June 5, 2017

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 05.06.2017, 13:54

HOLIDAY Christians, including from Romania, a country with an Orthodox majority, are today celebrating the second day of Pentecost — the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles of Jesus Christ. The New Testament book of Acts describes the moment, which we celebrate today. The 12 apostles were together in Jerusalim fifty days after the Ressurection and ten days after Jesus’ Ascension. At a certain moment, wind started to blow in the room the apostles were in, a noise was heard after which they began talking in foreign languages, languages they didn’t know before. Small flames of fire were being seen over their heads. Peter explained that it was the Holy Spirit that enabled them to talk in tongues. On that day, following Peter’s sermon, three thousand people came to Christ, making the first Christian community, the nucleus of the future Church.

AWARD Currently on a visit to the United States, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis will be attending the Global Forum of the prestigious organisation American Jewish Committee. On this occasion AJC is expected to honor Klaus Iohannis with its prestigious Light Unto the Nations Award, the AJC’s highest award given to some heads of state or government in recognition of their international impact in the fields of peace, security, democracy and the promotion of human values. The forum will be attended by 25 hundred participants from 70 countries. President Iohannis is expected to be received by his American counterpart, Donald Trump. According to Radio Romania correspondent in Washington, Klaus Iohannis is the first leader in Central and Eastern Europe to be received by the White House leader since he took office. Deepening bilateral relations and strengthening the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the USA are high on the agenda. We recall that Romania has been running this Strategic Partnership with the USA for 20 years now. Iohannis’ agenda also includes a meeting with the Romanians living in the USA.

ECONOMY Romania’s economy will register a growth of 4.4% as compared to the one of 3.7% envisaged in January, the World Bank has today announced in its Global Economy Prospects. The same institution has revised up it prospects for 2018 and 2019 when Romania’s GDP is expected to grow with 3.7% and 3.5% respectively. Although fiscal relaxation has a lower contribution to economic growth it will put pressure on public and external deficits, the document also shows. We recall that in the first quarter of 2017, Romania reported the highest growth rate in the EU of 5.7% thanks to rising consumption. A slight budget surplus was reported in late April.

ATTACK Jihadi group the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday night in London when 7 were killed and scores wounded. Police have detained several people including women in a sting operation in eastern London. The Romanian Foreign Ministry has extended condolences to the families of the victims, firmly condemning the attack. In turn, Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis has joined the Western leaders in firmly condemning the London attack. We recall that on Saturday night three assailants drove their van into pedestrians on London Bridge and started stabbing people randomly before being shot dead by the police. The attack took place five days before the early election in the UK and the election campaign has been suspended for the second time for the same reason. Britain has seen three terror attacks in the past three months; 34 people have been killed and hundreds wounded.

TIFF The 16th edition of the Transylvania International Film Festival is going on in Cluj Napoca, northwestern Romania. The organizers have for today chosen films addressing cooking issues and visitors will also be given the occasion to taste dishes prepared by famous chefs invited to attend the festival. 12 movies are vying for the first prize during the festival, which is to see the screening of 255 films from 53 countries. Over 12 hundred invitees from Romania and abroad are participating in the screening, the concerts, workshops, debates and film-launching ceremonies at Romania’s most important film festival. We recall that Radio Romania is a partner of this prestigious event, which will also be attended by famous French film star Alain Delon, at his first presence in Romania.