August 25, 2022 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 25.08.2022, 20:09

WAR Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia,
presently under the control of the Russian troops, has been completely disconnected
from the main grid, the Ukrainian operator Energoatom announced on Thursday,
AFP and Reuters report. The plant’s last two reactors have been shut down after
fires in the areas affected the electric lines. The aggressors’ actions have
prompted the authorities to shut down the plant for the first time in its
history Energoatom says adding that the plant’s security systems are
functioning normally. For the past three weeks, Kiev and Moscow have been
accusing each other of having bombed the plant amid fears of a new Chernobyl.
The plant in Zaporizhzhia is under the control of the Russian troops but it is
being operated by Ukrainian personnel.

SCHEME The Romanian government has
approved a minimal state aid scheme, under which grants are provided to promote
the circular economy, an economic system, in which the value of the products,
materials and other economic resources is maintained as long as possible,
increasing their effectiveness and thus reducing the negative impact on the
environment. Ranging between 15 thousand and 200 thousand Euros, the grants are
aimed at boosting investment in the field. The scheme’s maximum budget stays
around 8 million Euros, out of which 2 million for 2022 and the rest for the
period between 2023 and 2025.

TRADE Romanian live animal exports
decreased by almost 17% in the first five months of 2022, as compared to the
same period of last year, and totaled almost 183 million Euros – according to
the National Institute of Statistics. Live animal imports also decreased by
18%, reaching over 66 million Euros. Thus, a trade surplus of 116 million Euros
was recorded. In another development, in the first five months of the year,
Romania exported meat and meat products worth 223 million Euros and imported
meat products worth 532 million Euros. The resulting deficit is almost 350
million Euros, data provided by the National Institute of Statistics also show.

VOLLEYBALL Romania’s women’s national
volleyball team, coached by the Spanish Guillermo Naranjo Hernandez, defeated
the Faroe Islands 3-0 on Wednesday evening in Torshavn in a Group A match of
the 2023 European Championship qualifiers. Also on Wednesday, Croatia defeated
Israel 3-1, away from home. On August 28, the derby of the group will take
place between Croatia and Romania. Romania and Croatia have two wins each in
the group standings, while Israel and the Faroe Islands have 0 points. The
teams ranked on the first two places qualify for next year’s final tournament.

FESTIVAL More than 600 representatives
of the 20 national minorities in Romania are expected, as of Thursday until
August 28, at the 18th edition of the ProEtnica Intercultural
Festival in Sighişoara (center). After the festive opening, followed a debate
on Promoting peace through non-discrimination and solidarity in a crisis
context. At the same time, the festival schedule also includes 60
traditional dance and music performances by ensembles of national minorities,
art and photography exhibitions, a ‘Literary Salon’ where writers of national
minorities present their creations, lectures, round tables and workshops.
According to the organizers, this year, in a complicated moment for the peace
of Europe, the ProEtnica Festival brings the peaceful message of intercultural
dialogue in Romania, as a model of pacifist dialogue between countries and
peoples.

(bill)