September 21, 2023
Click here for a roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 21.09.2023, 13:55
ACCIDENT A
criminal investigation was initiated with respect to the blast that occurred last
night on a gas pipeline on the Moldova Motorway construction site in eastern
Romania, in which four people died and 5 others were injured. Two men with burn
wounds affecting 30% and 40% of their bodies, respectively, were transferred to hospitals in
Bucharest. Prosecutors are investigating manslaughter and bodily harm offences,
as well as failure to take or observe work safety measures. According to the
Vrancea Emergency Inspectorate, the blast was caused by the construction works
conducted in the vicinity of the pipeline, which was also carrying natural gas
to the neighbouring Republic of Moldova.
TAXES The
Cabinet had a first discussion on the set of measures aimed at the long-term
rebalancing of the state budget and at facilitating the absorption of tens of
billions in EU funding. Apart from cutting down public
spending, the bill focuses on fighting tax evasion, introduces taxes on large
profits and wealth, and eliminates tax privileges. Ahead of the Cabinet meeting,
the measures were discussed in the three-party Social Dialogue Council, which
brings together government officials and representatives of employer
associations and trade unions.
UN The wider
Black Sea area must be protected against the effects of Russia’s war against
Ukraine, the president of Romania Klaus Iohannis said in his address at the UN
General Assembly in New York. The Romanian official added that his country
would not let down its most vulnerable partners, and mentioned the transit of
Ukrainian grain via Romania, a topic he also approached in talks with the
president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of the European
Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister, Mariya
Gabriel. President Iohannis also said Romania was concerned with the effects of
climate change, of pollution, of energy insecurity, and is making visible
efforts to fight them. According to him, climate education is a priority for
Romania, and the climate-security interconnection should rank higher on the UN
agenda. Stay tuned for more details on the Romanian president’s address at the
UN after the news.
WHEAT Egypt’s General
Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) announced having purchased 120,000
tonnes of wheat from Romania in an international purchasing tender, Reuters
reports. GASC also said that since early June Cairo has imported approx. 2.14
million tonnes of wheat, mainly from Russia (1.5 million tonnes) and Romania
(420,000 tonnes). Egypt is the world’s largest wheat buyer, mainly for its
national bread subsidy programme benefiting more than 70 million of its 103
million citizens.
BUCHAREST The
Romanian capital city is celebrating these days 564 years since its first
mention in official documents. Maps, plans, archive images and 3-dimensional
scale models showcasing the 19th Century history of the city are
displayed in an exhibition opened until Sunday at the ARCUB Cultural Centre. On
Saturday, around 200 arts high school students will dance in front of the
National History Museum of Romania, and the music of old-time Bucharest will be
performed in the George Enescu Festival Square in front of the Romanian
Athenaeum. (AMP)
