Constitutional referendum results under debate at Romania’s Constitutional Court
Results of a referendum aimed at changing the constitution to define marriage strictly as between a man and a woman is under debate at Romania’s Constitutional Court on Thursday. The court is expected to ensure that legal procedures of the two-day referendum (October 6 – 7) were strictily observed. The court rejected on Wendesday four complaints about alleged irregularities during the vote. The referendum has failed after only a fifth of voters bothered to turn out as just 20.4% of eligible voters were casting ballots – short of the 30% needed.
Co-operation between Romania and UAE
Romania and the United Arab Emirates decided to ensure closer relations on various fields, according to a joint statement of the two cabinets issued in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. While on an official visit to Abu Dhabi, Romanian PM Viorica Dăncilă met her UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Wednesday before meeting a representative of the country’s Western Region Municipality. Known as Al Gharbia or Al Dhafra, the municipality was established in 2006 and is responsible for a range of local government functions. The largest of the UAE’s seven emirates, Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western coast. The city of Abu Dhabi had an estimated population of 1.8 million in 2016.
Simona Halep withdraws from WTA Finals
The Women’s Tennis Association said on Thursday that No. 1-ranked Simona Halep has withdrawn from the WTA Finals because of a lower back injury. The Romanian sustained the injury – a herniated disc – during a training session before last month’s Wuhan Open. World number 10 Kiki Bertens takes Halep’s place in the event, where $7m (£5.34m) prize money is available. Bertens will join Angelique Kerber, Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens, Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina in Singapore. Halep, who won a maiden grand slam title at the French Open in the summer, said: “Unfortunately, after much discussion with my team and doctors, I have made the decision to withdraw from the WTA Finals in Singapore.
Alexandru Danga, RADOR
