March 10, 2018 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 10.03.2018, 19:05
CONGRESS — Bucharest on Saturday played host to an extraordinary congress of the main ruling coalition party in Romania, the Social-Democratic Party. The Congress occasioned elections for the positions of executive president, secretary general and vice-presidents. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila was elected executive president after two other candidates, former Education Minister Ecaterina Andronescu and former Healthcare Minister, Nicolae Banicioiu, pulled out of the race. 16 vice-presidents were elected, 8 men and 8 women for the 8 regions of the country. The congress also tackled the issue of strengthening the strategic partnership with the USA, continuing judicial reforms and financial support for the Republic of Moldova. Some 4,000 delegates from all over the country attended the congress.
MILITARY – Over 1,700 Romanian and foreign troops are taking part until March 15, in a large-scale multinational exercise, organized by the Romanian Navy, in Dobrogea (south-eastern Romania) and in the international waters of the Black Sea. Spring Storm 18 is based on a unique training concept which brings together the navy, air and land forces, as part of a NATO immediate assurance action plan adopted at the 2016 Summit. Romanian troops are training jointly with fellow military from the US, France and Bulgaria, and from partner countries like Georgia and Ukraine.
FLU — The Romanian National Public Health Institute announced another two people died to the flu virus, raising the death toll to 90 across Romania. Health Minister Sorina Pintea says there is no reason to declare an epidemic at this stage.
STUDY — One in three Romanian teenagers is barely literate in reading and mathematics, reads a recent World Bank report. The document points out that the expanse of technology risks sinking Europe’s poorest countries further in poverty, deepening economic gaps between states. Another factor of concern is the fact that young people are not interested in learning a trade. In the last 15 years the number of jobs involving physical labour has dropped by 15% at EU level, while the number of jobs requiring analysis and creativity has gone up, the report further reveals.
BOOK FAIR — Romania is guest of honor at the International Book Trade Fair in Leipzig, Germany. Attending the events are writers Mircea Cartarescu, Nora Iuga, Andrei Plesu and Varujan Vosganian. The Ministry of Culture and National Identity is organizing some 60 events at Romania’s pavilion under the motto “Romania. Zoom In”, including a concert by Ada Milea, with lyrics translated into German by Herta Muller, the Romanian-born winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2009. The International Book Fair in Leipzig started on Friday and will close on Sunday and is aimed at promoting contemporary literature.
WHITE HOUSE — The White House has announced President Donald Trump has agreed to meet North-Korean leader Kim Jong-Un only if Pyongyang will undertake concrete action. Previously the White House leader said sanctions on North Korea stand until an agreement is reached. Additionally, President Trump said military operations with South Korea won’t be cancelled. On the other hand, Kim Jong-Un expressed commitment to work towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and promised to renounce testing further nuclear missiles.
HANDBALL — Romanian champions CSM Bucharest on Saturday lost narrowly 24-25 away from home to Rostov-Don of Russia in the last fixture of Champions League Group 1. CSM ranks third in the group tables and will play Ferencvaros of Hungary or Metz of France. Also on Saturday SCM Craiova qualified to the EHF Cup semi-finals after winning 26-23 away from home against Lada Togliatti of Russia. In the first leg the Russian side won 25-23. On Sunday, also in the EHF Cup, HC Zalau is playing Kastamonu Belediyesi of Turkey. In the first leg, Zalau won 29-28.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
