September 15, 2020 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 15.09.2020, 20:00
SUPPORT – Romania has made a donation of 100,000 euros to support civil society and the independent media of Belarus. The funds were allocated from the Foreign Ministry’s budget for development assistance. They were transferred to the European Endowment for Democracy, an independent organization that supports civil society organizations, pro-democracy movements, civic and political activists, and independent media platforms and journalists working towards a pluralistic, democratic political system. Thus, Romania joins other EU partners that conduct projects jointly with the EED, for the direct benefit of the Belarusian society, Agerpres news agency quotes official sources as saying.
ALERT – The government in Bucharest decided on Tuesday to extend the state of alert in Romania by another 30 days. The document stipulates a series of measures regulating the ongoing local election campaign and the voting procedures, at the same time limiting meetings and demonstrations to 100 people with the observance of safety rules and regulations. Some 1,111 new infections with coronavirus have been confirmed in Romania since the latest report, bringing the total to 105,298 cases since the start of the pandemic. The death toll is 4,236.
UNDERGROUND – A metro section linking the west of Bucharest to its centre was inaugurated on Tuesday. This 7-kilometer underground section is the first one built from scratch since the demise of the communist regime in Romania thirty years ago. The section, which should have been ready five years ago and has a total value of 0.7 billion euros, has become part of Bucharest’s underground network of 78 kilometers and 63 stations.
EDUCATION – School started in Romania on Monday for roughly 3 million students. 12, 500 schools have opened their gates while 5 thousand others are also offering alternative online course. Against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic, more than half of the parents in Romanias urban areas want their children to go to school, shows a recent poll conducted in several cities across the country. At the same time 61% of the interviewees believe that schools presently cannot offer education in safe conditions while 66% believe that students must wear face masks in classrooms.
CONTEST – A series of 55 mini-recitals held by pianists from all over the world as part of the George Enescu International Classical Music Contest ended on Tuesday. The event was broadcast on www.festivalenescu.ro and the jury is expected to announce the winners on Wednesday. Only 12 out of the total 55 participants will qualify to the competitions next stage. The most important international cultural event held in Romania, the George Enescu Festival has four contest sections – piano, cello, violin and composition – and comes fifth in a world ranking of classical music contests.
TENNIS — Romanians Simona Halep and Monica Niculescu qualified to the round of 16 of the WTA tournament in Rome, after defeating Ukrainians Elina Svitolina and Dayana Yastremska in two sets, in women’s doubles. The pair Raluca Olaru /Anna-Lena Friedsam also advanced to the round of sixteen, by defeating Americans Sofia Kenin/Bethanie Mattek-Sands. In women’s singles, Romanian Irina Begu defeated Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in two sets and qualified to the second round. Simona Halep, No. 2 in the world, will be up against Italian Jasmine Paolini, (99 WTA) in the second round. (Translated by Elena Enache)
