October 24, 2022 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 24.10.2022, 19:52
PILGRIMAGE – Bucharest is hosting the yearly Christian-Orthodox pilgrimage devoted to Saint Demetrius the New, patron saint and protector of Romania’s capital city, whose feast day is celebrated on October 27. Hosted by the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, the pilgrimage will end on Friday, October 28. Every year, the relics of St. Demetrius are carried throughout the streets of Bucharest in the “Way of the Saints” Procession ending at the Patriarchal Cathedral, a tradition dating back to the 19th century. October 27 marks 248 years since the holy relics of Saint Demetrius the New, the most valuable treasure of the Patriarchal Cathedral, were brought to Bucharest. In mid-October in Iasi, eastern Romania, the pilgrimage devoted to St. Parascheva took place, attended by more than 200.000 faithful from Romania and abroad. St. Parascheva, celebrated on October 14, is seen as the patron saint of Moldavia.
PLATFORM — European citizens have, as of today, a new instrument launched by the European Commission that helps them identify fake news. Called EUvsDisinfo, its core objective is to increase public awareness and understand the Kremlin’s disinformation operations, and also to help citizens in Europe and beyond develop resistance to media manipulation. Using data analysis and media monitoring services in 15 languages, EUvsDisinfo identifies, compiles, and exposes disinformation cases originating in pro-Kremlin media that are spread across Europe.
PARLIAMENT — The Romanian Defense Minister, the Social Democrat Vasile Dîncu, resigned on Monday, claiming it was impossible to work with president Klaus Iohannis. The Liberal PM, Nicolae Ciuca, is the new interim defense minister. Also on Monday, Minister Dîncu was expected to appear before the Chamber of Deputies to explain his statements over the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict. In a TV show, the Defense Minister had said that negotiations with Russia were the only way to ensure peace in Ukraine. President Iohannis subsequently told Dîncu that “Ukrainians are paying a blood price in this war and we must all come to terms with the idea that only Ukraine can decide when, how and what it is negotiating. This is our official position and the official viewpoint of the European Union”, the president also said.
UK – Former Finance Minister, Rishi Sunak, became on Monday the new leader of the Conservative Party, which means he will be Britain’s next PM. His contender, Penny Mordant, withdrew from the race for failing to secure the necessary number of votes from her fellow Conservatives. Sunak, aged 42, is the third prime minister of Britain in less than two months. He had been defeated by Liz Truss in September, in the race for the position of leader of the Conservative Party. Truss resigned on Thursday, only 45 days after taking office.
NATO – Two convoys transporting military equipment from France arrived in Romania on Sunday. The first convoy includes light infantry vehicles, while the second one transported heavy infantry armored vehicles, the Romanian Defense Ministry announced. The equipment adds to the military technology used by the NATO battlegroup in Romania led by France and located in Cincu, central Romania. The battlegroup was created in May by pooling in NATO Response Force troops already deployed to Romania. On the other hand, Spain announced it would send F-18 and Eurofighter jets to Romania and Bulgaria, to contribute to consolidating the NATO eastern flank in the context of the war in Ukraine.
DEFENSE – The Supreme Defense Council will convene on Tuesday in Bucharest. According to the Presidency, the agenda will focus on the regional security context, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and consequences for Romania, as well as on improving the countrys energy resilience. Council members will also be given an update on measures taken to modernize the army. (EE)
