November 5, 2022 UPDATE

WAR Iran has for the first time admitted to have delivered drones to Moscow, but added that happened before the war in Ukraine, Reuters and AFP report. Russia later used those drones in the conflict against power plants and other elements of civilian infrastructure. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has denied that Teheran continues to supply drones to Moscow adding that Iran is not going to remain indifferent to the issue if proved that Moscow had used those drones in the war. Kyiv claims that Moscow has already used about 400 Iranian drones against its population and that Moscow had ordered roughly 2,000. In response the EU has announced fresh sanctions against Teheran. In September, Kyiv decided to reduce its diplomatic relations with Teheran because of its alleged arms deliveries to its enemy.

RUGBY Romania's national rugby side won their test game against Chile 30-23 in Bucharest on Saturday. This has been the first match played by 'the Oaks' in a series of three scheduled this autumn. Their next test-match will be on November 13th against Uruguay in Bucharest. The Oaks are also to take on Samoa also in Bucharest on November 19th.  

THEATRE Romania will be hosting its National Theatre Festival over the 5th and 13th of November with in-person attendance after two years of pandemic, when the event was held online. Over 60 performances have been made available by state-owned and private theatre companies from Romania and abroad. The motto of the festival's edition this year is 'Fragile borders. Fluid histories' and it also includes an on-air section comprising a selection of radio drama shows.

LAW A government ordinance on capping firewood prices is to be amended next week, so that it may offer real protection to those using this material for heating, Environment Minister Tanczos Barna has told Radio Romania. He explains the law, which has already been endorsed by the Senate is going to be amended in the Chamber of Deputies so that firewood become available on the market as soon as possible. According to Barna, several alternatives are presently being considered, including that of granting vouchers to the have-nots. A couple of days ago, Prime Minister Ciuca admitted the 80-euro capping per cubic meter of firewood, a measure implemented in mid-October, failed to yield the desired result. The opposition USR has drawn attention to the fact that the law has already caused irregularities on the firewood market and urgent amendments are needed. At the same time the USR makes an appeal to the main ruling parties to overcome disputes on capping energy prices and focus on the risks concerning the winter supplies.

OPERATION The Europol on Friday announced the apprehension of 382 people in late-October during an ample sting operation involving the participation of police forces from 28 countries against traffic networks mainly operating in the Balkans and southeastern Europe. According to a Europol communiqué, the EMPACT operation, which also involved Romania, focused on firearms, drugs and human trafficking. Most of the arrests have been operated among migrant smugglers. 16 thousand police officers in the EU countries have participated in the operation; they have been backed by their colleagues in non-EU countries, which are part of the so-called crime network also known as 'the Balkans Route'.