August 5, 2024 UPDATE
Click here for the latest news from RRI
Newsroom, 05.08.2024, 20:00
Harassment – The Government is this week expected to amend the legislation on sexual abuse, which currently disallows anonymous complaints. Authorities will adopt measures to protect the victims, regardless of the aggressor’s identity. The measures come in response to several reports of sexual harassment in universities. Education Minister Ligia Deca explained the police will quickly register reports of sexual abuse, and the new measures will apply to the entire public sector, including regulations regarding internal inquiries. We recall that, in the last week, a number of former female students presented allegations of sexual harassment against three university professors. The Police have launched a number of investigations. Professor Alfred Bulai of the National School of Political Science and Public Administration (SNSPA) was sacked from the position of chair of the Sociology Department, while Dorin Ștefan Adam from the University of Architecture in Bucharest and Marius Pieleanu of SNSPA have resigned.
Energy – The Romanian Energy Minister, Sebastian Burduja, signed, on Monday, together with the Minister of Mines and Energy from neighboring Serbia, Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic, a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Gas Interconnector Construction Project between the two countries. The Romanian official stated that the interconnector will play an essential role in energy security and in the regional integration of energy markets. According to him, on the territory of Romania, the natural gas transport pipeline will connect to the BRUA pipeline and will have a length of about 86 km. It is estimated that the investment will be completed by 2028. Burduja also showed that, in the first quarter of this year, Romania provided almost 30% of the gas production of the entire European Union and has all the chances to become an energy hub in the market.
Middle East – Romanian citizens must leave Lebanon quickly by the flights still available. It is the firm recommendation sent by the Romanian Foreign Ministry, in the context of an increased risk of escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The Ministry also recommends Romanians who are in Lebanon to register their presence at the Embassy in Beirut. On the other hand, the Romanian national airline TAROM announced that it is suspending flights to and from Tel Aviv, Amman and Beirut, starting from Tuesday until August 12, following the current developments and the deterioration of the security context in the Middle East.
Drought – The filling rate in Romania’s 40 reservoirs is almost 79%, slightly downwards compared to last week. The National Administration of Romanian Waters states that the necessary raw water is provided for supply in a centralized manner, but draws attention to the fact that in 421 localities, from 17 counties, which have centralized supply systems, water is supplied with restrictions. In 270 localities, from 10 counties, where there are no water networks, the wells have dried up. Considering the forecast for the next period, specialists continue to call for the rational use of water during the drought.
Cars – The number of electric cars in the EU registered a significant increase last year, of 50%, but their share in the community car fleet remains low. Compared to the total stock of cars in the Union, electric cars account for only 1.7%. Denmark has the best percentage, 7.1 % of the total car fleet. Sweden, Luxembourg and the Netherlands follow, the last with five percentage points. Romania has approximately 0.5% and ranks 20th in the EU. The lowest percentages are reported by Cyprus, Greece and Poland, each with 0.2%.
Beer – Beer sales on the Romanian market increased by over 40%, compared to previous years. According to the survey of a food product delivery company, Romanians order the largest amounts of beer on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and the most requested assortment of beer is blonde beer, followed by dark. This year, the largest quantity was requested on June 22, during the European Football Championship, when the Romania – Belgium match took place. In a list of the cities with the most beer orders at national level, the capital Bucharest is in first place, followed by Cluj (north-west) and Braşov (center). (LS)
