August 23, 2022

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 23.08.2022, 13:55

Remembrance. The Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Fascism and Communism is the best opportunity to pay tribute
to all those who experienced the horrors of totalitarian regimes and to
reiterate our firm commitment to reject extremism, intolerance and hatred,
said president Klaus Iohannis in a statement. He recalled that on 23rd
August 1939, the entire world, not just Central and Eastern Europe, was
condemned to a cruel future, adding that the Ribbentrop-Molotov
Pact was a criminal conspiracy in the wake of which entire generations were
exposed to the toxic and barbarian effects of totalitarian ideologies with grave long-term consequences. Iohannis also spoke of King Michael I’s decision
to break off Romania’s alliance with Hitler’s Germany on 23rd August
1944 and to join the United Nations, a decision which contributed to shortening
the war. 23rd August was established by the European Parliament in
2008 as a day of remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian
regimes.

Drought.
The Mediterranean regions remain threatened by abnormal drought until November,
when close to normal conditions are expected in most of the EU, said the
European Commission. The areas worst hit by the lack of precipitation are
central and southern Portugal, the whole of Spain, the south of France,
Hungary, Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Linked by scientists to global
warming, these exceptionally hot and dry weather conditions have significantly
reduced the yield of summer crops, according to experts quoted by France Presse.
The corn, sun flower and soy harvests are worst hit.

Export.
In the first five months of the year, Romania exported grain and grain-based
products worth 2.155 billion euros, up 77% compared with the previous period
last year, according to figures published by the National Institute for
Statistics. The largest amount of exports was recorded in March. Between
January and May, however, Romania also imported grain and grain-based products worth
683.5 million euros.

Forests. The National Forest Strategy for 2030
which was unveiled on Monday at an event hosted by the Transylvania
University in Braşov lays emphasis on making owners themselves more responsible
and involved and proposes a new approach to checks and restrictions, said the
environment minister Tanczos Barna. He underlined that this new strategy was
drafted in the last two years with the help of forestry experts, NGOs, institutions
and other persons interested in this field and said this is a historic step
for Romanian forests. Expanding forested areas is one of the most important
elements of the strategy. Romania is the first country to present its forest
strategy after the publication of a similar document at European Union level.

Tennis.
Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea on Monday evening defeated Marcela Zacarias of Mexico
to reach the round of last 16 at the WTA 250 tennis tournament in Cleveland, in
the US, worth over 250,000 dollars in prize money. Cîrstea will next be playing
Poland’s Magda Linette. Another Romanian player Irina Begu also reached the
last 16, who will next be facing Sofia Kenin of the US. (CM)