Romania to set up logistics centre for the restoration of Ukraine

At a conference on the restoration of Ukraine and the strategic role of Romania in the resort of Sinaia, Romanian and foreign experts discussed the challenges to the restoration of Ukraine, energy and food security, freedom of navigation and the role which Romania can play in these spheres. At the forum, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that a logistics centre was to be set up on Romanian territory for restoring and assisting Ukraine, Radio Romania International reports. In a video address, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed conviction that his country would soon join the EU.  He thanked Romania for the humanitarian and economic support, and stressed that 70% of the Ukrainian grain is currently exported across the territory of Romania.

Protests against state budget block traffic in the centre of Athens

Employees in the budget sector, public administration and healthcare, as well as university students in Greece came out to protest against the budget for 2024 of the New Democracy government. The new budget has been drawn up “against the people”, the protesters say and demand real pay rises, guaranteed jobs, various forms of financial aid, and more money for healthcare and education, Greek national TV EPT and BNR’s correspondent in Greece Katya Peeva report. During the protest marches, traffic along central streets in Athens was blocked off. Protesters attempted to enter the building of the Ministry of Interior to meet with the minister personally and hand him their demands but the police used tear gas against them.

First Turkish astronaut sent into space in January

9 January, 2024 is the date on which Turkey will send its first astronaut to the International Space Station. This was announced by Turkey’s Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, as quoted by TRT-Haber. The name of the future astronaut is Alper Gezeravci and he is a pilot with the Turkish Air Force. Alongside him, an engineer from the Turkish company Roketsan, Tuva Atasever, also trained for the mission, but the choice fell on Gezeravci. The two men were selected out of 36,000 applicants. The minister pointed out that the mission was very important for presenting Turkey’s scientific and technological potential. Thirteen scientific experiments are expected to be carried out in space. In 2021, the President of Turkey Recep Erdogan announced the start of a national space programme worth USD 6 billion, that includes astronaut training and sending its own rocket to the moon.

Cyprus subsidizes student housing in Nicosia’s old town

The government in Cyprus is subsidizing, in the form of grants amounting to almost EUR 15 million, student housing in the historical part of the capital city Nicosia, BNR’s correspondent Branislava Bobanats reports. The funding will be provided to natural and legal persons, owners or tenants of property in the old part of the capital city for renovation of their buildings and turning them into dormitories or rooms for students. The project is aimed at the social and economic rehabilitation of the area by attracting young people and providing housing for them at affordable prices, the Ministry of Interior says. The subsidy will cover 75% of the costs for the renovation of the properties. The sumtotal of EUR 15 million has been included in the national recovery and resilience plan.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova

Photos: Facebook /Marcel Ciolacu, BGNES, Pixabay, axiomspace.com