Author: Vlad Palcu

WAR IN UKRAINE – A new drone attack launched by Ukrainian forces hit an airbase
in southern Russia, killing three people. Russian air defense systems
reportedly shot down the drone while it was approaching the Engels base in
Saratov region. According to TASS, three Russian technicians were killed in the
crash. Located some 600 km from the Ukrainian border, the base was hit by
another drone strike earlier this month. Also on Monday, Ukraine wants to call for
excluding Russia from the UN Security Council, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister,
Dmytro Kuyleba has said. Does Russia have the right to remain a permanent
member of the UN Security Council and to be in the United Nations at all?
he said, speaking during a national television marathon. We have a
convincing and reasoned answer — no, it does not.

SEARCH – Romanian authorities will resume search and rescue operations
to locate the four Ukrainian citizens who crossed the Maramureș
Mountains to enter
Romania. The Border Police spokesman said rescue teams failed to reach them on
Sunday after having established contact previously. The caller was most likely
located on the opposite side of a cliffy area, which prevented rescue teams
from getting to him. Rescue teams managed to save another two Ukrainians on
Saturday.

REFUGEES – Some 341 thousand people, both Romanian and foreign nationals, crossed
the Romanian border over December 24-25, the Border Police Inspectorate
announced. Some 204 thousand people entered Romania during the interval, of
whom 18,325 were Ukrainian citizens. Starting February 10, 2022, some 3.1
million Ukrainians entered Romania, most of whom were en route to other
countries in Western Europe. According to the Interior Ministry, over 4,000
people filed for asylum in Romania and thus benefit from every right under the
Romanian law. Since March, some 100 thousand stay permits have been issued for
temporary protection beneficiaries.

EXTADITION – Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Moldova
are among the countries that ignore Romania’s request to extradite known
criminals who are wanted for corruption back home. Bucharest journalists recall
that high-profile politicians or businessmen are hiding abroad to avoid serving
time in Romania. The list includes medical doctor Sorin Oprescu, who remained
in Greece after the Court of Appeal in Athens denied Romania’s request to
extradite the former Bucharest Mayor General, sentenced to 10 years and 8
months for bribe-taking. In Italy, the former anti-mafia prosecutor Alina Bică managed to persuade magistrates
with the Bari Court of Appeal that she deserved to serve her 4 year sentence
for aiding and abetting here. Also in Bari, the former intelligence officer
Daniel Dragomir, sentenced to 3 years and 10 months, has also taken refuge. The
Republic of Moldova is refusing to hand over Cristian Rizea to Romanian
authorities. Rizea received a final sentence of 4 years and 8 months for
influence peddling. Puiu Popoviciu has been living in the United Kingdom for
years, after London magistrates ruled that Popoviciu’s investigation had been
politically instrumented. Popoviciu was sentenced at the time to 7 years for
fraud. Finally, Alexander Adamescu, the son of former magistrate Dan Adamescu,
managed to postpone his extradition from the United Kingdom for three
consecutive years, although two British courts of law ruled Adamescu should be
put on trial in Romania for bribery.

CHRISTMAS – On
the second day of Christmas, Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in
Romania celebrated the Synaxis of the Mother God, while Catholic Christians
celebrated Saint Stephen, the first martyr. In his Christmas address, Romanian
Orthodox Church Patriarch Daniel spoke about the importance of faith, prayer
and generosity. The gold of faith and good deeds, the incense of fervent
prayer and the myrrh of upright living, these are the gifts that every
Christian, rich or poor, can give to Christ, the Patriarch said. In turn, Eastern-Catholic Archbishop Lucian
urged faithful to pray for peace in our families and peace in crisis-ravaged
Europe and peace to nations at war and the whole world. Despite all hardships,
Christians have discovered solace and hope in Messiah, following the true
light, Roman-Catholic Archbishop Aurel Percă also said in his Christmas sermon,
urging Christians to come closer to the Church, so that God’s love should make
our world better, bringing hope, peace and joy.

HANDBALL – The men’s handball teams of Romania, Egypt, Algeria and
Slovakia will take part in this year’s edition of the Carpați Trophy tournament, held over
December 28-29 in Oradea, the Romanian Handball Federation reports. Egypt and
Algeria have secured qualification to the 2023 World Cup, to be held in January
2023. Coach Xavi Pascual has called up 24 players to the squad, which convened
on Monday for training. (VP)