August 5, 2023 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 05.08.2023, 19:00
Navy Day. Events devoted to Navy Day started on Saturday in the main ports of Romania. Navy Day is celebrated in Romania on August 15, when Christians also celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, considered the protector of sailors. The garrisons of Brăila and Tulcea organized an open doors day, and the Galati garrison will also have an open day on Sunday, an opportunity for the public to visit the battleships and learn about the technique, equipment and specific weaponry used by the river fleet soldiers. Those interested can enjoy military music concerts, exhibitions, interactive workshops, but also military-religious ceremonies with the participation of hundreds of sailors, marine infantrymen and river divers on board military ships and speedboats. The ports of Constanţa and Mangalia, on the Black Sea, have organized open days as well. A special attraction is the training ship Mircea, the symbol vessel of the Naval Forces, recently returned from the annual training march of the Naval Academy students. Since 2009, August 15 is a national holiday in Romania.
Niger. Another Romanian citizen, the fifth, was evacuated from Niger on a Spanish flight bound for Madrid. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest has informed that, currently, there are no other requests for consular assistance from other Romanians. The democratically elected Nigerian president, Mohamed Bazoum, was recently ousted in a coup détat, the seventh in West Africa since 2020. The military regime installed following the coup denounced any external interference and said it would fight in the event of an intervention. This could lead to a wider regional conflict, given that two other military regimes that came to power following coups, those of Burkina Faso and Mali, have signaled that they are ready to intervene in support of the Nigerian putschists. Niger is of strategic importance to the United States, China, the EU and Russia, given its uranium and oil reserves, but also the role it plays in the fight against Muslim extremists in the Sahel region.
Aviation Safety. The Romanian authorities notified the EU Aviation Safety Agency regarding the issue of flights operated by Wizz Air in Romania, after nine flights were canceled in just one day for technical reasons. The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Transport, Bogdan Mândrescu, has called on the management of Wizz Air to urgently come up with a plan of concrete measures to reduce the number of flights canceled for technical reasons and to ensure the consistency of air flights. He also asked the company to solve its issues with the navigation staff, who work over the allowed time limit. The Consumer Protection Office has too notified the European Authority for Passenger Rights in relation to the situations generated in Romania by Wizz Air, which has been canceling or postponing numerous flights.
Festival. The 11th edition of the “Haferland Week” festival is taking place these days near Sighișoara, the only inhabited medieval fortress in south-eastern Europe, located in the center of Romania. It is one of the most important events dedicated to the culture of the Saxons – ethnic groups of German origin settled in Transylvania. 10 villages in the so-called Country of Oats are animated by concerts, workshops with local craftsmen, exhibitions, outdoor film screenings, traditional Saxon dances and brass band music. Festival-goers have the unique chance to travel back in time to rediscover old brass band music, traditional Saxon dances and songs, plays in the Saxon language, an exhibition of traditional Saxon costumes, organ concerts in fortified churches, as well as traditional crafts from the region. The central theme of the edition, attended by officials and public figures from Romania and Germany, is sustainability in the landscape of the Saxon villages of Haferland.
Sport. Romanian athletics had an exceptional day, on Friday, at the Francophonie Games in Kinshasa (Congo), with 9 medals – five gold, one silver and three bronze. The gold was won by Mihaela Popa in the womens 20 km march and by Ionuţ Vasilića Pleşu in the similar mens race. At the same time, the first place in the mens javelin event was won by Alexandru Novac, who also set a new competition record, and in the hammer throw, the European champion Bianca Florentina Ghelber came in first. Finally, Marius Musteaţă also won gold, in weight throw. Romania also had a good day in judo, with a gold medal, thanks to Alexandru Sibişan in cat. 90 kg, and a silver medal. The Romanian athletes are in second place in the overall medal ranking, with 17 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze, being overtaken by those from Morocco. The Francophonie Games take place between July 28 and August 6. (MI)
