March 23, 2022

A round up of local and international news.

Newsroom, 23.03.2022, 13:50

Refugees. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is
planning to open an office in Iaşi, in the north-east of Romania,
to provide assistance to the Ukrainians fleeing war in their country. Since the
start of the war on 24th February, more than half a million
Ukrainian refugees have crossed the border into Romania, over 2 million have
fled to Poland and almost 370,000 to the Republic of Moldova.

Ukraine.
The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine’s besieged cities is deepening. According to
the Ukrainian authorities, a significant part of Mariupol has been destroyed by
shelling and some estimates speak of thousands of civilians killed in this
city. Those still trapped have no access to food, water, electricity and
heating. The authorities are also speaking about a humanitarian disaster in
Kherson, a city conquered by the Russian forces. News agencies note that the
Russian forces seem to stall on all fronts and even to be pushed back in some
places, including near Kyiv. According to Reuters, the Russian army has made
some advances in the south and east. Today, Ukrainian president Volodymy
Zelensky is expected to address France’s Parliament.

Poll. 94% of Romanian entrepreneurs believe
the Russia-Ukraine conflict will lead to an economic crisis, with six out of
ten company managers even deciding to postpone investments until the situation becomes
clearer, according to an opinion poll conducted by the National Council for
Small and Medium Sized Private Enterprises in Romania. 77% of respondents say
they will be increasing their prices in some form. The survey also shows that
most Romanian companies do not have businesses relations with Russia and
Ukraine and that those that did, have ended them.

Gas.
The European Union will propose member states to fill their gas storage to at
least 90% of capacity before winter and is considering a cap on gas and
electricity prices. According to France Presse news agency, the European Commission
thus seeks to reduce purchases of Russian gas by two thirds. The International
Energy Agency is also preparing a series of measures to reduce Europe’s dependence
on Russian gas, said the US secretary of energy Jennifer Granholm. In
Bucharest, energy minister Virgil Popescu said Romania will also secure its
supply of natural gas for next winter from other sources, including the Black
Sea, through the off-shore exploitation of a perimeter by the company Black Sea
Oil & Gas. The project began two years ago, is about to be finalised and is
estimated to provide 10% of the country’s gas supply by the end of the year.

Sport.
U-Banca Transilvania Cluj-Napoca reached the Champions League quarterfinals in
men’s basketball for the first time in the club’s history. In their final Group
K match, they defeated the Belgian side Filou Oostende 85-74 away on Tuesday
evening. They now top the group with 7 points, followed by the Spanish side Unicaja
Malaga. The drawing of lots for the quarterfinals will be held on 25th
March. In tennis, Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse defeated Croatia’s Ana Konjuh to
reach the second round at the Miami Open and will next be playing Elena
Rybakina of Kazakhstan. (CM)