November 11, 2018

The world celebrates Armistice Day

Newsroom, 11.11.2018, 14:05

ARMISTICE DAY – Sunday marks 100 years since the end of the WWI with Armistice Day events taking place across the globe. Australia and New Zealand launched global commemorations Sunday to mark the centenary of the end of WWI, remembering the more than 80,000 of their nationals who died in the carnage of the trenches on the other side of the world. Americans mark the 100th anniversary of the armistice on Sunday with celebrations ranging from high-tech light shows to somber gatherings in honor of the country’s military veterans. More than 100,000 Americans died in WWI, after the United States declared war on Germany. Remembrance Day services are also taking place across Britain. A hundred years after Armistice Day, the Queen and prime minister will attend a service at the cenotaph before travelling to Westminster Abbey to attend a religious service.

WWI – Romanian president Klaus Iohannis is attending in France the ceremonies marking 100 years since the end of WWI. U.S. President Donald Trump, Russia President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and dozens of monarchs, presidents and prime ministers from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and beyond, joined French President Emmanuel Macron to mark the moment guns fell silent across Europe a century ago. The commemoration is the centerpiece of global tributes to honor the 10 million soldiers who were killed during the 1914-18 war and the moment the Armistice, signed in northeastern France, came into effect at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. The Romanian head of state is taking part in the centennial ceremony at the Triumphal Arch and also in the inaugural edition of the Paris Peace Forum, set up at president Macron’s initiative, focused on supporting and striving to improve global governance in the fields of peace and security, environment, development, technological advancement and economy.

VETERANS’ DAY – Religious and military ceremonies are being held in Romania’s capital today, to mark the Veterans’ Day. All garrisons in the country, hosting military units, are today open to visitors and wreaths are being laid on the tombs of Romania’s heroes who died in the trenches. In Bucharest, the bust of Marshal Alexandru Averescu, the Romanian Army’s leader in WWI, one of the greatest Romanian commanders of all time, is being unveiled during a solemn ceremony. Also remembered on the Veterans’ Day is second lieutenant Iosif Silviu Fogoras, the first Romanian military who died in Afghanistan on November 11, 2003. Between 1996 and 2003 Romania lost 29 military while 180 were injured in the operation theatres.

YOUTH CAPITAL – The city of iasi, in the north-east, will be the next Romanian Youth Capital between May 2nd 2019 and May 1st 2020. The winner was announced on Saturday evening in Baia Mare, the current holder of this title. Iasi will thus receive 50 thousand euros, an amount that is the starting point for the financing of new projects for the city. The programme runs on principles similar to those of the European Youth Capital. The first edition was held in 2016. On the other hand, the mayor of Baia Mare has publicly announced the town’s candidacy to the title of European Youth Capital in 2020.

HANDBALL – Romania’s women’s handball champions CSM Bucharest is today playing away from home against FTC-Rail Cargo Hungary, in Champions League’s Group D. The Hungarian team ranks first, with 6 points, followed by CSM Bucharest with 4, and Kristiansand of Norway and Bietigheim of Germany with 3 points each. The first three highest ranking teams will qualify for the main groups. On Thursday, in the men’s competition, the current holder of the national title, Dinamo Bucharest, defeated Ademar Leon of Spain on home turf. Dinamo gained 10 points and now tops the group rankings. The main counter-candidates for play-offs qualification are Ademar Leon, which currently has 9 points, Wisla Plock of Poland and Elverum of Norway, with 8 points each.

(Translated by Elena Enache)