October 10, 2015 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 10.10.2015, 14:19
Romania firmly condemns the attacks in Ankara and restates its full support for Turkey, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday. The Romanian Foreign Ministry offered condolences to the Turkish authorities, the Turkish people and the victims’ families. In her turn, the EUs high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Federica Mogherini, called on Turkey “to stand united against terrorists and against all those who try to destabilize a country that is facing many threats.” In Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan firmly condammned the blasts that killed at least 85 people and injured another 185. The explosions took place near the citys central train station as people gathered for a march asking for an end to the conflict between the Turkish government and the Kurdish militant group the PKK. A ceasefire agreement between the two parties expired in July and there have been regular attacks from both sides since then. The PKK is fighting for the territorial independence of the Kurds.
An IMF delegation will travel to Romania next week for talks with the Bucharest authorities on the country’s budget in 2016 and the prospect of another precautionary agreement with Romania. The visit takes place against the background of the IMF having recently revised upwards its economic forecast on Romania. Thus, the country’s GDP is estimated to go up by 3.4% this year and by 3.9% in 2016. Romania’s fourth consecutive agreement with the IMF expired last month. The precautionary agreement was worth 2 billion euros but the Bucharest authorities did not access the funds. Romanian Finance Minister, Eugen Teodorovici, has recently stated that the country will officially ask for another agreement to be signed with the IMF.
On Sunday the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the main party in the governing coalition in Romania will elect its president. More than 530 thousand members are expected to cast their vote. The only candidate to the party’s presidency is Liviu Dragnea, currently interim president of the party. He took over the presidency of PSD in July 2015, when Prime Minister Victor Ponta, the then party president, resigned his position as head of the party following the corruption scandal in which he is involved. The PM Victor Ponta has been prosecuted being accused of forgery, accessory to tax evasion and money laundering. After internal elections, the Social Democrats will meet in an extraordinary congress on October 18.
Radio Romania’s Children Choir, conducted by Voicu Popescu, held a concert on Saturday, in Munich, as part of a choral music festival entitled “Let the Peoples Sing”. Radio Romania’s Children Choir, that qualified to the final alongside 8 other competitors from all over the world will perform tomorrow as part of the “Children and Youth Choirs” category. This year, Radio Romania’s Children Choir celebrates its 70th anniversary.
Presiding over a massive military parade in Phenian, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country was “fully ready” to defend itself against any U.S. threat. In a celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers Party, hundreds of troops marched across the country’s main square, which was festooned with national and party flags. The North Korean leader said the Workers Party members were a “source of miracle” as they turned the country into a socialist power, which was both independent and able to protect itself from military threat. Phenian already carried out three nuclear tests, in 2006, 2009 and 2013 and says it’s preparing for a fourth one, in spite of the international sanctions in place.
Romania’s national football squad will be up against the Faeroe Islands on Sunday. On Thursday the Romanians were held to a one-all draw by Finland. Northern Ireland has won the preliminary group. In order to book its ticket for Euro 2016, Romania is in dire need of a win in the match against the Faeroe Islands on Sunday, which is its last group stage fixture. In another move, Romanias national youth team defeated Luxembourg in an away match on Friday, counting towards the preliminaries of the European Under-21 Championship, scheduled for 2017. Bulgaria ranks first in this group, followed by Romania and Wales.
On Sunday, Romania’s rugby team is playing its last match at the World Rugby Cup, underway in England and Wales. In Exeter, on Sandy Park stadium, the Oaks will go up against Italy. The stake of the game is the group’s third position, which guarantees qualification to the World Cup scheduled for 2019 in Japan. The Romanians lost to Ireland and France but came back from nil-15 to beat Canada in their last match in Pool D, which was officially recorded as the biggest comeback in World Cup history.
