August 15, 2021 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 15.08.2021, 19:29
Covid Romania – On Sunday Romania registered 323 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a smaller number than in the previous day, but the number of patients in ICUs is on the rise, reaching 112 at present. Six Covid-related deaths have been registered in the last 24 hours. On the other hand, interest in vaccination remains low. A report issued on Sunday shows that a little over 5,500 vaccine doses had been administered in the past 24 hours, with almost 5 million Romanians having been fully vaccinated.
Navy Day — Navy Day was marked on Sunday in Constanta, the largest Black Sea port in Romania, through a restricted ceremony, due to the pandemic. Attending the ceremony, alongside high-ranking state officials, the President Klaus Iohannis congratulated the Romanian seafarers and highlighted that the spirit of sacrifice, devotion and professionalism are their most important qualities. According to President Iohannis, the strategic relevance of the Black Sea area for Euro-Atlantic security is a certainty today. However, the region is still facing security challenges, both military and non-military, conventional, as well as hybrid and cyber, which is why an increased commitment is required to strengthen security and increase national resilience, the President added. A formation of fighter planes consisting of Puma Naval helicopters, a Puma IAR helicopter, Romanian Air Force MIG-21 and F-16 aircraft, British Typhoon aircraft and a US P-8 research aircraft flew over the Military Port at the end of the official ceremony. A parade of military ships took place at sea, which was led by the frigate Marasesti, the largest warship ever built in Romania.
Assumption of the Virgin Mary — Christians on Sunday celebrated the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which commemorates the moment of the Virgin’s departure from this world. The Virgin Mary is the person who enjoys the greatest honor in the Christian religion, after the persons of the Holy Trinity. The Virgin Mary is the patron saint of most monasteries in Romania, the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin being considered the feast of pilgrimages. Crowds of pilgrims visited the monasteries dedicated to the Virgin, to pray before her miracle-working icons. The religious events also marked the 150th anniversary of the first gathering of the Romanians abroad and the first Congress of Romanian students, which took place from August 15-16, 1871 at the Putna Monastery (northeast). It was then that the ideals of unity of all Romanians were affirmed. Among the pilgrims present in Putna there are 650 students from the country and abroad, who will participate in a congress on Monday.
Kabul — The Taliban commanders have announced they have taken over control of the Afghan presidential palace. Quoting Kabul officials, news agencies had previously reported that President Ashraf Ghani had left the country. On Sunday the Taliban entered the capital, Kabul, the last major government-controlled city, after a surprising 10-day offensive. It is “more urgent than ever” to find a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, the North Atlantic Alliance officials said on Sunday. The crisis in Afghanistan and the actions of Belarus point to the need of reshaping the EU rules on migration and asylum, European Commission Vice President for Promoting the European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas said on Sunday. Many member states fear that the events in Afghanistan could lead to a new migrant crisis similar to the one which Europe was faced with in 2015-2016, when the chaotic arrival of more than 500,000 people from the Middle East tested the security and welfare systems of the European countries.
Port–au-Prince – Efforts to search and rescue survivors after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit the island state of Haiti continue, with the authorities announcing hundreds of deaths. The powerful earthquake destroyed hundreds of houses in that country that had not yet fully recovered after another major earthquake, which occurred 11 years ago. The economic and social crisis affecting Haiti was already exacerbated by the assassination of head of state Jovenel Moise following an attack on July 7, the news agency reports.
Rowing – Romania won two gold medals and one bronze in the finals of the World Rowing Junior Championship held on Sunday in Plovdiv (Bulgaria). The gold medals went to the double sculls crew, Andrei-Petrişor Axintoi and Iliuţă-Leontin Nuţescu, and to the women’s quadruple sculls crew, Daria-Ioana Dinulescu, Maria Guzran, Elena-Maria Robitu and Ancuţa-Adelina Ungurean. The bronze was won by Romania’s womens eight crew (Mariana-Laura Dumitru, Elena Silvia Mocanu, Florentina-Georgiana Neculăeasa, Ana-Maria Loghin, Petruţa-Ionela Popa, Elena-Andreea Cerbu, Valentina Amalia Azoiţei, Alexandra-Georgiana Ruşcuţă , Victoria-Ştefania Petreanu). (LS)
