September 10, 2021
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Newsroom, 10.09.2021, 13:55
GOVERNMENT The government convenes today in Bucharest to discuss several bills in the field of education, including a resolution on the implementation of the “Educated Romania programme initiated by president Klaus Iohannis. The programme comprises 7 technical reports that review of state of affairs in Romanian public education and suggest specific targets and measures in the short, medium and long run. Some of the goals targeted for 2030 are Romania ranking in the top 30 countries in the world in the PISA tests; a minimum 80% pass rate in the middle school graduation tests and 75% pass rate in the Baccalaureate exams, as well as organising policies designed to reduce the number of schools with pass rates below 50%.
EVACUATION The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu received in Bucharest 139 out of the 156 Afghan citizens evacuated from Afghanistan by the inter-institutional task force activated in on August 13 in Romania. These include former collaborators of the Romanian troops in the Afghanistan theatre of operations, students on grants in Romania, and other vulnerable categories, such as journalists, human rights activists, magistrates and their families. The group of Afghan citizens was brought from Islamabad by an aircraft operated by a Romanian commercial line, with the flight coordinated and organised by the Foreign Ministry. Bogdan Aurescu told the Afghan citizens that Romanian authorities will do their best to provide these friends of Romania with decent living conditions and a chance to start over. Meanwhile, the Romanian task force will continue to process the support requests coming from Afghan citizens, the Romanian official added.
COVID-19 On Thursday Romania once again reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus infections. Around 4,000 COVID patients are now hospitalised, over 500 of them in intensive care. The national vaccine coverage rate is around 31%, with 5.2 million people fully immunised so far. The state of alert has been extended by another 30 days as of today.
INFLATION In Romania, the year-on-year inflation rate reached 5.3% in August, from 5% in July, as non-food prices went up by 7.92%, food prices by 2.7%, and the prices of services rose by 2.97%, according to data released on Friday by the National Statistics Institute. According to a report delivered in August by the National Bank governor Mugur Isărescu, the central bank updated its inflation forecast for the end of this year to 5.6%.
POLL Four out of five respondents (81%) say the EU should only grant funding to the member states that observe democratic principles and the rule of law, according to an Eurobarometer poll made public on Friday by the European Parliament, ahead of the State of the EU debate due on September 15. The Eurobarometer shows evident public support for transparency and effective control of the EU funds provided as part of the NextGenerationEU programme. According to the poll, 53% of the EU citizens (58% in Romania) fully agree, and another 32% (29% in Romania) tend to agree, that efficient control should be in place. Asked about issues the European Parliament should pursue as its priorities, the respondents mentioned fighting climate change, poverty and social exclusion, supporting the economy and creating new jobs, public health, migration and asylum. The Eurobarometer poll was conducted between August 17 and 25, online, in all the 27 member states, with roughly 1,000 interviewees in most countries.
UNTOLD Cluj-Napoca (north-west) is hosting these days the largest electronica festival in Romania, UNTOLD. Over 70,000 people from over 100 countries are expected to attend this special edition, held in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from famous DJs like Dimitris Vega and Like Mike, the world celebrated pan flute player Gheorghe Zamfir is also performing, in an original blending of electronic music and traditional sound. UNTOLD is more than just music, it is also about fire and light shows, performances by renowned troupes like the Moon Ladies (Italy), about art exhibitions, including a south-American art exhibition that showcases the traditions of Amazonian tribes. A fashion show bringing together the works of 20 designers, as well as percussion workshops, are also among the highlights of the festival. (tr. A.M. Popescu)
