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Romania Faces Election Interference Allegations Amid TikTok and Cyber-Attack Controversy

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Romania’s domestic intelligence agency has revealed evidence of a coordinated attempt to interfere in the country’s presidential election, implicating state-sponsored actors. The campaign allegedly used TikTok to promote far-right NATO-skeptic candidate Calin Georgescu, who unexpectedly advanced to the second round of voting. Paid content worth $381,000 was reportedly funneled through influencers to boost Georgescu’s profile, bypassing platform regulations and electoral laws. Intelligence documents also detail cyber-attacks targeting electoral data, with access stolen and shared on Russian cyber-crime platforms, alongside 85,000 hacking attempts on election day.

Outgoing President Klaus Iohannis declassified these findings ahead of the runoff vote between Georgescu and reformist Elena Lasconi. While Georgescu denies any involvement, calling the accusations a state-orchestrated plot, critics view the campaign as a destabilizing effort by external forces, with Russia identified as a likely perpetrator. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who placed third in the first round, has endorsed Lasconi, advocating for Romania’s continued European integration.

Protests supporting the pro-EU candidate have been announced, with concerns mounting over potential unrest. Georgescu has warned against demonstrations, referencing Ukraine’s 2014 revolution as a cautionary tale. As investigations unfold, prosecutors are assessing whether the alleged interference compromised the election’s integrity, while many await assurances that Sunday’s vote will proceed fairly.

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News Trending War

Ukraine war: Ship leaves Odesa despite Russia Black Sea attack fears

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A Hong Kong-flagged merchant ship named Joseph Schulte, which had been stuck in the Ukrainian port of Odesa due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has departed the port. Despite concerns that Russia might target vessels in the Black Sea, the ship left after Kyiv announced a “humanitarian corridor” for ships in the Black Sea. This corridor was established following the collapse of a previous deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain. The ship’s departure comes after Russian air strikes reportedly damaged grain storage facilities in Reni, a port on the Danube river.

Ukrainian officials released images showing the destruction of storage facilities and crops in Reni. Despite the attacks, the port is said to be operational. Russia has not commented on these latest developments. Previously, Russia withdrew from an agreement that guaranteed safe passage for ships in the Black Sea, suggesting that ships heading to Ukrainian ports could be considered military targets.

Ukraine, a significant exporter of grain and oilseeds, has faced challenges due to the blockade, leading to global increases in food prices. In response to these threats, Ukraine established a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea to facilitate the departure of ships from its ports. The Joseph Schulte was carrying over 30,000 tonnes of cargo, including food, and was headed to Istanbul, Turkey. The corridor is intended to help evacuate ships that have been trapped in Black Sea ports since the start of Russia’s invasion.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have been conducting a counter-offensive to retake territory from Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region. Despite receiving military equipment from Western countries, their advances have been limited. Recent clashes have led to the evacuation of many residents in the country’s east. Russia has also reported downing drones near Moscow in a series of attacks on Russian cities.

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Andrew Tate No Longer Under House Arrest in Romania

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Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been released from house arrest in Romania while awaiting trial for rape and human trafficking charges, along with his brother Tristan. The pair denies the charges and can now move freely in Bucharest and the surrounding Ilfov district where they reside. However, they must follow strict conditions, including reporting to the police as ordered and informing them of any address changes. Additionally, they are prohibited from contacting the two Romanian associates accused alongside them, witnesses, alleged victims, or their families. Violating these conditions could result in a return to house arrest or preventative detention, subject to monitoring by a judge for the next 60 days.

The indictment alleges that the Tate brothers, along with two female Romanian associates, formed an organized criminal group in 2021 to commit human trafficking not only in Romania but also in other countries, including the US and UK. The indictment names seven alleged victims who were reportedly recruited by the Tate brothers under false promises of love and marriage.

Andrew Tate, a British-American former kickboxer, previously faced controversy when he was removed from the British TV show Big Brother in 2016 due to a video suggesting he attacked a woman. He later gained notoriety online, with Twitter temporarily banning him for making controversial statements about sexual assault and women’s responsibility, although he was later reinstated on the platform.

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Ukraine war: Russia attacks grain stores at River Danube ports

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According to local officials, Russian drones have targeted and destroyed grain storage facilities at Ukrainian ports along the River Danube, which are situated just across the river from NATO-member Romania. The River Danube serves as a crucial export route for Kyiv, especially after Russia withdrew from a deal that allowed Ukraine to ship wheat, corn, and other products via the Black Sea.

One such attack occurred in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, where a grain depot was destroyed. The attacks have caused significant damage, with more than 60,000 tonnes of grain being destroyed in the past week. This has resulted in an 8% increase in grain prices in global markets since Russia pulled out of the grain deal on 17 July.

The collapse of the deal has also led to Russia resuming its targeting of port locations in Ukraine, which had been suspended during the deal. Odesa’s head, Oleh Kiper, reported that the infrastructure in the Danube ports of Reni and Izmail was attacked for four hours using Iranian-made drones. Multiple warehouses and storage tanks were destroyed in the attacks.

The situation has raised concerns for regional security and has been condemned by Romanian President Klaus Yohannis, as the attacks occurred very close to Romanian territory. The River Danube, as well as road and rail routes from Ukraine to neighboring countries like Poland and Romania, have been developed as alternative export channels since the Russian invasion. However, these routes have been able to handle only a fraction of Ukraine’s export needs and are more expensive compared to sea transport.

Ukraine’s status as Europe’s breadbasket makes it the world’s seventh-largest wheat exporter, with 71% of its land being used for agriculture. In response to the attacks on Ukraine’s grain exports, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia can replace Ukrainian grain for countries in Africa on a commercial or free-of-charge basis. This comes ahead of a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow.

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Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate moved to house arrest

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Following a Romanian judge’s decision, controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were transferred from detention to house arrest.

The most recent period of imprisonment, which was scheduled to end on April 29, has been replaced by the Court of Appeal’s decision in Bucharest. Georgiana Naghel and Luana Radu, two coworkers, are also getting their freedom.

Unless they obtain legal authority to leave, all four of them have been told to remain in the residences they currently occupy. The Tate brothers were “ecstatic,” a spokesman for the family told the BBC.

After being released, Andrew posted a video of himself pacing in a room while smoking a cigar, saying: “Since last year I’ve been in 24-hour lockdown. No yard time.

“Pacing a 3-metre cell with zero electronics or outside contact. Absolute clarity of mind. Real thoughts. Real plans. Vivid pain. One hour home and I can’t stand my phone.

“Some habits die hard. We must defeat Shaytan.”
Tristan, meanwhile, tweeted: “4 months without putting on a pair of alligator shoes. The struggle was real.”Since December, the brothers have been in custody. They are being looked into for alleged rape, human trafficking, and involvement in organised crime. Each has refuted any misconduct.

Former kickboxer and British-American Andrew Tate was fired from the British television programme Big Brother in 2016 when a video surfaced that purported to show him assaulting a woman.

As a result of his comments that women should “carry responsibility” for being sexually assaulted, he later gained prominence online and was banned from Twitter. He was later given a second chance.

Despite social media bans, he became well-liked, especially among young males, by promoting what he portrayed as an extremely opulent and hyper-masculine lifestyle.

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Romanian police seize luxury cars from Andrew Tate’s property

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Influencer Andrew Tate,  had many high-end vehicles taken from his Bucharest home.

Last month, Mr. Tate and his brother Tristan were taken into custody as part of a probe into charges of rape and human trafficking, both of which they deny.

According to Reuters, vehicles including a Rolls-Royce, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz were taken from the home on Saturday.

The attorney for Mr. Tate was unavailable to speak right away.

Tuesday saw Mr. Tate’s attempt to have his imprisonment in Romania ended rejected by a court, who ruled that he should remain in custody.

As he entered Bucharest Appeal Court while being restrained by his brother, Mr. Tate was seen clutching what seemed to be a copy of the Quran.

Police reported that six people had been “sexually exploited” by what they called a “organised criminal group” after the arrests on December 29.

The British citizens, who the police claimed misrepresented their desire to date the victims in what they called “the loverboy method,” allegedly “recruited” the victims.

A statement claimed that they were afterwards coerced into performing in pornographic material under the threat of assault.

Eugen Vidineac, the attorney for the Tates, stated that his clients denied all of the charges. Mr. Tate, who was born in the US before relocating to the UK, went on to enjoy a prosperous career as a kickboxer.

He was fired from the British television programme Big Brother in 2016 when a video surfaced that claimed to show him assaulting a woman. After that, he established a “webcam business,” which he characterised as “adult entertainment.”

After being banned from Twitter for claiming that women should “carry responsibility” for being sexually attacked, he went on to become well-known throughout the world. He was later given a second chance.

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Andrew Tate detained in Romania over human trafficking case

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According to reports, controversial online influencer Andrew Tate was held in Romania as part of an investigation into rape and people trafficking. In Bucharest, the capital, Mr. Tate’s home was searched while he and his brother Tristan were being held captive.

According to Reuters, a lawyer for the boys confirmed their imprisonment. The former kickboxer gained notoriety in 2016 after being removed from the British television programme Big Brother because of a video that purported to show him assaulting a woman.

As a result of his comments that women should “carry responsibility” for being sexually assaulted, he later gained prominence online and was banned from Twitter. He was later given a second chance.

“The four suspects … appear to have created an organised crime group with the purpose of recruiting, housing and exploiting women by forcing them to create pornographic content meant to be seen on specialised websites for a cost,” prosecutors said, according to the Reuters news agency.

The brothers and two Romanian citizens have been under investigation since April. A video that has gone viral on social media purports to show Mr. Tate and his brother being carried out of a mansion.

Two British and two Romanian citizens were suspected of belonging to a criminal organisation that specialised in human trafficking, according to a statement from Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), which did not mention the Tate brothers by name. In a video of the raid that was also made public, you can see cash, weapons, and knives on display in one area. Five years ago, Mr. Tate relocated to Romania.

Mr. Tate, a British citizen who was born in the US, competed professionally in kickboxing and won world championships before becoming well-known worldwide. He entered the Big Brother house in 2016, but was quickly sent out after a video surfaced that purported to show him slapping a woman with a belt.

When he was kicked off the show, Mr. Tate claimed that the footage had been altered and described it as “a pure fake attempting to make me appear terrible.”

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Romania uses fine to prevent lockdown breach

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The European country of Romania has used the possibility of fine to present the possible break of the measures imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Over 2,00,000 people have been fined so far as they have been found to have violated the measures imposed to contain the spread of the disastrous virus.

The country has earned a huge amount through the policy. The total amount collected through the policy until now is not less than 69m Euro.

Even a mayor has been fined as he has been found to have violated the measures imposed by the Romanian government.

He has been caught with his cycle in a park closed due to the virus outbreak – almost all public spaces in the country are in a closed state due to the virus outbreak. His argument that he has come to the park to check whether any violation happens in the park has not been taken into account by the concerned authority.

The mayor has shared his plan to challenge the fine legally when he has been asked about the action taken against him.

It remains unclear whether there is any political angle in the action.

Romania at present has not less than 9,242 cases of Covid-19. It has suffered as many as 507 deaths in connection with the virus outbreak.


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Crime

Romanian court acquits person arrested on child trafficking charge

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At least twenty five people, who was arrested in connection with child trafficking by a joint operation conducted by the UK and Romanian police, has been acquitted by the top court of Romania.

Earlier, the same people were acquitted by a lower court, citing that the prosecution failed to present evidence necessary to prove the arrested guilty in the crime.

A UK official, who was part of the team who busted the criminal network, has expressed his dissatisfaction in the acquittal of the arrested.

He has questioned the credibility of the Romanian judicial system. He has rejected the argument that there was no evidence.

The acquitted persons were originally arrested for running a criminal network which sends children abroad for begging and stealing.

Many human rights organisations have questioned the verdict made by the Romanian court in connection with the case.

It is alleged that the evidences handed over to Romania were purposefully suppressed to help those arrested in connection with the case.

The UK official’s statement is what that strengthens the allegation.

It is not the first time the credibility of the Romanian system has been questioned. This time, the country is less likely to escape from the pit of criticism.


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News

Romanian PM toppled through non-confidence vote

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Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has failed to survive the non-confidence motion initiated against her in the parliament.

Her failure has happened after several dramatic events. The non-confidence motion has secured just five votes more than what is necessary to pass the motion.

The Romanian parliament has as many as 465 members. The PM party does not enjoy a clear majority in the parliament; Ms Dancila’s government was reduced to a minority government when her key ally ditched

The ousted Prime Minister is the fourth PM the country has witnessed in the short span of three or less years.

The country is going to witness a crucial presidential election in few weeks. The latest fall of Ms Dancila’s party is likely to have a huge impact on the outcome of the presidential election.

Romania is under the clutches of political instability since the fall of several political leaders in a serious of corruption scandals.


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