Update: 13:25 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sept. 20 announced a loan of up to 35 billion euros ($39 billion) to Ukraine as part of a $50-billion pledge by the G7, reports The Kyiv Independent.

The former general prosecutor Alexandr Stoianoglo has officially launched the electoral campaign for the position of president of the Republic of Moldova. His candidacy was designated and is supported by the Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM).

Disinformation supported by the Kremlin, illegal financing and alleged vote-buying represent serious threats to the free and fair conduct of elections in the Republic of Moldova, reads a press release from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The finding was made after a delegation of APCE visited our country between September 17 and 18 and had meetings with several officials from Chisinau, as well as with representatives of the Central Electoral Commission.

Deputies meet in a new plenary session. According to the agenda approved by the Standing Bureau, the Parliament is to ratify an agreement that provides for Canada to offer a loan to the Republic of Moldova in the amount of 120 million Canadian dollars, the equivalent of over one and a half billion lei. The money will be used to strengthen the resilience of households, including refugees, but also to support climate resilience and the transition to green energy. On the agenda is also a project to adjust the national regulatory framework with the provisions of the European Union legislation regarding contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services. At today's meeting, the appointment of some members of the Superior Council of Magistracy is also planned. These are Sergiu Băieșu and Tatiana Tabuncic.

The Chisinau authorities have no reason not to accredit the new ambassador of the Russian Federation in Chisinau, Oleg Ozerov, the Parliament Speaker, Igor Grosu, told TV8. According to the official, the rejection of Ozerov's candidacy would serve as a basis for Moscow to victimize itself and accuse Chisinau of acting against the Russian Federation. The clarifications were made in the context in which Oleg Ozerov made controversial statements during his career and allegedly had links with the Wagner paramilitary group.

The Council today adopted, by common accord with the President-elect of the Commission, the list of persons whom it proposes for appointment as members of the Commission until 31 October 2029, reads the press release of the Council of the EU. The decision will now be sent to the European Parliament for approval.

Today, the electoral campaign begins for the participants in the constitutional republican referendum and the candidates for the position of president of the Republic of Moldova on October 20, 2024. According to the legislation, during the electoral campaign, political advertising is prohibited and only electoral advertising is allowed for candidates and referendum participants registered by to the CEC.

Ukraine is ready to contribute with equipment and rescuers for the liquidation of the consequences of the heavy rains that fell in the last days in the Republic of Moldova. The statement was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sibyha, during a press conference in Chisinau.

Nine TV channels and seven radio stations will organize electoral debates this autumn, informs the Audiovisual Council.

Russia is involved in the electoral process in the Republic of Moldova through two channels: on the one hand - the financing of criminal groups, and on the other - propaganda and disinformation. These tools have been applied over time, but now there is a difference, warned the Parliament Speaker from Chisinau, Igor Grosu, during a show on Radio Romania News. The official assures that the authorities will be consistent and will act decisively in the case of illegal financing of political parties and criminal groups, but also in the case of combating propaganda.

The Republic of Moldova will receive military equipment from Germany. In this regard, the Foreign Policy and European Integration Commission approved the advisory opinion to initiate negotiations and the signing of an Agreement between the Government of Chisinau and that of Germany.

"The campaign against the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union is very solid", claims Iulian Chifu, the president of the Early Warning Conflict Prevention Center. In the ÎN CONTEXT program on Moldova 1 TV, the former presidential adviser explained that the target of Russian propaganda is the referendum and the presidential elections on October 20, and the strategy is the absenteeism of citizens at the electoral exercises.

A case of hemorrhagic fever caused by the Dengue virus, an infection transmitted by mosquitoes to humans, was registered in the Republic of Moldova, the National Public Health Agency (ANSP) informed.

On Thursday, September 19, the Jobs Fair takes place in Chisinau. More than 60 employers provide about 3000 job vacancies. Also, the National Employment Agency (ANOFM) in Chisinau will offer 6,000 jobs. The Secretary of State from the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Felicia Bechtold said that, by organizing these events, people, especially young graduates, will have the opportunity to find out about opportunities from employers.

The European Commission announced on Wednesday that Hungary will lose 200 million euros of EU funding, as a penalty for not paying a fine set by the European Court of Justice.

Justice reform, the fight against corruption, preparations for the accession negotiations of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union, are some of the topics under discussion with Prime Minister Dorin Recean, who is today the guest of Moldova 1 TV show.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, will pay his first working visit to the Republic of Moldova on Thursday, September 19, at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Putin tried to destabilize the situation in the Republic of Moldova, he tried to make the high prices of energy resources undermine democracy, but the Republic of Moldova managed to face all challenges, and Germany supports it in difficult times. The statement was made by the head of German diplomacy, Annalena Baerbock, in an exclusive interview with Moldova 1 TV.

On the eve of the elections and the referendum, the Republic of Moldova is facing unprecedented pressure from the Kremlin's propaganda, millions of euros reach the country to bribe voters.Voter bribery, the assistance of Western partners, the results of the recent Moldova Partnership Platform meeting, the Transnistrian problem will be debated in an exclusive interview for Moldova 1 TV with the Foreign Minister of Germany, Annalena Baerbock.Watch the interview today, September 18, in the news program at 17.00, on Moldova 1 TV.

Lakes in the country will be checked. The request comes from Prime Minister Dorin Recean. At the beginning of the Government meeting, the official asked the competent institutions to make an inventory of the reservoirs and protection dykes in the country, following the floods caused by the heavy rains from September 14-16.

The Cabinet of Ministers requested, on Wednesday, September 18, the dismissal of the Chief of Staff of the National Army, Eduard Ohladciuc. The final decision is to be taken by the president Maia Sandu.

A shocking incident happened at a school in Azambuja, Portugal, where a 12-year-old boy attacked six students and a teacher with a knife, writes Euronews. One of the victims, a 12-year-old girl, suffered serious chest and head injuries and was rushed to hospital. The attacker was detained and the Police opened an investigation to determine the motive behind this act of violence.

Israel's Mossad spy agency planted explosives inside 5,000 pagers imported by Lebanese group Hezbollah months before Tuesday's detonations, a senior Lebanese security source and another source told Reuters. The operation was an unprecedented Hezbollah security breach that saw thousands of pagers detonate across Lebanon, killing nine people and wounding nearly 3,000 others, including the group's fighters and Iran's envoy to Beirut.

The "Democracy at Home" party submitted today to the Central Electoral Commission an application for registration as a participant in the republican constitutional referendum on October 20.

A new scam associated with the government's "Help at the Meter" program was revealed by authorities. This time, the scammers created an unauthorized web platform through which citizens were indirectly tricked into filling in their personal details. Once completed, the personal data were processed, and the financial means - stolen.

The Bucharest Chamber of Deputies adopted today the draft law on the cooperation agreement between Romania and the Republic of Moldova in the military field, reports Rador.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, unveiled on Tuesday, in Strasbourg, the new team of European Commissioners and their portfolios, after weeks of political battles, which ended on Monday with the resignation of the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton.

The Republic of Moldova signed a loan agreement with the European Investment Bank in the amount of 200 million euros, money that will be used for the expansion and rehabilitation of forests. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the new forest areas will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 12 million tons over the next 30 years.

Facebook owner Meta says it is banning several Russian state media networks, alleging they use deceptive tactics to carry out influence operations and evade detection on its platforms, BBC reports.

The Republic of Moldova obtained funding in the form of grants and credits worth over 380 million euros within the Moldova Partnership Platform. The funds will be directed to the modernization of the infrastructure, the transition to a green economy and the sustainable development of the country, informs the Government. Among others, projects of green energy, improved waste management, railway modernization and forest rehabilitation will be financed.

The Republic of Moldova is hosting, today, September 17, the fifth edition of the Moldova Partnership Platform, initiated by Romania, Germany and France. The event will be held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dorin Recean and will bring together more than 65 delegates - ministers, deputy-ministers, state secretaries of the foreign ministries of the partner states, representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations.

The Republic of Moldova is hosting, today, September 17, the fifth edition of the Moldova Partnership Platform, initiated by Romania, Germany and France. The event will be held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dorin Recean and will bring together more than 65 delegates - ministers, deputy-ministers, state secretaries of the foreign ministries of the partner states, representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations.

The Republic of Moldova is hosting, today, September 17, the fifth edition of the Moldova Support Platform, initiated by Romania, Germany and France. The event will be held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dorin Recean and will bring together more than 65 delegates - ministers, deputy-ministers, state secretaries of the foreign ministries of the partner states, representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations.

Central and Eastern Europe is on high alert due to devastating floods caused by heavy rains, with the death toll of at least 16 people. Among the most affected countries are the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria and Romania, where authorities warn that the situation could become even worse.

The Republic of Moldova is hosting, today, September 17, the fifth edition of the Moldova Support Platform, initiated by Romania, Germany and France. The event will be held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dorin Recean and will bring together more than 65 delegates - ministers, deputy-ministers, state secretaries of the foreign ministries of the partner states, representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations.

People's access to certain public places in Chisinau will be temporarily limited on Tuesday, September 17. According to a press release from Chisinau City Hall, the measure is imposed by the police, in the context of the 5th edition of the Ministerial Conference of the Moldova Partnership Platform.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, is on a visit to Chisinau. The official is delivering statements for the media, together with his counterpart from Chisinau, Mihai Popșoi.

Five people were injured in a school in Chelyabinsk, in the Urals, by a student armed with a hammer, a knife and a gun, Russian media reports. Before being arrested, he managed to hit several colleagues and the teacher, then he tried to commit suicide.

Russian citizens who permanently reside in Latvia but have failed the required Latvian-language exam have started receiving letters warning them to leave within 30 days or face "forced deportation", reports RFE.

The Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Hungary warns Moldovan citizens in Hungary or who intend to travel to this country about the unfavourable weather conditions forecast for the next period. Heavy rainfall is expected, and Hungarian authorities issued weather warnings and flood alerts for several regions, including Budapest.

The court of the city of Donetsk, controlled by the Russians, decided to expel a man originally from the Republic of Moldova from Russia. He fought on the side of the Russian Federation in the war against Ukraine, writes Tass. The man is accused of evading a previous deportation order. Once he arrives in the Republic of Moldova, he could be sentenced for mercenary.

Four people and three companies were excluded from the list of people regarding whom there is evidence, documented information that they are associated with Vladimir Plahotniuc, Vladimir Andronachi and Ilan Șor, persons subject to international sanctions. An order to this effect was issued by the Intelligence and Security Service on September 10, writes RISE Moldova.

European integration, the relationship between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, the situation in the Gagauz autonomy and that in the Transnistrian region - are some of the topics addressed with the president Maia Sandu, who is invited to a special edition, in Russian, on Moldova 1 TV, at 17:00.

Citizens of the Republic of Moldova could benefit from holiday vouchers. Several discussions have already taken place between officials from Chisinau and Romania which aim to develop the tourism between the two countries.

The officers of the National Investigation Inspectorate, together with the prosecutors of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, conducted new searches on Friday, September 13, in a criminal case regarding the illegal financing of political parties and initiative groups. The file, opened under accusations of money laundering and illegal financing in particularly large proportions, involves the activity of an organized criminal group, informs the Police. According to the source, it is about the representatives of the parties affiliated to Ilan Șor.

The Parliament starts the first plenary session of the autumn session 2024. Several topics were included on the agenda, including support measures for farmers affected by this year's drought.

Farmers affected by drought and heat in their wheat and corn crops can, starting today, September 13, submit requests for financial aid to the Agency of Intervention and Payments for Agriculture (AIPA). According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA), the Government's decision that provides for the allocation of financial means and the approval of their distribution method was published today in the Official Gazette.

Ukrainian pilots have started training on the F-16 in Romania, announced the Minister of Defense from Kiev, Rustem Umerov, who said that he was preparing to visit Bucharest, reports news.ro. The official stated that he spoke on the phone with his Romanian counterpart, Angel Tîlvăr, about strengthening the protection of the Ukrainian sky against Russian missiles and drones.

The Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden, who is paying an official visit to the Republic of Moldova, was welcomed to the Government, in an official ceremony, by Prime Minister Dorin Recean. The two officials will have a bilateral meeting, followed by an extended meeting of the delegations from the two states.

In the Odesa region, a 16-year-old boy and eight men were intercepted by the Ukrainian Border Guard Service while trying to illegally cross the border into the Transnistrian region through corn fields.