November 18, 2023

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Newsroom, 18.11.2023, 13:54

WEATHER The National Meteorology Agency issued code yellow and
orange alerts for wind, heavy snow fall and snow storms valid in most of
Romania. A code yellow alert is in place until Sunday morning in the eastern
half of the country and in the mountains. A code orange alert for heavy mixed
precipitation is also issued for the south-east and the south. Several flood alerts concern rivers in most of
the country. The highs range between 2 and 11 degrees Celsius today, with 8
degrees Celsius reported in Bucharest at noon.

TERRORISM A young Romanian
national from Braşov (central Romania) has been taken into custody for
promoting terrorist propaganda materials, the Directorate Investigating
Organised Crime and Terrorism Offences announced. The young man praised
terrorist organisations from the Middle East on his social media account, and
posted instructions for the production and use of firearms and explosives.

ISRAEL Palestinian medical sources announced that scores of people
were killed or wounded today in Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip,
following Israeli air strikes. On Friday Israel had announced it would expand
military operations in the south, after handing out fliers in Khan Yunis the
previous day asking civilians to head for the tent camps on the sea coast in
order to avoid the massive shelling planned by the army. Israel’s ex-PM Ehud
Olmert told Euronews that the Hamas underground command centre was in Khan
Yunis, and not at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. In related news, Pope
Francis will have separate meetings on Wednesday with the families of the
Israeli hostages in Gaza and with relatives of the Palestinians living there,
the Vatican announced. The Pope previously said that Every human being, of any
people or religion, every human being is sacred, is precious in the eyes of God
and has the right to live in peace.

CHRISTMAS In the city of Craiova, southern Romania, hundreds of
people witnessed the nearly 2 million lights of the local Christmas Fair being
turned on Friday night. This year’s fair is themed around Andersen’s fairy
tale The Snow Queen, and all the decorations are white and turquoise. A giant
Christmas tree, a 40m tall merry-go-round and a skating rink are the main
attractions. Concerts and creative workshops will also be held here until the 2nd
of January. Sibiu, in central Romania, also opened its Christmas Fair in the
city’s main square. For the first time this year, the Fair includes the courtyard
of the Brukenthal Palace, a historical monument built between 1778 and 1788.

AMBASSADOR The foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu Friday received
the new British Ambassador to Romania, Giles Portman. On this occasion, Mrs.
Odobescu highlighted the important role of bilateral cooperation in defence and
security and the significant potential in the field of trade and investments,
as well as the substantial contribution of the 1.2 million Romanians living in
UK to strengthening the ties between the two countries. In 2024 Romania will
host the second Romania-UK Bilateral Forum, after the first edition of the
event held this March in London.

SPORTS Romania’s national football team takes on Israel tonight in Felcsut (Hungary), in
Preliminary Group I of the EURO 2024. In women’s handball, CSM Bucharest plays
against the Hungarian side DVSC Schaeffler, away from home, in the Champions’
League Group A, while CS Rapid Bucharest are up against Vipers Kristiansand (Norway)
in the competition’s Group B. In the first leg of the 3rd
preliminary round of the EHF European League, CSM Târgu Jiu play at home
against the Swedish side Onnereds HK. (AMP)