DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Romanians vote in parliamentary election amid turmoil over claims of Russian interference in presidential race
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

BUCHAREST, Romania Associated Press —Romanians cast ballots Sunday in a parliamentary election sandwiched between a two-round presidential race, the first of which has plunged the European Union and NATO member into unprecedented turmoil following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference. By 5 p.m., about 7.5 million people – about 42% of eligible voters – had cast ballots, according to the Central Election Bureau. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, predicted the general election could also be reshaped by Georgescu’s success, with far-right parties possibly obtaining record highs. “The impact of the surprise in last Sunday’s presidential election will be significant, and we are going to wake up in a new political reality,” he told The Associated Press. Some have predicted that the far-right nationalist S.O.S Romania party, and the little-known Party of Young People, which has backed Georgescu, could pass the threshold.

Persons: –, Calin Georgescu, Elena Lasconi, Vladimir Putin, Alexandru Rizescu, ”, “, Georgescu, it’s, Andrei Pungovschi, Cristian Andrei, “ Georgescu, Marcel Ciolacu, ” Georgescu, ” “, Andreea Alexandru, Silviu Organizations: Press, European Union, NATO, Bureau, Save, Save Romania Union, Constitutional, Sunday, Associated Press, Social Democratic Party, PSD, National Liberal Party, PNL, ”, Alliance, Unity, REPER, Force, of Young Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Save Romania, Europe, Izvorani, Bucharest, TikTok, Russia, Romanian, EU, Sens

☆ Romania in shock after little-known, far-right populist enters presidential runoff with most votes
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The political landscape in Romania is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election, electoral data showed Monday, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face off against reformist Elena Lasconi in a runoff in two weeks. Lasconi of the progressive Save Romania Union party, or USR, followed with 19.17%. Between 1999 and 2012, he was a representative for Romania on the national committee of the United Nations Environment Program. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country’s next government and prime minister.

Persons: Calin Georgescu, Elena Lasconi, Georgescu, Marcel Ciolacu, George Simion, —, Lasconi Organizations: Romania Union, Social Democratic Party, Alliance, Unity, PSD, Bureau, European Union, NATO, Facebook, Romania, United Nations Environment, Associated Press Locations: Romania, Romania’s, pedology, Ukraine

☆ Romania: Far-right populist Calin Georgescu leads presidential election runoff with most votes
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Kathy Rose Obrien | Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face off against reformist Elena Lasconi in a runoff in two weeks. Georgescu, 62, was ahead after nearly all ballots were counted with around 22.95% of the vote. Lasconi of the progressive Save Romania Union party, or USR, followed with 19.17%. Georgescu, 62, won 43.3% of the vote in Romania’s large diaspora, compared to Lasconi who got 26.8%. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country’s next government and prime minister.

Persons: Calin Georgescu, Elena Lasconi, Georgescu, Marcel Ciolacu, George Simion, Lasconi Organizations: Romania Union, Social Democratic Party, Alliance, Unity, PSD, Bureau, European Union, NATO, Facebook, Romania, United Nations Environment, Associated Press Locations: Romania’s, pedology, Romania, Ukraine

☆ Bela Karolyi, the polarizing coach who helped launch gymnasts to Olympic stardom, dies at 82
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Holly Yan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Bela Karolyi, the legendary and controversial Romanian American gymnastics coach who helped lead Mary Lou Retton, Nadia Comaneci and Kerri Strug to Olympic gold, has died, USA Gymnastics announced. Still, Bela Karolyi remained unapologetic to the end for the methods he used to blaze a path to sports glory. And by his senior year, he was coaching the school’s women’s gymnastics team, whose star Marta Enoss would become his wife and professional ally. “I think he was learning gymnastics with us.”At age 14, Comaneci famously scored the first “perfect 10” in Olympic gymnastics. “Prior to entering the Bela Karolyi camp, I knew one thing; Bela was my bus pass to the Olympics,” Okino wrote in 2001.

Persons: CNN — Bela Karolyi, Mary Lou Retton, Nadia Comaneci, Kerri Strug, Karolyi, Marta Karolyi, Bela Karolyi, ”, ” Bela Karolyi didn’t, Marta Enoss, That’s, “, Marta, Bela, ” Comaneci, Comaneci, Nicolae Ceaușescu’s, Karolyi’s, USA's Kerri Strug, Susan Ragan, Dianne Durham, Kim Zmeskal, Strug hobbled, USA’s, Strug, ” Karolyi, Larry Nassar, –, Nassar, Retton, ” Retton, ‘, Betty Okino, ” Okino, “ Karolyi, goddam Bela, Dominique Moceanu, ” Moceanu, Moceanu, Nadia Comăneci, ” CNN’s Lindsey Knight Organizations: CNN, USA Gymnastics, Texas, Romanian, Romania College of Physical Education, Eastern Bloc, Guardian, Rocky Mountain News, University of Oklahoma, USA, Olympic, US, Los Angeles Games, Team USA, International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, Orange County Register, –, Team Training, US Olympic Committee, ” Locations: Romanian American, Texas, Montreal, Romanian, New York, America, Houston, American, Atlanta, Romania, United States, California

☆ Jus sanguinis - or ‘blood right’ - might entitle you to EU citizenship
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Terry Ward | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Some countries are fairly straightforward about their requirements for citizenship through jus sanguinis. Hungary offers citizenship based on jus sanguinis with some caveats, too. “When both of my parents got their Hungarian citizenship around four years ago, it made it easier for me to get it,” said Koszorus, 41, who received his Hungarian citizenship this summer, less than a year after he started the paperwork and application process. And a private Facebook group called Dual US-Italian Citizenship has more than 70,000 members and is among many other resources available to people who think they might have a blood right path to Italian citizenship. Florida-based travel writer Terry Ward lives in Tampa and has the blood right to Italian citizenship through her paternal great-great-grandfather.

Persons: Lisa Wixon, jus solis, she’d, ”, Wixon, ’ ”, Sophie Jo Wasson, Fragomen, Czechia, Wasson, Frans Sellies, “, ” Wasson, Franco, Ferenc G, Koszorus, Koszorus That’s, Marco Permunian, Vittorio Emanuele II, Marco Bottigelli, Permunian, Janna Graber, ” Graber, Graber, Richard Orbidans, Orbidans, Drew Angerer, won’t, Terry Ward Organizations: CNN, New, European Union, “, Croatian, Getty, Irish, Department of Foreign Affairs, Nazi, First Armored Division, Citizenship Assistance, Vittorio, ICA, Facebook, Go, Latvian, Baltic, Visitors, Ellis, National Museum of Immigration Locations: New York City, United States, Rijeka, Croatia, Europe, Ireland, France, London, Italy, Spain, Austria, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Moher, Northern Ireland, Germany, Austrian, Spanish, American, Washington, DC, Hungarian, Nazi, West Germany, Milan, Italian, Baltic, Colorado, Riga, Latvia, Lithuanian, Lithuania, Ellis, European, Florida, Tampa

☆ Jordan Chiles: US gymnast says ‘the person I am’ was taken from her during Olympic medal controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Not just my sport, but the person I am,” she told Forbes’ Power Women’s Summit, appearing emotional at times. … I feel like I was really left in the dark.”CNN has reached out to the International Olympic Committee, the International Gymnastics Federation and CAS for comment on Chiles’ comments. Chiles spoke of the “huge toll on [her] mental health” the coach’s comments had as she considered quitting gymnastics. The win was historic – marking the first time all three positions on the Olympic podium were held by Black women. Chiles was initially awarded a bronze medal in the women's floor exercise event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Persons: Jordan Chiles, Chiles, Romania’s Ana Bǎrbosu, ”, it’s, …, “ didn’t, ” Chiles, Taraji, Henson, Tracie Jade, Simone Biles, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, Gabriel Bouys, “, ” USAG, Hamid G, Gharavi Organizations: CNN, Games, Sport, CAS, Wednesday, Forbes, Power Women’s, International Olympic Committee, International Gymnastics Federation, Olympics, Olympic, Getty, Romanian Gymnastics Federation, US, Paralympic, USA Locations: Romanian, AFP, Romania

☆ Jordan Chiles' stripped bronze is gymnastics' biggest controversy since the 2000 Sydney Olympics disaster
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kaetlyn-Liddy-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Kaetlyn Liddy | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles was stripped of her floor exercise bronze medal Sunday by the International Olympic Committee after a scoring inquiry was deemed invalid. Chiles is the only gymnast in history to be stripped of an Olympic medal for reasons other than age falsification or failed drug tests. The bronze medal debacle is the sport's most high-profile controversy since the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the site of the biggest scandal in Olympic gymnastics history. Jordan Chiles competes during the Women's Gymnastics Floor Routine final competition at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on Aug. 5, 2024. The U.S. women's gymnastics team, which initially finished fourth in 2000, was awarded the bronze medal in 2010 after the Chinese team was disqualified.

Persons: Jordan Chiles, Chiles, Romania's Ana Bărbosu, Svetlana Khorkina, “ I’ve, ”, Kathy Kelly, Khorkina, Dmitry Lebedev, Andreea, Răducan, Simona Amânar, Raducan, Thomas Bach, Bach, ” Bach, Dong Fangxiao, Fangxiao's, Switzerland’s Fanny Smith, Germany’s Daniela Maier Organizations: International Olympic, Sport, Sydney Olympic Games, ESPN, Bercy, Kommersant, IOC, Swiss Federal Tribunal, Jordan, Beijing Winter Locations: Sydney, Paris, Soviet, Romania, Beijing, U.S

☆ Jordan Chiles case won’t be reconsidered, CAS tells USA Gymnastics
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Mark Cooper | Tess Demeyer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday rejected USA Gymnastics’ request to reopen the case into the Olympic gymnastics women’s floor exercise scoring, one day after the International Olympic Committee said Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal would be reallocated to Ana Bărbosu of Romania. AdvertisementThat led the International Gymnastics Federation to amend its floor exercise standings, dropping Chiles to fifth, and prompted the IOC to adjust its medals accordingly. USA Gymnastics, however, said Sunday it received video evidence showing the coach, Cecile Landi made the appeal 47 seconds after Chiles’ score was posted — 13 seconds within the window — and it submitted the evidence to CAS for review. But Landi submitted an inquiry to challenge the difficulty score of Chiles’ routine. Its ruling invalidated Chiles’ score.

Persons: Jordan Chiles ’, Ana Bărbosu, Chiles, —, Cecile Landi, Bărbosu, Sabrina Maneca, Landi, Alex Gottschalk Organizations: Sport, Monday, International Olympic, International Gymnastics Federation, IOC, USA, Swiss, Tribunal, Swiss Federal Tribunal, Jordan Locations: Romania, Romanian

☆ Jordan Chiles: Everything to know about the controversy over the gymnast’s bronze medal
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Chelsea Bailey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

USA gymnast Jordan Chiles was stripped of her first individual Olympic medal after the Romanian gymnastics team challenged her final score. But as the stadium erupted in celebration over Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade’s gold medal, USA Gymnastics Coach Cecile Landi filed an inquiry over Chiles’ difficulty score. Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles playfully bow to Brazil's Rebeca Andrade during the Olympic medal ceremony. They argued the USA Gymnastics inquiry was filed 4 seconds after the one-minute deadline and Chiles’ initial score of 13.666 should be upheld. USA Gymnastics’ appeal is deniedUSA Gymnastics said the Court of Arbitration for Sport has denied its appeal for Chiles to keep her floor exercise bronze medal.

Persons: Jordan Chiles, Chiles, Romania’s Ana Bǎrbosu, Sabrina Maneca, Brazil’s, Cecile Landi, Landi gaped, Biles, Andrade, Simone Biles, Brazil's Rebeca Andrade, Gabriel Bouys, “, Bǎrbosu, Voinea, Ana Bǎrbosu, Mike Blake, Chiles “, ” Chiles, ”, Naomi Baker, Landi, Usain Bolt, he’d, Nesta Carter, CNN’s Jacob Lev, Issy Ronald, Ben Morse, Dan Moriarty, David Close Organizations: CNN, Getty, Federation, Romanian Gymnastics Federation, Sport, US Olympic, Paralympic, Team USA, USA, USA Gymnastics, Swiss Federal Tribunal, Jordan, ” CNN, International Olympic Committee Locations: Romanian, AFP, Romania

PARIS — U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles must return her bronze medal in the floor exercise, the International Olympic Committee said Sunday, upholding findings that a coach's protest that got her on the podium shouldn't have been allowed. Romanian Ana Bărbosu, 18, will now be the floor exercise bronze medalist. "We are devastated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling regarding women’s floor exercise," according to a statement issued by USA Gymnastics on Saturday night. "The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring." "I am taking the time and removing myself from social media for my mental health thank you," she wrote.

Persons: Jordan Chiles, Chiles, Cecile Landi, Marcel Ciolacu, he'd, Romanian Ana Bărbosu, Ana Bărbosu, She's, Jordan, she'd, David K, Li, Sean Nevin Organizations: PARIS, International Olympic, Romanian, IOC, Sunday, Sport, International Gymnastics Federation, NOC, USA Gymnastics Locations: U.S, Romanian, Romania, France, New York City, Tokyo, Paris, London

☆ Jordan Chiles Lost a Bronze. She’s Not the First American Affected by a Medal Change.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Christina Morales | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

On Sunday, the American gymnast Jordan Chiles became the latest athlete to lose one. At the Paris Olympics, Ms. Chiles had won bronze in the individual floor exercise. That appeal, however, came four seconds too late, a court ruled, reinstating Ms. Chiles’s original score. The bronze will now go to Ana Barbosu of Romania, according to the International Olympic Committee. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee intends to appeal the ruling.

Persons: Jordan Chiles, Chiles, Ana Barbosu Organizations: Paris Olympics, International Olympic Committee, U.S, Olympic, Paralympic Locations: Romania

☆ Jordan Chiles: US gymnast stripped of bronze medal in floor exercise
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Sunday that the bronze medal given to American gymnast Jordan Chiles in the floor exercise at the Paris Games will be awarded to her Romanian counterpart Ana Bărbosu. And the IOC confirmed that the score change will mean Chiles will be stripped of her bronze and given to Bărbosu. Ana Bărbosu reacts after competing in the women's floor exercise. Immediately after the competition finished on Monday with Chiles’ routine, Bărbosu thought she had won the bronze medal after posting a score of 13.700. However, CAS’ ruling that the inquiry submitted on behalf of Chiles “was raised after the conclusion of the one-minute deadline” stipulated in the regulations threw Chiles’ medal into doubt.

Persons: Jordan Chiles, Ana Bărbosu, Chiles, Ana Barbosu, “, Jordan, Jamie Squire, Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles, Andrade, Chiles “, ” CNN’s Issy Ronald, Jacob Lev, Homero De La Fuente, Dan Moriarty Organizations: CNN, Olympic Committee, Paris Games, Sport, USA, Gymnastics Federation, IOC, International Gymnastics Federation, NOC, Paralympic, FIG, Games Locations: Romanian, Romania, ”, “

☆ Jordan Chiles to lose Olympic bronze medal after court overturns score change
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Zack Pierce | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

“The IOC will reallocate the bronze medal to Ana Bǎrbosu (Romania),” the statement said. But her coach, Cecile Landi, submitted an inquiry to challenge the difficulty score Chiles had received. The court agreed, invalidating Chiles’ score, and the International Gymnastics Federation, known as FIG, then announced that it had officially changed the ranking of the competition, putting Chiles back in fifth place. “The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring,” the statement said. AdvertisementA few days later, she was in the floor exercise final.

Persons: Jordan Chiles ’, Ana Bǎrbosu, Chiles, Cecile Landi, Sabrina Maneca, Landi, Jordan Chiles, Jordan, ” Chiles, “, ” Simone Biles, Naomi Baker, Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Lee, She’s, — Organizations: Paris Games, International Olympic, National Olympic, Sport, International Gymnastics Federation, U.S, Olympic, Paralympic Committee, Disneyland Paris Locations: Romania, Bǎrbosu, ”

☆ U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles could lose bronze medal after sports arbitration officials rule on appeal
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kaetlyn-Liddy-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Kaetlyn Liddy | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles might lose her bronze medal. She had placed fifth before the inquiry, behind both Romanians, but received a tenth back on her final score, boosting her onto the podium. In one, the team asked that the 0.1 point penalty for stepping out of bounds on Maneca-Voinea's final score be returned because it was "given without basis." It also requested that Chiles, Maneca-Voinea and Bărbosu all be placed in third and earn bronze medals. If she had not received the deduction, Maneca-Voinea would have scored higher than Bărbosu and Chiles, even after Chiles' score was increased on appeal.

Persons: Jordan Chiles, Chiles, —, Chiles —, it’s, ”, Sabrina Maneca, Ana Bărbosu, Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles, “, Jordan, she's, Nadia Comăneci, Voinea, Comăneci, Marcel Ciolacu, ” Ciolacu Organizations: Sport, International Gymnastics Federation, USA, U.S, Olympic, Paralympic Committee, Tokyo Games, NBC, Paris, Facebook, Romanian Olympic, Sports Committee Locations: Romanian, U.S, Brazil, Maneca, Romania

☆ The British Army has shrunk to its smallest size since the Napoleonic wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The British Army has shrunk to its lowest level since the early 1800s. That's a far cry from the Chinese army of 2 million soldiers, Russia's 1.3 million, or the 460,000 active-duty troops of the US Army. "As things stand, the British Army is a one-trick pony," Nicholas Drummond, a British defense expert and former infantry officer, told Business Insider. AdvertisementIn 1989, the British Army had 156,000 soldiers, or more than twice its present size. "Right now, the British Army cannot generate a single division, let alone two," Drummond said.

Persons: —, Napoleon, Nicholas Drummond, Rudyard Kipling, Tommy, Chuck, Drummond, Keir Starmer, Conservative government's, It's, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, British Army, US Army, Business, Britain's Army, NATO, Royal Navy, Treasury, Army, Labor, Conservative, Royal Air Force, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Romania, Bangladesh, Canada, Armenia, Russia, Washington, DC, Ukraine, British, Forbes

☆ Village on Ukraine's doorstep set to become NATO's biggest European airbase as Putin vows to go 'to the end' in the war
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Nicolae Crețu, the commander of the air base, told the outlet that the expanded facility would require "maintenance hangars, fuel stores, ammunition, equipment, aviation technical materials, simulators, feeding facilities, accommodation." Advertisement"Our objective here in Romania is to enhance our integration into NATO Air Power by honing and deepening our cooperation with the Royal Air Force and the Romanian Air Force", he added. Romanian air force F-16 fighter planes. AdvertisementNevertheless, Putin this week reiterated his threats to the West, vowing to go "to the end" in the war with Ukraine. Defeat in Ukraine, Putin said, would mean "the end of the 1,000-year history of the Russian state.

Persons: —, Nicolae Crețu, Rami Lindström, Andreea Alexandru, Charlie Tagg, Dorin Popescu, Mihail Kogălniceanu, Andrey Klimov, Vladimir Putin, ALEXANDER NEMENOV, Putin Organizations: Service, NATO, Euro News Romania, Business, BBC, Finnish Air Force, Royal Air Force, NATO Air Power, Romanian Air Force, AP, Federation, Committee, Foreign Affairs, Getty Locations: Odesa, Ukraine, Europe, Romania, Romanian, Norway, Andreea Alexandru US, Bucharest, Russian, Russia, Finland, Sweden

☆ Dutch PM Mark Rutte set to be next NATO secretary-general after rival withdraws from race
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Netherland's Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrives to attend the European Political Community summit at the Palacio de Congreso in Granada, southern Spain on October 5, 2023. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday rescinded his bid for the leadership of the NATO military alliance and threw his support behind the favorite contender for the post, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The move effectively clears the path for outgoing Dutch PM Rutte to assume the top position of the 32-member U.S.-led NATO military coalition, when incumbent Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg finishes his mandate on Oct. 1 after 10 years in the job. Iohannis, 65, is ending his second five-year round at the helm of Romania, which will hold national elections in September. Two weeks ago, Budapest conceded not to block the NATO alliance's deepening military support for Ukraine, in exchange for nonparticipation.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Klaus Iohannis, Iohannis, Rutte, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: Netherland's, Palacio, Congreso, NATO, Dutch, Supreme, of National Defense, CNBC, U.S, Ukraine Locations: Granada, Spain, Romanian, Romania's, Ukraine, Iohannis, Romania, Rutte, Hungary, Russia, Budapest

☆ How Ukraine seized the upper hand against Russia in the battle for the Black Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Tim Lister | Victoria Butenko | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Ukraine has virtually no navy of its own, but technological innovation, audacity and Russian incompetence have given it the upper hand in much of the Black Sea. Rather than fold, the Ukrainians declared a unilateral “Black Sea Humanitarian Corridor” for merchant shipping and stepped up its use of maritime drones and missile attacks against Russia’s Black Sea fleet. One-third of the Black Sea fleet has been disabled or destroyed, and the remaining ships rarely venture into the western half of the sea. In August, Russia withdrew some of the Black Sea fleet from its headquarters in Sevastopol to relatively safer ports on the Russian coast. Russia is unlikely to be able to tilt the balance in the Black Sea back in its favor.

Persons: Caesar Kunikov, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Yoruk Isik, Russia’s, Zelensky, Dmytro Pletenchuk, ” Pletenchuk, ’ Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Reuters, Agriculture, UN, Initiative, NATO, Economy Ministry, Black Sea Initiative, Ukrainian, Russia, Maritime Autonomous Guard, Defense Intelligence, Drones, Both Defense Intelligence, Security Service, ’ AK, Black, Russian, Odesa, Montreux Convention – Locations: Crimea, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukrainian, Sevastopol, Washington, Novorossiysk, Sochi, ”, MAGURA, Krasnodar, Kerch, France, Snake, Odesa, Turkey, Black, Montreux, Moscow

☆ French police arrest yoga guru in connection with alleged rape, human trafficking and kidnapping scheme
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Maya Szaniecki | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Paris CNN —French police this week arrested yoga guru Gregorian Bivolaru and 41 others on accusations of kidnap, rape and human trafficking. Alleged victims were drawn in with promises of a spiritual awakening, only to be indoctrinated and mentally manipulated into sexual relations with 71-year-old Bivolaru, a judicial source said. Then, the alleged victims said they would be mentally manipulated into accepting “sexual relations designed to suppress any notion of consent regarding sexual relations,” the judicial source said. The judicial source said the alleged victims were told that consent was a reflection of the ego preventing them from reaching a state of spiritual awakening. Twenty-six alleged victims were found living in cramped and unhygienic conditions, the judicial source said.

Persons: Gregorian, Bivolaru –, Bivolaru, MISA, ”, –, “, ’, ” MISA, Interpol’s ‘, Maya Szaniecki, Sophie Tanno Organizations: Paris CNN —, Interpol, for, International Federation of Yoga, CNN, Atman Federation, MISA Yoga, AFP, Rights League –, Central Office, OCRVP, Bivolaru Locations: Paris, France, Romania, French, Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Finland, London

☆ Op-ed: Europe is leaving a void in a multipolar world
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Kevin Klowden | Chief Global Strategist At The Milken Institute | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Russian invasion of Ukraine only three months later served to provide an immediate driver for greater political unity within Europe. China, Russia and even the United States under Donald Trump have expressed dissatisfaction with institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the G7 and the United Nations. watch nowThe void is particularly apparent at the WTO, where the lack of European leadership on trade as the U.S. turned inward is particularly felt. Perhaps nothing shows the consequences of the lack of European strength in preserving these institutions than the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the combination of a split over Ukraine, and internal divisions within Europe, have prevented any way for Europe to play a key role with China.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyenââ, Pedro Sanchez Perez, Klaus Iohannis, Chancellor, Germany, Olaf Scholz, Charles Michel, Dursun, Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Merkel, Ursula von der Leyen, Xi Jinping Organizations: European Commission, European, European Union, Anadolu Agency, Getty, World Trade Organization, United Nations, WTO, EU, NATO, APEC Locations: Spain, Romania, Brussels, Belgium, United States, China, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Germany, Moscow, India, Southeast Asia, EU, East, Africa

☆ Romania is not ready to uphold same-sex couples' rights - PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUCHAREST, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Romanian society is not ready to uphold the rights of same-sex couples in line with a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling, leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said late on Thursday. The ECHR ruled in May Romania had failed to enforce the rights of same-sex couples by refusing to recognise their relationships, in a ruling which could eventually force policymakers to expand protections for the LGBT community. Asked whether Romania will enforce the ruling, Ciolacu told radio station Europa FM that "the Romanian society is not ready for a decision at the moment. Socially conservative Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, decades later than other parts of the European Union, but still bars marriage and civil partnerships for same-sex couples. A referendum to change Romania's constitution to prevent same-sex couples from securing the right to marry failed to draw enough voters in 2018.

Persons: Marcel Ciolacu, Ciolacu, Luiza Ilie, Lincoln Organizations: of Human Rights, European Union, Thomson Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Romanian

☆ Romania Is Not Ready to Uphold Same-Sex Couples' Rights - PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian society is not ready to uphold the rights of same-sex couples in line with a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling, leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said late on Thursday. The ECHR ruled in May Romania had failed to enforce the rights of same-sex couples by refusing to recognise their relationships, in a ruling which could eventually force policymakers to expand protections for the LGBT community. Asked whether Romania will enforce the ruling, Ciolacu told radio station Europa FM that "the Romanian society is not ready for a decision at the moment. Socially conservative Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, decades later than other parts of the European Union, but still bars marriage and civil partnerships for same-sex couples. A referendum to change Romania's constitution to prevent same-sex couples from securing the right to marry failed to draw enough voters in 2018.

Persons: Marcel Ciolacu, Ciolacu, Luiza Ilie, Lincoln Organizations: of Human Rights, European Union Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Romanian

☆ Late Israel equaliser puts Swiss Euro 2024 qualification on ice
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The unbeaten Swiss moved top of Group I, with 16 points from eight matches, but only ahead of Romania on goal difference. Israel are third on 12 points with all three countries having two games left. Vargas came within inches of doubling his tally five minutes after his goal when he thundered a shot off the crossbar. As a result, Israel play four games in the space of nine days to complete their qualifying campaign. The Swiss face Kosovo in Basel on Saturday and then complete their campaign away in Romania on Tuesday.

Persons: Israel, Shon Weissman's, Ruben Vargas, Edimilson Fernandes, Weisman’s, Fernandes, Noah Okafor, Vargas, Sean Goldberg, Dor Turgeman’s, Turgeman, Yann Sommer, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: European Championship, Kosovo, Swiss, Palestinian, Hamas, Romania, Puskas Academy Arena, Thomson Locations: FELCSUT, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, Swiss, Romania, Israel, Kosovo, Budapest, Andorra, Basel, Cape Town

No decision on a ground offensive has been announced, although Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border 3. Israeli military spokesman Read Adm. Daniel Hagari said Saturday Israel had so far identified 126 captives. GERMANY TO START EVACUATING CITIZENS FROM ISRAELBERLIN — The German army will start evacuating its citizens from Israel with military airplanes. Hezbollah said its fighters struck several Israeli military positions in the disputed Chebaa Farms and Kfar Chouba hills in the afternoon. ISRAELI MILITARY ANNOUNCES IT IS PREPARED FOR ‘COORDINATED’ OFFENSIVEJERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it has prepared a “coordinated” offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces.

Persons: Israel, Lloyd Austin, “, Israel —, ”, Yifat Zailer, Zailer, Read, Daniel Hagari, Hezbollah’s, Ali Youssef Alaaeddine, Alaaeddine, ERDOGAN'S, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bilal Erdogan, Suleyman Soylu, Mustafa Sentop, ” Erdogan, Sentop, Khalil Hachem, Rabad Akoum, ” Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, ” Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Mohammad Abu Selim, Medhat Abbas, Hakan Fidan, Sameh Shoukry, IT'S, ROME —, “ We’ve, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, —, ” Tajani, TT, Tobias Billström, Elina Valtonen, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Saleh Arouri, Ziad Nakhaleh, Amirabdollahian Organizations: United Nations, Gaza, United States Defense, TEL, ISRAEL BERLIN —, Hamas, Lufthansa, BEIRUT —, Associated Press, AP, Ministry, Sunday, South, MEDIA, BEIRUT, National News Agency, OFFICIAL, EGYPT BEIRUT —, OF, Gaza —, Shifa, Health Ministry, FROM, Romania — Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel, NORDIC, FROM ISRAEL HELSINKI, Nordic, Helsinki Airport, Iran’s, Manar, Islamic, Hezbollah Locations: Gaza City, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Israeli, Lebanon, ISRAEL, SYRIA, TEL AVIV, Syria, Golan, GERMANY, Germany, Jordan, BEIRUT, Palestinian, ISTANBUL ISTANBUL, Istanbul, United States, Tel Aviv, Dubai, South, Lebanese, Chebaa, Kfar Chouba, JERUSALEM, EGYPT BEIRUT, GAZA, Shifa, FROM ISRAEL, TURKEY, ISTANBUL, Turkish, Embassy, Turkey, BUCHAREST, Romania, Romanian Embassy, ITALY, ROME, Italian, Rome, FINNS, Finland, Sweden, Helsinki, Stockholm, Swedish, Stockholm’s Arlanda, Beirut, Hezbollah’s, Amirabdollahian, Iran, Iraq, Jihad

☆ Turkish cargo ship hits mine in Black Sea, sustains minor damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A Turkish-flagged general cargo ship hit a mine on Thursday in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania and sustained minor damage but the crew was safe, maritime and security sources said. The vessel dropped anchor for a short period to assess the damage," Ambrey said in a note. The Black Sea area has been listed as a high risk zone by insurers and floating mines remain a peril. Since then, Ukraine has set up a temporary "humanitarian corridor" for cargo vessels, and several ships have left Ukrainian Black Sea ports since August. Russia may use sea mines to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying them on the approach to Ukrainian ports, the British government said on Wednesday citing intelligence.

Persons: Ambrey, Yoruk Isik, Kafkametler, Jonathan Saul, Pavel Poltityuk, Sandra Maler Organizations: Bosphorus Observer, Reuters, Kafkametler, Thomson Locations: Romania, British, Sulina, Istanbul, Vylkove, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian, London, Kyiv

Search resuls for: "of Romani"

25 mentions found