January 7, 2023

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 07.01.2023, 13:47

Feast
day. Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians in majority-Orthodox Romania are
today celebrating St. John the Baptist, the last prophet of the Old Testament
and the only one to know the Messiah, whose coming he prepared. The Judeans
recognised him as a prophet and came to be baptised in the Jordan river, in
repentance for their sins. It is at Jordan river that John met Jesus, whom he
recognised as the Messiah. St. John the Baptist died by beheading. Almost two
million Romanians are named after the saint. Old rite Christians are celebrating
Christmas.

Culture.
The western Romanian city of Timişoara is this year holding the title of
European Capital of Culture together with Elefsina in Greece and Veszprém in
Hungary. According to a statement from the European Commission, the three
cities join 60 others that held the title in previous years, both in the
European Union and outside the bloc. Throughout this year, the three cities
will be hosting special events, exhibitions and performances. The title of
European capital of culture demonstrates the wealth and diversity of European
cultures, encourages sustainable tourism and promotes the development of
cities. It has a positive social and economic impact in the long term both for
the cities themselves and the neighbouring regions. The cities applying for
this prestigious title must come up with a cultural programme with a strong
European dimension that promotes the active involvement of the local
inhabitants and communities.

Ukraine.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the decision of the United
States to supply Ukraine, for the first time, with heavy armour. The Bradley
fighting vehicles are used to transport infantry and provide covering fire. The
Americans will also provide ground-to-air missiles, armoured vehicles for the
troops and artillery systems as part of an assistance package worth over 3
billion dollars. The supply with armoured fighting vehicles indicates a change
in the approach of some western states who have so far been reluctant to send
more lethal support to Ukraine amid fears of escalating the conflict, notes the
BBC. The move comes at a time when Ukraine prepares for a new stage in its
attempt to regain the territories occupied by the Russians. In another
development, incidents were reported in the east of Ukraine in violation of the
ceasefire unilaterally declared by Russia over Orthodox Christmas.

Handball.
The Romanian women’s handball vicechampions CSM Bucharest are today facing the
Czech side Banik Most in a Champions League Group A
match. CSM are in the top position in the group, while Banik Most are in last
place. In the Champions League Group B, another Romanian side, the local
champions Rapid Bucharest, will on Sunday be playing Buducnost from Montenegro
at home. Rapid are in fourth place and Buducnost in fifth.

Tennis. Romania’s Irina Begu lost 6-3, 6-2 to second
seed Arina Sabalenka of Belarus in Saturday’s semifinals in Adelaide, a WTA 500
tournament worth over 800,000 US dollars. Begu will climb to the 28th
place in the WTA ranking. She is also in
the main draw at the Australian Open, together with four other players from
Romania: Sorana Cirstea, Ana Bogdan, Jaqueline Cristian and Patricia Tig. The
first Grand Slam of the year will be taking place between the 16th
and the 29th of January. Temporarily suspended following a positive
drug test at the US Open, Simona Halep cannot play at the Australian Open. (CM)