May 9, 2022
A round up of local and international news.
România Internațional, 09.05.2022, 13:55
Europe
Day. Military ceremonies, laying of flowers, exhibitions and film screenings
are held around the country to mark Romania’s National Independence Day, the
Victory of the United Nations Coalition in WWII and Europe Day, all three of
which are celebrated every year on 9th May. The European Commission
representation in Romania launched a communication campaign entitled Faces of
European Solidarity and consisting in an exhibition of photographs documenting
Romanians’ solidarity with the people who fled Ukraine following the Russian
invasion and the care and warmth with which they were received by the Romanians
near the border areas, at refugee centres and in their homes. Europe must
become stronger, more vocal, more capable and better prepared, said Romania’s
president Klaus Iohannis in his Europe Day statement.
Russia
Victory Day. Russia today marks its biggest national holiday, Victory Day
against Nazi Germany, an opportunity to display its might as war is waging in Ukraine.
According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Moscow, Russia also wants to
celebrate this event in the territories it occupied in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv
has taken additional security measures expecting an increase in Russian
attacks. Russia has forgotten everything that
was important to the victors of World War II, said Ukraine’s president Volodymyr
Zelensky in his nightly address. He condemned the violent shelling of several
Ukrainian regions, with one strike against a school in the east killing 60
people.
G7.
G7 countries, who said Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine are bringing shame
on Russia, pledged to give up Russian oil, but did not provide a timetable.
According to the White House, this decision will deal a powerful blow to the
main artery of Putin’s economy and deprive it of the revenues needed to fund his
war against Ukraine. France Presse new agency notes that European Union states,
which are more reliable on Russian energy imports, have continued their difficult
talks to agree on a ban on Russian oil. The US, in the meantime, has announced
fresh sanctions against Russia targeting the media and the access of Russian
companies to consultancy and accounting services.
Corruption. The National Anticorruption Directorate said 39 final sentences
were passed in March against 86 defendants in corruption cases, including
giving and taking bribe, peddling in influence and fraud involving European
funds. Sentences vary between 7 years and 8 months in prison and fines
amounting to the equivalent in lei of 3,000 euros.
Tennis. Poland’s Iga Swiatek
comfortably leads the WTA ranking published on Monday, followed by Barbora
Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and Spain’s Paula Badosa. Former world no. one
Simona Halep remains the highest-ranked Romanian tennis player, at no. 20.
Romania has five other players in the top 100: Sorana Cîrstea, at no. 26,
Gabriela Ruse at no. 57, Irina Begu at no. 63, Jaqueline Cristian at no. 70 and
Ana Bogdan at no. 95. In the women’s doubles ranking, Monica Niculescu is the
highest-ranked Romanian, at no. 42, as Raluca Olaru drops six places to no. 49.
Irina Begu is at no. 47, Irina Bara at no. 62 and Gabriela Ruse at no. 93. (CM)
