October 2004
Romania through international eyes
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John Kerry's strong showing in the presidential debates has breathed new life into his campaign to wrest the presidency of the United States from George Bush.
Violence escalated in Iraq; a study by a private security firm showed that there were more than 2,300 attacks directed at civilian and military targets during September alone. The estimated death toll in Haiti, two weeks after a tropical storm hit the north of the country, reached 2,400. British military police began an investigation into claims that as many as 650 Kenyan women were raped by British soldiers, dating back to the 1980s. A trial in New Zealand accused almost half of the adult male population of Pitcairn Island, which has a population of 47, of indulging in underage sex. The accused included Pitcairn's mayor, Steve Christian, whose ancestor, Fletcher Christian led the mutiny on the HMS
Bounty in 1789 and populated the island with the ship's crew. Four babies at the B.C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children in Calcutta died during a power cut. The British prime minister, Tony Blair, who had been in hospital for treatment for an in inconsistent heartbeat, said he would like to serve a third term as premier, but not a fourth. Russia's government backed the Kyoto Treaty, which some analysts thought might pave the way for worldwide agreement on emission reductions. Only two industrialised nations remain to add their signature to the Treaty - Australia and the United States. Russia's government sold its 7.6 per cent stake in Lukoil to ConocoPhilips for a little under $2 billion. Merck announced the worldwide withdrawal of Vioxx, its blockbuster anti-arthritis drug, after new clinical trials showed that it raises the risk of heart problems. Sir Richard Branson announced that Virgin Galactic, a Virgin offshoot, would offer tourists the chance to go to the edge of space - some 80 miles above the earth's surface - for $190,000 from 2007. Europe retained the Ryder Cup, golf's biggest team sport, by beating the United States by 181/2 to 91/2, a record winning margin. Rodger Federer won the US Open tennis tournament. Port Adelaide defeated Brisbane to win the AFL Grand Final. The first ever Chinese Grand Prix, held in Shanghai, was won by Rubens Barrichello. Richard Avedon, the photographer, died, aged 81. Johnny Ramone, the lead guitarist of the Ramones, died, aged 55. Arnold Schwartzennegger, the governor of California, said that from 2007 the production of fois gras would be banned in that state. Europe's biggest mushroom, which is about the size of 35 football pitches, was discovered in a national park near Ofenpass, in Switzerland. Pope John Paul II beatified five Roman Catholics, including Emperor Charles I of Austria who authorised the use of poison gas by his army during world war one, and a German nun whose visions of Christ were used by Mel Gibson in his film, 'The Passion of the Christ.' The pope has now beatified 1,340 people, more than all his predecessors combined. Chen Tan-Sun, the Taiwanese foreign minister, described Singapore as ''the size of a piece of snot.''

 

 

 

 

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Newsmakers at home and abroad

October 2004

Theodor Stolojan, who had been running a close second behind Adrian Nastase in polls ahead of next month's presidential election, unexpectedly pulled out of the contest, citing health problems. Traian Basescu, the popular mayor of Bucharest, said he would now run in his place. Cornel Nistorescu, an important campaigner for a free and independent press and the founder and editor of Evenimentul Zilei, resigned, saying that the government had forced the hand of the paper's owners, Ringier, to request the resignation. Evenimentul Zilei is known for its anti-government articles, which, its journalists say, Ringier had tried to curb. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of two journalists who had been imprisoned and fined in 1997 after revealing corrupt purchases of land in the Baie Mare area. Media groups slammed a bill that would ban reporters from taking photographs of the luxury villas owned by politicians. Romania was deemed to have a functioning market economy by the European Commision, which said it was on track to become an EU member in 2007 as intended. Prime Minister Adrian Nastase said he thought Romania's GDP would grow by 7.5 per cent this year; in August the official target had been raised from 5.5 to 6.5 per cent. President Ion Iliescu flew around the world, meeting Tony Blair, Silviu Berlusconi, George Bush and Pope Paul II, amongst others. Romania's parliament appointed Mugur Isarescu to another 5-year term as head of the central bank, a position he has held since 1991. Cristian Popa was reappointed vice-governor for the second time. Bogdan Baltazar, the head of BRD-SocGen, announced his retirement. Lia Roberts withdrew her ticket to run in the upcoming presidential elections. Bucharest's City Council said that later this year it would issue eurobonds worth 500 million euros to finance large infrastructure projects over the next four years. Teachers were granted a 30 per cent salary increase. Standard & Poor, the international credit rating agency, raised Romania's rating on $4.9 billion of long term bonds one notch to BB+, which is level with Russia and one notch below investment grade. Cargill, the world leader in grain production, was reported to have paid up to $30 million to purchase two edible oil processing plants in Podari and Craiova, and for the right to use the 'Bunica' (Grandmother) brand. Ernst & Young employed 50 university graduates, bringing the number of its staff in Romania to 270. Dan Spataru, the popular singer, died, aged 62. Jose Acasuso of Argentina beat Igor Andreev 6-3 6-0 to win this year's Romanian Open. Romania beat Canada 4-1 in a Davis Cup tie, in Bucharest. A survey showed that 51 per cent of people aged between 14 and 29 wanted to leave Romania. An earth tremour with a Richter scale measurement of 5.5 hit parts of the country's northern regions, with no reported damage. Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu tied for first place at the Pune International chess tournament in India, but was declared the winner due to his higher progressive score.