© Alex Barbulescu

27. 08. 09. - 12:00

• more Panorama news...
• RSS Feed Panorama

27. 08. 09. - 12:00

Madonna booed over gipsy speech

Romanian Times

Madonna was booed by fans in Romania after she told them to be nice to gypsies.

The star was in the Romanian capital Bucharest for a concert as part of her Sticky and Sweet tour and spoke to fans during her La Isla Bonita song which was played with a gypsy music rhythm.

She told them: "I've never been to Romania before and I am happy to be here.

"But I found out that there is a lot of discrimination against gypsies in Eastern Europe and that makes me very sad, especially because we believe in acceptance, gypsies, homosexuals, people that are different. Everyone must be treated the same, don't forget that!"

But instead of the applause she expected fans jeered and booed the statement.

There are over 500,000 gypsies officially registered in Romania but the real numbers are expected to be much more as many have not declared their ethnicity in a country where they face widespread discrimination.

They are Romania's most socially and economically disadvantaged minority, with high illiteracy levels.

Madonna was staying at the five-star Radisson SAS Hotel in Bucharest with her two daughters, Lourdes and Mercy, and her close staff.

The star is to leave Bucharest today (Thurs) for her next concert, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Romania´s outlook revised to stable by Standard & Poor´s
Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has revised Romania's credit rating outlook to stable, according to its statement yesterday (Tues).

FC Timisoara awarded three points by LPF
FC Timisoara is the new leader of the Romanian first league after a decision made today (Weds) by the Discipline Commission of the Professional Football League (LPF).

Inflation down to 4.49 per cent
Annual inflation in Romania dropped to 4.49 per cent in February, down from 5.2 per cent in January, the National Statistics Institute said today (Weds).

Romanians 12 per cent of foreign doctors in France
France has become a favourite destination for Romanian doctors after the country's accession to the European Union, according to French newspaper La Croix.

Teachers announce calendar of protests
The Romanian teachers’ union will organize public protests starting on 15 March, union federation FSLI announced today (Weds).

Another 300 free internet hotspots to be available this year
Another 300 free internet wireless hotspots would be available in public areas in Romania this year, the Communications Ministry said today (Weds).

Warning for heavy snow in 21 counties
Another round of heavy snowfall and blizzards will occur in 21 counties in southern regions, meteorologists warned today (Weds).

Pink Martini concert in Bucharest
Jazz lounge band Pink Martini will perform in Bucharest at the Ciuc Summer Fest in July, local organizer Emagic said today (Weds).

Number of vouchers in clunckers programme to be increased
The clunkers programme will be supplemented with an increase in the number of vouchers to be issued from 40,000 to 50,000, Prime Minister Emil Boc said yesterday evening (Tues).

Mayor dismissed for corruption
Democratic Liberal Antonie Solomon, the mayor of the southern town of Craiova, was dismissed by county prefect Eugen Georgescu, the national government's official in the county, today (Weds).