September 22, 2023 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 22.09.2023, 19:17
MEASURES – After many discussions and negotiations, the government is preparing to assume responsibility in Parliament next week on a series of tax measures. The document aims to reduce public spending and fight tax evasion, tax high profits and big wealth and eliminate some privileges. Some of the provisions are opposed by employers associations and trade unions. On Thursday, over 500 prison workers staged a protest in Bucharest, unhappy with the measures included in the tax and salary package, their working conditions and staff shortages. Representatives of the National Trade Union Bloc held talks with the finance minister Marcel Boloş about the new tax provisions, receiving assurances that the latter will be implemented in a transparent manner and following fair assessment within each institution.
TRAINING – A detachment of the US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), made up of approximately 100 soldiers and four F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, arrived on Friday at the 86th Air Base Lieutenant Gheorghe Mociorniţă in Borcea, south-eastern Romania. The American military will carry out Reinforced Air Policing missions, as well as joint training missions with soldiers and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Romanian Air Forces. The joint air policing and training missions contribute to enhancing the response and deterrence capacity, as well as to strengthening the interoperability between the Romanian and American air forces, according to a press release of the Defense Ministry in Bucharest. The arrival of the American aircraft was announced at the beginning of the month by the American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, after fragments of Russian military drones used in the attacks on the Ukrainian ports on the Danube were found on Romania’s territory.
MEETING – The Romanian foreign minister Luminiţa Odobescu and the US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Thursday hosted the ministerial meeting entitled Women, Peace and Security at the UN headquarters in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. In her address, Odobescu emphasised the need to involve women in the decision-making processes relating to domestic and international peace and security. She said the subject is all the more important in the context of the war in Ukraine, which substantially affects the women of that country.
FESTIVAL – The George Enescu International Festival, one of the biggest classical music events in the world, is coming to an end on Sunday. First held in 1958, it is today in its 26th year and its theme this year was Generosity through music. The line-up brought together over 3,500 of the worlds best-known musicians and more than 40 orchestras from 16 different countries, and its programme featured first performances and educational concerts for children.
BILL – Drivers caught driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol will no longer be able to drive for a period of up to ten years, according to a bill submitted by the Social Democratic Party. The bill also provides for higher penalties for activities related to trafficking in and using psychoactive substances. Using minors in drug-related activities will be considered an aggravating circumstance and a prison sentence can no longer be postponed. The bill will first be debated by the Senate. (EE/CM)
