January 6, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 06.01.2023, 20:00

UKRAINE – The Kremlin has
announced that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has ordered his forces to
observe a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, on the occasion of the Old Rite
Orthodox Christmas, following a call to this effect by the Patriarch of Moscow,
Kirill. Putin invited the Ukrainian forces to respect this truce, to enable the
Orthodox, the majority denomination in both countries, to attend the Christmas
services. Patriarch Kirill’s call had been rejected by the advisor to the
Ukrainian Presidency, Mykhailo Podoliak, who denounced, on Twitter, right
before Putin’s announcement, what he called a cynical trap. Podoliak accused
Putin of not having the slightest desire to end the war and of trying to
convince the Europeans to put pressure on Kyiv for peace negotiations, an
option that Ukraine has systematically refused. For his part, the American
president, Joe Biden, appreciated that Putin wants a breath of air,
by launching the truce in Ukraine, given that, on December 25 and the New Year,
he was prepared to bomb hospitals, nurseries and churches.

FLU – Health Minister
Alexandru Rafila gave assurances that the authorities have identified solutions
to replinish the drug stocks of pharmacies and hospitals in order to treat the
wave of respiratory diseases and flu facing Romania at present. On Friday,
Minister Rafila discussed wit hthe top medicine producers and supplies in
Romania in order to address the shortage of drugs on the market amidst a
significat surge in demand in recent days. The estimated consum,ption for this
year was long exceeded in the context of the wave of respiratory diseases,
Minister Rafila pointed out. Currently, Romania is expecting the European
Commission to greenlight a proposal to introduce a temporary ban on the export
of certain drugs. Respiratory infections have been reporting an accelerate
increase in the last three weeks, prompting Bucharest authorities to declare a
state of epidemiological alert.

MAGISTRACY – The new president of
the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) in Romania, judge Daniel Grădinaru,
said that he wants unity within this body and a loyal cooperation with the
other state institutions. The new vice-president, prosecutor Daniel
Horodniceanu, former head of DIICOT (Directorate for Investigating Organized
Crime and Terrorism) has also pleaded for unity in the new Council, an
institution that manages the careers of magistrates and which, in recent years,
has been divided was unanimously voted for,
and the mandate of the two heads last one year, with no possibility of
extension. CSM is made up of nine judges and five prosecutors elected by
magistrates in the general assemblies of the courts and prosecutors’ offices,
two representatives of civil society elected by the Senate and three legal
members – the Minister of Justice, the President of the High Court of Cassation
and Justice and the Prosecutor General of Romania. All members have a six-yea
term, which cannot be renewed.

BORDERS – Nearly 4 million
people entered and left Romania during the winter holidays, representing a 75%
increase compared to 2021. 2.5 million people entered the country and 1.8
million people left, the Border Police reports. The highest traffic rates were
reported on the Hungarian border (1.4 million people) and in airports (1.2
million people).

EPIPHANY -Christians in Romania celebrated on
Friday the Baptism of the Lord, known as the Epiphany. The priests celebrated
outside churches the service of the Consecration of the water, in memory of the
Baptism received by Jesus Christ in the waters of the River Jordan. According
to theologians, after 30 years of life in anonymity, Jesus Christ, the Son of
God incarnate, began his mission on the banks of the River Jordan, where the
Prophet John baptized those who repented of their sins. The faithful who went to
church on this day received holy water, during a special service held after the
liturgy.

TIMIȘOARA – The city of Timișoara in western Romania is one of the 60 European cities
that were named Capitals of Culture in 2023. According to the European
Commission, the cities will be hosting numerous events, exhibitions and
performances to mark this occasion. The European Capital of Culture is an award
bearing testimony to European richness and diversity and is meant to boost
sustainable tourism and the development of recipient cities. (MI & VP)