RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

March 20, 2017

For a roundup of domestic and international news, click here.

March 20, 2017
March 20, 2017

, 20.03.2017, 13:40

DEFENSE — The country’s Supreme Defence Council is convening tomorrow in Bucharest in a meeting chaired by President Klaus Iohannis. The main topics on the agenda are outfitting the army and Romania’s presence at the NATO Summit in Brussels, to be held over May 24-25. Council members will also discuss progress reported last year as part of the program to upgrade and develop the army by 2026, as well as other national security topics. At the previous meeting of January 31, the Council gave a favourable opinion on the budgets of institutions operating in the field of national security, as per the state budget for 2017.



DECREES — The Government’s decrees no. 6 and 9, which triggered the opposition’s vocal criticism, are this week being debated in the Chamber of Deputies after being passed by the Senate. Decree no. 6 refers to the funding of the National Local Development Program, while decree no. 9 eliminates spending ceilings for public authorities. The Liberals in opposition claim the decrees are aimed at helping channel huge sums of money to the Social-Democratic Party’s political supporters, also nullifying fundamental articles in the law on fiscal accountability. In turn, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said the funds earmarked under decree no. 6 come in response to the high number of applications for funding filed by local authorities, including opposition mayors, and thus called on the opposition to support Romania’s development projects.



MILITARY EXERCISE — Over 1,200 Romanian and United States military are these days taking part in the Spring Storm 2017 joint military exercise involving naval, air and ground forces. Today’s training sheet includes launching anti-air missiles, mortar firing and infantry fire practice. The exercise, which will come to an end on March 22, is part of the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership action plan and reflects NATO’s efforts to ensure the security of its allies in the Black Sea area. The aim of the exercise is to increase the interoperability of participating forces. The exercise employs complex defence tactics carried out on the Romanian Black Sea coast and urban areas, with naval, ground and air support.



FRANCOPHONIE — The Romanian Foreign Ministry marks the International Francophonie Day by means of two diplomatic events open to the public. In central Bucharest, authorities will unveil the statue of Leopold Sedar Senghor, the co-founder of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT), the precursor of present-day International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), and a well-established political and cultural figure of Senegal. The second event will be held this evening, when the Group of Francophone Embassies, Delegations and Institutions in Romania will organize the Francophonie Awards gala. Apart from other events held in Bucharest, Romania’s embassies abroad are organizing various events on this occasion. The International Francophonie Day is celebrated every year on March 20, the day when the institutional basis of La Francophonie was laid in 1970. At present, OIF totals 84 member and observer states and governments from across the world. In a 2014 report, the world’s French-speaking population was estimated to stand at some 274 million people. Romania has been member of the OIF since 1993 and hosted the 11th Francophonie Summit in 2006.



MEETING — German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on Sunday in Hanover, central Germany, where they argued in favour of free trade and open and free markets, as a response to Donald Trump protectionist economic policies, France Press reports. The meeting comes ahead of the opening of CeBIT, the world’s biggest computer expo, where this year Japan is a guest. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is on a tour of Europe, said economic can grow by means of inter-connectivity, with Japan being a direct beneficiary of free trade and an advocate of open systems, along with Germany.



FOOTBALL — Romania’s national team today assembled in Bucharest to train ahead of Sunday’s match against Denmark, to be played in Cluj, north-western Romania. The match counts towards preliminary Group E as part of the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup to be hosted by Russia. After trouncing Armenia 5-nil, drawing 1-all against Montenegro at home and nil-all against Kazakhstan away from home, losing nil-3 against Poland in Bucharest, Romania is ranked 4th in the group tables, with 5 points. We recall that Romania is coached by German Cristoph Daum, the first foreign coach in the history of the Romanian team, after last year’s subpar performance at the 2016 European Championships in France. (Translated by V. Palcu)

Photo: roaep.ro
Newsflash Monday, 02 December 2024

Parliamentary Elections in Romania – update

PSD came first in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, followed by AUR and PNL. After the centralization of ballots from over 98% of the polling...

Parliamentary Elections in Romania – update
Photo: roaep.ro
Newsflash Monday, 02 December 2024

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is set to win Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Romania

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is set to win Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Romania, after 98% of the vote count. According to partial...

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is set to win Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Romania
Newsflash
Newsflash Sunday, 01 December 2024

December 1, 2024 UPDATE

Elections. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is ranked first after Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Romania, according to exit poll data...

December 1, 2024 UPDATE
foto: www.senat.ro
Newsflash Sunday, 01 December 2024

Parliamentary elections update

UPDATE 10.30 p.m. For the Chamber of Deputies, the Social Democratic Party got 25.50% of the votes of the electorate, followed by the Alliance for...

Parliamentary elections update
Newsflash Sunday, 01 December 2024

Parliamentary elections update

At 20:00, turnout reached 51.8 %. More than 9.3 million voters expressed their electoral option for the parliamentary elections. Over 700,000...

Parliamentary elections update
Newsflash Sunday, 01 December 2024

December 1, 2024 UPDATE

Parliamentary elections update – More than 8.2 million Romanians, i.e. almost 46% of the 18 million with the right to vote, had gone to the...

December 1, 2024 UPDATE
Newsflash Sunday, 01 December 2024

Parliamentary elections update

Parliamentary elections update – More than 8.2 million Romanians, i.e. almost 46% of the 18 million with the right to vote, had gone to the...

Parliamentary elections update
Newsflash Sunday, 01 December 2024

Parliamentary elections update

Parliamentary elections update – More than 7.5 million Romanians, i.e. more than 42% of the 18 million with the right to vote, had gone to the...

Parliamentary elections update

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company