July 28, 2018
Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 28.07.2018, 12:59
AIR SHOW – Baneasa International Airport is hosting today the 10th edition of the most impressive aviation event in Romania, Bucharest International Air Show & General Aviation Exhibition (BIAS). This years edition is devoted to the centennial of the Romanian nation state. Attending BIAS are 150 military and civilian aircraft, over 100 pilots and parachute jumpers from 13 countries – Romania, Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Britain, Germany, USA, Greece, Austria, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic and Lithuania. Visitors are invited to watch elite demonstrations and air stunts, and to see the aircraft on display as part of the exhibition. The special guests are the aerobatics demonstration team of the Turkish Air Forces, the Turkish Stars, the only such team in the world using 8 supersonic fighter jets.
NAVY – Three NATO military vessels are docked between July 28th and 31st at the Constanta military port at the Black Sea. After having stopped at the Burgas port in Bulgaria and Odessa in Ukraine, the Romanian dredger ‘Lt. Lupu Dinescu’, the Turkish mine sweeper ‘TCG Anamur’ and the German tender ‘FGS Rhein’ are in the third port these days, taking part in the multinational exercise BREEZE 18 in Bulgarian waters and in international Black Sea waters, as well as in joint naval exercises with Ukrainian vessels. Tomorrow, the Romanian, German and Turkish ships will be open to the general public.
JUDICIARY – Serbia denied Romanias request for the extradition of its former MP Sebastian Ghiţă. The High Court of Justice in Belgrade also ruled that Ghita was eligible for asylum. Subject to several criminal cases pending in Romania, Sebastian Ghiţă left the country in December 2016. He was apprehended in April 2017 in Belgrade, while trying to use a forged Slovenian passport, and was subsequently released on bail.
GREECE – The PM of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, has taken full political responsibility for the tragedy caused by the devastating wildfires east of Athens, which killed at least 87 people this week. Amid accusations of utter failure to protect the citizens, Alexis Tsipras promised a national plan to fight decade-long building code violations. Locals and tourists in Mati, a village 40 km from the capital city, mostly comprising holiday homes, died either in cars stuck on the narrow streets of the village, or trying to reach the sea shore and escape the fire. Many houses are no longer inhabitable. On Wednesday Romania sent two airplanes to support the Greek authorities.
MOLDOVA – The Parliament of Moldova yesterday set February 24, 2019 as the date of the next parliamentary elections. The current term in office ends on November 30, and according to the national legislation elections must be held in the following 3 months, that is by the end of February 2019. The vote will be organized in the mixed electoral system, contrary to the recommendations of the Venice Commission. Under the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, parliamentary elections are held every 4 years.
ECLIPSE – Astronomy lovers and professionals on 4 continents last night watched the longest blood moon eclipse of the 21st Century. Across the world, millions looked up to see the Earth cast its shadow on the moon. The total eclipse lasted for 103 minutes. The spectacular event was visible in Romania as well. In Bucharest, hundreds of people, particularly youngsters and parents with young kids crowded to see the phenomenon at the Astronomical Observatory.
(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)
