WAR IN UKRAINE – Over 20 civilians,
including six children, were evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks in
Mariupol, after the venue was sieged for weeks on end by Russian forces. The group
of people was transferred to a location commonly agreed upon with the Russian
side, in the hope of reaching Kyiv-controlled territory, Ukrainian soldiers
trapped inside claim. Moscow faced immense international pressure to allow
civilians to evacuate, although all previous attempts to do so were
unsuccessful. The full occupation of the port-city is one of the Russian army’s
strategic objectives. Holding Mariupol would help Russia occupy the entire
Ukrainian southern coast, and would link the separatist region of Donbas to the
Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014. At the same time, Russia presses
on its offense in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of
seeking to wipe the entire region off the map. Meanwhile, French president
Emmanuel Macron has confirmed his willingness to provide certain security guarantees
to Ukraine. Macron talked to his Ukrainian counterpart over the phone on
Saturday. The French president expressed his readiness to work hard to restore
Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Also on Sunday, president
Zelensky met in Kyiv with the the US House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy
Pelosi. We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight
for freedom… Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is
done, Pelosi told Zelensky, according to a video tweeted by the Ukrainian
presidency.
CYBER
ATTACKS – The
Romanian Intelligence Service warns against possible ransomware attacks on a
large scale, targeting the email addresses of institutions in Romania. The
Service recommended people not to click on links or attachments that are not
usually addressed to them or were sent by unknown sources. The same
precautionary measures are recommended in the case of text, WhatsApp, Signal or
Telegram messages. A wave of cyber-attacks started in Romania on Friday,
hackers targeting the website of the National Cyber Security Directorate, as
well as other public institutions and private organizations. Claimed by the
Killnet network of hackers, the operation came in response to Romania’s support
for Ukraine. This month Killnet hackers attacked the websites of institutions
in a number of states as well as NATO.
MAY
DAY – In
Romania, May Day on Sunday marked the International Workers’ Day, when people
usually go out on mini-holidays or choose to spend time out with their
families. Some 30,000 tourists traded the traditional day out barbequing or
camping for a trip to the seacoast, on what the authorities call the start the
summer season. The most crowded seacoast resorts were Vama Veche, Mamaia and Costinești,
which hosted music festivals and parties. Some Romanians went to mountain
resorts on Prahova Valley, while in Bucharest the authorities closed down
streets to road traffic, turning them into pedestrian areas. In France, the
International Workers’ Day was the first test of the reelected president,
Emmanuel Macron, a day when trade unionists traditionally take to the streets
to voice their demands. Some 300 such events were announced on Sunday.
CONFERENCE – The Conference for the
future of Europe, a broad citizen initiative launched a year ago, resulted in
over 300 proposals being tabled for the reform of the European Union. The
proposals were adopted on Saturday during a plenary sitting in the European
Parliament. Drafted by over 50,000 participants, the proposals were
uploaded on an online platform available in 24 languages, which remains open
until May 9. Despite a late start in negotiations between the three European
institutions – the European Union, the Council of the European Union and the
European Parliament, as well as due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Conference
completed its activity before the end of France’s term at the helm of the
Council of the European Union. Nearly a year since the launch ceremony hosted
by Strasbourg, the Conference will officially end on May 9 in an event at the
European Parliament, marking Europe Day The final report, which is expected to
undergo certain changes in addition to the recommendations adopted on Saturday,
will be submitted to the presidents of the three European institutions, as well
as to French president, Emmanuel Macron.
COVID-19 – Chinese
authorities are tightening anti-COVID restrictions in the capital Beijing,
where citizens must present a negative test for COVID-19 in order to access
public spaces. Proof of COVID testing is also required to use public
transportation starting May 5. The new restrictions will remain in place
indefinitely, at a time when the Chinese capital city was entering a five-day
holiday period. China is facing a resurge of COVID infection and remains
committed to fully eradicating the virus. The harshest measures were introduced
in Shanghai, which is currently on lockdown. Confined to their homes, citizens
face great difficulties in getting supplies.
TENNIS – Romanian tennis
player Simona Halep has advanced to the round of 16 at the Mutua Madrid Open,
totaling some $6.5 million in total prizes, after ousting Paula Badosa, world
no. 2, in the round of 32. In the next round, Halep will take on Cori Gauff of
the USA. A former world no. 1, Halep won the Madrid Open in 2016 and 2017 and
played the final in 2014 and 2019. (VP)