The number of local and district councillor seats has been reduced by more than 500

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has decided to reduce the number of local councillors who will run in this autumn's general local elections. According to the central electoral body, the decision was taken based on provisions stipulating that the number of councillors is directly proportional to the population of each locality as presented by the Public Services Agency, CEC secretary Alexandru Berlinschi told Radio Moldova.

Hawaii wildfires: At least 89 people have died

At least 89 people have lost their lives in wildfires that have ravaged the island of Maui in the US archipelago of Hawaii, state Governor John Green announced Saturday, warning that the toll could rise, AFP and Agerpres reported Sunday.

Wanted cheating couple caught in Croatia

A young Styrian couple wanted by the Graz prosecutor’s office for attempted murder of a landlady in Linz has been arrested in Croatia. Authorities spokesperson Hansjörg Bacher confirmed on Saturday an online report from the APA’s “Kronenzeitung”.

WHO classifies EG.5 as COVID-19 'variant of interest'

The World Health Organization classified the EG.5 coronavirus strain circulating in the United States and China as a "variant of interest" but said it did not seem to pose more of a threat to public health than other variants.

About 1000 trucks transit the Republic of Moldova daily, of which 80% transport Ukrainian grain

Every day, the territory of the Republic of Moldova is transited by about 1000 trucks, of which 80% are loaded with Ukrainian grain, said the international trade expert, Iurie Rija, on the "Parallel 47" show on Radio Moldova. According to him, the trucks stay at the border crossing points for an average of 3-4 days.

Ukraine starts registering ships for Black Sea corridor

Ukraine, which is seeking to form safe shipping routes in the Black Sea, has started registering ships willing to use the corridor it announced earlier this week, a local news agency said on Saturday, Reuters reports.

The bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Russia has been attacked again

The Kerch Bridge, which connects Crimea to mainland Russia, was attacked again at around 15:10 on Saturday 12 August. Telegram channels write about at least eight explosions in the area of the bridge, UNIAN reports.

Ukraine's Odesa opens a few beaches for the first time since Russian invasion

Several beaches in Ukraine's Black Sea city of Odesa have officially opened for swimming for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion, although bathing is banned during air raid alerts, local officials said on Saturday, Reuters reports.

"The Minister will be on the side of the domestic producer". The issue of transit and export of Ukrainian grain to Moldova addressed in Galati

The issue of transit and export of Ukrainian cereals to Moldova will be discussed on Friday 11 July by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the European Union at a meeting in Galati, Romania. The information was confirmed to Radio Moldova by the ministry's state secretary Vasile Sarban. He also said that the meeting would discuss the aid that Moldovan farmers could receive.

During the cold season, low-income families will benefit from several compensation programmes

Low-income families will benefit from several compensation programmes during the cold period of the year, including for electricity, Labour and Social Protection Minister Alexei Buzu told Rlive. According to the official, two new energy vulnerability categories have been requested to identify low-income families. Aid for the cold period of the year will be integrated into the compensation programme, the official said.

Missiles were fired at Ukraine from Belarus, Ukrainian military announces

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that several missiles were launched on Saturday over Ukraine from the territory of Belarus. Earlier, the Ukrainian military also spoke about the launch of missiles from the Tambov region, BBC reports.

Russia says it will punish Ukraine for attacking its ship near the Kerch Strait

Russia strongly condemns what it sees as a Ukrainian "terrorist attack" on one of its civilian vessels in the Kerch Strait and will respond and punish those responsible, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zaharova said on Saturday, according to Reuters.