RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

May 4, 2024

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsflash
Newsflash

, 04.05.2024, 14:00

HOLY WEEK – Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania are making the final preparations ahead of Easter Sunday. Holy Saturday marks the last day of Holy Week and the last day of Lent, a solemn day that ends in the evening with the Easter Vigil. On Saturday, Jerusalem hosts the Holy Fire special service in the Holy Sepulcher, a unique ritual whereby the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem enters the Tomb of Jesus to receive the light of the Resurrection, lit by the Holy Spirit, which he then shares with the faithful. The Holy Light is also expected to reach Romania. In his Easter sermon, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said that healing the world of passing illnesses was not the ultimate design of Jesus Christ, but rather saving mankind from sin and death. The Patriarch urged Romanians to pursue good deeds. In turn, Cardinal Lucian of the Eastern-Catholic Church said that, although temptation is always lurking due to passion, evil, conflict, violence, breaches of human dignity or freedom, the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord strengthens our faith and kindles a hope that no one and nothing can destroy. The high-ranking Eastern-Catholic cleric also said that intellectual creativity and technological progress, including artificial intelligence, should be put to good use with the observance of ethical standards, in order to make society more humane and change it for the better.

 

 

FRANCE – ROMANIA COOPERATION – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminița Odobescu, on Friday had a bilateral meeting with the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné. Talks focused on the robustness of bilateral dialogue, the close diplomatic cooperation between Bucharest and Paris regarding European topics, as well as a mutual desire to advance cooperation at both bilateral and European levels. The two foreign ministers agreed to continue joint efforts to consolidate the Strategic Agenda with a view to promoting the European project and boost resilience at EU level. Minister Odobescu thanked France for its remarkable contribution to the consolidation of the NATO Eastern Flank and for taking on the role of a framework nation in the NATO Battlegroup deployed to Romania. In addition, the Romanian official expressed gratitude for France’s growing interest in the Black Sea region, particularly in the context of Russia’s acts of aggression against Ukraine and regional challenges generated by the conflict. The two ministers highlighted the need to continue to provide multidimensional support to Ukraine and to coordinate actions to help the Republic of Moldova, a country faced with multiple security threats from the Russian Federation.

 

 

WAR IN UKRAINE – Russia on Friday night launched a massive drone attack on Kharkiv and Dnipro regions, wounding at least six people and hitting critical infrastructure, commercial and residential buildings, regional officials announced on Saturday. According to the Ukrainian Air Forces, Russia launched 13 Shahed drones, targeting regions in northeastern and central Ukraine. Local air defenses shot down all the drones, the commander of Ukrainian air forces announced. In another development, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said that energy supplies have been covered in the last 24 hours using domestic energy production, energy imports, as well as emergency energy aid delivered by Romania, Poland and Slovakia.

 

 

ATTACK – Poland too announced it was targeted by alleged Russian cyber-attacks, which may also have been directed against Germany and Czechia, Reuters reports. Warsaw expressed solidarity with the two countries in light of the cyber-attacks targeting democratic institutions and political parties, the Polish Foreign Ministry said in a press release. Germany too accused Russia on Friday of launching cyber-attacks against the Social-Democratic Party in power, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and local defense and airspace companies, but also targets from other countries, warning the attack will not remain without consequence.

 

 

LIFE EXPECTANCY – Spain has the highest life expectancy rate at EU level – 84 years, above the EU average of 81.5 years. According to a Eurostat report, Romania has the third-lowest life expectancy in the EU, 76.6 years, followed only by Latvia with 75.9 years and Bulgaria with 75.8 years. However, the biggest increase in life expectancy rates across the EU over 2019-2023 was reported in Romania. 15 of the 27 EU Member States exceed the EU life expectancy average. Countries with lower rates are those in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, whereas countries in the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Central Europe have higher life expectancy rates.

 

 

HANDBALL – The Romanian women’s champions, CSM Bucharest, are today taking on Metz of France away from home in the return leg of the EHF Champions League quarterfinals. In the first leg Metz won 27-24 in Bucharest. In men’s handball, Dinamo Bucharest has qualified to the EHF European League Final Four, where it will play SG Flesburg Handewitt of Germany. In the other semi-final, Fuchse Berlin, the defending champions, will go up against Rhein-Nekar Loewen in an all-German match. The Final Four tournament is hosted by Hamburg over May 25-26. (VP)

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