September 16, 2023
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 16.09.2023, 13:55
Grains. The European Commission has decided not to extend the ban on grain imports from Ukraine, in exchange for some commitments assumed by Kyiv. Until September 18, the Ukrainian side must present an action plan with effective measures to control grain shipments. According to this plan, the Bucharest Government claims that it will take the appropriate decisions to protect local farmers. Farmers want the Government to make a unilateral decision and extend the restriction for the entire duration of the war, even if Brussels has a contrary position. If the authorities do not extend the ban, as decided by Poland, the Romanian farmers threaten to block the customs in the west of the country, as well as the Black Sea port of Constanţa (southeast). Among the five countries that initially requested the introduction of this ban, only Bulgaria has announced that it does not want to extend the embargo imposed on wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower imports from Ukraine.
Ukraine. The Russian anti-aircraft defense shot down two Ukrainian drones over the regions of Kaluga and Tver, in the west of the country , the Russian Defense Ministry has announced today. Also today, the so-called authorities installed by Moscow in the annexed Crimea have stated that they intend to sell about 100 Ukrainian properties, previously “nationalized”, including one belonging to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The president of the Crimean pseudo-parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, claims that the nationalized properties will be sold “soon” and that the authorities have already organized the first eight auctions for the assets of Ukrainian businesspeople. The sales contracts amounted to more than 815 million rubles (equivalent to about 8.51 million US dollars).
Mourning. In the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, predominantly Romanian-speaking), today is a day of national mourning, in memory of the first president of this state, Mircea Snegur, who died on September 13. He was an active supporter of the national revival movement and had an essential role in promoting the independence, freedom and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova – reads a press release from the Presidency in Chisinau. In all localities, as well as at diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Moldova abroad, the state flag has been lowered to half mast. Snegur was born in 1940, in the old Romanian county of Soroca (east). He was a doctor in agricultural sciences and an activist of the single communist party. President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the republic, in August 1989 he agreed to support the bills that gave the Romanian language the status of an official language and decided to return to the Latin script and the Romanian tricolor flag, a fact that amplified his popularity. On August 27, 1991, Mircea Snegur was one of the protagonists of the great national assembly in Chisinau, where the Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence from the Soviet Union. He was head of state between 1991 and 1996.
Libya. An aircraft of the Romanian Air Force took off, on Saturday, bound for Benghazi, Libya, to transport the first installment of the aid that Romania sends as free international assistance to that country, affected by catastrophic floods. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of National Defense, the Air Force has planned six flights on this route, in which a total of 55 tons of goods will be transported, consisting of food products and shelter items. The flights are carried out under the Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union, based on the Decision of the National Committee for Emergency Situations.
Rugby. The national rugby team of Romania meets, on Sunday, September 17, in the second match they are playing at the World Cup in France, the holder of the trophy, South Africa. The match takes place in Bordeaux (west). A week ago, also in Bordeaux, in the first match of the World Cup, Romania was beaten by the Irish team, with a score of 82-8 (33-8). The Romanian rugby players will take on Scotland on September 30 and Tonga on October 8, both in Lille (north).
Tennis. The Romanian mens tennis team was defeated by the Taiwan team 3-0, in the first round of the World Group I of the Davis Cup, after the pair Victor Cornea/Cezar Creţu was defeated by the pair Yu Hsiou Hsu/Tsung-Hao Huang with 6-1, 6-4, today, in the Black Sea resort of Mamaia (south-east). On Friday, in the singles matches, Nicholas David Ionel was defeated by Chun-Hsin Tseng, 6-3, 6-0, and Marius Copil by Yu Hsiou Hsu 7-6 (7/5), 7-5. At the beginning of next year, Romania will play a play-off to stay in World Group I of the Davis Cup. (MI)
