August 15, 2017 UPDATE
For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.
Newsroom, 15.08.2017, 19:04
NAVY DAY – August 15, the feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, was marked across Romania. Special services were held in monasteries and churches in Romania. Over 2,2 million people celebrated their name day. August 15 is also Navy Day in Romania. On this occasion, a grand public show was hosted in Constanta, with over 30 ships and vessels, 12 aircraft and 3,000 military. Attending were President Klaus Iohannis and Defense Minister Adrian Tutuianu. The president said Romania is taking on a more active role as an important and powerful regional player. Consolidating security and maritime defense is a core interest of Romania, Klaus Iohannis also pointed out.
GAUDEAMUS – The 100th anniversary edition of the Gaudeamus Fair is being held in Mamaia, a major resort on the Black Sea. Representatives of the European Commission in Romania are holding a debate on the future of the European Union. At the event, an exhibition marks the 60th anniversary of the signing the Rome Treaty, the foundation of the Union. The Gaudeamus book fair, organized by Radio Romania, is open until Wednesday. Also this year, the national radio station celebrates 50 years since Radio Holiday started broadcasting for seaside resorts.
SUMMER UNIVERSITY – In Izvoru Muresului, in the central Romanian county of Harghita, the 15th edition of the summer university for Romanians around the world is underway. On Monday in his opening address Peoples Movement Partys MP Eugen Tomac called for dialogue between all political factions to solve the issue of Romanian communities on the countrys borders, facing a thorough denationalization process. The Romanian official said the state needs to take a more active role to organize actions devoted to the memory and identity of Romanians living in the countrys vicinity. The reunification with the Republic of Moldova as a national objective for 2018 was another topic for the talks. Participants highlighted the fact that our country should make it a point in committing to fulfill this goal. The agenda of the event also includes book launches, discussion panels and folk shows. Attending are young people from at home and the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania and Macedonia. The topic for this years edition is “From the first Unification to the Great Unification: Romania and Romanians Worldwide.
UN REPORT – A report of the United Nations Court of Human Rights (UNCHR) has called on the United States to end its detention regime applied to potential immigrants and asylum seekers. The document shows that the practice of unlawfully detaining asylum seekers has expanded exponentially and is in breach of international regulations. The measure is often punitive, irrationally long, useless and costly, the report also reads. An annual estimated 350,000 people are detained in the United States, pending immigration procedures. The cost of detention is approximately 2 billion dollars every year. The report was carried out in October 2016 and is the result of 280 interviews conducted in nine prisons in Texas, California and Illinois.
AVRAM IANCU – Avram Iancu, a 41-year-old librarian who wants to cross the Danube swimming, on Tuesday reached Romania. Iancu wants to cross the rivers entire length within 60 days without a neoprene suit. The man set out on June 20 in Donauschingen, Germany, and is set to reach the end of his journey in Sulina, where the Danube flows into the Black Sea. If successful, Avram Iancu will be the first to swim the Danubes course wearing nothing but his swimming costume and cap. Before him another two swimmers from Slovenia and Canada swam the entire distance although wearing neoprene suits and flippers. In August 2016 Iancu became the first Romanian to cross the English channel wearing only his costume and cap at the end of an 18-hour swim. (Translated by V. Palcu)
