WAR IN UKRAINE – The EU will support
Ukraine for as long as it is necessary in its war against Russia, European
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told a press briefing on Thursday,
held jointly with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. This is the
third visit to Ukraine the EU official has paid since February 24, the start of
the invasion. Meanwhile, Russian shelling continues on the ground. President Zelensky
said cities and settlements recaptured by Ukrainian troops were found destroyed
by the Russians. The Government has condemned the attacks, saying they come in
response to Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the northeast.
DECISION – The Romanian Government
has passed a draft law on protecting the IT systems of public authorities and
institutions in the context of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Thus, the
Government will have all central and local authorities replace the Russian
anti-virus software and apps for fear they may be used as spying tools by
Moscow. The draft law, initiated by the Ministry of Research and Innovation, is
in line with similar decisions taken by countries like Germany and Italy, which
have decided to replace the Kaspersky anti-virus software used by public
authorities in order to prevent any cyber-attacks from Russia.
ENERGY – Romania’s gas
stocks for the winter will exceed, by the end of this week, the minimum level
of 80% set by the European Commission, Energy Minister Virgil Popescu has
announced. According to Minister Popescu, Romania has enough stocks to get
through winter, although there will be a complicated period in the entire EU,
with uncertainties related to Russian gas supplies. Virgil Popescu said the new
decree on capping the price of energy could be modified to support people whose
life depends on oxygen devices that use a lot of energy and thus exceed the
ceiling set by the law in force. The Government has also announced it considers
granting bonuses to those who want to save energy.
FUNERAL – Buckingham Palace
has provided more details about Monday’s state funeral of Her Royal Majesty
Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain. The first religious service will take place
at 11 AM at Westminster Abbey. Some 3,000 guests, including heads of state,
members of the royal family, high-ranking officials and representatives of
humanitarian organizations are expected to attend. The coffin will subsequently
travel to Windsor Castle in western London for a second religious service. In the
evening, the Queen will be entombed at the George VI chapel as part of a
private ceremony. Romania will be represented by president Klaus Iohannis. Her
Royal Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania and Prince Consort
Radu, will also attend.
EUROSTAT – The highest share
of the population exposed to the risk of poverty and social exclusion at EU
level was last year reported in Romania (34%), followed by Bulgaria (32%),
Greece and Spain (both with 28%), the Eurostat reports. By contrast, the lowest
share was reported last year in the Czech Republic (11%), Slovenia (13%) and
Finland (14%). In 2021, 95.4 million people were at risk of poverty and social
exclusion, accounting for 21.7% of the population, a slight increase compared
to 2020 (94.8 million people, tantamount to 21.6% of the population). Last
year, some 73.7 million EU citizens were at risk of poverty, 27 million faced
serious financial difficulties and social exclusion, while 29.3 million lived
in households with very low work intensity.
THE POPE – Pope Francis on
Thursday sounded the alarm against the domino effect of military conflicts on
international relations at the end of the end of a religious summit hosted by
Kazakhstan that urged leaders to refrain from warmongering. On the sidelines of
the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions
hosted in the capital-city Nur-Sultan, representatives of 50 countries and
various confessions adopted a joint statement urging world leaders to abandon
aggressive and destructive rhetoric which leads to destabilization of the
world. Participants said extremism, radicalism, terrorism and all other forms
of violence and war have nothing to do with true religion and must be rejected
in the strongest possible terms. The statement also promotes the dignity and
rights of women and the improvement of their social standing as equal members
of the family and society. (VP)