April 16, 2025
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 16.04.2025, 14:00
Romania-US. Romania’s interim president Ilie Bolojan highlighted the need to consolidate the US presence in Romania, in particular in the context of the current security challenges in the Black Sea region. He met in Bucharest a delegation of 8 members of the US Congress, both Democrats and Republicans. The latter also had talks with prime minister Marcel Ciolacu and Romanian senators and deputies from the ruling majority and the opposition. The head of the US delegation, from the Republican Part, Vern Buchanan, said the purpose of both American parties was to strengthen ties with Romania.
Easter. The Holy Fire from Jerusalem will be brought over to Romania on Saturday evening by the superior of the Settlements of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Places, archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, and will be offered to the delegations of bishoprics from around the country. Later, the flame will arrive in the homes of all Romanians who wish to receive it. The tradition of bringing the Holy Fire to Romania was first introduced in 2009 by the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church, patriarch Daniel. The Orthodox Church considers the Holy Fire as one of its greatest miracles, saying it appears spontaneously above the Holy Tomb in Jerusalem on the eve of Easter, between 12.30 pm, and 2.30 pm. The flame is received by the patriarch of Jerusalem, who then proceeds to distribute it among the priests and believers in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The whole of the Christian world is this year celebrating Easter at the same date, on 20th April.
Theft. The fifth suspect was arrested in connection to the theft of Romanian treasury items from a Dutch museum in January, said the Dutch police. The art objects have not been found yet, but the head of the Prosecutor’s Office who is investigating the theft at the Drents Museum said he was expecting at least some of them to be recovered. On the night of 24th January, the perpetrators blew off a museum door and stole the most important items in the collection on display in a matter of minutes, the helmet of Coţofeneşti and three Dacian bracelets, which were part of an exhibition of over 5,000 items on loan from Romania. Immediately after the theft, the minister of culture Natalia Intotero said the artefacts that were stolen were not just heritage items, but essential elements of the history and identity of the Romanian nation and priceless cultural heritage for the entire world.
Inflation. The annual inflation rate in the European Union continued to drop in March to 2.5%, from 2.7% in February, but Romania recorded the highest inflation rate, with 5.1%, according to data published by Eurostat on Wednesday. Last month, EU countries with the highest inflation rate were, alongside Romania, Hungary, with 4.8%, and Poland, with 4.4%, while the lowest figures were recorded in France, with 0.9%, Denmark, with 1.4% and Luxembourg, with 1.5%. The annual inflation rate went down in March from February in 16 member states, including Romania, from 5.2% to 5.1%, remained stable in one country and went up in ten member states, Eurostat also said.
NATO. The efforts of US president Donald Trump for a general ceasefire in Ukraine are not easy, said NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, who made a surprise visit to Odessa, in the south of Ukraine. He condemned Russia’s “terrible pattern” of attacks against Ukrainian civilians, after the Russian army killed 35 civilians, including children, in Sumy, in the north-east. Mark Rutte said NATO would continue to support Ukraine. Also on Tuesday, Rutte travelled to Chişinău for talks with Moldova’s president Maia Sandu about the cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and NATO based on a new individual Partnership for Peace programme adopted at the start of the year by the Moldovan government.
Ukraine. A drone attack launched by Russia overnight against the Black Sea city of Odessa left three people wounded, caused fires and damaged residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, regional officials said. The strike came less than a day after the visit by NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, who travelled to Odessa alongside Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky. At the end of March, the US said it reached separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to put an end to attacks in the Black Sea and against energy infrastructure. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of breaking the accords.
Weightlifting. Andreea Cotruţa of Romania on Tuesday evening won a gold medal and two silver medals in the 59 kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships in Chişinău, the Republic of Moldova. After three days of competition, Romania won four gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals. 15 Romanian athletes are taking part in the championships. (CM)
