August 15, 2017
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Newsroom, 15.08.2017, 13:49
NAVY DAY – August 15, marking the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, is also Navy Day in Romania. On this occasion, a grand public show is hosted in Constanta, with a plethora of events open to the public. Attending will be President Klaus Iohannis and Defense Minister Adrian Tutuianu. The president said Romania is taking on a more active role as an important and powerful regional player. Consolidating security and maritime defense is a core interest of Romania, Klaus Iohannis pointed out. Military music, the guard of honor and a navy parade were held on this occasion, along with a joint exercise of the Romanian Naval Forces. Navy Day was also marked in Mangalia, Braila, Galati, Tulcea, Giurgiu, Calarasi, Orsova and in Bucharest.
GAUDEAMUS – The 100th anniversary edition of the Gaudeamus Fair is being held in Mamaia, a major resort on the Black Sea. Representatives of the European Commission in Romania are holding a debate on the future of the European Union. At the event, an exhibition marks the 60th anniversary of the signing the Rome Treaty, the foundation of the Union. The Gaudeamus book fair, organized by Radio Romania, is open until Wednesday. Also this year, the national radio station celebrates 50 years since Radio Holiday started broadcasting for seaside resorts.
SUMMER UNIVERSITY – In Izvoru Muresului, in the central Romanian county of Harghita, the 15th edition of the summer university for Romanians around the world is underway. On Monday in his opening address Peoples Movement Partys MP Eugen Tomac called for dialogue between all political factions to solve the issue of Romanian communities on the countrys borders, facing a thorough denationalization process. The Romanian official said the state needs to take a more active role to organize actions devoted to the memory and identity of Romanians living in the countrys vicinity. The reunification with the Republic of Moldova as a national objective for 2018 was another topic for the talks. Participants highlighted the fact that our country should make it a point in committing to fulfill this goal. The agenda of the event also includes book launches, discussion panels and folk shows. Attending are young people from at home and the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania and Macedonia. The topic for this years edition is “From the first Unification to the Great Unification: Romania and Romanians Worldwide.
UN REPORT – A report of the United Nations Court of Human Rights (UNCHR) has called on the United States to end its detention regime applied to potential immigrants and asylum seekers. The document shows that the practice of unlawfully detaining asylum seekers has expanded exponentially and is in breach of international regulations. The measure is often punitive, irrationally long, useless and costly, the report also reads. An annual estimated 350,000 people are detained in the United States, pending immigration procedures. The cost of detention is approximately 2 billion dollars every year. The report was carried out in October 2016 and is the result of 280 interviews conducted in nine prisons in Texas, California and Illinois.
FOOTBALL – Romanias vice-champions FCSB is today taking on Sporting Lisbon away from home in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs for the main group phase. The return leg is scheduled for next week in Bucharest. Failure to qualify will nevertheless earn FCSB a place in the Europa League main group phase. The defending champions FC Viitorul is on Thursday playing Red Bull Salzburg of Austria in the first leg of the Europa League playoffs.
TENNIS – Simona Halep, WTA no. 2 is today playing Taylor Townsend of the US in the second round of the WTA tournament in Cincinnati, United States, totaling 2,5 million dollars in prize money. In the womens doubles, the pair made up of Irina Begu and Raluca Olaru has qualified to the round of 16 after defeating Abigail Spears of the US and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia, 3-6, 7-5, 10-6. Also in the round of 16 another Romanian, Monica Niculescu has reached this stage after defeating, together with her teammate, Su-Wei Hsieh of Taiwan, Johanna Konta of Great Britain and Christina McHale of the United States, 6-2, 6-2. In the mens doubles, Horia Tecau of Romania and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlads eased past Jared Donaldson and Stefan Kozlov of the United States, 6-3, 6-4, and moved on to the round of 16. Tecau and Rojer played the 2016 Cincinnati finals, and in 2012 Tecau won the trophy alongside Robert Lindstedt of Sweden. (Translated by V. Palcu)