Latest news with #Ceausescu
Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Spectator
When did divorcing parents become so toxic?
A friend remembers how, growing up in Ceausescu's Romania, she and her classmates were encouraged by teachers to spy on their parents for dissenting opinions or unpatriotic behaviour. Such monstrous behaviour would never be countenanced here, right? Wrong. In the poisonous atmosphere of the family courts, quarrelling parents are known to plant devices on their children to covertly record their rows to then put before a judge as evidence. The practice has become so routine it prompted the Family Justice Council to issue guidance against it last month. The majority of divorcing rows focus on money The phenomenon of parents using children as pawns in divorce proceedings is neither new nor rare: In 2023, there were 80,000 children caught up in family court proceedings, according to court statistics. Although fewer couples are divorcing, more of them are having to go through the courts to sort out their acrimonious split. Divorce is widely recognised as an adverse childhood experience (ACE), which is why recent findings about almost half (45 per cent) of teenagers living with one parent alarmed children's charities. Some of those teens will have witnessed a civilised separation, but too many will now suffer through their parents' bitter divorce: analysis by the Ministry of Justice found that 10,300 financial remedy orders were contested in the family courts last year – a 66 per cent rise over two years. Julia Margo, director at the domestic violence advocacy group Fair Hearing, has mentored more than 100 mothers through their family court hearings. 'Family court' sounds like a kind and gentle annexe of our justice system, where benevolent magistrates dot the i's and cross the t's of domestic arrangements. In reality these courts are battlegrounds where warring parents tear strips off each other, usually about who will have care of the children and sometimes who can have any contact with them. Julia herself was dragged through the courts 37 times by her ex-partner who, despite being a convicted paedophile, sought unsupervised contact with their children. She warns: Even when there are no allegations of domestic abuse, many parents now struggle to negotiate separation and co-parenting without a court order: in the UK, more than 10 per cent of separating families end up in the family courts, far higher than in previous decades. The acrimony she has found in court exposed couples incapable of conflict resolution, emotional articulacy, or just plain respect. This has no resemblance to the 'conscious uncoupling' of Gwyneth Paltrow – whose friendly take on separation strikes one as the wisdom of Solomon by contrast. The majority of divorcing rows focus on money. But new ingredients – online pornography addiction, cost of living stress, surging infertility – also risk fraying relationships in an unprecedented way. Our 'selfie' culture has infected too many parents, who regrettably share their psychodramas on X, Instagram and TikTok. Once it goes public, it goes nuclear, with families torn apart and children (even grown up ones) traumatised. Worse, they risk re-enacting the relational model they grew up with. Families function as petri dishes where children first experiment with relationships. They learn whether their tears bring parents rushing over to comfort them or have no impact on the grown-up glued to their phones. They learn, too, whether screaming obscenities at each other over an unpaid bill or coming to blows over an affair is the best way to resolve an argument. Children's copy-cat behaviour makes the latest Office for National Statistics figures – one in four women and one in five men have been subject to domestic abuse – truly alarming: how many of the younger generation will abuse their partners? Or, as one senior judge explains, anyone who has sat as a judge for more than 20 years will find themselves at some point face-to-face in court with a domestic abuse perpetrator whom they recognise from years before: the child of an abusive parent, taken into care. Carey Philpott, CEO of the Kent-based charity SATEDA, says that 'Breaking these cycles is a key focus for our specialist interventions'. The SATEDA programme is one-on-one, or in small groups, offered in schools, to pupils referred to the charity by parents, teachers or specialist organisations. Julia argues: Given parents' inability to forge healthy relationships and the detrimental impact this has on children, instilling relationship skills in the next generation feels like a national priority. This chimes with young people's own wishes. When the Children's Commissioner ran her recent 'Big Ask' national survey of children and young people 4 to 17, they put 'family' as their number one priority and poor family relationships as the root of their unhappiness. Parents' separation too often exposes villains and victims – and those victims too often are their children. Even when they are not tasked with spying on a parent, children risk an emotional tug of war that for some casts a long shadow over their lives. No one would wish to return to the days when two people would stay locked in a bitter, sometimes abusive, relationship. 'For the sake of the children' is no reason to stay bound to a vicious spouse or partner, but those children's welfare should be at the heart of family relationships – when they break down as well as when they stay strong. Those who ask a child to spy on their other parent seem to forget this. We are not living in the era of Nicolae Ceausescu, thank goodness, so let's not adopt any of that dictator's strategies.
Travel Daily News
12-06-2025
- Travel Daily News
Bucharest: A city travelers can't resist
Bucharest isn't the kind of city that hits you all at once. It doesn't sparkle on arrival. But spend a little time in its rhythm—let it surprise you, trip you up, lead you down the wrong street—and you'll start to feel it settle in. It's not perfect. That's its strength. First Impressions: Where Old Europe Meets Urban Energy There's something about Bucharest that takes you by surprise. It's not love at first sight—not in the glossy, picture-perfect way. But it's real. It's the kind of place where a crumbling 19th-century mansion stands next to a brutalist tower block, and the mix feels oddly poetic. A city where time folds in on itself, and every street corner seems to carry a different mood. Many travelers skip Bucharest on their way to Transylvania or the Black Sea coast, assuming the capital is just a stopover. But spend a day here, walk its wide boulevards, peek into its Orthodox courtyards, sip coffee in an old printing house-turned-café—and you'll start to feel it. The city has grit, but it also has soul. And it doesn't try to impress you. That's exactly why it does. History in Stone: Exploring the Heart of Bucharest In the city center, history hits you in layers. The Palace of the Parliament—massive, cold, and overbearing—is impossible to ignore. It's the second-largest administrative building in the world, a legacy of Ceausescu's megalomania. Touring its marble halls gives you more than a look at communist excess—it gives you a sense of how a nation has rebuilt itself from that weight. Just a few streets away, the Lipscani district (known as the Old Town) offers a totally different pace. Cobbled streets, outdoor terraces, bookstores tucked between bars. It's loud and messy in the evenings, but during the day, you'll find charm among the chaos—like the tinyStavropoleos Monastery, a jewel of Brâncovenesc architecture, hidden between pubs and kebab stands. Wander up Calea Victoriei, Bucharest's elegant avenue, and you'll pass the National Art Museum, the Romanian Athenaeum, and rows of once-grand houses that hint at Belle Époque ambition. Some are restored, others still bear the scars of war and neglect. That contrast is part of the city's magic. The City Beyond the Guidebook: Local Spots That Stay With You To understand Bucharest, you have to let go of the idea that everything worth seeing is on a map. The real charm of the city shows up when you're not looking for it. Start withCarturesti Carusel, the kind of bookstore that feels like it belongs in a movie scene. White staircases curl between floors, balconies hang over polished wood, and the whole space glows under a glass ceiling. You can spend hours here—not just browsing books, but people-watching, sipping coffee upstairs, and quietly wondering how this magical place ended up in the middle of Old Town chaos. Then there's Herastrau Park, officially renamed King Michael I Park, but still 'Herastrau' to most locals. Wrapped around a long lake in the north, it's where Bucharest breathes. On summer days, families rent rowboats, teenagers lay out on the grass with speakers, and couples sip beer under trees. A walk here doesn't feel like sightseeing—it feels like borrowing someone's routine. If you're after something slower and more intimate, head west toCotroceni. This old residential district is shaded, quiet, and full of beautifully aged villas. Embassies and chestnut trees line the sidewalks. It's a part of Bucharest that feels lived-in, not put on display—and that's what makes it special. I still remember walking through Cotroceni one late afternoon, just wandering with no real plan. It had just rained, and the air smelled like wet leaves and stone. I turned down a side street and stumbled on a small bakery—no name, just the smell of something sweet and warm. An older man inside was stacking loaves, humming something low and slow. I didn't speak Romanian, he didn't speak English, but five minutes later I was standing outside with a paper bag and a pastry I couldn't pronounce, watching the clouds split open over the rooftops. It wasn't a museum or a landmark. It was just one of those moments that cities like Bucharest give you—unexpected, quiet, and completely unforgettable. Even the streets you find by accident stay with you. Try walking Bulevardul Dacia at dusk, when the streetlights start to warm the stone facades. You'll pass antique gates, balconies tangled in vines, and cafés that spill out onto narrow sidewalks. It's not about what you see—it's about how it makes you feel. And Bucharest, when it's not trying too hard, has a way of getting under your skin. Modern Bucharest: Coffee, Art, and the Street Scene Bucharest isn't just about old bricks and faded charm. The creative pulse here is strong. You'll find it in its independent galleries, in the murals on abandoned walls, and in the kind of cafés where the baristas actually talk to you. There's a whole third-wave coffee scene here that rivals cities twice its size. Try Origo near the University Square for a rich espresso or M60 for an afternoon of reading and people-watching. For a more local vibe, Beans&Dots mixes minimalist design with rotating art exhibitions. The nightlife? Electric. From techno clubs in basements to rooftop bars with panoramic views, the city doesn't really sleep on weekends. But you don't have to party to enjoy the vibe. Just walk down Calea Victoriei on a warm night, gelato in hand, and let the city unfold. Getting Around and Making It Easy: Services for Tourists Bucharest is surprisingly easy to navigate, once you know your options. You won't find Uber in every Romanian city, but in Bucharest, it's fully available—alongside Bolt and traditional taxis (just make sure to check the rates before hopping in). The metro system is modern, clean, and connects most major areas. For travelers looking to explore beyond the capital—places like Sinaia, Brașov, the Peles Castle, or the wild curves of the Transfagarasan Highway—renting a car is a smart move. Here's a quick guide to services that actually help: Metro, buses, and trams: Reliable and cheap, but signage can be confusing for first-timers. Use Google Maps or the Moovit app. Reliable and cheap, but signage can be confusing for first-timers. Use Google Maps or the Moovit app. Taxi apps: Bolt is the easiest and cheapest. Uber is also available. Bolt is the easiest and cheapest. Uber is also available. Car rental: The best choice if you want to explore the mountains or smaller towns. Roads are generally good, and gas is affordable by European standards. If you'd like to explore beyond Bucharest, we recommend booking a rental car in advance through the link below: It gives you the freedom to move on your own terms—without waiting for trains or figuring out transfer schedules between towns that don't always connect. A City That Sticks With You Bucharest isn't the kind of city that hits you all at once. It doesn't sparkle on arrival. But spend a little time in its rhythm—let it surprise you, trip you up, lead you down the wrong street—and you'll start to feel it settle in. It's not perfect. That's its strength. You'll remember the echoes inside a church you didn't plan to visit. The way the light hit a peeling façade on a quiet street. The sound of laughter echoing between apartment blocks as night falls. These aren't tourist moments—they're something more honest. Bucharest doesn't try to win you over. It just gives you pieces. If you're willing to take them, they'll stay with you. Have you been to Bucharest? What moment made it unforgettable for you?
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BORIS JOHNSON: In the week Labour announced plans to release rapists and killers early, there's one prisoner who poses no threat... FREE LUCY CONOLLY NOW
If this goes on much longer, I really think the great moderate mass of the British public will finally explode with irritation. This is not meant to be communist Albania. This is not Ceausescu's Romania.
Bloomberg
19-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Romanian Assets Rally on Election With Budget Woes Now in Focus
Romania's assets staged a relief rally after a centrist candidate defeated his nationalist opponent in the presidential election, with investor focus now shifting to how quickly a new government can fix the state's finances. The Black Sea nation's currency and dollar bonds led gains across emerging markets on Monday, and stocks also rose, after Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan's victory over far-right leader George Simion promised to keep the country on a pro-European path. Sunday's runoff was the culmination of months of turmoil — the gravest political crisis since the collapse of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's regime in 1989.
