RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

March 5, 2018

Teachers boycott middle school mock exams

March 5, 2018
March 5, 2018

, 05.03.2018, 13:54

PROTESTS – Unionists in the public education sector have today called for a boycott of the first test in the mock exams taken by 8th graders ahead of middle school graduation, namely the Romanian language and literature test. Several schools in Romania boycotted the test. Some of the problems pointed out by teachers are the effects of the new salary scheme on their incomes, the method of calculating bonuses and the scarce funds for equipment purchases. On the other hand, the Education Ministry reminded trade union leaders that the employees in the system received a 20% pay raise on March 1 and that the collective bargaining agreement is being renegotiated. Trade unions promised not to initiate a labour conflict.




MOTION – The Chamber of Deputies is today discussing a new simple motion tabled by the Opposition against the Education Minister, Valentin Popa, whom Liberals accuse of unprofessionalism in tackling problems in the education sector. The National Liberal Party mentioned delays in salary payments, the lack of funds for investments, which might lead to schools being merged or dismantled. The vote on the motion is scheduled for Friday.




MILITARY – Over 1,700 Romanian and foreign troops will take part, as of today until March 15th, in a large-scale multinational exercise, organised 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.




CORRUPTION – The High Court of Cassation and Justice might pass a final ruling today in the case in which Ludovic Orban, the president of the National Liberal Party, the main Opposition party in Romania, is tried for influence peddling in view of obtaining undue benefits. Last month, Orban was found not guilty by a court of first instance. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate accuses Orban of having contacted a businessman in 2016, to request financial support for the local election campaign, in which Orban was running for Bucharest mayor general. Also today, the Supreme Court may pass the final ruling concerning the former chair of the Prahova County Council Mircea Cosma, and his son, former Deputy Vlad Cosma. The two have been sentenced by a court of first instance to 8 and 5 years in prison respectively, for bribe-taking, abuse of office and influence peddling. Vlad Cosma subsequently accused anti-corruption prosecutors of having tampered with evidence, which generated a huge political and media scandal in Bucharest.




DEFENCE – The Secretary of State for defence policy, planning and international relations, Mircea Duşa, is taking part today and tomorrow in a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels. According to the Romanian Defence Ministry, the meeting focuses on permanent structured cooperation. The agenda also includes talks on military mobility and the European Defence Fund. The final session, focusing on the EU – NATO cooperation, will be attended by the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.




ITALY – Italy is bracing up for a parliamentary make-up without a majority, after yesterdays legislative election. The reported turnout was about 73%. According to exit polls, no party or alliance will be able to form a government, and the media expect lengthy negotiations for the formation of a new Cabinet. Analysts note that two things are certain: the failure of the left-of-centre coalition in power up until the election, and the progress of populist and Euro-phobic parties. In fact, Nigel Farage, the former leader of Britains pro-Brexit movement, congratulated the Five-Star Movement, an anti-system party about to become the largest party in Italy, while the president of the French far-right National Front, Marine LePen, said the EU would have a terrible day in the wake of the elections in Italy.




OSCARS – ‘The Shape of Water’ was the great winner in the 90th Academy Awards gala held on Sunday night, winning 4 categories: best picture, best director, best score and best production design. Gary Oldman and Frances McDormand won the top prizes for lead actor and actress, for their parts in ‘Darkest Hour’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’, respectively.


(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

Newsflash
Newsflash Thursday, 21 November 2024

November 21, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news. RULING – The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel’s Prime...

November 21, 2024 UPDATE
Newsflash
Newsflash Thursday, 21 November 2024

November 21, 2024

Election – The first round of the presidential election takes place in Romania on November 24. The second round is scheduled for December 8, and...

November 21, 2024
Newsflash
Newsflash Wednesday, 20 November 2024

November 20, 2024 UPDATE

Schengen – The Romanian Interior Minister, Cătălin Predoiu on Wednesday talked, during a video conference, with his Hungarian counterpart,...

November 20, 2024 UPDATE
Newsflash
Newsflash Wednesday, 20 November 2024

November 20, 2024

BONDS – Foreign investors are showing great interest in the Romgaz bond issue, according to the company’s CEO Răzvan Popescu. He says...

November 20, 2024
Newsflash Wednesday, 20 November 2024

1,000 days of war in Ukraine

Representatives of several states, politicians and diplomats conveyed messages of support on the anniversary of 1,000 days since Russia launched its...

1,000 days of war in Ukraine
Newsflash Tuesday, 19 November 2024

November 19, 2024 UPDATE

  PARLIAMENT The parliament of Romania convenes on Wednesday to approve 2 inquiry committees and their membership. The joint standing bureaus...

November 19, 2024 UPDATE
Newsflash Tuesday, 19 November 2024

November 19, 2024

A roundup of local and international news.   MESSAGE – Despite 1,000 days of terrible warfare, Ukraine stands unbowed, the US Ambassador in...

November 19, 2024
Newsflash Monday, 18 November 2024

November 18, 2024 UPDATE

VISIT – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Monday visited the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation in Berlin...

November 18, 2024 UPDATE

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company