October 28, 2020 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 28.10.2020, 19:47
COVID-19 RO According to the Strategic Communication Group, in the past 24 hours Romania saw an all-time high of Covid-19 infections, 5343, out of the 36,815 tests processed nationwide. The number of fatalities was a record 107, raising the death toll to 6,681. Since the onset of the pandemic, Romania has confirmed 222,559 infections, and 159,855 people have been declared cured. 861 patients are being treated in IC units, 41 more than in the previous day. The highest rates of infection have been reported in Cluj, western Romania, in the capital city, Bucharest, and in Alba county, also in the west. 6,851 Romanian nationals have been confirmed infected abroad, most of them in countries like Germany, Italy and Spain. The death toll of the Romanians abroad stays at 126. President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday evening that Romania managed the pandemic quite well so far and there is no need for quarantine or lockdown yet.
PANDEMIC Against the background of the rampant spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Europe, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, called for a closer coordination between the EU member states, from the establishment of common rules of isolation and quarantine to the distribution of future vaccines. In a press release, Charles Michel called for good coordination in the approval of rapid tests, which would ensure their recognition at European level. He also wants production to be covered on a European scale, so that they are available everywhere at the same time. The President of the European Council also called for interoperability between applications to track the contacts of those infected.
BUDGET The opposition Social Democratic Party, with the largest group in the Romanian Parliament, has again called on the Liberal Government to make public the state budget for next year before the December 6 legislative elections. The Social Democrats accuse the Executive of wanting to introduce new taxes and increase the value added tax in 2021, a scenario that is believed to be already taken into account by economic analysts and some banks. The line Liberal Minister, Florin Cîţu, has stated that, when the parliamentary elections are held in the last three months of the year, the Ministry of Public Finance submits to the Government the draft budgets for the following year after the investment of the new cabinet. He has also specified that the National Liberal Party will present a vision of the budget together with the governing program.
AMBASSADORS The Romanian Parliaments Foreign Policy Committee and the Committee for Romanian Communities Abroad granted, on Wednesday, following hearings, favorable opinions for six more people proposed for the position of ambassador abroad. They will represent Romania in Morocco, Northern Macedonia, Iran, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Uzbekistan and Albania. Hearings will continue in the next period, because there are another 9 people proposed for positions of Romanian ambassador abroad. On October 7 and 19, the joint specialized committees of the Parliament heard another 16 candidates proposed for ambassador, all of whom received a favorable opinion.
VISIT Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban ended his formal visit to Paris on Tuesday night with a meeting with the Romanian community in France. In another development, during a meeting with representatives of MEDEF, Frances largest employers association, the Romanian official urged the business people in France to invest in Romania, in key fields such as healthcare, transport and energy infrastructure, research and telecommunication. Orban and his French counterpart Jean Castex had earlier signed an upgraded roadmap for the bilateral strategic partnership for the following four years. The Romanian official also met Richard Ferrand, the head of the National Assembly and Gerard Larcher, president of the French Senate.
ECONOMY Last year, with a share of 20%, industry represented the most significant economic activity in the European Union in terms of production generated, according to the European Statistical Office (Eurostat). The countries with the highest percentage were Ireland (35%), the Czech Republic (29.2%), Slovenia (27%), Poland (24.7%), Slovakia (24.5%), Germany (24.3% ) and Romania (24.1%). Other important economic activities in the EU last year were wholesale and retail trade, transport, food and accommodation services. Although industry has continued to be the most significant economic activity in the EU in terms of output , there has been a significant decline over the last two decades (from 22.6% in 1999 to 19.7% in 2019). Also, in the last two decades, there has been a significant decrease in agriculture, forestry and fishing, construction, art and recreational activities.
COMPETITION Almost 70 young pianists from Romania and four other countries will participate, between October 29 and November 1, in the Constanţa International Competition – Festival for Young Pianists. According to the local administration in the largest Romanian port city (southeast), the competitors come from France, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, the Republic of Moldova and several cities in Romania. The jury of the contest is made up of artistic and pedagogical personalities from Romania and abroad. “Constanta International Competition” will take place in a single stage, by age groups: 7-9 years, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18 and 19-28 years. The competition and the Awards Gala can be viewed on the projects Facebook page.
FOOTBALL Romanias football champions CFR Cluj on Thursday will be playing on their own turf Swiss side Young Boys in their second match counting for Europa League group A. In their first game the Romanians secured a 2-0 win against Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia in a group which also includes AS Rome who defeated Young Boys 2-1 in an away game.
GYMNASTICS Romanians Octavian Bellu and Mariana Bitang have been declared by World Record Academy The most successful coaches in the world – Duo. The former coaches of the Romanian womens gymnastics team had already been recognized, 12 years ago, as the most successful trainers in the world. Under their leadership, the Romanian gymnasts won a total of 305 medals at the European, World and Olympic Championships, including five world titles and two team Olympic medals. The World Records Academy is the largest organization in the world that certifies world records and, at the same time, the owner of the largest database on this topic.
(M. Ignatescu)
