May 2, 2024
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 02.05.2024, 14:00
HOLY THURSDAY – Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania today celebrate Holy (or Maundy) Thursday that commemorates the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. A mass devoted to the 12 Gospels will be held this evening, while the Lamentation at the Tomb, a unique religious service, will be held tomorrow night. On Wednesday, Romanian Orthodox Church Patriarch Daniel conveyed a special Easter message, saying that the Resurrection of Christ is a celebration of the pious and merciful love of Christ, who overcame hatred, violence and death and gave people eternal life. This makes Easter a celebration of forgiveness, peace and joy, the Patriarch said, urging people to share the news of the Lord’s Resurrection with everyone around through good deeds, love and peace.
PUBLIC ORDER – In the last 24 hours, security forces and emergency services were dispatched to over 4,000 incidents. According to the Interior Ministry, 12 people were saved, 700 drivers’ licenses were suspended, in the many of these cases the drivers having been found driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances, and 141 people were arrested for various crimes. The Interior Ministry will intensify its actions designed to ensure public order for the Labor Day and Easter mini-holiday, considering that hundreds of events will be held across the country, with over 150,000 people expected to attend.
AWARD – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has been designated as one of the recipients of the 2024 Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards, which will be bestowed in a special gala held on May 8 in Washington. The Romanian president will be honored for his remarkable career, exemplary leadership of Romania, and his transatlantic and European leadership role. The other recipients of the award are U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher G. Cavoli, and Academy Award-winning actress and producer Michelle Yeoh. Each year, the Distinguished Leadership Awards convenes a high-level international audience of more than six hundred policy, business, military, artistic, and civil-society leaders to celebrate individuals, including policy leaders, business executives, military brass and artistic and humanitarian champions, who best represent the pillars of the global relationship. Past recipients include US presidents George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and then-Vice President Joe Biden, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, current and former International Monetary Fund managing directors Kristalina Georgieva and Christine Lagarde. Set up in 1961, the Atlantic Council is a non-profit organization whose staff must observe high standards of personal and professional integrity, candor and honesty in communications and interactions with one another as well as with other organizations, government officials, the media and the public.
YOUTH DAY – Lawmakers will know their actions were well-inspired if young Romanians at home and abroad will choose Romania in the future, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said to mark Youth Day. We must provide everyone with equal chances and development prospects, including at institutional level, the Prime Minister said. Marcel Ciolacu says he believes in young people, with whom he has preserved constant dialogue since taking office, via representative associations or through government internship programs, aimed at familiarizing young people with decision-making processes at the level of the Romanian government and institutions in its subordination.
WAR IN GAZA – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on the Hamas Palestinian organization to accept a truce in Gaza, reiterating the United States’ opposition towards an Israeli offensive on Rafah (south). During his 7th mission to the Middle East since the conflict broke out, Antony Blinken visited Israel, expressing determination to reach a consensus “right now” to allow for the liberation of hostages held by Hamas in the last seven months. The US official met with a number of Israeli officials, including the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Israel, Antony Blinken argued that, while Washington firmly supporters Israel’s right to self-defense, it opposes the idea of an all-out attack on Rafah, insisting on continuing to expand humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian population in Gaza.
EVACUATIONS – Nine Romanian citizens and their families have been evacuated from Gaza and have reached Egypt, the Romanian Foreign Ministry announced. From there they were picked up by a mobile consular team of the Romanian Embassy in Egypt, which accompanied them to Cairo and helped board them on the flight to Bucharest. Another Romanian citizen on Tuesday was assisted in leaving Gaza. So far, 323 Romanian citizens and their families have been evacuated from the Gaza Strip since the Israel-Hamas conflict started. The Romanian Foreign Ministry remains in permanent contact with Israeli and Egyptian authorities to assist in the evacuation process, depending on requests and developments on the ground.
GYMNASTICS – The Romanian women’s gymnastics team will today compete in the qualifiers of the European Gymnastics Championships in Rimini, Italy. The team comprises Sabrina Voinea, Lilia Cosman, Amalia Ghigoarţă, Maria Ceplinschi and Ana-Maria Bărbosu. (VP)
