March 18, 2016
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Newsroom, 18.03.2016, 12:00
Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival (BIEFF) is taking place in Romanias capital city these days. This international experimental short-reel contest brings together for the first time in Romania some of the worlds most provocative and innovative award-winning visual experiments of the past years. This years edition invites moviegoers to reconsider cinema borders through a rich selection of productions from the crossroads of cinema and visual arts, but also through screening works by many prominent visual artists, showcased in art galleries and museums rather than in cinema halls.
The Romanian state might lose preemptive rights over Brancusis sculpture Wisdom of the Earth, the sculptures present owners have cautioned. They explained that such a thing might happen if the government failed to provide the entire 11 million euros within 14 days according to the contract. Culture Minister Vlad Alexandrescu announced on Thursday the government would provide 5 million euros while the rest of the money would be covered from public donations. Built in 1907, Wisdom of the Earth was seized by the communist regime in 1957 and showcased by Romanias Art Museum. The sculpture was returned in 2012 to the heirs of its first owner.
Laura Codruta Kovesi, head prosecutor with the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) told the public radio station that no technical surveillance means were used in half of the invstigations carried out last year. She said the emergency ordinance the government passed after the Courts ruling against wiretapping in criminal investigations was in line with the rule of law. Under the odinance, only the Romanian Intelligence Service is authorised to carry surveillance activities exclussively in cases involving national security and terrorism.
The European Council president Donald Tusk is briefing Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Brussels over the stand agreed upon with the European leaders about an agreement with Turkey over the refugee crisis. The EU pledges money to have the new refugees coming from Greece and who cannot apply for asylum sent back to Turkey. For every refugee accepted by Turkey, the EU will receive a Syrian refugee. All the Syrian refugees received by the Union are to be equally distributed between the member states. The initial proposal, forwarded by Germany, provided for sending back to Turkey all the refugees who made it to the Greek islands. Attending the summit, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said that in order to stem the flow of refugees Turkey needs assistance.
Romanias national handball side will today be taking on the host country Denmark in the first match of the pre-Olympic tournament in Aarhus. Although the Danish have always started as the odds on favourites, they have won only once out of all the 12 matches they have played against the Romanians. In the Aarhus tournament, Romania, bronze medallist in the World Championship in 2015 and coached by Swedish Tomas Ryde, will be taking on Uruguay on Saturday and on Montenegro a day later. The first two teams out of the four in the group will qualify for the Rio Olympics.
