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TARIFFS New tariffs for the US imports of steel and aluminum from the EU, Mexico and Canada have come into effect as of June 1st, in spite of mounting criticism. The USA has decided to no longer extend exemptions for the EU so the tariffs - 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum - would take effect as of Friday. The Trump administration's actions drew a lot of heat from Europe, Canada and Mexico who promised to quickly retaliate against the U.S. exports. The European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the new tariffs are unjustified at the same time running counter to WTO rules. According to France Press the US decision was meant to protect the US industry, which had to produce under capacity against a surplus of steel and aluminum on the global market.
TIFF The Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF), one of Europe's biggest events of this kind, is underway in Cluj-Napoca, northwestern Romania. Fragments from 'Morometii 2', the most awaited Romanian production this year, are to be screened during the festival in the presence of Romanian actor Horatiu Malaele, who after 30 years takes over the part of Ilie Moromete - masterfully played by Victor Rebengiuc in the first series directed by the same Stere Gulea. The present edition of the festival includes 227 productions - 178 feature films and 49 short reels from all over the world. The Romanian Film Days is a section inside the festival devoted to Romanian productions, which includes director Adina Pintilie's debut film Touch Me Not, the recipient of the Golden Bear Award in Berlin this year as well as Andrei Cretulescu's first feature film Charleston. The Transylvania trophy will be awarded by French actress Fanny Ardant, while the honorary invitee this year is famous opera singer Angela Gheorghiu.
AWARD Romanian president Klaus Iohannis is paying a visit to Munich today and tomorrow in order to receive the 'Franz Josef Strauss 2018' award from the prestigious foundation 'Hanns Seidel'. The president has been awarded the prize for having promoted in a constructive and visionary way along his entire political career the democratic values of a united society and trust in the European project. The ceremony is to be attended among others by the Bavarian Premier Markus Soder and by Barbara Stamm, president of the Landtag of Bavaria. The 'Franz Josef Strauss' prize has been awarded since 1996 and among its recipients there are the former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, the former US president George H. W. Bush and the incumbent president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.
HANDBALL The Romanian women's selection has qualified for the European Women's Handball Championships after a 28-25 win against Austria in Innsbruck on Thursday. Our handballers managed a win in qualifying group four against an opponent who gave them a good run for their money. In another match, Russia clinched a 34-20 win against Portugal. Romania ranks first in the standings with 8 points followed by Russia with 6, Austria also with 6 and Portugal with no points. Romania has thus qualified for the sixth time in a row for the European Championships, which this year is to be hosted by France in December. Our handballers are to play their last game in the group against Portugal at home on Sunday. The first two sides in the group are qualified for the final tournament.
CHILDREN'S DAY Romania and another 50 countries celebrate Children's Day on June 1st. In 1954, the UN General Assembly decided that children the world over must have a day of their own, and this day is also celebrated by another 100 countries on various dates. On this occasion Bucharest and numerous other cities around the country are seeing a series of events devoted to the little ones such as contests, shows, exhibitions, sporting events and showrooms. Today children are admitted free of charge at the National History Museum as well as at the Cotroceni Museum in Bucharest, while the Radio Concert Hall will be hosting a chamber music concert devoted to them. Children are also to be presented lots of toys on their special day.
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