September 30, 2017 UPDATE

Electricity, natural gas and fuel will be more expensive in Romania as of October 1st.

Newsroom, 30.09.2017, 18:15

VISIT – The United States is probing North Korea to see whether it is interested in dialogue and has multiple direct channels of communication with Pyongyang, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Saturday. Tillerson met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his counterpart Wang Yi. In China, the US official also prepares President Trump’s planned visit to the region. In the last few months the Trump administration has publicly accused China, Pyongyang’s main ally, of not putting enough pressure on its North-Korean neighbour to give up its nuclear ambitions. On Thursday, the Chinese minister of trade announced that China ordered North Korean companies in the country to shut down by January as it applies UN sanctions imposed following Pyongyangs sixth nuclear test. The announcement came days after China confirmed that it would apply another major part of the sanctions – a limit on exports of refined petroleum products to North Korea starting October 1 and a ban on textiles from its neighbour.

ENERGY – Electricity prices in Romania will increase by an average of 0.75 Euros/ 100 kilowatts as of October 1st, the National Energy Regulatory Authority, ANRE, has announced. ANRE also says that natural gas prices for domestic consumers may increase by 6%, also as of October 1st. Fuel excise will also go up starting October 1st for the second time in two weeks. Consequently, most services and products, food in particular, will become more expensive.

SUMMIT — The European Council President Donald Tusk will hold consultations over the next two weeks with all member states on initiatives to reform the European Union after Brexit. The announcement was made after the summit in Tallinn, Estonia, where the heads of state and government voiced disappointment with the slow pace of the Brexit negotiations. Talks were held on the sidelines of the Digital Summit focusing on digital economy and society, attended by EU heads of state and government. Leaders discussed the Commissions recent proposals for strengthening the EU’s cybersecurity and setting out measures towards a fair taxation of the digital economy. The latest cyber attacks on Europe have triggered economic problems, which have in turn led to significant financial losses, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said during his speech at the informal European Council digital summit. The president said that, without a common and fast intervention at European level, cyber attacks might severely affect the Unions economy and security.

GOVERNMENT – Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose discussed on Sunday with a delegation headed by Karl-Heinz Lambertz, the president of the European Committee of the Regions. According to a government release, the meeting’s agenda included topics such as the importance of the European cohesion policy for Romania and drawing funds through financing programmes for regional development and cohesion. Also discussed were the major challenges facing Europe, such as migration, security issues and the need to put in line the stipulations of the Stability Pact with the regions’ needs for development and investment.

INVICTUS GAMES — Romania, having taken part for first time in the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada, scooped a number of medals and prizes. Thus, two Romanians, major Laurentiu Serban and lieutenant Ciprian Iriciuc won bronze in the indoor rowing competition, while the team made up of Ionut Butoi, Dorin Petru and Nicusor Pegulescu won gold in the archery final. Ionut Butoi also won silver in the individual archery final. The Invictus Games is the only sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. Invictus Team Romania is made up of 15 soldiers wounded in theatres of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

GOLD MEDAL – The Romanian lightweight women’s double-sculls crew, made up of Ionela Livia Lehaci and Gianina Elena Beleaga won gold on Sunday at the World Rowing Championships, hosted by Sarasota — Brandenton, the United States. Romania has a total of six crews enrolled in the competition. (Translated by Elena Enache)