Benitez asked why his "silhouette" has changed in past five years.
By Alan Dawson
25-Feb-2010 8:26:00 AM
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez became embroiled in a bizarre pre-match press conference when Romanian journalists appeared to berate the Spaniard over his weight, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
The Reds boss was fielding questions relating to the club's concluding Europa League tie with Unirea Urziceni, yet reporters from Romania sought to get a rise out of the unswervingly diplomatic Benitez.
When probed as to whether Liverpool were underestimating Unirea, he said: "Not at all. I just had to work out what would be the best preparation for the team, and I just felt that working on formations and set-pieces at Melwood before, rather than after, a three-hour flight would be the right option.
"As for after the game, if it goes to extra-time, the plane will wait, because it is a charter. Don't make the mistake of thinking we are taking anything for granted," he warned.
He was then asked for his thoughts about chants from the terraces predicting his sacking in the morning.
"I don't listen to them. When you are on the sidelines, watching your team, you are not aware of anything else. You are in the zone and concentrating only on what is happening on the pitch. Anyway, I don't always understand. My English still isn't all that good." Toward's the end of the conference, one reporter opted for a more personal approach.
"The last time I saw you, Mr Benitez, was at the 2005 Champions' League final, and your, erm, silhouette seems to have changed since then. Why is that?" One bold journalist asked.
"It is the stress of having to answer so many questions from the press. Thank you and goodnight."
Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic 'to adopt euro in 2015' - analysts
The Greek financial turmoil could postpone admission of emerging European countries into the eurozone, according to a poll by Reuters among 44 leading analysts.
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Poland could adopt the single currency in 2015, with Estonia standing the best chances, expected to lead the pack in 2011.
In autumn 2009, analysts predicted the Baltic country would adopt the euro in 2012.
European policymakers will measure euro aspirants against the Maastricht adoption criteria with a new intensity, according to the poll.
"The euro zone countries will want to be absolutely sure that they are not bringing a new 'Greece' to the club," said Diego Iscaro, economist with Ihs Global Insight.
Other analysts say it is not a matter of who will join the club but who will pack up and leave.
The poll showed that only Estonia will stick to its guns to join the eurozone after finance minister Jurgen Ligi last week announced he expects the country will adopt the euro in 2011.
The analysts singled out keeping budget deficit beneath the three per cent cap as the toughest challenge facing aspirants.
Poland, the region’s best performer, run up a shortfall of 7.2 per cent of GDP, jeopardising the government’s ERM-II target of 2012.
The most daunting challenge facing Bulgaria and Romania is reining in inflation.
Source: Dnevnik.bg
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Poland could adopt the single currency in 2015, with Estonia standing the best chances, expected to lead the pack in 2011.
In autumn 2009, analysts predicted the Baltic country would adopt the euro in 2012.
European policymakers will measure euro aspirants against the Maastricht adoption criteria with a new intensity, according to the poll.
"The euro zone countries will want to be absolutely sure that they are not bringing a new 'Greece' to the club," said Diego Iscaro, economist with Ihs Global Insight.
Other analysts say it is not a matter of who will join the club but who will pack up and leave.
The poll showed that only Estonia will stick to its guns to join the eurozone after finance minister Jurgen Ligi last week announced he expects the country will adopt the euro in 2011.
The analysts singled out keeping budget deficit beneath the three per cent cap as the toughest challenge facing aspirants.
Poland, the region’s best performer, run up a shortfall of 7.2 per cent of GDP, jeopardising the government’s ERM-II target of 2012.
The most daunting challenge facing Bulgaria and Romania is reining in inflation.
Source: Dnevnik.bg
'Orange Romania lowers 16 GB iPhone 3G price'
Orange Romania offers the 16 GB iPhone 3G for EUR 309, the price of the 8 GB iPhone, via its online shop together with a 24-month subscription of EUR 20 per month (VAT included). The offer is available until 23 June. With this subscription, Orange clients get 180 minutes for calls to all national networks, 50 SMS and 500 MB for browsing the internet.
Orange Romania is also set to launch the iPhone 3G 'Speed' smartphone on the local market around 15 August.
Simon Crafar injured in Romania
9th June, 2009. Former world superbike racer New Zealander Simon Crafar has been seriously injured in an accident while riding an enduro bike in Romania.
Racing websites have reported that Crafar, 40, was hit by a car in the accident, fracturing his vertebra and requiring a nine-hour operation to put a metal plate in.
Crafar is reported as able to move his legs and has been transferred to a spinal unit in Barcelona.
The highlight of Crafar's grand prix career was a victory, from pole position, in the 1998 500cc British Grand Prix at Donington Park.
Crafar started 123 World Superbike (WSBK) races over a period of 10 seasons, although he only competed in four full seasons between 1994 and 1997.
He enjoyed his best season in 1997 whilst riding for Kawasaki, scoring seven podiums and a pole position on the way to finishing fifth overall, although he never won a WSBK race.
Romanian President Traian Basescu Visited Romanian Troops In Afghanistan
Romanian President Traian Basescu visited on Saturday the military base in Qalat, Afghanistan, where he decorated the war flag of the 21st Battalion “Vanatori de Munte.” “Decorating the war flag is a sign of the Romanian people’s respect for what you are doing here, for the fight against terrorism and the fight to establish the Romanian military as a powerful force together with its allies,” Basescu said.
He added that he is aware this is not the best moment for the operation in Afghanistan, but assured the Romanian troops that NATO and state leaders have taken the decision to guarantee the necessary strength for NATO to win the war. “This is not a war we are waging in the name of the civilized world, but to defend our freedom and security at home,” Basescu pointed out.The Romanian President promised the Romanian troops stationed in Qalat, capital of the Zabul province that their remaining bonuses would be paid in June and August.Romania’s participation in the war in Afghanistan is currently 962 troops, with 904 taking part in the International Security Assistance Force mission led by NATO. Most of the Romanian troops are stationed in southern Afghanistan, in the Zabul province. Their objective is to ensure the security of the region. Romania’s presence in Afghanistan began in 2002, with eleven soldiers killed in action and 34 wounded so far.
He added that he is aware this is not the best moment for the operation in Afghanistan, but assured the Romanian troops that NATO and state leaders have taken the decision to guarantee the necessary strength for NATO to win the war. “This is not a war we are waging in the name of the civilized world, but to defend our freedom and security at home,” Basescu pointed out.The Romanian President promised the Romanian troops stationed in Qalat, capital of the Zabul province that their remaining bonuses would be paid in June and August.Romania’s participation in the war in Afghanistan is currently 962 troops, with 904 taking part in the International Security Assistance Force mission led by NATO. Most of the Romanian troops are stationed in southern Afghanistan, in the Zabul province. Their objective is to ensure the security of the region. Romania’s presence in Afghanistan began in 2002, with eleven soldiers killed in action and 34 wounded so far.
Cypriot ForMin starts today an official visit to Romania
9th June, 2009. The Foreign minister of Cyprus Markos Kyprianou will pay an official visit to Bucharest on Tuesday, at the invitation of his Romanian counterpart Cristian Diaconescu, the Foreign Affairs Ministry /MAE/ informs.
The two ministers will tackle alongside the bilateral cooperation issues themes of common interest on the European agenda: the economic and financial crisis, the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union's extension, the Western Balkans, the Republic of Moldova, the European Neighborhood Policy, the power security.
The agenda of the talks will also include the international problematic, with an accent on the Middle East situation.
The visit is part of the progressing political dialogue between Romania and the Republic of Cyprus, in the last period, and the intensified cooperation on European matters, stressed by the joint belonging to the EU and the participation of the two countries to the Olive Group reunions. The goal of the Olive Group informal meetings is to ensure a Mediterranean dimension of the EU politics and actions by strengthening cooperation among the Mediterranean states members of the Group: Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain to which Romania and Bulgaria added since 2007, due to their direct link and similarity of projects which could be promoted at the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
The two ministers will tackle alongside the bilateral cooperation issues themes of common interest on the European agenda: the economic and financial crisis, the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union's extension, the Western Balkans, the Republic of Moldova, the European Neighborhood Policy, the power security.
The agenda of the talks will also include the international problematic, with an accent on the Middle East situation.
The visit is part of the progressing political dialogue between Romania and the Republic of Cyprus, in the last period, and the intensified cooperation on European matters, stressed by the joint belonging to the EU and the participation of the two countries to the Olive Group reunions. The goal of the Olive Group informal meetings is to ensure a Mediterranean dimension of the EU politics and actions by strengthening cooperation among the Mediterranean states members of the Group: Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain to which Romania and Bulgaria added since 2007, due to their direct link and similarity of projects which could be promoted at the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
Romania's GDP declines in Ist quarter
9th June. Romania's gross domestic product or GDP declined a seasonally adjusted 6.2% year-on-year in the first quarter, in contrast to a 2.9% growth in the fourth quarter, the National Institute of Statistics said Tuesday.
On an unadjusted basis, the GDP dropped 5.7% annually in the first quarter compared to a 2.3% rise in the preceding quarter.
Sequentially, the GDP dropped 4.6% in the first quarter compared to a 2.8% decline in the previous quarter.
On an unadjusted basis, the GDP dropped 5.7% annually in the first quarter compared to a 2.3% rise in the preceding quarter.
Sequentially, the GDP dropped 4.6% in the first quarter compared to a 2.8% decline in the previous quarter.
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