Romania’s former sovereign King Mihai I leaves hospital after cancer surgery. Smoking ban to come into effect in Romania on Thursday. Romania’s Simona Halep to face Serena Williams in Indian Wells tennis tournament.
Romania's former sovereign King Mihai I was discharged on Tuesday from a hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he underwent cancer surgery. According to a royal family release, he is now at his private residence in Switzerland, where he will remain under medical supervision. The release also says the King's general condition is stable, but his recovery will be slow, given the gravity of his diagnosis. Earlier this month, the royal family announced the King would withdraw from public life because of health reasons, while his public duties were handed over to his oldest daughter, Princess Margareta.
A smoking ban comes into effect in Romania on Thursday. Smoking will be prohibited in all enclosed public spaces, including spaces with a roof and two walls. Smoking will still be permitted in maximum-security prisons and in enclosed environments in the transit areas of international airports. Smoking is banned in workplaces and all children playground areas, both outdoor and indoor. Electronic cigarettes will be allowed, with the exception of public transport. Penalties for breaking the smoking ban include fines and even the closing down of the venues in question. Smoking is one of the most expensive habits. Last year alone, the state cashed in 2.7 billion euros from taxes and duties on cigarette trade.
Romania's top ten exporters account hold a 17% share in total exports, accounting for almost 10 billion euros, according to a report by the National Institute for Statistics commissioned by the Ziarul Financial newspaper. Romania's biggest exports come from the car industry. The top 500 exporters cover 74% of Romania's exports, which amounted to almost 55 billion euros in 2015. Last year, only six out of the 500 companies retained their positions, while 68 companies entered the top 500.
Razvan Murgeanu, a businessman and former state advisor while Traian Basescu was president of Romania, has been detained by anticorruption prosecutors for 24 hours. He is suspected of influence peddling, bribe giving and incitement to money laundering. Two other persons have also been detained as part of the same case. Murgeanu also served as deputy mayor of Bucharest and a state secretary in the ministry for regional development and tourism.
Police raids continued on Tuesday in Brussels after three Belgian and one French police officers were slightly wounded in an operation carried out on Monday. A suspect armed with a Kalashnikov was killed. Two more suspects are on the run. The operation was linked to last November's terrorist attacks in Paris in which 130 people were killed. Salah Abdeslam, the most wanted man in connection with these attacks, has not been located. 11 persons have so far been charged in Belgium in connection with November's attacks, which are believed to have been planned and coordinated from Brussels.
Republican and Democratic front-runners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, respectively, have extended their leads in the race for presidential nomination with wins in Tuesday's primaries. Donald Trump won in North Carolina, Illinois and Florida, while Hilllary Clinton won in four states, including the industry-rich Ohio.
966 people were put to death in Iran in 2015, the highest number in the last 20 years, according to a United Nations report. Between 2005 and 2015, Iran carried out at least 73 executions of child offenders, including 16 in the last two years. 160 young Iranians are currently awaiting execution. Also, 47 journalists and bloggers are known to be imprisoned in Iran.
Romania's number one tennis player Simona Halep has reached the quartefinals of the Indian Wells tournament worth 6 million dollars in prize money. The winner of last year's title in Indian Wells, Halep is currently in the fifth place in the world rankings. In her next match, she faces world number one Serena Williams, who leads 6-1 in head-to-head clashes. Halep's only win against Williams dates back to 2014 at the WTA Finals in Singapore.
Radio Romania's Charming Flute project featuring flautist Ion Bogdan Stefanescu and pianist Horia Mihail travels to the United States. The performances are scheduled for March 18, 6.30 pm, at the Romanian Embassy in Washington, DC and for March 20, 12 pm, at the Victor Borge Hall - Scandinavia House in New York (58 Park Ave.). The all-Romanian programme includes works by Anton Pann, George Enescu, Tudor Ciortea, Paul Constantinescu, Petre Elinescu, Ciprian Porumbescu, Vasile Jianu, Ioan Dobrinescu and Tiberiu Brediceanu.
(Translated by: C. Mateescu)
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