April 14, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 14.04.2025, 20:00

A roundup of local and international news.

LITERATURE – Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010, died on Sunday in Lima at the age of 89. His death marks the end of the golden generation of Latin American literature, of which he was the last great representative, France Presse reports. Appreciated for the way in which he describes social realities, the author of masterpieces such as ”La ciudad y los perros” (The City and the Dogs, 1966), ”Conversación en La Catedral” (Conversation in the Cathedral, 1975) was also criticized in South American intellectual circles for his conservative views. He ran for president of Peru in 1990, but lost to Alberto Fujimori.

CONDOLENCES – The interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, sent a message of condolences after the Russian army’s missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, which left at least 34 dead and almost 100 injured. Bolojan reiterated that Romania continues to support all efforts for peace and to put an end to these war crimes. Political leaders and international figures have criticized Russia’s attack in harsh terms: the US special envoy for Ukraine, the president of France, the chancellor of Germany, the prime ministers of Great Britain and Italy, as well as the Polish diplomacy.

EXPO – 160 countries and regions, including Romania, are participating for six months in the Osaka World Expo, whose opening ceremony took place on Sunday. Romania was represented by Commissioner General Ferdinand Nagy, who explained that it is the largest international public diplomacy event of the year. The theme of this year’s world exhibition is the society of the future, with an emphasis on artificial intelligence and the space field. The Romanian pavilion, called the “Romanian Magic Box”, has an architectural concept created by students and is part of a section dedicated to innovative and sustainable solutions for protecting and saving lives. Until October 13, economic and trade promotion events, as well as thousands of cultural events, will be organized at the Romanian pavilion. Romania Day at Expo Osaka 2025 is scheduled for June 26, when a Multisectoral Economic Forum will be held.

VISIT – A delegation of the US Congress, the first to visit Bucharest since the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration, will meet on Tuesday with the interim president, Ilie Bolojan, with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and with Romanian parliamentarians. The agenda of talks includes the consolidation of bilateral relations and strategic issues, including security at the Black Sea. On Monday, the US delegation, made up of both Republicans and Democrats, met with President Maia Sandu in Chisinau. She thanked the United States for the support it has provided over the years to modernize public institutions, strengthen energy resilience and defend Moldova’s sovereignty against external threats. According to a statement from Chisinau, Maia Sandu advocated for continued US support in key areas, especially energy security.

MOLDOVA – The Romanian Government will continue to support the Republic of Moldova at all levels, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday during a meeting with representatives of the districts and the Siret-Prut-Nistru Euroregion Association. According to a press release, the Prime Minister gave assurances regarding the implementation of the 100 million euro Agreement between the governments of the two states, for the financing of ‘concrete projects with an impact on citizens’. The representatives of the districts of the Republic of Moldova thanked Romania for its ‘solid and constant’ support.

PRIORITIES – The interim President of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, met, on Monday, in Bucharest, with Romanian MEPs to discuss the country’s strategic priorities in the current European and international context. According to a press release from the Presidential Administration, the discussions focused on priority topics on the European Union agenda, including European security and defense, the transatlantic relationship, the Union’s multiannual budget, the absorption of European funds – especially those from the PNRR, support for Ukraine and the Union’s enlargement policy. They also discussed ways in which Romania can strengthen its position and contribution within the EU. “Romania will pursue the consolidation of its defense capacity and the development of its national industry, capitalizing on the opportunities offered by the European Union, in accordance with the commitments undertaken within NATO,” the Presidential Administration said. (EE)