June 20, 2021 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 20.06.2021, 20:00

WEATHER
– Hydrologists on Sunday issued code red alerts against flash floods for
several rivers in the southeast. Previously meteorologists had issued code
orange and yellow alerts against heavy rain and thunderstorms in place across
Romania until Monday. Flash floods are expected to hit the targeted areas in
the wake of massive rainfall reported in recent weeks. The situation was also
addressed on Sunday by Prime Minister Florin Cîţu on the sidelines of a videoconference held jointly with county
prefects. The Prime Minister has demanded an exemplary mobilization in all
counties affected by the floods and announced emergency aid will be provided to
everyone affected. Two thirds of the country’s counties and the capital city
have been affected. The emergency services intervened to evacuate homes, drain
water, clear uprooted trees that damaged hundreds of cars. At least two people were
killed.

FAC
– Romania’s Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, on Monday is attending the
Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. According to a Foreign Ministry
release, EU Foreign Ministers will be tackling the latest developments in
EU-Russia relations, the EU’s role in the Peacekeeping Process in the Middle
East, as well as the developments in Mali, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey and Ethiopia.
Talks will also address debates on Belarus, Latin America and Iraq. As regards
Russia, the Romanian Foreign Minister will reiterate the need for a unitary and
strategic approach to EU-Russia relations. On the other hand, Bogdan Aurescu
will highlight the importance of increased EU support for the democratization
and stabilization of Iraq, expressing Romania’s support for the setup of a
European Union mission that should observe the organization of free, fair and
inclusive elections in this country. Minister Aurescu will also refer to the
importance of EU actions with a view to adopting a comprehensive set of
sanctions and imposing restrictions in key economic fields, aimed at sending a
strong political message to authorities in Belarus. The Romanian official will
also address the forthcoming steps for the promotion of the Economic Plan for a
Democratic Belarus, as a positive EU measure supporting the local population, a
project proposed in October 2020 by president Klaus Iohannis jointly with his
Polish and Lithuanian counterparts.

COVID-19
IN ROMANIA – The number of COVID-19 infections continues to drop in Romania. 53
new infections were reported on Sunday. 161 patients are still in intensive
care. Meanwhile, medical units are gradually returning to their normal activity.
Some hospital managers say their institutions are now better prepared to cope
with a possible fourth wave of the pandemic. Health Minister Ioana Mihăilă said the Indian strain of the
coronavirus can become dominant in Romania as well, which is why the percentage
of vaccinated people must increase. According to Romania’s representative at
the WHO, Alexandru Rafila, unless the vaccination campaign picks up, only 7
million people are expected to get vaccinated in Romania by the end of the
year, below the official target of the authorities. In the last 24 hours, some
20,000 people have taken the anti-COVID jab. Since the start of the campaign
last year, over 8.7 million doses of vaccine have been administered, 4.3
million people having completed the full COVID vaccination scheme.

PENTECOST – On Sunday, Orthodox and
Eastern-Catholic Christians around the world, including Romania, celebrated
Pentecost Sunday, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus
Christ. The feast day also marks the foundation of the Christian Church 50 days
after the Lord’s Resurrection. According to the New Testament, the 12 apostles
were gathered in a house, when they received the Holy Spirit, which enabled
them to preach the gospel in languages they never before spoke. According to
the Bible, Saint Peter’s sermon made 3,000 souls take the Christian baptism,
making up the first Christian community. Orthodox believers receive sanctified
walnut leaves, symbolizing the flames of the Holy Spirit resting on the heads
of the Apostles. The Traffic Police has deployed additional units on the main
roads to the seacoast or mountain resorts, where most Romanians are spending
their Pentecost mini-holiday.

TENNIS – The Romanian-German pair Horia Tecău/Kevin Krawietz on Sunday won the men’s doubles event at the ATP
500 tournament in Halle, Germany, totalling €1.3 million in total prizes, after
defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada)/Hubert Hurkacz (Poland), 7-6, 6-4.
Tecău and Krawietz, the competition’s third-seeds, have won their first final
after losing another two in Rotterdam and Barcelona in spring. (VP)