Romanian Jewish representative criticises president for challenging hate speech bill
BUCHAREST - A Romanian Jewish legislator said he would return his national order of merit on Friday in protest after the centrist president challenged a bill seeking harsher punishment for antisemitism and hate speech in the country's top court.
Romania's parliament updated existing legislation outlawing the celebration of fascist leaders or imagery in June at the proposal of Jewish lawmaker Silviu Vexler, introducing prison sentences for the promotion of antisemitism and xenophobia via social media platforms.
The bill also raised jail terms for creating or belonging to racist organisations.
Romania had one of Europe's most violent antisemitic movements of the 1930s, the Iron Guard, known for political assassinations and pogroms. The country was also an ally of Nazi Germany until August 1944, when it changed sides.
The centrist President Nicusor Dan challenged the bill at the Constitutional Court, saying it raised freedom of speech concerns and arguing it did not include a proper legal definition of fascists or Iron Guard members, which would force judges to interpret the law arbitrarily.
The top court has rejected a similar challenge against the bill by hard-right parties.
"The impact of the Romanian president's act will directly or indirectly encourage continuing to promote Iron Guard ideology, the leaders of extremist organisations and inevitably antisemitism and all forms of extremism," Vexler said.
The presidency did not reply to a request for comment. The National Order of Merit which Vexler said he would return recognises important civil or military services to Romania.
Romania cancelled a presidential election in December after allegations of Russian interference – denied by Moscow - in favour of far-right contender Calin Georgescu, who was later banned from running in the May ballot re-run and has since been sent to trial for promoting Romania's wartime fascist leaders.
Dan ultimately won the presidential re-run against a hard-right leader who had replaced Georgescu. REUTERS
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Straits Times
10 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Made In Singapore: ‘Orchid diplomacy' has flowers named after Obama, Pope Francis and Jackie Chan
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is one of the many heads of state that Singapore has named an orchid after. SINGAPORE – 'Selected for vigour and the amount of growth it produces,' remarked then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, as she posed for photos with an orchid named after her in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It was 1985, and that was the explanation from Singapore's then commissioner of parks and recreation on why this orchid hybrid was chosen for the 'Iron Lady'. That antelope dendrobium – with petals resembling antelope horns, the result of breeding from a New Guinea orchid that is 'an outstanding species as a stud' – would thereafter be known as the Dendrobrium Margaret Thatcher. Mrs Thatcher is not alone. From Iran's former empress Farah Pahlavi to Myanmar's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, there are over 280 orchid hybrids named after foreign dignitaries and key events – making Singapore's orchid diplomacy programme the most extensive of its kind in the world. This is the Republic's answer to national soft power initiatives like China's panda diplomacy, says local writer Koh Buck Song, who authored the 2024 book Singapore's Orchid Diplomacy. 'The practice is not totally unique, but what is unique is the scale and way it is practised in Singapore,' the branding expert tells The Straits Times. Indonesia has a similar practice, while the Netherlands and Japan incorporate tulips and cherry blossoms respectively into their foreign affairs. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student who used AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore Character counts as much as grades: Desmond Lee tells students after a class on race and culture Singapore Residents in South West District get help to improve employability, find career opportunities Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore at Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high 'Most of the time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has its hands full with priorities that are centred on hard power, like GDP (gross domestic product) and free trade agreements,' he says. Mr Koh notes that a country's branding often revolves around abstract ideas and attributes – in short, soft power. 'Orchid diplomacy belongs in that category.' Still, not every foreign dignitary has an orchid hybrid named in his or her honour. For much of the practice's history, many of its recipients were not world leaders at all. The wifely roots of orchid diplomacy While the Singapore Botanic Gardens' orchid hybridisation programme dates back to 1928, the first VIP orchid was named after Lady Anne Black, wife of a former British colonial governor, in 1956. The Aranthera Anne Black, a crimson orchid with tendrilled petals, set a precedent that persisted for decades. The Aranthera Anne Black was the Republic's first VIP orchid. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI In Singapore's post-independence years, when the state began holding orchid-naming ceremonies, many honourees were women – often the wives of visiting dignitaries. In 1978, The Straits Times reported that 36 orchid hybrids had been named after these wives. Over the years, this list has grown to include Imelda Marcos, wife of former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos; Hazel Hawke, wife of former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke; and Khin Khin Win, wife of former president of Myanmar Thein Sein. This reflected the gender norms of the time, as gardening was seen as a woman's realm, while statecraft was a largely male-dominated affair. Naming orchids after the wives of foreign dignitaries was a common practice as part of Singapore's cultural and 'soft power' diplomacy. PHOTO: ST FILE Former Sri Lankan prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were the world's first and second female prime ministers. Both had orchids named in their honour during their visits to Singapore in 1968 and 1971 respectively. State visits meant that male dignitaries would mostly discuss diplomatic relations, while their wives posed for photographs with orchids. This practice began to shift by the 1980s. In 1981, then Crown Prince Akihito of Japan (who would later become Emperor) had a red orchid hybrid named after him – 11 years after a purple-white orchid was named after his wife, Princess Michiko. Dendrobium Michiko was named after Princess Michiko of Japan when she visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens in 1970. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI In later years, joint naming would become commonplace. In 1999, Madam Lao An, wife of then Premier of China Zhu Rongji, picked out a dark red orchid to be named after both of them. Likewise, then US Vice-President Joe Biden and his wife Jill were honoured with a purple orchid in 2013 – a colour meant to symbolise American bipartisanship. Purple combines blue and red, the colours representing the Democratic and Republican parties. Dendrobium Joe and Jill Biden. PHOTO: NPARKS Today, orchid diplomacy is typically reserved for heads of state or government, or royalty, says Ms Ang Qing Yu, who heads a visits and functions team from the protocol directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). 'It's a symbol of (Singapore's) soft power, and I think it's really come a long way in terms of how we conduct diplomacy,' she adds. She has been involved in orchid diplomacy for two years. Whose orchids? The honour extends beyond elected officials and wives. At least 22 orchid hybrids are named after royals – from King Mswati III of Swaziland to Queen Mata'aho of Tonga to Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan. At least 19 are named after celebrities, from movie stars Jackie Chan and Shah Rukh Khan to American tennis great Serena Williams to Italian fashion designer Frida Giannini. The youngest person to have an orchid namesake is Australian Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late celebrity-conservationist Steve Irwin. She was 14 at the time, in 2013. People are not the only recipients. Organisations like the World Trade Organisation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) also have orchids in their name. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Asean in 2017, a golden apricot-coloured orchid, which traces its lineage to species native to several member countries, was named the Papilionanda Asean Golden Jubilee. The National Parks Board (NParks) declined to provide a full list of VIP orchid hybrids, and notes that not all orchid hybrids were created by its orchid hybridisation programme. MFA adds that it was not involved in orchid hybrids that were not named after foreign dignitaries. Ms Ang Qing Yu, who heads a visits and functions team from the protocol directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, often participates in the planning process for orchid gifting. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Floral faux pas Mr Harold Johnson, who co-authored a book on Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, told local Tamil news outlet Tabla in 2011 that while the practice is unique, the orchids are most likely forgotten by their recipients unless they are orchid growers themselves. 'Unfortunately, few of the VIP orchids make it to either the local or international market,' he had said at the time. 'Used judiciously, such naming is a great and unique act of friendship, but over-usage can lessen the honour.' When Ms Irwin had an orchid named after her in 2013, it drew a complaint from a reader of The Straits Times, asking: 'Are there rules to orchid naming?' Some orchid names are also better received than others. During a 2016 state dinner in the US, then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a jab at conspiracy theories about then President Barack Obama not being born in the United States, while presenting the Dendrobium Barack and Michelle Obama. 'This is a hybrid of breeds native to Singapore and Hawaii, where the President was born – most of us believe,' Mr Lee said, to laughter from dinner guests. In contrast, then British Prime Minister David Cameron's orchid became the subject of mockery by the British press in 2015 because of an innocuous oversight. The orchid's purplish hues resembled the colours of the rival UK Independence Party, rather than Mr Cameron's Conservative Party. 'David Cameron has an orchid named after him during a trip to Singapore which is 'Ukip purple' – although officials insist it is 'shades of blue',' quipped the Daily Telegraph. Planting seeds of diplomacy The stakes of orchid diplomacy – and the potential for faux pas – partly explain how the practice has changed over the years. While once foreign dignitaries simply selected their orchids either in person or through photos, the process now follows a different and complex set of protocols. When MFA learns of an upcoming visit – sometimes with only a few weeks' or days' notice – it consults the visiting country about naming preferences, colour taboos and special requests, says Ms Ang. The birth certificate for Dendrobium Andrzej and Agata Duda, the orchid hybrid named after the President of the Republic of Poland and his spouse, contains information such as the pollination date. PHOTO: NPARKS A 'birth certificate' must also be prepared, explaining the orchid's lineage and creation process. For Pope Francis' 2024 visit to Singapore , the months of planning involved some back and forth with the Vatican over orchids. There was a preference that it should be white, as it turned out. All of this culminated in President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presenting the pontiff with the Dendrobium His Holiness Pope Francis at Parliament House. It was the first time an orchid-naming ceremony was live-streamed to viewers across the globe. Pope Francis with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the pontiff's state address at the NUS University Cultural Centre on Sept 12, 2024. The orchid between the two leaders, the Dendrobium His Holiness Pope Francis, was earlier named in the pontiff's honour at a Parliament House event. PHOTO: ST FILE 'His face just lit up when he saw the orchid. That's a memory that will be with me for a long time,' says Ms Ang. Dendrobium His Holiness Pope Francis. PHOTO: NPARKS Orchid diplomacy is also linked to Singapore's approach to foreign policy, says Mr Koh. That so many 'seemingly small and insignificant' countries would have an orchid dedicated to their leaders ties into Singapore's active engagement in the Forum of Small States. Founded by Singapore in 1992, the Forum addresses shared concerns and amplifies the voices of small nations within the United Nations. Singapore's petal pushers Growing these botanical gifts is no simple task. Each orchid hybrid can take anywhere between two and five years to create, from initial breeding to ceremony-ready maturity. The process blends both scientific knowledge and artistic vision, says Mr Mark Choo, who has bred orchid hybrids for eight years as assistant curator of the National Orchid Garden, which is under NParks and the Singapore Botanic Gardens. For the Singapore Botanic Gardens, 2025 is a year of triple milestones: its 10th anniversary as a Unesco World Heritage Site; the National Orchid Garden's 30th birthday; and the 150th anniversary of the Singapore Herbarium and Library of Botany and Horticulture. Until July 27, visitors to the gardens can also catch the Singapore Garden Festival Orchid Show, which includes award-winning and heritage varieties, and is planned by NParks and Orchid Society of South East Asia. More than 650 orchids, from cool-weather varieties to tropical hybrids, will be on display. And none of these hybrids are born with a name or person in mind, says Mr Choo. 'We just keep creating, because there are failure rates at every point of the way, so we do need to have a high volume of hybrids that we make.' Failure can come from seed pods not germinating, overly wet or hot conditions, or contamination in the laboratory. Even when things go right, the resulting plant can lack robustness or bloom in colours that are just not vibrant enough. 'That is something we can't prevent or predict, so when that happens, we can't use those plants,' says Mr Choo, who is one of five to six staff members working on hybridisation. Mr Mark Choo has bred orchid hybrids for eight years as assistant curator of the National Orchid Garden. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI At any given time, there are at least 50 hybrids in development – and two to three flowering specimens ready to be named. These must be robust, free-flowering, colourful and, ideally, distinctive in shape. For all its importance, breeding new hybrids for orchid diplomacy forms only a small subset of Mr Choo's work at the National Orchid Garden. 'I usually like to do my orchid breeding at the end of the day, when I feel more relaxed and no one's around any more,' he says. It is not as simple as taking pollen from one orchid and putting it in another – as pushing boundaries, in the form of vibrant blooms and distinctive shapes, calls for endless experimentation and reliance on institutional knowledge. 'Things that have never been done before, we push those kinds of boundaries,' he says. 'The possibilities of orchid breeding are quite endless.' The afterlife of VIP orchids With few exceptions, most VIP orchid hybrids do not stray far from their birthplace in the Republic. This means the rare occasions when they get to spread their roots abroad can deliver foreign relations highlights. The Dendrobium Kishida Fumio, named after the Japanese Prime Minister in 2022, found a new home in the Hiroshima Botanical Garden, where it blossomed in winter. 'It was freezing outside, but inside, the orchid was blooming,' says Mr Koh. 'The Japanese love hanami, and that was a Singaporean hanami.' Hanami refers to the Japanese custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers. Elaborate logistics are involved in making these floral voyages possible. 'It sounds nice and fun, but there's a lot of stress in making sure the orchids can cross borders,' says Mr Choo. He was part of the entourage transporting the Dendrobium Barack and Michelle Obama to the US capital in 2016. Mr Mark Choo says orchid hybrids are difficult to transport abroad. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Documentation must be secured to ensure the plants meet the phytosanitary requirements of the destination country, and to ensure inspections do not unintentionally destroy the plants. Arrangements also have to be made for NParks staff to hand-carry VIP orchids onto the plane, so the flowers are not tossed about in a freezing cargo hold. 'Because it couldn't fit in the overhead cargo, we had to buy a seat,' he recalls. The presidential orchids sat in a big box in economy class. While VIP orchids may get VIP treatment, it appears that they do not fly business class. After the blossoming Post-ceremony, orchids can typically live on – and be grown again for successive generations – for four to 10 years. Unlike their longer-lived wooded cousins, 'they lose vigour', says Mr Choo. To keep them around, the National Orchid Garden clones orchids. This is a time-consuming process that can take four to five years, while also allowing the hybrid to be stored in the laboratory, slowing down the ageing process and keeping them viable for a longer period of time. Some hybrids can also be recreated, if their breeding process is not overly complicated. 'We do our best to try and maintain stock, but some plants just can't be cloned any more,' says Mr Choo. Still, many of the hybrids mentioned in this story still exist in some form. Selected hybrids are displayed at the VIP Orchid Garden when they are in bloom – including the oldest among them, the Aranthera Anne Black. Inside the culture room, the plantlets grow in an environment with just the right temperature, lighting and humidity. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Why flower power? Orchid diplomacy is one part of Singapore's cultural diplomacy, but it is not the only one. All manner of celebrities and foreign dignitaries, from American singer Lady Gaga to French President Emmanuel Macron, have been spotted feasting on local hawker staples at Maxwell Food Centre and Lau Pa Sat – both common stops in state visits. And orchids are not even the country's only attempt at horticultural diplomacy. Former South African president Nelson Mandela has an orchid named after him, bearing the hues of the South African flag. But he is also one of many figures that Singapore has named a tree after as part of its Tree of Fame programme. The honourees include former emperor of Iran Reza Pahlavi, then Vice-Premier of China Deng Xiaoping and Errol Walton Barrow, former prime minister of Barbados. Unlike orchid naming at the time, this practice appears to have placed a greater focus on male leaders. It eventually died out by the late 1970s. The enduring power of orchids comes down to the same things that make other soft-power initiatives – like China's panda diplomacy and South Korea's K-wave – successful, says Mr Koh. There is a uniqueness to orchids, which Singapore has embraced by recognising the Vanda Miss Joaquim as its national flower in 1981, resulting in the flower becoming one of the Republic's most visible icons. Dr Yu Hao, head of the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences, calls Singapore's orchid diplomacy a creative and effective example of turning botanic heritage and expertise into a tool for diplomatic engagement. 'It demonstrates how even relatively small countries can use soft power to foster international goodwill,' he says. While other sources like Taiwan and Thailand excel in mass production, Singapore stands out for how it blends advanced technology with diplomatic strategy, Dr Yu adds. His lab is pioneering orchid-breeding research using gene editing, and has created the world's first kilobase-scale gene-editing platform for orchids. The personal touch Orchid naming represents a special personal touch as a unique honour that is rarely experienced, even by the most worldly or wealthy of travellers. 'I can't imagine anything nicer than having an orchid named after yourself,' said Mrs Laura Bush, then First Lady of the United States, in 2002 during a state visit to Singapore when one was named in her honour. And during a state visit to Singapore in June 2025, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto asked to name his orchid after his late mother 'for having raised maybe a difficult boy in his younger days, but finally he became president of Indonesia'. The result: Paraphalanthe Dora Sigar Soemitro. Once given, these orchids can have a 'multiplier effect', becoming a form of branding by diffusion that 'gains a life of its own' as part of botanical gardens and horticultural festivals across the globe, says Mr Koh. For orchid breeders like NParks' Mr Choo, the success of the initiative comes down to a simple thing: It is nice to make people happy with a thoughtful gift. 'And I don't think it's very easy to make heads of state happy,' he says. Book It/Singapore Garden Festival Orchid Show Where: National Orchid Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road When: July 19 to 27; 8.30am to 7pm daily (last admission at 6pm) Admission: Free for Singapore residents; $15 for non-residents Info: Go to for more details. For a self-guided tour, take along this map:
Straits Times
10 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US Treasury's Bessent believes good tariff deal possible, Japan PM Ishiba says
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba (right) shaking hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting in Tokyo on July 18. TOKYO – US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that their countries can reach a 'good agreement' on tariffs, Mr Ishiba said on July 18 after meeting Mr Bessent at his office in Tokyo. Mr Ishiba added that while no specific terms were discussed, such as the 25 per cent tariff US President Donald Trump has said he will impose on Japan from August, he asked Mr Bessent to continue 'active talks' with his top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa. Mr Akazawa, who also joined the meeting, told reporters that both countries agreed to carry on a 'constructive dialogue'. Mr Bessent left Mr Ishiba's office without speaking to reporters. The comments from top Japanese officials came after Mr Bessent made a courtesy visit to Mr Ishiba in Tokyo, before attending a US national day event on July 19 at World Expo 2025 in Osaka. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. REUTERS
Straits Times
10 minutes ago
- Straits Times
EU's new Russia sanctions aim for more effective oil price cap
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives at the 5th EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo BRUSSELS - The European Union on Friday agreed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, including measures aimed at dealing further blows to the Russian oil and energy industry. The EU will set a moving price cap on Russian crude at 15% below its average market price, EU diplomats said, aiming to improve on a largely ineffective $60 cap that the Group of Seven major economies have tried to impose since December 2022. "The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X. "We will keep raising the costs, so stopping the aggression becomes the only path forward for Moscow." G7 PRICE CAP INEFFECTIVE SO FAR Yet Russia has so far managed to sell most of its oil - the lifeblood of its state finances - above the previous price cap as the current mechanism makes it unclear who must police its implementation. Traders doubt the new EU sanctions will significantly disrupt Russian oil exports. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shrugged off the EU move, which would, at current prices, aim to cap the price of Russian crude at roughly $47.60 per barrel. Benchmark Brent futures rose marginally on Friday to about $70. [O/R] "We have repeatedly said that we consider such unilateral restrictions illegal, we oppose them," Peskov told reporters. "But at the same time, of course, we have already acquired a certain immunity from sanctions, we have adapted to life under sanctions." The package also bans transactions related to Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea, and with Russia's financial sector. Kallas said 105 ships in Russia's "shadow fleet", the term used by Western officials for ships that Moscow uses to circumvent oil sanctions, had been blacklisted, along with Chinese banks that "enable sanctions evasion", which she did not name. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the decision "essential and timely" as Russia intensifies its air war on Ukrainian cities and villages. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added: "Depriving Russia of its oil revenues is critical for putting an end to its aggression." US DECLINES TO BACK EUROPE ON PRICE CAP The European Union and Britain have been pushing to lower the G7 cap for the last two months after a fall in oil futures made the level of $60 a barrel largely irrelevant. [O/R] But the United States has resisted, leaving the EU to move forward on its own, but with only limited power to enforce the measure, analysts and oil traders say. As the dollar dominates global oil transactions, and U.S. financial institutions play the central role in clearing payments, the EU cannot block trades by denying access to dollar clearing. Agreement on the new EU package was held up for weeks as Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico demanded concessions on a separate plan to phase out EU dependence on Russian oil and gas. Fico announced on Thursday night that he was ending his opposition. Countries such as Greece, Cyprus and Malta had expressed concerns about the effect of the oil price cap on their shipping industries. But Malta, the last of the trio to hold out, also came on board on Thursday. REUTERS
