
SUMMER TIME. Romania switched to daylight saving time on Saturday night. The clocks were moved forward by one hour, from 3:00 to 4:00, so the last Sunday of March has only 23 hours and is the shortest day of the year. 80 passenger trains on the move were affected by the change. The switch to daylight saving time brings longer days and more natural light, but the change can have an impact on the human body – doctors talk about headaches, fatigue and drowsiness until the body resets its so-called biological clock.
EARTHQUAKE. International teams are helping search and rescue efforts in Myanmar for people missing after Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake, among the largest to hit the Southeast Asian nation in a century. Myanmar’s military leaders allowed hundreds of foreign rescue workers into the country on Saturday after the quake struck the impoverished and war-torn country in recent years, killing more than 1,t00 people. The quake damaged airports, bridges and highways amid a civil war that has devastated the economy and displaced millions. The quake also killed dozens in Thailand, toppling a skyscraper under construction in the capital Bangkok. The BBC reports that a UN special rapporteur for Myanmar has condemned the continued army attacks in areas controlled by ethnic rebel groups and severely affected by the earthquake and called on the ruling junta to end military operations.
TENNIS. Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian will play the final of the WTA 125 tournament in Puerto Vallarta (Mexico), with total prizes of 115,000 dollars, after defeating THE Swiss Rebeka Masarova, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5). In the final, the first-seed Jaqueline Cristian (26 years old, 72 WTA will face the Czech Linda Fruhvirtova (19 years old, 215 WTA). (MI)
