Holocaust. In a message conveyed on Sunday on the National Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and expresses its solidarity with its survivors. “Promoting diversity, respect for the others, the equality of each human being in relation to the others in terms of respect for fundamental rights and freedoms are essential principles for the development of a democratic society. The importance of combating and condemning as strongly as possible the narratives of denial and distortion of the Holocaust is more evident than ever, and the adoption, in May 2021, of the National Strategy for preventing and combating anti-Semitism, xenophobia, radicalization and hate speech is the latest expression of Romanias constant efforts to preserve the memory of the past, protect the survivors and combat intolerance and discrimination”, the MFA press release reads.
Aid. The public debate on the state aid scheme for investments in the modernization of the energy system has been launched in Romania. According to the line minister, Virgil Popescu, the funding is intended for the rehabilitation of heating systems, and the money can be accessed by town halls and county councils, but also by companies that transport and distribute thermal energy in a centralized system. The program aims to reduce energy consumption and losses along the network. Those who invest in the digitalization of the energy distribution systems or in reducing the impact on the environment can also benefit from state aid. After it is adopted, the financing scheme will be applicable until 2030.
Compensation. The Romanian Ministry of Agriculture will compensate 780,000 farmers whose crops were affected by the drought, the Agriculture Minister Petre Daea has announced. He explained that, in order to receive the money, farmers can submit their applications by November 15. The money will be given after the ascertainment process is completed. Farmers will receive an advance, which this year will be higher, 70%, and for the first time in Romania, animal farmers will receive the same advance, Petre Daea also said.
Ukraine. Several people were killed and several dozen wounded, in an attack with Russian missiles on the city of Zaporizhzhia, in the south-east of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced on Sunday. The Russians bombed blocks of flats and streets in a residential neighborhood. The city is located next to the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, now controlled by Russia. Kyiv and Moscow have blamed each other for the bombing of the compound run by Ukrainian personnel, which damaged buildings and raised fears of a catastrophic nuclear accident. The International Atomic Energy Agency has condemned the recent bombings near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which led to the disconnection of the plant from Ukraines electricity grid, according to the operator of the complex. Resuming the attacks is an “extremely irresponsible” gesture, said the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi. The plant currently relies on diesel generators.
Festival. The 17th International Animation Film Festival Animest continues in Bucharest. More than 340 short and feature films are part of the program of the event, which will last until October 16. According to the organizers, this year the event includes lots of screenings and special events, parties and masterclasses held by professionals invited to Bucharest. The list of films participating in the festival includes titles that have attracted the attention of the entire industry over the last year, standing out in the competitions of major international film events. For example, the production Flee, directed by the Danish Jonas Poher Rasmussen, which received three Oscar nominations and numerous awards and which tells the story of a mans escape from Afghanistan to Denmark. There are also Romanian films presented at the festival, such as The Island, the latest feature film by Anca Damian, a surrealist comedy based on a reinterpretation of the story of Robinson Crusoe.
Pilgrimage. In Iasi, in the east of Romania, the pilgrimage dedicated to Saint Pious Parascheva, considered the protector of Moldova, is in full swing. It started on Saturday, and so far, tens of thousands of people have worshiped the Saints reliquary , which was taken out in the yard of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Moldova and Bukovina. Between October 8-16, approximately 300,000 believers from the country and abroad are expected in Iasi. On October 14, when the Orthodox Christians celebrate Saint Pious Parascheva, Iasi turns into one of the largest pilgrimage centers in the country. During this period, employees of the Ministry of the Interior ensure the conditions for the safe conduct of religious services and other activities organized in the public space.
Football. In the preliminaries of the 2024 European Championship, the Romanian national football squad will be in the same group with Switzerland, Israel, Kosovo, Belarus and Andorra. The draw was held in Frankfurt on Sunday, as Germany is the organizing country. The final tournament will be held between June 14 – July 14, 2024. Preliminary games will be played between March and November 2023, when 20 qualifying teams will be established. 3 other representative teams will earn their place in the final tournament following the Nations League play-offs, in March 2024. Because of Russias aggression against Ukraine, the Russian team was excluded from the competition. (MI)
