WAR IN GAZA – The Israeli army launched a new land attack in Gaza,
\ntargeting Hams combatants. Infantry and tank units were supported by gunships
\nin their assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said troops are preparing
\nfor an all-out land assault, which has been repeatedly postponed due to the
\nPentagon’s request. US officials asked for additional time to set up its Patriot
\nmissile systems in its bases in the Middle East. According to the Pentagon,
\nsome 900 US servicemen have been deployed to the Middle East to strengthen the
\nUS presence in the region. <\/p>\n
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APPEAL – EU leaders met in Brussels on the sidelines of the European
\nCouncil meeting to call for a humanitarian break in hostilities between Israel
\nand Hamas, in order to allow the distribution of aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
\nInsignificant amounts of medicine and food have over the last days reached the
\nstrip, currently targeted by Israeli attacks in the wake of the October 7 Hamas
\nterrorist attacks. The European Council also decided to make efforts to
\norganize an international conference in order to identify short- and long-term
\nsolutions. The long-term target is a two-state solution. Hamas will not take
\npart in the conference as it is deemed a terrorist organization that must be
\ndisbanded. With tensions escalating across the Middle East, the pressure from
\nmigratory flows also increased in Europe. The Migration Pact was another topic
\non the agenda for talks, which also focused on the need for the EU to increase
\nits budget so as to tackle the issue jointly with the countries of origin. The
\nEU leaders agreed to adjust the multiannual budget to address four priorities:
\nmigration, support for Ukraine, support for the calamities in Europe and the
\nEU’s economic competitiveness. Representing Romania in the European Council
\nmeeting is president Klaus Iohannis. <\/p>\n
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DECREE – The Government is expected to pass a new emergency decree
\nto cut public spending. The decision follows the ratification by president
\nKlaus Iohannis of a law on fiscal and budget measures, which introduces new
\ntaxes and eliminates some tax breaks. Part of these provisions will take effect
\nover the next few days, while the rest on January 1, 2024. The measures are not
\nhowever enough to curb the budget deficit by the end of the year, and Romania
\nrisks losing dozens of billions of Euro worth of European funds. The draft
\nemergency decree was submitted for debate on Tuesday. It is expected to impose
\nnew spending restrictions for public institutions and city halls, including the
\norganization of festivals and competitions. Local authorities will be prevented
\nfrom signing new agreements for the purchase of office supplies, other goods
\nand maintenance services or repair works. The draft decree also stipulates that
\nall salary rights dictated by courts of law will be paid starting 2024,
\nincluding for teachers and magistrates. Romania’s budget deficit stood at 3.55%
\nof the GDP at the end of September. <\/p>\n
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ATTACK IN THE US – Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, has
\nconveyed a message of condolence to his American counterpart Joe Biden in the
\nwake of the armed attack in Lewiston, Maine. Romania stands with the American
\ncitizens and the families of the victims, to whom we convey our compassion. We
\nalso wish speedy recovery to the wounded, the president’s message reads. At
\nleast 22 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded in an armed
\nattack in Maine, where the suspect is still at large. <\/p>\n
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FEAST DAY – Orthodox Christians in Romania are today marking the
\nfeast day of Saint Demetrius of Basarabov, also known as Saint Demetrius the
\nNew, the patron saint of Bucharest. A pilgrimage to his relics and the reliquary
\nof Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki brought over from Greece continues today in
\nthe capital-city. Saint Demetrius the New lived south of the Danube in
\npresent-day Bulgaria. After his death, his relics were found by locals after
\nthe saint appeared in the dream of an ill young girl, indicating the place
\nwhere his body lay. The relics were given to Romania as a gift during the
\nRussian-Turkish War, in 1774. <\/p>\n
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DST – Daylight Saving Time ends on October 29 in Romania, when 4AM
\nwill become 3AM, making Sunday the longest day of the year. In 2023, Romania
\nswitched to DST on March 26 to benefit from daylight. (VP)<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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