May 1, 2023 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 01.05.2023, 20:00

MAY DAY – The Romanian Black Sea coast was the favorite destination
of Romanians for the May Day mini-holiday celebrating Labor Day. Over 85,000 young
people attended the music festival held in the resort of Costinești. Meanwhile, the Sunwaves festival
continues in Mamaia, in addition to other public events. So far, the Interior
Ministry did not report any major incidents, although it has identified 125
people who consumed illegal substances, whereas 300 people needed medical
assistance, including hospitalization. A foreign national who wanted to sell
drugs is now being investigated after police officers found him in possession
of 200 grams of ketamine, devices for preparing and wrapping drugs and money
obtained from drug trafficking. He has been placed on pre-trial arrest for 30
days.

EXHIBITION – The Communism Remembrance Museum in Brașov (central
Romania) is hosting the temporary exhibition dubbed May 1 – A Workers’
Holiday. The exhibition displays a collection of photos and items recalling
the way Labor Day used to be celebrated in the past, when it was one of the
major holidays marked by communist authorities. Images capture snapshots of
parades, pageants as well as the crowds attending the events marking this
holiday prior to 1989. Also on show are various banners displayed by workers
during these rallies. Organizers want the exhibition to make a thought-provoking
comparison with the way May 1 is celebrated today, when Romanians usually relax
outdoors alongside their families and friends. The temporary exhibition stays
open until May 31.

NEW REGULATIONS – Starting May 1, the government in Bucharest has
renounced flexible measures on the non-commercial circulation of pets from
Ukraine, the National Sanitary, Veterinary and Animal Safety Authority (ANSVSA)
has announced. The measures were adopted last year to help support Ukrainian
refugees who crossed the border accompanied by pets. Under the new rules,
Ukrainian pet owners must now provide evidence of a rabies titre test. Also
starting May 1, new regulations will apply for Ukrainian refugees seeking
financial assistance in Romania. They will receive a monthly flat-rate
allowance for four months to cover their daily expenses in terms of
accommodation and food. The money will be disbursed by inspectorates for
emergency situations. At the end of the four-month period, the financial
assistance will address only accommodation expenses only, while refugees are
encouraged to register with employment agencies by the end of the year in order
to have access to all measures designed to support them find employment or
secure unemployment benefits. The same measures apply to Romanian citizens,
government spokesman Dan Cărbunaru
has said.

MILK – Shelf prices for milk are expected to drop by 20% starting
May 1, according to an agreement stipulating that processors and traders must
apply a 10% reduction each if the price exceeds €1.4 per liter. The agreement
will remain in place for the next six months, while all large trade networks
have agreed to sign. However, it may take a few months before the measure is
applied in all stores. Competition Council president Bogdan Chirițoiu said
contracts must be renegotiated with each producer while existing stocks must
first be depleted.

WAGNER – The owner of Wagner PMC, Russian oligarch Yevgeny
Prigozhin, has again complained that his troops, who were engaged in frontline
battles for the capture of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, have run out of ammo and
has warned a Ukrainian counteroffensive could spell tragedy for Russia. We
only receive 10-15% of the ammo we need, Prigozhin argued, blaming Russian
high-ranking commanders. The oligarch has locked horns with Russian army
generals whom he accuses of purposefully not supplying enough ammo to Wagner
troops. Prigozhin has publicly lashed out at Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Kyiv
officials last week said preparations for a new counteroffensive are almost
complete.

TENNIS -
Romanian tennis player Irina Begu on Monday advanced to the Mutua Madrid Open
quarterfinals after knocking out Liudmila Samsonova of Russia, 6-4, 6-4. Seeded
31 in the competition, 32-year-old Begu has secured a 161 thousand-Euro check
and 215 WTA points. In the next phase she will play the winner of the match
pitting local favorite Paula Badosa of Spain against Maria Sakkari of Greece. (VP)