Radio România Internațional

Tag: shelling

  • November 18, 2022

    November 18, 2022

    ENERGY Romania will secure its energy independence in 2027 and will even become a provider of security in the region, including for
    the neighbouring Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, said the president of the
    National Energy Regulatory Authority, Dumitru Chiriţă.
    He added that over the past few years Bucharest invested EUR 3 bln in natural
    gas and electricity transport and distribution systems. On the other hand,
    investments in production operations only amounted to EUR 30 mln, but this will
    change as massive funding will be channelled in this sector. According to the Authority, new production
    units will be operational in 3-4 years’ time, with a combined output of over 10,000
    MW, and investors are quite interested in the projects, some of which are
    funded from loans and others from private sources.


    BUDGET The
    government of Romania Thursday approved this year’s second public budget
    adjustment, with approx. EUR 100 million in additional funding. According to
    the government, the budget adjustment covers compulsory spending, operating
    expenses and social assistance expenses. According to the finance minister
    Adrian Câciu, the budget deficit is reduced from 5.84% to 5.74%. A majority of
    funds will be earmarked for the finance, labour, agriculture and economy
    ministries. Also, under the new budget, the energy, transport, public
    healthcare and interior ministries are set to lose part of their funding.


    DEFENCE The
    Romanian defence minister Angel Tîlvăr took part this week in a meeting of
    South Eastern European defence ministers, held in Sofia under the Bulgarian
    presidency of the initiative. The participants analysed the progress in the
    projects organised by this initiative and approved a number of documents
    concerning the planning of SEDM operations. Angel Tîlvăr reiterated Romania’s
    commitment to contribute even more actively to the implementation of the
    initiative’s projects. On the sidelines of the meeting in Sofia, the Romanian
    official had bilateral meetings with his Moldovan, Bulgarian and Georgian
    counterparts.


    UKRAINE
    Over 10 million Ukrainians were left without electricity, especially in the
    Kyiv region, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced. Several
    Ukrainian cities, including the capital, were hit by Russian attacks on
    Thursday, concurrently with the first snow in a country affected by blackouts,
    where temperatures may drop to negative 10°C, AFP reports. The resumed shelling
    targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure constantly deprives millions of
    Ukrainians of electricity and water supplies.


    MISSILE The
    missile launched by North Korea on Friday had enough range to hit the US, and a
    range capability of 15,000 km, said Japan’s defence minister Yasukazu Hamada,
    quoted by Reuters. The intercontinental ballistic missile reached an altitude
    of 6,000 km and landed roughly 200 km west of a Japanese island. Over the past
    2 months North Korea has tested over 50 missiles, most of them in the
    short-range class. Medium and long-range missiles are a direct threat to the US,
    as they are designed to carry nuclear warheads to the US mainland, the BBC says.


    FOOTBALL
    Romania’s national football team lost 2-1 a friendly game played last night in
    Cluj-Napoca against Slovenia. On Saturday, Romania is to play another friendly
    against the Republic of Moldova, in Chişinău. Romania has failed to qualify to
    the Qatar World Cup and is training for the Euro 2024. The national team will
    play in Group I against Switzerland, Israel, Kosovo, Belarus and Andorra. Meanwhile,
    Romania’s Under-20 football team was defeated by Italy, 2-1, in a friendly
    match hosted by the Romanian city of Arad. (AMP)

  • October 13, 2022 UPDATE

    October 13, 2022 UPDATE

    AIR DEFENCE Germany and 14 other NATO member states, Romania
    included, Thursday agreed on a common initiative regarding the acquisition of
    air and missile defence systems, after the war in Ukraine exposed weaknesses in
    this respect. The initiative, spearheaded by Germany, is called European Sky
    Shield, and the 15 NATO signatories intend to procure, in a first stage, medium-range
    defence systems such as the US-manufactured Patriot, already used by several
    NATO countries, including Romania. In a subsequent stage, they may purchase the
    Israeli-American Arrow 3 system, able to intercept and destroy longer-range
    threats. The initiative comes as the war in Ukraine shows that NATO states
    themselves need more equipment to secure their air space. Apart from Germany
    and Romania, the countries that signed the initiative are Belgium, Bulgaria,
    Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway,
    Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom.


    ELECTRICITY The Republic of Moldova will be able to import 100 MW of
    electricity from Romania as of Friday, the Romanian energy minister Virgil
    Popescu announced. The president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, thanked Romania, after
    Ukraine was forced to suspend electricity deliveries following Russia’s strikes
    on its energy infrastructure earlier this week. In related news, Romania will
    transfer over EUR 25 mln for Moldova to start implementing projects in
    strategic sectors like education and public utilities. The funds are part of a
    EUR 100 mln non-reimbursable aid package stipulated in a bilateral technical
    and financial assistance agreement.


    REFUGEES The
    number of Ukrainian refugees coming to Romania from Western Europe is on the
    rise, the International Organization for Migration reports. Lower living costs
    and proximity to Ukraine are some of the reasons, the report also states.
    According to the Romanian Border Police, some 70,000 people entered Romania on
    Wednesday, of whom 9,000 were Ukrainian nationals, accounting for a 15%
    increase compared to the previous day. Over 2.5 million Ukrainians have entered
    Romania since February 10.


    SCHENGEN In principle, the Netherlands does not oppose Romania’s
    Schengen accession, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Wednesday
    during a visit to Brașov, central Romania. The Dutch official pointed out,
    however, that any discussion on this matter will factor in Romania’s fulfilment
    of all accession criteria. President Klaus Iohannis expressed confidence Romania
    will join the travel-free area, whereas Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă in turn
    said that Schengen accession will spell numerous benefits for Romania’s
    economy.


    UKRAINE Romania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu,
    hailed the UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s illegal
    annexation of Ukrainian territories. 143 UN members voted in favour, including
    Romania. Meanwhile, Russia launched new attacks on Ukraine on Thursday. Drone
    strikes targeted critical infrastructure in Kyiv, while the city of Mykolaiv
    was hit by shelling, authorities say. In recent weeks Ukraine has been the
    target of air strikes carried out by Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Tehran
    denies having delivered such drones to Russia, while Moscow refused to comment.
    The Kremlin has also intensified its attacks on civilian targets in response to
    the Crimea bridge attack, which Moscow claims is the work of Ukrainian
    intelligence. Described as war crimes by a number of Western countries, the
    shelling continues despite significant losses sustained by the Russian army.
    Bombing focused particularly on residential areas and civilian infrastructure,
    damaging 30% of the country’s energy infrastructure. In Brussels, over 50
    countries promised to provide military assistance to Ukraine, including air defence
    systems. (V.P, A.M.P.)

  • July 31, 2022 UPDATE

    July 31, 2022 UPDATE

    TAXATION On 1 August, some of the
    fiscal measures introduced recently by the coalition government made up of the
    National Liberal Party, Social Democratic Party and the Democratic Union of
    Ethnic Hungarians in Romania take effect. On Monday the tobacco excise duty is
    to increase, as is the tax on gambling gains. Changes are also operated as
    regards salaries in the construction industry, agriculture and foodstuffs, where
    the ceiling for certain tax rebates will be lowered. Further changes to the
    Fiscal Code will take effect early next year. For example, in the hospitality
    industry VAT will be raised from 5 to 9%, while the VAT for non-alcoholic beer
    and for sugary drinks will be raised to 19%. Sales of houses bigger than 120
    sqm or for prices of over EUR 120,000 will also carry increased VAT. According
    to government estimates, these changes will bring the state budget an
    additional EUR 243 million this year and some EUR 2.1 billion in 2023.



    FESTIVAL Transylvania is a model of inter-ethnic harmony and
    tolerance at European level, the PM Nicolae Ciuca said at the Haferland Week
    Festival, devoted to the Saxon culture. The PM highlighted that Romania is a
    democratic state, where diverging or even opposing views and ideas may be
    expressed, but that these views must not become radical and any expression of
    authoritarianism, extreme nationalism or populism must be prevented. Also
    attending the Haferland Week, president Klaus Iohannis said it was very
    important for each of us to be aware of the threat entailed by climate change,
    and added that we have a responsibility towards protecting our planet and
    resources. In this context, he emphasised, education remains the key to a
    greener future and a sustainable society.


    DIPLOMACY In the context of Romania’s strong show of solidarity
    during this war in Ukraine, with our management of the over 1.75 million
    Ukrainian refugees who have entered Romania since the start of the war, a
    situation which we have managed successfully, I believe we can hope for
    consistent and firm support from Germany for Romania’s Schengen accession as
    soon as possible, the Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu said. This is
    important among other things for the inter-human relations between Romania and
    Germany, between the ethnic Germans in Romania and Germany and conversely,
    between the Romanian community in Germany and Romania, Aurescu emphasised upon
    opening on Sunday the Romanian-German Bilateral Cooperation Forum, on the
    sidelines of the 10th edition of the ‘Haferland Week’ cultural
    festival in Romania.


    CENSUS Sunday was the
    last day of the official population and housing census in Romania, after
    several extensions. According to the National statistics Institute, over 90% of
    the process had been completed by early this week. The purpose of the census was
    to establish the number of people living on Romanian territory, as well as the
    living standards in each locality. Based on the data collected, the
    authorities will create public policies and earmark funding for each town or
    village. At EU level, the number of people
    living in Romania is a criterion in the distribution of EU funds. The census was
    compulsory for all Romanian citizens.


    COVID More than 4,000 new
    SARS-CoV-2 infections out of over 13,000 tests, as well as 13 COVID-related
    deaths were reported on Sunday in Romania, the authorities announced. The
    number of COVID patients in hospitals is over 3,900, of whom more than 260 are
    in intensive care. The authorities estimate that next week Romania could see
    10,000 new cases per day. Although spreading very quickly, this variant of the virus causes less
    severe forms of the disease.


    UKRAINE The Romanian foreign ministry condemns the shelling of the
    Olenivka prison and the killing of Ukrainian POWs, reads a message issued on
    Sunday. These heinous crimes committed by Russia call for international
    investigation and sanctioning. Condolences to the families and full support for
    Ukraine, the foreign ministry’s Twitter post also reads. A prison in Olenivka was
    attacked on Friday, with most of the 193 Ukrainian prisoners of war there
    killed or wounded, according to the Russian defence ministry, which Saturday
    released the names of 50 dead and 73 wounded. Russia claims the strike came
    from a HIMARS system provided by the US to Ukraine, as Kyiv seeks to recover
    the territories controlled by pro-Russian separatists in the east of the
    country. Ukraine replied it would never attack civilian sites, especially one
    housing its own people, and accused Russia of organising the attack in
    retaliation against the Ukrainian nationalists among the prisoners brought
    there from Mariupol several weeks ago. (AMP)

  • June 26, 2022

    June 26, 2022

    FLAG DAY Events are organised in county capitals and in Romanian
    localities hosting military units, to celebrate National Flag Day on the 26th
    June. National Flag Day was introduced to mark the day in 1848 when the
    revolutionary government proclaimed the red, yellow and blue flag as the
    national colours of all Romanians. National Flag Day was introduced under a
    1998 law.


    REFUGEES The Romanian Border Police announced that on the 25th
    June, 12,570 Ukrainian nationals (down 2.6% since the previous
    day) crossed the border into Romania. Since Ukraine’s invasion by the Russian
    army on the 24th February, until midnight Saturday, Romania received 1,324,823 Ukrainian
    citizens. Of them, 80,000 chose to stay in Romania and benefit from the
    protection and safety provided by the Romanian authorities, the PM Nicolae
    Ciucă said. The government of Romania came up with a national protection
    and inclusion plan addressing the Ukrainian nationals that benefit from
    temporary protection. The plan includes children’s access to education and
    access to jobs for the adults.


    UKRAINE Heavy blasts were heard on Sunday at dawn in Kyiv,
    affecting a residential compound near the centre of the city, international
    news agencies report. The incident comes hours before the opening of a G7 summit
    in Germany, discussing the situation in Ukraine. Kyiv had previously been hit
    in early June, while another shelling was reported in late April, during a
    visit by the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres.


    MOLDOVA Russia’s ex-president and PM Dmitri Medvedev threatens the
    Republic of Moldova that it will see its natural gas supplies cut and exports
    of agri-food products to the Russian market banned, if Chişinău joins the
    West’s economic sanctions against Moscow. Medvedev, currently vice-president of
    the Security Council, posted on his Telegram channel an extensive article on
    the Republic of Moldova, which Thursday was recognised as a EU candidate country.
    According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Moscow, Medvedev says the
    accession process may take decades, which makes Moldova’s annexation by Romania
    an easier option. And, Medvedev argues, both Bucharest and Chişinău are making
    efforts in this respect. He mentioned a recent joint meeting of the parliaments
    of the 2 countries and said the president of Moldova, pro-Western Maia Sandu, would
    be ready to renounce the country’s independence. Medvedev also argues that
    these plans are supported by the US and the EU. Founded on part of the eastern
    Romanian territories annexed by Stalin’s Soviet Union in 1940, today’s R. of Moldova
    declared its independence from Moscow in 1991.

    FESTIVAL The Sibiu International Theatre Festival continues in central
    Romania until the 3rd July. This year’s motto is Beauty. This 29th
    edition of the festival brings together artists from around the world in
    theatre, dance, cinema, musical, opera and circus performances. Concerts, book
    shows and exhibitions are also organized as part of the festival. Some of the
    performances taking place in cultural or unconventional venues can be watched
    on the Festival’s official website, digital streaming platform
    www.scena-digitala.ro, and on the event’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.


    TENNIS The Romanian player Simona Halep, no 19 WTA and former
    world leader, will take on the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova (82 WTA), in
    the first round of the Wimbledon tournament. Halep, winner of the Wimbledon trophy
    in 2019, is seed no. 16th this year in the competition. Another
    Romanian player, Sorana Cîrstea, 32 WTA and seed no. 21, plays against Aleksandra
    Krunic of Serbia (53 WTA). Gabriela Ruse (55 WTA) has the most difficult match
    in the All England Club first round, against the American Coco Gauff, no. 12 in
    the world. Irina Begu (43 WTA) is facing Ekaterine Gorgodze of Georgia (112
    WTA), in the same round, while Ana Bogdan (109 WTA) plays against Ukraine’s Dayana
    Yastremska (74 WTA), and Irina Bara (121 WTA) against Chloe Paquet of France (101
    WTA). In turn, Mihaela Buzărnescu (126 WTA) will play against Natasja Schunk of
    Germany (156 WTA). This year’s Wimbledon tournament has record-large amounts in
    prize money (over GBP 40 million) but the WTA and ATP announced they will not
    assign any points, after the British organisers decided to bar Russian and
    Belarusian players from taking part, in response to Russia’s invasion of
    Ukraine.