May 8, 2022 UPDATE
A round up of local and international news.
Newsroom, 08.05.2022, 18:43
Refugees. More than 9,000 Ukrainian citizens
crossed the border into Romania on Saturday, up more than 12% compared with the
previous day. 5,000 entered via the Ukrainian border and the rest via the
Moldovan-Romanian border. From the Russian invasion on 24th February
until 7th May, more than 884,000 Ukrainian citizens crossed the
border into neighbouring Romania. The Romanian border police said they
supplemented the number of staff and border checks are carried out efficiently.
First Lady. The
First Lady of the United States Jill Biden on Sunday made an unannounced visit
to western Ukraine. She visited a school used as temporary shelter for refugees
and met Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska. We thought it was important to show the Ukrainian
people this war has to stop, said Jill Biden, adding The people of the United States stand
with the people of Ukraine. She previously also travelled to Romania, where
she expressed her country’s full support for the states at the forefront of
the management of the Ukrainian crisis. She visited a school hosting women and children refugees from Ukraine.
Dr. Biden’s visit to Romania comes less than two months after that of US vice
president Kamala Harris.
Celebration. Western Europe on Sunday celebrated
the 77th anniversary of the end of WWII. In France, where this is a national
holiday, ceremonies were held at military cemeteries and at war memorials and
president Emmanuel Macron laid flowers at the statue of general Charles de
Gaulle and the tomb of the unknown soldier under the Arch of Triumph. 8th
May celebrations were held this year in a tense international context because of
the war in Ukraine, with the allies from 77 years ago now occupying different
positions. On Saturday as he was sworn in for his second term, president Macron
emphasised the need for European unity to face the challenges of this century.
Equal opportunity. The
gender pay gap in Romania is one of the lowest in the European Union. A law was
passed as far back as 20 years ago aimed at eliminating gender discrimination
in all areas of public life. This was highlighted as Romania celebrated Equal
Oportunity Day on 8th of May, which it first adopted in 2015.
Handball.
The Romanian women’s handball champions CSM Bucharest on Sunday drew 27-all
against the Danish side Esbjerg away in the second leg of the Champions League
quarterfinal. Esbjerg narrowly won the first leg 26-25 and will next play the
League’s Final Four next month. Established in 2007, CSM won the Champions
League title in their first appearance at this competition, in 2016, and
finished in third place in the next two years. Declared best handball player in
the world four times, in 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2018, CSM’s left back Cristina
Neagu is also the top scorer of this edition of the Champions League, with 110
goals.
Football. Steaua
Bucharest’s players who were part of the squad’s line-up in 1986 on Sunday
celebrated with fans the 36th anniversary of their club’s winning the European
Champions Cup. On 7th May 1986, Steaua defeated FC Barcelona in Seville,
winning 2-nil after penalty shoot-outs. Their goal keeper Helmuth Duckadam made history in that
match as he defended all four penalty kicks. In February 1987 in Monte Carlo,
Steaua also won the European Super Cup title as they defeated the Dinamo Kyiv
of the then Soviet Union. (CM)
