August 29, 2019

A roundup of domestic and international news

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Newsroom, 29.08.2019, 13:39

STATISTICS – Romania’s population stood at 19.4 million people on January 1,
2019, by 125,500 people less compared to the same period last year, reads a
provisional estimate of the National Statistics Institute made public today.
According to the Institute, the main cause of this demographic shrinkage is the
negative population growth rate. Another reason is the high number of
emigrants. Last year, some 240,000 people left the country, by 20,000 more than
in 2017. Population aging has also increased compared to January 1, 2018, the
number of people aged 65 and above being on the rise.

MEETING – Romania’s Defence and Foreign Ministers, Gabriel Les and Ramona
Manescu, are today attending the informal meeting of the EU’s Foreign Ministers
hosted by Helsinki. On the last day of the event a joint panel of the defence
and foreign ministers will focus on hot topics in the field of hybrid threats.
The meeting is chaired by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Attending the panels were NATO Secretary
General Jens Stoltenberg and the UN Deputy Secretary General for Peace
Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. On Wednesday, talks tackled maritime
coordination, artificial intelligence and new technologies, as well as the
impact of climate change.

VISIT – US President Donald Trump’s national security advisor, John
Bolton, today on a visit to Chisinau, said the United States supports the
sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, a country that must
decide its future without outside interference. Subsequent to his meeting with
Prime Minister Maia Sandu, John Bolton said Washington continues to support the
Moldovan Government’s efforts to settle the conflict in Transdniestr, a
pro-Russian breakaway region east of Moldova. According to Radio Romania’s
correspondent in Chisinau, Prime Minister Sandu outlined the main priorities of
her Government, including combating top-level corruption, reducing poverty and
creating opportunities for economic developments. Sandu and Bolton also
discussed the possibility of increased cooperation with NATO by means of a new
joint action plan.

VOLLEYBALL – The Romanian women’s volleyball team is today playing Azerbaijan
in the last Group C fixture at the European Championship in Hungary. In the
first four games, Romania defeated Hungary and Estonia 3-1, and lost to the
Netherlands and Croatia, nil-3 and 1-3, respectively. The first four teams in
each group will advance to the quarterfinals. This is Romania’s first
participation after a four-year break. Our best result was bronze in 1963.

FOOTBALL – Romania’s vice-champions FCSB are today playing Vitoria Guimaraes
of Portugal away from home in the return leg of the Europa League playoffs. The
first leg ended nil-all. On Wednesday, Romania’s champions CFR Cluj lost nil-1
away from home to Slavia Prague of the Czech Republic. In the first leg on home
turf, CFR had lost nil-1. CFR will however play in the Europa League group
phase this season.

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, world no. 4, is today
playing Taylor Townsend of the United States in the second round at US Open.
Ana Bogdan, will be going up against Petra Martic of Croatia, while Sorana
Cirstea will take on Aliona Bolsova of Spain. Finally, in the men’s
competition, Marius Copil will play Gael Monfils of France.

(Translated
by V. Palcu)