November 10, 2024 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 10.11.2024, 20:00
FLOODS – According to the Spanish authorities, another three Romanian citizens are reported dead following last week’s devastating floods in Valencia, after previously been reported missing. So far, seven Romanians died and three are still missing, the Romanian Foreign Ministry reports. The Spanish authorities remain in permanent contact with representatives of Romania’s diplomatic missions. We recall that on Saturday, thousands marched on the streets of Valencia to protest the local authorities’ chaotic and slow response to the floods in southeastern Spain, which have so far killed 220 people.
DRUGS – Tons of drugs have been seized by Romanian law enforcement in the first nine months of 2024 – nearly 170 kilos of high-risk drugs and 800 kilos of drugs, four tons of cannabis, seven tons of illegal substances seized from an illegal factory, and 16 tons of cocaine, concealed in fruit pulp, seized at the Port of Constanța. 33 crime groups comprising 240 people have been dismantled, and a total of 3,000 individuals were prosecuted. Over 21 million tons of cigarettes and 6 tons of contraband tobacco were also seized during the interval. 119 individuals were subject to pre-trial measures, and 29 were arrested. Some 1.4 million EUR was handed out in fines.
VISIT – Romania’s Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to the United Kingdom starting Tuesday, where he will meet his counterpart, Keir Starmer, and attend the Romania-Great Britain Economic Forum. Ahead of the visit, the Romanian government earlier this week adopted a memorandum, updating the convention signed by the two countries in the field of taxation and tax evasion. “The updated document factors in the legislative modifications operated in Romania over the course of 2023, as well as other measures linked to Romania’s OECD accession”, the government reports.
GAZA – Qatar has suspended all efforts to mediate the conflict between Israel and Hamas until both parties will show willingness to negotiate in good faith, the Qatari Foreign Ministry reports. Along with the USA and Egypt, Qatar has for months been trying to end the war in Gaza and get all Israeli hostages released. Hamas and Israel accuse each other of blocking any peace settlement, refusing terms for a ceasefire. The conflict erupted on a large scale on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack on Israel. On the other hand, in a report published on Saturday, the UN warns that famine threatens to sweep northern Gaza amidst a resurge in Israeli military operations and the near total blocking of humanitarian aid. The IDF responded, saying the report relies on “partial and biased data”.
REPORT – National Bank Governor, Mugur Isărescu, is expected to present a quarterly inflation report on Monday. The inflation rate will go up slightly at the end of 2024, and the National Bank expects price hikes over the coming period. Starting the first half of 2025, the inflation rate will fluctuate and will remain above Central Bank estimates. Bank officials expect the annual inflation rate to stabilize in 2026 and start going down to the 3.5% set target, a National Bank board of directors report reads. The National Bank also decided to maintain the monetary policy interest rate to 6.5% per year, as also agreed in October’s meeting.
FOOTBALL – National football squad members have called on fans to display civilized behaviors for the Nations League match against Kosovo in Bucharest, scheduled for November 15. Romania, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Slovakia are yet to recognize the independence of the former Serbian province with a majority Albanian population. At the September 6 match in Pristina, won 3-0 by Romania, Romanian footballers were treated with hostility by fans in the stands. “Leave geopolitics out of it. I am certain nothing can make us happier than winning this match in the field, without incidents and without penalties from UEFA’s disciplinary committees. Victory is the sweetest revenge”, footballers have told fans. Romania tops the C2 group in Nations League with 4 wins in 4 matches and 12 points, followed by Kosovo with 9 points, Cyprus with 3 points and Lithuania with 0 points. The best four winners of Nations League groups will qualify to the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada. (VP)
