Traffic at Isaccea border crossing between Romania and Ukraine is halted
Traffic through the border crossing point between Romania and Ukraine at Isaccea is still halted after Russia attacked with drones the infrastructure on the Ukrainian side of the border, at Orlovka, on Monday night. The two ferries that ensure the crossing from one side of the Danube to the other are docked on the Romanian side, the Coast Guard said. According to the online Traffic application of the Romanian Border Police, motorists who want to cross into Ukraine are directed to the Galati border crossing point. The governor of the Odesa region in Ukraine Oleh Kiper said that the Russian attack last night also targeted port infrastructure and grain warehouses in Ismail port on the Danube. At least two people were injured, Kiper said, and a port building, warehouses and over 30 trucks and cars were damaged.
Romania might join the United States Visa Waiver Program
The United States Ambassador in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, has said that Romania could join the Visa Waiver Program of the United States at the beginning of 2025 at the earliest. Kathleen Kavalec has also said that Romania has made progress in this regard, but a decision will be taken according to the rejection rate of visas requested by Romanian citizens.
Kathleen Kavalec: It is my goal in this mandate. It cannot be earlier than 2025, because we have to measure the rejection rate annually, from October 1st to October 1st. If all goes well, it will probably be at the beginning of 2025. Hopefully, not guaranteed. It depends on a lot of things that can happen, but I think we are on the right track.
In Romania’s case, the visa refusal rate for the United States was of 17% in 2021 – an indicator which must be below 3%, according to a document from the American State Department. This year, the Romanian Government appointed a national coordinator and created an inter-institutional committee to include the country in the Visa Waiver Program.
Romania’s defense ministry has asked Parliament to approve the start of the program to purchase 32 F-35 military aircraft from the United States
The Ministry of Defense has officially requested Parliament’s approval for the start of the program to purchase 32 F-35 military aircraft from the United States of America, and the legislature has taken note of this request. The acquisition is part of the endowment program called ‘F-35 multi-role aircraft of the 5th generation’, and the intended amount is 6.5 billion dollars. This will be used for the purchase of aircraft, engines, logistic support, pilot and staff training services and flight simulators. The decision to purchase the American planes was made in a meeting of the Supreme Council for the Defense of the Country, and the Ministry of Defense is required by law to ask for Parliament’s approval for any purchase with a value of more than 100 million euros./mbrotacel
Mădălina Brotăcel – RADOR RADIO ROMÂNIA
