October 30, 2022 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 30.10.2022, 19:32

COLECTIV — Three NGOs on Sunday marched in Bucharest, 7 years after the deadly fire at the Colectiv night club that killed 64 young people and left many injured. A religious service was also held in memory of the victims. Some of those found guilty for the fire are finally behind bars. However, the injured, the relatives of the people who died and the three NGOs say that the investigation has not been completed and that public attention has been constantly deterred from the fact that hospitals who took in the injured persons and the decisions of the authorities made more victims than the fire itself. The Colectiv fire was the most serious accident that took place in Romania after 1989. The tragedy stirred a lot of emotion within society and triggered the resignation of the then government.

MESSAGE — Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Sunday conveyed a message of solidarity with South Korea, after the deadly stampede in the capital Seoul. He sent his condolences to the mourning families and wished the injured good health and strength. It was a national day of mourning in South Korea on Sunday, after more than 150 people, mostly teenagers and young adults were killed in a crush when more than 100,000 people celebrating Halloween surged into an alley in a nightlife area of Seoul on Saturday. Citizens from Iran, Uzbekistan, China and Norway are among the victims, France Presse reports.

WINTER TIME – Romania switched to winter time on Saturday night, so Sunday was the longest day of the year, having 25 hours instead of 24. Switching to winter and summer time has stirred heated debates in the last few years, due to the physical and mental discomfort felt by people. The EU has asked member states to decide to which time they want to stick to, but neither Romania nor other countries have taken any decision in this respect.

UKRAINE – The European Union calls on Russia “to revert its decision” to suspend its participation in the Ukrainian grain export deal, EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell has today said on Twitter. According to the European official, “Russia’s decision (…) puts at risks the main export route of much needed grain and fertilizers to address the global food crisis caused by its war against Ukraine.” On his part, US President Joe Biden said that Russia’s decision to withdraw from an accord that allows grain exports from Ukraine is “purely outrageous”. Moscow announced on Saturday that is suspending its participation in the grain deal after a drone attack against the Russian fleet stationed in Sevastopol, in the annexed Crimea.

REFUGEES – Close to 118,000 people entered Romania on Saturday, of whom 9,500 Ukrainians, by 17% more than on Friday. Some 2,705,830 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania since the start of the Russian invasion on February 10. Most of them headed for Western Europe. Around 86,500 chose to stay in Romania.

INVESTIGATION – British opposition parties have required an investigation into claims former Prime Minister Liz Trusss phone was hacked by Russian agents while she was foreign secretary. According to the British media, private messages between Ms Truss and foreign officials, including about the Ukraine war, and transport of weapons for Kyiv fell into foreign hands. The hack was allegedly discovered several months ago, but the then head of government, Boris Johnson, decided to keep this information from the press, according to Radio Romania’s correspondent in London.

WATER POLO – Romania’s men’s water polo team CSA Steaua Bucharest made it to the next round of the LEN Euro Cup after defeating on Sunday, on home turf, the Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes, 14-5 in the last match of Group F. The Italian team CC Ortigia ranks first with 12 points, followed by Steaua with 9. Only the first two of the group’s 6 teams qualify to the next round, the rest of them playing in the Challenger Cup.

VISIT — The Chief of the Romanian Army General Staff, Daniel Petrescu, will pay a visit to the United States from October 31st to November 9th to meet with military officials in that country and representatives of security think-tanks. The visit is part of actions meant to consolidate military cooperation with the US. The solid ties between the two countries are the natural result of the Strategic Partnership between Bucharest and Washington, in keeping with Romania’s national interests of promoting stability in Europe. (EE)