December 8, 2013

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news.

Mihai Pelin, 08.12.2013, 12:13

FREIGHT CARRIERS-Romanian freight road carriers will go on strike for an indefinite period of time, as of Monday, in token of protest against the 7 Euro-cent increase in the excise levied on fuels, the National Road Confederation has announced. The confederation also claims that the Transport Ministry hasn’t complied with all commitments it has made as regards the improvement of the legislative framework regulating the activity of road carriers. The strike might affect shop supplying and traffic, if truck drivers run at low speed or stop on the side of the road. The National Road Confederation is representing over 7,500 carriers in Romania.

SHALE GAS-Protests against the exploration and exploitation of shale gas continue in Pungesti, eastern Romania, after the US company Chevron has made public its intention to resume exploration operations in the area. The works were brought to a halt on Saturday, because of violent clashes between the protesters and the gendarmes, after hundreds of people expressed their discontent about Chevron’s intention to install the first drill in the area. They are opposed to the extraction of shale gas, based on the hydraulic fracturing method, used in the US. Green watchwords say the method might pollute underground water and trigger earthquakes. Chevron suspend its works for the first time in October, following similar protests.

SYRIA- European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, has called on the Syrian regime and opposition to put an end to the conflict which broke out 1,000 days ago and to make access possible for humanitarian aid to reach the population. The European official has expressed hope that the problem will be solved at the International Conference in Geneva, scheduled for January 22nd 2014. The conference will be attended by representatives of the Syrian regime, with the exception of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as by representatives of the moderate opposition. Since March 2011, Syria has been facing a violently stifled uprising and a military conflict between the opposition forces and those loyal to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. According to the UN, the death toll stands at over 115,000 people dead.

FILM-Ada Solomon, one of the best-known film producers in Romania received the “Eurimages” trophy for co-production, at the European Film Academy Gala in Berlin on Saturday. The prize comes to confirm the decisive role played by co-productions in the European filmmaking industry. In another move, Romanian actress, Luminita Gheorghiu, who played the leading role in “Child’s Pose” was nominated in “best actress in a leading role category”, but the prize went to Veerle Baetens, from the “The Broken Circle Breakdown”. “Child’s Pose” got the Golden Bear at the 2013 Berlinale and has been submitted by Romania for consideration for “Best Foreign Language Film”, at the Oscars next year. The prizes of the European Film Academy are considered to be the European equivalent of the Oscars.

GYMNASTICS-Romanian gymnast Larisa Iordache on Saturday won a gold medal in the all-around event at the World Gymnastics Cup in Glasgow, Scotland. US gymnast Elizabeth Price snatched silver and Italian Vanessa Ferrari bronze. Spanish gymnast of Romanian descent Roxana Popa Nedelcu ranked 5th. Running in the World Cup in Glasgow were the best 8 gymnasts in the world, in the men and women events, respectively, according to the latest classification at the World Championship.

HANDBALL-Romania’s national women handball team defeated Tunisia, in Novi Sad on Saturday, 27-17, in the first match of the World Handball Championship’s group D, hosted by Serbia. In the next match, Romania will play Australia, on Monday. Playing in the same group are Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic. Over the years, Romania won three world medals: gold in 1962, and silver in 1973 and 2005, respectively. Romania is also the only country to have participated in all final tournaments of the World Championships, as of 1957.