September 15, 2022
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 15.09.2022, 13:56
DECISION — The Romanian Government has passed a draft law on protecting the IT systems of public authorities and institutions in the context of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Thus, the Government will have all central and local authorities replace the Russian anti-virus software and apps for fear it may be used as spying tool by Moscow. The draft law, initiated by the Ministry of Research and Innovation, is in line with similar decisions taken by countries like Germany and Italy, which have decided to replace the Kaspersky anti-virus software used by public authorities in order to prevent any cyber attacks from Russia.
EC — The European Commission has asked member states to reduce electricity consumption by at least 5% during peak hours and to cut down demand by at least 10% by next March. In her Wednesday speech on the state of the EU held in the European Parliament’s plenary in Strasbourg, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed a cap on the revenues of companies producing electricity with low cost and a deep and comprehensive reform of the electricity market. Europe’s solidarity with Ukraine will remain unshakeable, the European official said.
UKRAINE — Today, the European Commission President is on a working visit to Kyiv. This is Ursula von der Leyen’s third visit to this country, since the Russian invasion on February 24th. She will have meetings with President Volodymyr Zelensky and PM Denys Smyhal, to discuss how to continue bringing the Ukrainian and European economies and people closer together as Ukraine moves towards EU membership. Russia continues to bomb the Ukrainian territory. Authorities in Zaporozhye and Kharkov have announced that missile attacks were launched overnight. On Wednesday President Zelensky visited the newly liberated Izium in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, after the country’s forces recaptured the city. He told journalists he was “shocked” by the number of destroyed buildings and “killed people” left in the wake of the Russian occupation. Ukraines counteroffensive has liberated 8000 square kilometers of territory, the Ukrainian President said.
REFUGEES — The Romanian Border Police has announced that almost 81 thousand people entered Romania on Wednesday. Of them 11 thousand are Ukrainian citizens, up 15.7% as compared to the previous day. More than 2.3 million Ukrainian citizens have crossed the border into Romania since February 10, most of them heading towards Western Europe.
JUSTICE — In Bucharest, Parliament’s expert committee for the examination of the justice laws has today resumed debates on the draft law on the organisation and functioning of the Higher Council of Magistracy. Wednesday’s meeting was held in the presence of Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu and most articles were voted in their initial version. The Government wants the package of laws to be endorsed by Parliament by the end of the month, to observe the deadline set with the European institutions. All amendments made by the Opposition were rejected by the committee, except for one proposal made by USR, according to which members of the Higher Council of Magistracy should be elected from among judges and prosecutors with at least 7-year seniority and who have not received any fines in the last 3 years.
ENERGY – Romania’s gas stocks for the winter will exceed, by the end of this week, the minimum level of 80% set by the European Commission, Energy Minister Virgil Popescu has announced. According to Minister Popescu, Romania has enough stocks to get through winter, although there will be a complicated period in the entire EU, with uncertainties related to Russian gas supplies. Virgil Popescu said the new ordinance on capping the price of energy could be modified to support people whose life depends on oxygen devices that use a lot of energy and thus exceed the ceiling set by the law in force. The Grovernment has also announced it considers granting bonuses to those who want to save energy.
BRITAIN – Thousands of people are waiting in endless queues to enter Westminster Hall and pay their respects to Queen Elisabeth II. The coffin of Britains longest-reigning monarch left Buckingham Palace for the last time on Wednesday. The late Queen’s son King Charles III marched together with his siblings and sons behind the coffin in a 38-minute long procession to Westminster Hall. The Queen will lie in state until her funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday. Representing Romania at the funeral will be President Klaus Iohannis, Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown and Prince Consort Radu.
FOOTBALL – Romania’s football champion CFR Cluj is today up against the Turkish side Sivasspor on home turf, in a mach in Europa Conference League’s Group E. CFR Cluj and Sivasspor each have 1 point after the matches in the first stage. Also today, Romania’s vice-champion FCSB is taking on Anderlecht Brussels in Bucharest, in the European Conference League’s Group B. In the first group stage FCSB was defeated by West ham United (1-3) while Anderlecht beat Silkeborg (1-0). (EE)
