May 22, 2016
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Newsroom, 22.05.2016, 12:00
CANNES — The feature Dogs written and directed by Bogdan Mirica on Saturday evening scooped the award of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) in the Un Certain Regard section at the 69th edition of the International Cannes Film Festival. The grand prizes in the main section will be awarded this evening. Two Romanian features are favourite to win the grand prize Palme d’Or, according to France Press news agency: Cristian Mungiu’s Graduation, focusing on compromise and corruption and Cristi Puiu’s Sieranevada, a story with autobiographical undertones, both of which have been well received by the critics.
LONG NIGHT OF MUSEUMS — Over 250 cultural institutions from Romania took part on Saturday in the “European Long Night of Museums”, an event that has reached its 12th edition. Hundreds of events were organised on this occasion: exhibitions, concerts, conferences, theatre shows, film screenings, while access was free of charge. The 2016 edition also introduced an audio-video virtual tour as part of a mobile application for museums in Bucharest and other large cities in Romania. The Long Night of Museums is an event held every year in hundreds of institutions all across Europe.
TENNIS — Romanian tennis player WTA 6th ranked Simona Halep is today playing Nao Hibino of Japan, 70 WTA, in the opening round of the Roland Garros tennis tournament, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year totalling 32 million dollars in prize money. In the men’s competition, Adrian Ungur of Romania, 204th ATP, is playing Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands, 123 ATP. In the women’s singles, Irina Begu, 28 WTA, is playing Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States, 88 WTA. Monica Niculescu, 35 WTA, is playing Pauline Parmentier of France, 95 WTA. Alexandra Dulgheru, 129 WTA, is playing Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, 52 WTA, and finally, Sorana Cirstea, 99 WTA, is playing Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, 20 WTA.
VISIT — Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos is on a four-day visit to the United States. On the sidelines of his visit Dacian Ciolos will meet with US vice-president Joseph Biden. The Prime Minister previously said the main purpose of the visit is to consolidate economic bilateral cooperation, and extend cooperation to other fields under the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The first stop during his visit is Detroit, where Prime Minister Ciolos on Monday is meeting with representatives of the US company Ford, to encourage them to continue their investment in Romania, as well as with other US businesses. In Washington, the Romanian official will have a series of meetings with high-ranking officials in the US administration, representatives of the business sector as well as members of the Romanian community in the US.
EXERCISE — Over 1,000 military from 30 NATO units and structures are starting today and until June 3 taking part in the NATO communications and IT exercise “Steadfast Cobalt 2016”, hosted by Bucharest. According to the Romanian Defence Ministry, the exercise is primarily aimed at testing and evaluating the inter-operability of the communications and IT systems, with a view to supporting NATO command structures and forces engaged in a major collective defence operation in Eastern Europe. “Steadfast Cobalt 2016” is an exercise aimed at certifying NATO’s communications and IT structures that will be part of NATO’s Enhanced Response Force starting 2017.
AIRSTRIKE — The Afghan Intelligence Service on Sunday confirmed the death of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US airstrike in Pakistan. Previously US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday as part of his visit to Myanmar that the Taliban leader was killed because he represented a threat to US and Afghan troops, but also to the Afghan civilian population. The authorities in Islamabad have demanded an explanation form Washington, although John Kerry said the Pakistani Prime Minister had been informed about the attack.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
