November 8, 2019

A roundup of domestic and international news.

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Newsroom, 08.11.2019, 14:21

INFLATION – Romania in neither in the precipice, nor on the verge of it, Central Bank Governor Mugur Isarescu has said upon presenting the quarterly report on inflation. According to the Romanian official, the country’s main vulnerability is that most of the economic growth is based on consumption. Isarescu has said that the Central Bank has decreased to 3.8% the inflation forecast for the end of the year and estimates a 3.1% inflation rate for end-2020. The Central Bank estimated, in August 2019, a 4.2% inflation rate for the end of 2019 and of 3.4% for December 2020.

ELECTIONS – The election campaign for the presidential elections ends on Saturday morning. 14 candidates are vying for the highest office in Romania. This year’s elections have seen a number of firsts in terms of organisation. The voting began in fact on Friday at noon and ends on Sunday evening. In each of the three days, voting can be extended until 11.59 pm at the latest if at the official closing time, which is 9 pm, people are still waiting to cast their ballots in and outside polling stations. Also as a first, Romanian citizens living abroad can also vote by post. In order to prevent queues, the number of polling stations was doubled, to reach 836. In Romania, the voting process only takes place on Sunday. The second round is due in two weeks’ time, on the 24th of November.

BERLIN WALL – As many as 11 radio stations in Central and Eastern Europe have joined Radio Romania Culture in broadcasting, on November 9, the day when the Berlin Wall fell, radio documentaries under the title: “Born to be free. Stories from Central and Eastern Europe.” Thus, radio stations from Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland have joined Radio Romania’s initiative. The event also marks 30 years since the fall of the communist regime.

CELEBRATION – Orthodox and Greek Catholic believers are today celebrating Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel. In keeping with the Christian belief, Archangel Michael led the Jewish people to the promised land, while Archangel Gabriel foretold the birth of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ. About 1.3 million Romanians celebrate their name day today. Archangels Michael and Gabriel are the patron saints of the Romanian Gendarmerie.

TABLE TENNIS – European champions Romania have reached the quarterfinals of the Womens Table Tennis World Cup under way in Tokyo after defeating Vanuatu 3-nil in Group C. Romania, who lost 1-3 to Taiwan on Wednesday, have finished second in their group with 3 points, after Taiwan with 4 points, and ahead of Vanuatu with 2 points. Today, in the quarterfinals, Romania is facing Japan, who won a group that also included the United States and Austria. In the other quarterfinal matches, China face the US, Hong Kong face Taiwan and South Korea take on Ukraine. In September, Romania won the gold medal at the European table tennis championship in Nantes, France, after defeating Portugal in the final.

FOOTBALL – The Romanian football champions CFR Cluj on Thursday evening defeated the French side Rennes at home in a Group E match as part of the Europa League. In the first leg, Cluj won in Rennes 1-nil. In their first two group matches, CFR defeated Lazio Rome 2-1 at home and lost nil-2 to Celtic Glasgow away. The Scottish sides are in the lead with 10 points, followed by CFR with 9 points, Lazio with 3 points and Rennes with 1 point. (Translated by Elena Enache)