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☆ How Ukraine seized the upper hand against Russia in the battle for the Black Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Tim Lister | Victoria Butenko | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Ukraine has virtually no navy of its own, but technological innovation, audacity and Russian incompetence have given it the upper hand in much of the Black Sea. Rather than fold, the Ukrainians declared a unilateral “Black Sea Humanitarian Corridor” for merchant shipping and stepped up its use of maritime drones and missile attacks against Russia’s Black Sea fleet. One-third of the Black Sea fleet has been disabled or destroyed, and the remaining ships rarely venture into the western half of the sea. In August, Russia withdrew some of the Black Sea fleet from its headquarters in Sevastopol to relatively safer ports on the Russian coast. Russia is unlikely to be able to tilt the balance in the Black Sea back in its favor.

Persons: Caesar Kunikov, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Yoruk Isik, Russia’s, Zelensky, Dmytro Pletenchuk, ” Pletenchuk, ’ Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Reuters, Agriculture, UN, Initiative, NATO, Economy Ministry, Black Sea Initiative, Ukrainian, Russia, Maritime Autonomous Guard, Defense Intelligence, Drones, Both Defense Intelligence, Security Service, ’ AK, Black, Russian, Odesa, Montreux Convention – Locations: Crimea, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukrainian, Sevastopol, Washington, Novorossiysk, Sochi, ”, MAGURA, Krasnodar, Kerch, France, Snake, Odesa, Turkey, Black, Montreux, Moscow

☆ French police arrest yoga guru in connection with alleged rape, human trafficking and kidnapping scheme
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Maya Szaniecki | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Paris CNN —French police this week arrested yoga guru Gregorian Bivolaru and 41 others on accusations of kidnap, rape and human trafficking. Alleged victims were drawn in with promises of a spiritual awakening, only to be indoctrinated and mentally manipulated into sexual relations with 71-year-old Bivolaru, a judicial source said. Then, the alleged victims said they would be mentally manipulated into accepting “sexual relations designed to suppress any notion of consent regarding sexual relations,” the judicial source said. The judicial source said the alleged victims were told that consent was a reflection of the ego preventing them from reaching a state of spiritual awakening. Twenty-six alleged victims were found living in cramped and unhygienic conditions, the judicial source said.

Persons: Gregorian, Bivolaru –, Bivolaru, MISA, ”, –, “, ’, ” MISA, Interpol’s ‘, Maya Szaniecki, Sophie Tanno Organizations: Paris CNN —, Interpol, for, International Federation of Yoga, CNN, Atman Federation, MISA Yoga, AFP, Rights League –, Central Office, OCRVP, Bivolaru Locations: Paris, France, Romania, French, Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Finland, London

☆ Op-ed: Europe is leaving a void in a multipolar world
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Kevin Klowden | Chief Global Strategist At The Milken Institute | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Russian invasion of Ukraine only three months later served to provide an immediate driver for greater political unity within Europe. China, Russia and even the United States under Donald Trump have expressed dissatisfaction with institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the G7 and the United Nations. watch nowThe void is particularly apparent at the WTO, where the lack of European leadership on trade as the U.S. turned inward is particularly felt. Perhaps nothing shows the consequences of the lack of European strength in preserving these institutions than the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the combination of a split over Ukraine, and internal divisions within Europe, have prevented any way for Europe to play a key role with China.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyenââ, Pedro Sanchez Perez, Klaus Iohannis, Chancellor, Germany, Olaf Scholz, Charles Michel, Dursun, Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Merkel, Ursula von der Leyen, Xi Jinping Organizations: European Commission, European, European Union, Anadolu Agency, Getty, World Trade Organization, United Nations, WTO, EU, NATO, APEC Locations: Spain, Romania, Brussels, Belgium, United States, China, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Germany, Moscow, India, Southeast Asia, EU, East, Africa

☆ Romania Is Not Ready to Uphold Same-Sex Couples' Rights - PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian society is not ready to uphold the rights of same-sex couples in line with a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling, leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said late on Thursday. The ECHR ruled in May Romania had failed to enforce the rights of same-sex couples by refusing to recognise their relationships, in a ruling which could eventually force policymakers to expand protections for the LGBT community. Asked whether Romania will enforce the ruling, Ciolacu told radio station Europa FM that "the Romanian society is not ready for a decision at the moment. Socially conservative Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, decades later than other parts of the European Union, but still bars marriage and civil partnerships for same-sex couples. A referendum to change Romania's constitution to prevent same-sex couples from securing the right to marry failed to draw enough voters in 2018.

Persons: Marcel Ciolacu, Ciolacu, Luiza Ilie, Lincoln Organizations: of Human Rights, European Union Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Romanian

☆ Romania is not ready to uphold same-sex couples' rights - PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUCHAREST, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Romanian society is not ready to uphold the rights of same-sex couples in line with a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling, leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said late on Thursday. The ECHR ruled in May Romania had failed to enforce the rights of same-sex couples by refusing to recognise their relationships, in a ruling which could eventually force policymakers to expand protections for the LGBT community. Asked whether Romania will enforce the ruling, Ciolacu told radio station Europa FM that "the Romanian society is not ready for a decision at the moment. Socially conservative Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, decades later than other parts of the European Union, but still bars marriage and civil partnerships for same-sex couples. A referendum to change Romania's constitution to prevent same-sex couples from securing the right to marry failed to draw enough voters in 2018.

Persons: Marcel Ciolacu, Ciolacu, Luiza Ilie, Lincoln Organizations: of Human Rights, European Union, Thomson Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Romanian

☆ Late Israel equaliser puts Swiss Euro 2024 qualification on ice
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The unbeaten Swiss moved top of Group I, with 16 points from eight matches, but only ahead of Romania on goal difference. Israel are third on 12 points with all three countries having two games left. Vargas came within inches of doubling his tally five minutes after his goal when he thundered a shot off the crossbar. As a result, Israel play four games in the space of nine days to complete their qualifying campaign. The Swiss face Kosovo in Basel on Saturday and then complete their campaign away in Romania on Tuesday.

Persons: Israel, Shon Weissman's, Ruben Vargas, Edimilson Fernandes, Weisman’s, Fernandes, Noah Okafor, Vargas, Sean Goldberg, Dor Turgeman’s, Turgeman, Yann Sommer, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: European Championship, Kosovo, Swiss, Palestinian, Hamas, Romania, Puskas Academy Arena, Thomson Locations: FELCSUT, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, Swiss, Romania, Israel, Kosovo, Budapest, Andorra, Basel, Cape Town

No decision on a ground offensive has been announced, although Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border 3. Israeli military spokesman Read Adm. Daniel Hagari said Saturday Israel had so far identified 126 captives. GERMANY TO START EVACUATING CITIZENS FROM ISRAELBERLIN — The German army will start evacuating its citizens from Israel with military airplanes. Hezbollah said its fighters struck several Israeli military positions in the disputed Chebaa Farms and Kfar Chouba hills in the afternoon. ISRAELI MILITARY ANNOUNCES IT IS PREPARED FOR ‘COORDINATED’ OFFENSIVEJERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it has prepared a “coordinated” offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces.

Persons: Israel, Lloyd Austin, “, Israel —, ”, Yifat Zailer, Zailer, Read, Daniel Hagari, Hezbollah’s, Ali Youssef Alaaeddine, Alaaeddine, ERDOGAN'S, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bilal Erdogan, Suleyman Soylu, Mustafa Sentop, ” Erdogan, Sentop, Khalil Hachem, Rabad Akoum, ” Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, ” Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Mohammad Abu Selim, Medhat Abbas, Hakan Fidan, Sameh Shoukry, IT'S, ROME —, “ We’ve, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, —, ” Tajani, TT, Tobias Billström, Elina Valtonen, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Saleh Arouri, Ziad Nakhaleh, Amirabdollahian Organizations: United Nations, Gaza, United States Defense, TEL, ISRAEL BERLIN —, Hamas, Lufthansa, BEIRUT —, Associated Press, AP, Ministry, Sunday, South, MEDIA, BEIRUT, National News Agency, OFFICIAL, EGYPT BEIRUT —, OF, Gaza —, Shifa, Health Ministry, FROM, Romania — Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel, NORDIC, FROM ISRAEL HELSINKI, Nordic, Helsinki Airport, Iran’s, Manar, Islamic, Hezbollah Locations: Gaza City, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Israeli, Lebanon, ISRAEL, SYRIA, TEL AVIV, Syria, Golan, GERMANY, Germany, Jordan, BEIRUT, Palestinian, ISTANBUL ISTANBUL, Istanbul, United States, Tel Aviv, Dubai, South, Lebanese, Chebaa, Kfar Chouba, JERUSALEM, EGYPT BEIRUT, GAZA, Shifa, FROM ISRAEL, TURKEY, ISTANBUL, Turkish, Embassy, Turkey, BUCHAREST, Romania, Romanian Embassy, ITALY, ROME, Italian, Rome, FINNS, Finland, Sweden, Helsinki, Stockholm, Swedish, Stockholm’s Arlanda, Beirut, Hezbollah’s, Amirabdollahian, Iran, Iraq, Jihad

☆ Turkish cargo ship hits mine in Black Sea, sustains minor damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A Turkish-flagged general cargo ship hit a mine on Thursday in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania and sustained minor damage but the crew was safe, maritime and security sources said. The vessel dropped anchor for a short period to assess the damage," Ambrey said in a note. The Black Sea area has been listed as a high risk zone by insurers and floating mines remain a peril. Since then, Ukraine has set up a temporary "humanitarian corridor" for cargo vessels, and several ships have left Ukrainian Black Sea ports since August. Russia may use sea mines to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying them on the approach to Ukrainian ports, the British government said on Wednesday citing intelligence.

Persons: Ambrey, Yoruk Isik, Kafkametler, Jonathan Saul, Pavel Poltityuk, Sandra Maler Organizations: Bosphorus Observer, Reuters, Kafkametler, Thomson Locations: Romania, British, Sulina, Istanbul, Vylkove, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian, London, Kyiv

☆ Battered industry may find clean power refuge in Central Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

CENTRAL EUROPE'S PERKSMuch of Central and Eastern Europe has a reputation for being home to outdated heavy industry that once powered former Soviet enterprises and churned out low grade machinery and appliances. A more recent draw is the emissions profile of some of Central Europe's power sectors. Share of electricity from clean sources in select European countriesThose high proportions of clean power are well above the average for Europe as a whole, and are also above the average for the richer nations within the European Union. Power sector emissions from select Central & Eastern European CountriesHungary's power system is also primarily clean, with nearly half coming from nuclear and over 15% from solar. Comparatively low power sector emissions are expected to trend steadily down as the region rolls out more renewable energy supplies.

Persons: Italy's Enel, Ember, Gavin Maguire, Lincoln Organizations: CENTRAL, Warsaw, Central Europe's, Europe, European Union, Gross, Eastern, International Energy Agency, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Mochovce, LITTLETON , Colorado, Central, Germany, Ukraine, Europe, Eastern Europe, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, China, France, Eastern, Russia, Power, Czechia

☆ Romania bolsters defences to stop Ukraine war crossing NATO threshold
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Luiza Ilie | Thomson Reuters | Bucharest-Based General News Reporter Covering A Wide Range Of Romanian Topics Elections | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A view shows a building of Ukraine's Black Sea Danube shipping company destroyed during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Izmail, Odesa region, Ukraine August 2, 2023. In November last year, a missile hit southern Poland killing two people and prompting a brief security scare, although it was later determined that Ukrainian air defences were to blame. Among the targets were the Ukrainian ports of Izmail and Reni, both of which lie across the Danube from Romanian soil. "They (Russian drones) fly at very low altitudes, sometimes less than 200 metres (above ground) ... they are built in such a way that least reflects radar waves," he said. In July, when the Danube bombing campaign began in earnest, Russians had more targeted success because Ukraine had not set up extensive air defence systems in the area.

Persons: Nina Liashenko, Reni, Tudor Cernega, Jens Stoltenberg, Constantin Spinu, Cernega, Andrew Gray, Mike Collett, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, Local, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Izmail, Odesa, Romania, Moscow, BUCHAREST, Poland, Ukrainian, Russia, Romanian, Plauru, Ceatalchioi, U.S, ROMANIA, Kyiv, Brussels

☆ WTA roundup: Top seed Iga Swiatek survives in Tokyo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Swiatek rallied from 4-1 down in the first set and squandered a 5-1 lead in the second set before prevailing in just over two hours. 8 seed Veronika Kudermetova of Russia, who defeated Kayla Day 6-3, 6-3 in second-round action at the WTA 500 event. 7 seed Liudmila Samsonova fell in straight sets to fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-4, 6-2. 1 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia eased into the quarterfinals in Ningbo, China, with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Germany's Tamara Korpatsch. 4 Anna Blinkova of Russia 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Slovenia's Kaja Juvan, Brendan Mcdermid, Mai Hontama, Swiatek, Veronika Kudermetova, Kayla Day, Jessica Pegula, Spain's Cristina Bucsa, Liudmila Samsonova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Germany's Tamara Korpatsch, Jabeur, Russia's Vera Zvonareva, Clara Tauson, Dane, Katerina Siniakova, Linda Fruhvirtova, Anna Blinkova, Lucia Bronzetti, Nadia Podoroska Organizations: Slovenia's Kaja Juvan REUTERS, Pan, WTA, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Poland, Tokyo, Russia, Ningbo, Jabeur, Tunisia, China, Czech, Romania, Italy, Argentina

☆ Romania's Enescu music festival eyes next edition as 2023 event wraps up
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Luiza Ilie | Thomson Reuters | Bucharest-Based General News Reporter Covering A Wide Range Of Romanian Topics Elections | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The French National Orchestra plays during the George Enescu Classical Music Festival, in Bucharest, Romania, September 21, 2023. The 27th Enescu festival, a biennial event, could bring in American orchestras for the first time in years, said Cristina Uruc, one of the main planners, alongside established festival performers. The 26th Enescu festival, named after Romania's most famous composer and begun in 1958, ends on Sunday with a performance by the Dutch-based Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. "If we had a proper concert hall, top orchestras could play in Bucharest outside the festival as well, we could build on the classical music tradition this festival has created." Asked whether the rise of generative artificial intelligence threatened classical music performances, one artist at the festival said he was not concerned.

Persons: George Enescu, George Calin, Enescu, Cristina Uruc, Maestro Macelaru, Cristian Macelaru, Simon Rattle, Zubin Mehta, Vladimir Jurowski, Yuja Wang, Martha Argerich, Gautier Capucon, Uruc, Artexim, Capucon, Luiza Ilie, Matthew Lewis Organizations: French National Orchestra, George Enescu Classical, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Enescu, Reuters, Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Rome's National Academy of Santa Cecilia Orchestra, Musicians, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Bucharest, Romania, Rights BUCHAREST, Dutch, French, Sala

The Romanian government has said it aims to double the monthly transit capacity for Ukrainian grain through its Constanta port to four million metric tons in the coming months from virtually zero before the Russian war started. In August, roughly 2.7 million tons of Ukrainian grain passed through Constanta, Comvex manager Viorel Panait said in an interview with Reuters. Port operator SOCEP S.A. (SOCP.BX) said it had paid 10 million euros for new equipment at its grain terminal silo and ship loader. "I would say more than half of the port's 13 grain operators are already authorized or in the process of being so." A government source told Reuters Constanta now had a logistics capacity of 40 million tons of grains per year, sharply higher than its annual record high 25 million tons set in 2021.

Persons: George Calin, Viorel Panait, Panait, Gabriel Techera, Luiza Ilie, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Union, NATO, Moldovan, Decirom S.A, SOCEP S.A, Constanta Port Business Association, Thomson Locations: Constanta, Romania, Rights BUCHAREST, Romanian, Black, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukraine's, Russia, Ukrainian, Vadul Siret, Dornesti, Reuters Constanta

☆ World Cup off to a flier after memorable weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MARSEILLE, France, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Rugby World Cup organisers hoped for a blockbuster opening weekend and they certainly got one, starting with host France's uplifting Friday night win and ending with a huge "what if?" moment in Sunday's classic Wales v Fiji encounter. "As the first weekend of the tournament comes to a close, the France 2023 Organising Committee would like to thank the French and international fans present across the country who kicked off the 10th Rugby World Cup," the hosts said in a statement on Monday. George Ford stunned the Pumas with three drop goals as he kicked all the points in a dominant 27-10 victory. The highlight of another packed weekend programme looks to be Australia v Fiji in St Etienne.

Persons: Eddie Jones, Tom Curry, George Ford, Mitch Phillips, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Rugby, Fiji, Blacks, Australia, Pumas, Wales, Wallabies, England, Romania, Marseille, New, Namibia, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLE, France, Sunday's, Wales, Rugby, Namibia, Italy, Romania, Georgia, Marseille, England, Argentina, Velodrome, Chile, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Bordeaux, Fiji, Ireland, Uruguay, New Zealand, St Etienne

☆ Romania summons Russian charge d'affaires over drone fragments -Agerpres
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A crater visible at the presumed crash site of a Russian army drone, close to charred tree trunks and a blast area, near Plauru, Tulcea county, Romania, September 7, 2023. Inquam Photos/Ovidiu Micsik via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 10 (Reuters) - Romania's foreign ministry summoned the Russian charge d'affaires after the discovery on Romanian soil of new fragments of a drone similar to those used by the Russian military, the Agerpres website reported on Sunday. On Saturday, Romanian authorities found the second set of drone fragments to have crashed in the NATO member state in a week, amid Russian attacks on Ukraine's river ports, just hundreds of metres from the Romanian border. On Saturday, President Klaus Iohannis said the discovery of the fragments pointed to an unacceptable breach of Romania's air space. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russian strikes near the border were "destabilising" even if there was no indication Russia intended to hit Romania, a NATO member state.

Persons: Micsik, Strategic Affairs Iulian Fota, Klaus Iohannis, Jens Stoltenberg, Alan Charlish, Elaine Hardcastle, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, Embassy of, Russian Federation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs, Thomson Locations: Russian, Plauru, Tulcea county, Romania, Romanian, Bucharest, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine's, Constanta, Warsaw

☆ Romania finds new suspected Russian drone fragments on its territory
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I firmly condemn this incident caused by Russian attacks on Ukrainian Danube river ports." The attacks on Ukraine's river ports, just hundreds of metres from the Romanian border, have increased security risks for NATO whose members have a mutual defence commitment. The defence ministry said Romania's Naval Forces deployed search teams after local authorities alerted them to suspected drone fragments discovered 2.5 km southeast of the village of Plauru, across the Danube from the Ukrainian port of Izmail. Since July, when Moscow abandoned a deal that lifted a de facto Russian blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, it has repeatedly struck Ukrainian river ports that lie across the Danube from Romania. Ukraine had said on Monday that drones detonated in Romania during an overnight Russian air strike on Ukraine's Izmail, but Romanian officials initially denied the reports before finding fragments on Wednesday.

Persons: Klaus Iohannis, Iohannis, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Ukraine's, Luiza Ilie, Philip Blenkinsop, Ros Russell Organizations: NATO, U.S . State Department, Romania's Naval Forces, Thomson Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Ukraine, NATO, Romanian, Russian, Russia, Plauru, Izmail, Moscow, Ukraine's, Constanta, Brussels

☆ Romanian government reports new possible fragments of Russian drone on its territory
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar speaks after signing a menorandum between Ukraine, Romain and Moldova at the Black Sea Security Conference under the auspices of Crimea International Platform in Bucharest, Romania on April 13, 2023. (Photo by Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP via Getty Images)New fragments of a drone similar to those used by the Russian military were found on Romanian soil, the defense ministry said on Saturday, and President Klaus Iohannis said this indicated an unacceptable breach of Romania's air space had occurred. In a statement, Iohannis said he had informed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about the pieces of drone - the second to crash in Romanian territory this week - and that Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance's complete solidarity with Romania. "The identification by Romanian authorities on Romanian territory near the border with Ukraine of new drone fragments ... indicates an unacceptable breach occurred of the air space of Romania, a NATO state, with real risks to the security of Romanian citizens in the area," Iohannis said.

Persons: Angel Tilvar, Daniel MIHAILESCU, DANIEL MIHAILESCU, Klaus Iohannis, Iohannis, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg Organizations: Romanian, Black Sea Security Conference, Getty Images, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Romain, Moldova, Crimea, Bucharest, Romania, AFP, NATO

☆ Russian Missile Strike in Ukraine Kills 1: Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Mr. Blinken “affirmed our unwavering support to Romania, our NATO ally,” according to a State Department summary of the call. American military officials did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. Russian drones have struck the port city repeatedly in recent weeks as Moscow targets what has been a shipping lifeline for Ukraine. Throughout the war, NATO aircraft have frequently intercepted Russian fighter jets that have flown too close to allied nations’ airspace. Three weeks ago, British and Danish fighter jets were scrambled to confront Russian bombers that officials said were heading toward Scotland and the Netherlands.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Luminita, Blinken “, ”, Klaus Iohannis, Andrew Higgins Organizations: NATO, Department Locations: Ukraine, United States, Ukrainian, Russian, Romania, Kyiv, United, Bucharest, Eastern Europe, Izmail, Moscow, Danish, Scotland, Netherlands

Moscow aims to disrupt Ukraine's ability to export grain to world markets with a sustained campaign of attacks targeting Ukrainian Danube ports, and has attacked the port of Izmail four times this week, Ukrainian officials say. Across from Izmail, pieces apparently from a drone were found near the Romanian village of Plauru, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar said Wednesday. “In the first phase (of the war) things were calmer, but now it has come to our territory,” she said. “We are worried because nobody can guarantee that (a drone) won’t fall on our side of the river,” he said. Beyond trying to calm us down, the authorities can’t do much about it.”___Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.

Persons: Angel Tilvar, Tilvar, Daniela Tanase, “, Klaus Iohannis, Iohannis, Mircea Franc, he’s, ”, Jens Stoltenberg, ” Stoltenberg, ” ___ Stephen McGrath, Lorne Cook Organizations: Romanian, European Union, Associated Press, Romania's Defense Ministry, EU, NATO Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Ukraine, Russian, NATO, Moscow, Izmail, Romanian, Plauru, European, Bucharest, Chilia Veche, Ukraine's, Danube Delta, Russia, ”, Sighisoara, Brussels

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called US military aid "the most profitable investment into world's security" during a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kyiv on Wednesday. Kuleba said he and Blinken had “an open, sincere and friendly conversation” and reiterated that the US support for Ukraine is long-standing. “Anyone in the world who has doubted that Ukraine and the US will stand shoulder to shoulder until the end of this war have received a powerful signal today that they are wrong. We are moving forward together because we understand this war is not just about the future of Ukraine, but the future of the world,” he said. The leaders also ate at a McDonald’s in Kyiv, which had recently reopened.

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, Antony Blinken, ” Kuleba, Kuleba, United States “, Blinken, ” Organizations: “, Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, Tactical Missile Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, United States, Ukrainian, Romania

☆ Suspected Russian drone debris is found in Romania.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Andrew Higgins | More About Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Romania said on Wednesday that debris from what could be a Russian drone had landed on its territory across the Danube River from Ukraine and said that if the wreckage turned out to be Russian, it would be “a serious violation” of a NATO member’s sovereignty. Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian grain ports in the Danube delta, including Izmail, which lies less than 200 yards from Romanian territory and was blasted again by Russian drones on Tuesday. If confirmed, the presence of Russian drone wreckage inside Romania “would be completely unacceptable and a serious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Romania, a NATO allied state,” the country’s president, Klaus Iohannis, said on his Facebook page. As a member of NATO, Romania is covered by the U.S.-led alliance’s commitment to collective security, which obliges all members to come to the defense of any state that requests assistance in the event of an attack. But Romania has avoided any hint that it might invoke Article 5, the cornerstone of the joint defense pact, over the debris found on Tuesday.

Persons: Klaus Iohannis Organizations: NATO Locations: Romania, Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Romanian, Plauru, U.S

REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - Parts of what could be a Russian drone fell on Romanian territory, Romania's Defence Minister Angel Tilvar said on Wednesday, two days after Ukraine said Russian drones had detonated on the NATO member's land. Romanian officials had earlier denied reports of drones falling on Romanian territory and said Russian attacks in neighbouring Ukraine did not cause a direct threat. On Wednesday, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said confirmation of the discovered parts belonging to a Russian drone would be a serious violation. "If it is confirmed that the components (found) belong to a Russian drone, such a situation would be inadmissible and a serious violation of Romania's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. Tilvar reiterated there was no direct threat and told Agerpres it was possible the drone did not explode upon impact but rather it simply fell or pieces landed on Romanian territory.

Persons: Andreea, Angel Tilvar, Klaus Iohannis, Tilvar, Iohannis, Agerpres, Alan Charlish, Luiza Ilie, Jason Hovet, Alexandra Hudson, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Romania's, NATO, CNN, Wednesday, Three Seas Initiative, Thomson Locations: Izmail, Plauru, Romania, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukraine's, Bucharest, Romania's, Poland, Ukrainian

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A two-day summit in Romania began on Wednesday that brings together 12 European Union member states situated between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas, as the grouping of mostly formerly communist countries aim to boost ties and connectivity amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Three Seas Initiative, which is being held in the capital, Bucharest, brings together high-ranking officials from EU countries as well as representatives from partner countries and aims to improve interconnectivity in the transportation, energy, and the digital fields. Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu tweeted Wednesday that she had “excellent discussions” with the U.S. assistant secretary of state for energy resources, Geoffrey Pyatt, about joint projects that aim to bolster regional energy security. On the sidelines of the event, Moldovan President Maia Sandu met Wednesday with Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. ___Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.

Persons: Klaus Iohannis, isn’t, Luminita Odobescu, Geoffrey Pyatt, Odobescu, Iohannis, Maia Sandu, Marcel Ciolacu, Sandu, “, John Kerry, ___ Stephen McGrath Organizations: Union, Seas Initiative, U.S, EU, Romanian Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Black, Adriatic, Ukraine, Bucharest, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Estonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Romanian, Moldova, Greece, Moldovan, Sighisoara

NEW YORK (AP) — Coco Gauff dealt just fine with the heat, the humidity, her big-hitting opponent and the task of trying to reach the U.S. Open semifinals for the first time, defeating 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-2 on Tuesday. Her best Grand Slam showing so far was making it to the final at Roland Garros last year. Gauff lost that title match to Iga Swiatek and those two could have met again in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. When she is on the mark, as she was Sunday night against Swiatek, Ostapenko can be as challenging an opponent as there is, because she goes for broke on nearly every stroke. Political Cartoons View All 1142 ImagesIn the semifinals Thursday, Gauff will face No.

Persons: — Coco Gauff, Jelena Ostapenko, Gauff, Serena Williams, Gauff —, Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Swiatek, Karolina Muchova Organizations: U.S, Gauff, Wimbledon, Ostapenko, AP Locations: Florida, Flushing Meadows, Czech Republic of, Romania

[1/3] The port of Izmail seen from Plauru, Romania, September 5, 2023. The attack rattled windows in the Romanian border village of Plauru across the river and Popescu's trailer shook. Romania strongly denied it had been hit, but the attacks on Ukraine’s river ports, just hundreds of metres from the Romanian border, have increased security risks for NATO which has a collective defence commitment. "We have total control over our national space..."But, yes, we are concerned, because these attacks are taking place very close to the Romanian border. Since then, Russia has attacked Ukraine’s river ports Izmail and Reni repeatedly.

Persons: Andreea, beekeeper Gabi Popescu, Popescu, Klaus Iohannis, Reni, Daniela Tanase, Andreea Campeanu, Luiza Ilie, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Russia, NATO, United, Thomson Locations: Plauru, Romania, Romanian, Ukrainian, Izmail, Ukraine, Russian, Poland, Russia, United Nations, Turkey

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