August 3, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 03.08.2024, 19:06

Covaci. The lifeless body of the Romanian artist Nicu Covaci will be laid at the Philharmonic in Timisoara (west, his hometown), at the beginning of next week – Mayor Dominic Fritz announced, on Saturday, in a post on the Internet. He specified that a photo exhibition dedicated to Nicu Covaci will be organized at the House of Culture in the municipality and a book of condolences will be available for longer to those who loved and admired him. The founder of the legendary rock group Phoenix died at the age of 77. Nicu Covaci was one of the most talented and influential musicians in the history of Romanian rock. After founding Phoenix and experiencing rapid success in Romania, he chose to flee to the West in 1976. He initially settled in the Netherlands, then in Germany. In 1990, after the fall of the communist dictatorship, he returned to Romania and resumed the concerts with Phoenix, but he was unable to release albums that could match the success of the 60s and 70s of the last century. A strong and charismatic leader, he has been involved in several public controversies, including with bandmates.

Diaspora. Retired Romanians from the diaspora must submit their life certificates by September 30, so they risk not receiving their pension for the period they worked in the country. The provision has been included in the new Pension Law, which introduces two annual deadlines for sending these documents. Until now, life certificates had to be sent only once a year. The deadline for pensioners settled outside the borders to submit the so-called certificate of life to the competent Romanian authorities begins on September 1, with the entry into force of the new Pension Law, and expires on September 30. These documents, through which the pensioners prove that they are alive and have the right to receive a pension, are sent to the pension houses on their own initiative, by post, fax or scanned by e-mail. Before being sent to the country, the life certificates must be signed by the pensioners in front of a legal authority in the territory of the country of residence. Those who do not send the documents have their pension suspended, and if the life certificate arrives after the expiry of the established terms, the pension payment resumes from the date of suspension of these monetary rights, according to the new Pension Law.

Meeting. On Saturday, at the international meeting of ethnic Germans in Sibiu, central Romania, President Klaus Iohannis stated that the commitment made under the Sibiu Declaration, at the 2019 Summit, remains valid especially in the ‘ complex and serious conditions of the current period’, namely ‘ the need for a strong and secure Europe’. The head of state emphasized the contribution of the German minority to the development of modern Romania and called Romania a ‘blessed land of Europe’. About 12,000 Saxons from Europe and North America are participating in Sibiu in the second International Meeting of Saxons. The program includes over 50 cultural events: concerts, theater performances and traditional dances, film presentations, exhibitions, guided tours of the city.

Farmers. The Romanian Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, stated in a press conference on Friday, that compensations for the disasters caused by drought will be paid to farmers in October, so that they have resources for the autumn campaign. He specified that 2 million hectares of agricultural crops were affected, and the minimum amount offered by the state will be 200 euros per hectare. As regards ensuring the necessary grains in the context of this year’s drought, the minister assured that Romania has the necessary grains both for its own consumption and for export, considering that crops are irrigated on an area of 1.6 million hectares. The Ministry of Agriculture intends to expand the national irrigation program and will borrow 1.5 billion euros from the European Investment Bank for this purpose. Florin Barbu told Radio Romania that in five years, 2.7 million hectares should be covered, which is the maximum irrigated surface.

Citizenship. As of September 1, 2024, applications for getting or reacquiring Romanian citizenship, resolved favorably, will result in the issuance of the Romanian citizenship card. A press release by the Ministry of Internal Affairs reads that the document will be personalized by the General Passports Directorate. At the same time, the persons who, starting September 1, will be issued the Romanian citizenship card and who wish to establish their domicile abroad, will have the obligation to request, within three years, a Romanian passport with the mention of the country of residence – the MAI also specifies.
Middle East. An Israeli delegation will travel to Cairo for negotiations in the coming days to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday. In a telephone conversation with the American Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, the Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, voiced his commitment to reach an agreement that would allow the return of the 111 kidnapped people who remained in the Gaza Strip. The talks were suspended after the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday in an attack blamed on Israel, for which Iran vowed revenge. Against this background, the Pentagon announced that it will send additional soldiers and warships to the Middle East. According to Reuters, the United States is thus trying to strengthen the defense in this area, following the threats from Iran and its allies, Hamas and Hezbollah, after the assassination of a commander of the Lebanese movement and the leader of Hamas.

Olympic Games. Romania won gold in the women’s eight plus one at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, after dominating the final of the main rowing event. The male crew ranked 5th, and the Romanian rower Mihai Chiruţă won Final B of the men’s single rowing event. Romanian athletes have won 7 medals so far: 3 gold, 3 silver and one bronze, all in the rowing and swimming events. The gold went to the swimmer David Popovici in the 200 meter freestyle and rowers Andrei Cornea and Marian Enache in the men’s double sculls. Romanian rowers Ioana Vrînceanu and Roxana Anghel won silver in the women’s double sculls. Gianina van Groningen and Ionela Cozmiuc also won silver medals in the women’s lightweight double sculls. The silver was also won by Ancuța Bodnar and Simona Radiș in the women’s double sculls, and the bronze went to David Popovici in the 100 meters freestyle. Romanian athletes who won medals in Paris will receive 140,000 euros for gold, 100,000 euros for silver and 60,000 for bronze. (MI)