September 16, 2022 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 17.09.2022, 13:59
UN – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis will head the country’s delegation at the 77th UN General Assembly in New York, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Presidential Administration has announced. According to the release, the President’s participation is an opportunity to highlight Romania’s stand as regards current global challenges in the context of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, which requires solidarity, unity and quick reaction based on international law. The theme of this year’s General Assembly session is “Solutions through solidarity, sustainability and science”.
ENERGY — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded a safety review of Romania’s process for selecting the site of the country’s planned Small Modular Reactor (SMR), which could become the first such reactor built in Europe. The Romanian government chose Doicești, a village in Dambovita county, as the site for the SMR. The IAEA team has conducted a review mission to assess the process that was followed in choosing the site. At present, Romania has one operating nuclear power plant in Cernavodă, which generates around 18% of the country’s electricity and is considering expanding and modernizing its nuclear power programme.
COURT – Romania submitted on Friday at the European Court of Human Rights, the request for intervention in favour of Ukraine against Russia. The case has as object the blatant violation of human rights committed en masse by Russia in the context of its military aggression against Ukraine as of February 24. Romanias approach to intervene in this case was initiated at the request of the Ukrainian side. Romania has shown its support for Ukraine in the field of international justice also by initiating, alongside 39 other states, the proceedings before the International Criminal Court, as well as through the Declaration of Intervention in the process before the International Court of Justice in the case regarding the allegations of genocide committed by Russia against Ukraine.
ENERGY – The ruling coalition in Bucharest has been assessing a series of potential amendments to the ordinance regulating energy prices and is currently drawing up fresh support and energy-saving schemes. In order to reduce the energy consumption, coalition leaders have agreed that by next week, the Ministry of the Environment come up with a proposal to replace incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. At the same time, every ministry must produce a measure plan to curb energy consumption. Coalition partners have decided the Ministry of Waters and Forests draw up a project to cap firewood prices for a period up to 6 months.
QUEEN – Tens of thousands of people continue to stand in line for hours in the centre of London to pay heir respects to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8th at the age of 96. State funeral for the Queen is to take place on Monday. The first religious service at Westminster Abbey at 11 oclock is expected to be attended by three thousand people including heads of state, members of the royal families, high-ranking politicians and representatives of humanitarian organizations. The coffin will be carried through the streets of London and taken to Windsor Castle, where a new religious service will be held. Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, and Prince Consort Radu, are also expected to attend the Queens funeral.
TENNIS – The worlds former number one tennis player, Romanian Simona Halep, has announced her intention to stay away from competitions this year. She had earlier informed her supporters of having recently undergone nose surgery, which will keep her out of competitions for a while. Halep was eliminated in the first round of the US Open but remains in WTA top ten. A French Open Champion in 2018 and winner of Wimbledon, a year later, Halep turns 31 at the end of this month. (EE)
