April 11, 2021
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 11.04.2021, 13:55
CORONAVIRUS –Romania recorded two negative records as regards the epidemiological situation in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 1 million people tested positive to the virus since the onset of the pandemic and more than 250 thousand have died. The number of new infections reported by the authorities on Saturday exceeded 4,300 with 139 related deaths. More than 13 thousand people are treated in hospital of whom 1,500 in intensive care. The pressure on the medical units treating Covid patients is huge. So far, over 2.3 million people have been given at least one shot of the Covid vaccine in Romania. The government extended the state of alert in the country by a further 30 days, starting April 13, but announced restrictions will be eased for the upcoming Orthodox Easter so that people can attend the Easter service in church.
PRINCE PHILIP – The funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elisabeth II will be held on April 17, after eight days of national mourning, Buckingham Palace announced. In keeping with the Covid restrictions in place, only 30 people will attend the religious service. Prince Philip will not lie in state. Instead he will lie at rest in Windsor Castle. Monarchs, heads of state and prime ministers across the world have sent heartfelt tributes, praising his exceptional public service. Among them is Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania, the goddaughter and niece of Prince Philip and President Klaus Iohannis.
FILM — The awards of the British Film Academy will be announced today. Saturday’s opening ceremony focused on the creative process behind productions. The most important awards are being announced this evening. The production ˮcolectivˮ, directed by the Romanian Alexandru Nanau, is nominated for best documentary. The film tells the story of the first year after a fire at the Colectiv club in Bucharest that killed 64 people. In an online interview carried by France Presse news agency on Sunday, Nanau said that due to the two historic Oscar nominations and the Golden Bear Trophy win at the Berlin Film festival this year, the dynamic Romanian cinema has nothing else to prove. ˮcolectivˮ, Romania’s entry at the Academy Awards this year, has been nominated for best international feature and best documentary.
MIGRANTS – Romanian border policemen in Girla Mare, the Mehedinti county, caught 30 migrants from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq while they were attempting to illegally cross the Danube by boat into Romania, from Serbia. 27 adults aged 18 to 47 and three minors aged 3 to 15 were part of the group. The migrants said they crossed the Serbian border by a motor boat driven by two Syrian citizens, whom they paid 1,200 to 1,500 euros each. The migrants were allegedly planning to get to Western Europe. Investigations are under way.
SPORT — Athlete Gianina — Elena Beleaga has today brought Romania its first medal at the European Rowing Championships held in Varese, Italy. Beleaga won silver in the women’s single sculls, coming out second after Alena Furman of Belarus and ahead of the French Claire Bove. The European Rowing Championships are the first main international senior event of the season and are held in Varese for the second time. Thirty five nations are attending with many teams racing in the line-ups they expect to send to the Tokyo Olympics in July. Para rowing racing will also be taking place in the PR1 men’s and women’s single sculls, PR2 mixed double sculls and PR3 mixed coxed four.(EE)
