British Defence Secretary on a visit to Romania
British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson starts an official visit to Romania on Thursday. Mr. Williamson is expected to meet his Romanian counterpart Mihai Fifor before visiting the 57 Air Base at Mihail Kogălniceanu near the south-eastern Black Sea port of Constantza. The two officials are expected to meet pilots and technical personnel working on four RAF Typhoon fighter planes along with Romanian military personnel. The RAF is currently taking a leading role in Air Policing over the Black Sea – with around 160 British personnel stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base. It is a defensive, combat-capable force to defend NATO allies and deter any form of hostile activity against the Alliance. After increased Russian presence, provocation and unpredictable behaviour in the Black Sea region, the UK took the decision to contribute to NATO’s Southern Air Policing mission.
Romania’s BRD Group on profit
Romania’s BRD issued its report on its main financial ratios as at June 30, 2018 at consolidated level, according to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The bank reports a net profit of RON 757 million, +34.5% YoY excluding non-recurring items on strong operating performance and positive cost of risk, and a consistent revenue generation (net banking income up by +10.5%) on positive volume effect and favourable interest rate environment. BRD – Groupe Société Générale, one of Romania’s largest, has a leading position on the card market with approx. 2.4m cards and a network acceptance of approx. 29,500 POS and more than 1,500 ATMs. Total assets of the bank at June 2017 eamounted to RON 51.54bn. In 2017, American magazine „Global Finance” announced the top of the safest banks in the world with BRD Groupe Société Générale seen as the safest bank in Romania and 7th safest bank in Central and Eastern Europe.
Cantus Mundi Festival opens in Romania’s capital
Exhibition center Romexpo hosts the four-day Cantus Mundi Festival in Romania’s capital Bucharest. Participants include famous artists expected to perform along with more than 1,500 children in choral groups as part of the Cantus Mundi National Programme and Cantus Mundi Summer workshops. The festival opens on August 2 with an evening dedicated to classic music also celebrating the 55th anniversary of the „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” Chamber National Choir. Performers also include such artists as Felicia Filip (soprano), tenor Teodor Ailincăi (tenor), violinist Alexandru Tomescu (violine), Andrei Licareţ (piano) and others. The last evening of the festival on August 5 will show hugely acclaimed artists as Smiley, Horia Brenciu along with Vunk and Voltaj gruops.
Alexandru Danga, RADOR
