February 17, 2022
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 17.02.2022, 13:55
Covid RO — In Romania, the number of Covid-19 cases is dropping for the 5th consecutive day, while the number of deaths remains quite high, according to partial data announced on Thursday by the authorities. Today, 15,374 cases have been reported alongside 125 deaths, 3 of which are from previous days. Almost 1,120 people are in ICUs. In another move, on Wednesday, almost 7,500 people were vaccinated against Covid in 24 hours, of whom a little over 1,200 with the first dose and almost 4,000 with the booster dose – the National Vaccination Committee announced. The National Public Health Institute reports that between February 7 and 13, 50.6% of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in unvaccinated persons.
Statistics — The National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis has revised downwards to 4.3% Romania’s economic growth forecast for this year, compared to 4.6% as previously estimated, given the inflation shock of the last quarter of last year and the 5th wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The Commission also points out that it did not take into account the outbreak of a conflict caused by geopolitical tensions on the border with Ukraine. At the same time, the agricultural year 2022 does not start under good auspices, but with drought, and with very high prices for fertilizers and energy, the Romanian Corn Producers Association representatives announced. Last year, the Romanian economy grew by 5.6%.
Summit — Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis is today participating in Brussels in the 6th EU-African Union Summit (EU-AU), focusing on re-launching Europes relations with Africa. During the two days of the summit, the participants will discuss the way the two continents can generate greater prosperity, the purpose of the meeting being to launch an ambitious Africa-Europe investment package in the context of global challenges. President Klaus Iohannis will highlight Romanias constant efforts aimed at achieving the common EU-AU objectives, focused on peace, security and good governance, support for the private sector and economic integration, sustainable economic development through education, culture and vocational training, climate change and energy transition, health systems and vaccine production. The Romanian president intends to give a new impetus to Romanias traditional ties with the African states, and also to reconsolidate Romanias profile as a development assistance donor, especially in the field of education.
Tennis — The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep is playing today against the Tunisian Ons Jabeur in the quarterfinal of the WTA 500 tournament in Dubai which has total prizes up for grabs worth 770,000 dollars. Halep defeated another Romanian player Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the round of 16, score 6-3, 6-2, and Jabeur passed the American Jessica Pegula, 6-3, 6-1. Halep (23 WTA) and Jabeur (10 WTA) have played against each other twice so far, the score being equal, 1-1. The Romanian is for the 4th time in the quarterfinal of this tournament, which she won in 2015 and 2020.
NATO — The Romanian defense minister Vasile Dîncu is participating today as well in the two-day meeting of his counterparts from NATO member states which is unfolding at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Today, the Allies will have a meeting with their partners from Georgia and Ukraine, when they will express their political support for these two aspiring states. Yesterday, on the sidelines of the meeting, the Romanian minister discussed with his counterparts from Turkey and Norway, focusing on the tense security situation in the Black Sea region, in the context of the significant mobilization of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders. The Romanian official underlined the importance of maintaining unity and cohesion at the Alliance level and of continuing efforts to strengthen the deterrence and defense posture on the eastern flank. Minister Vasile Dîncu hailed the excellent relations between Romania and Turkey, a strategic partner of our country, with a special role in the regional security architecture. The agenda of talks with the Norwegian counterpart focused on bilateral military cooperation. (LS)
