July 18, 2022 UPDATE

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Newsroom, 18.07.2022, 19:24

EU – The Romanian Foreign Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, participated, on Monday, together with his counterparts from the other EU member states, in the Foreign Affairs Council (EAC), which took place in Brussels. The agenda of the meeting included in-depth discussions regarding Russias aggression against Ukraine, Romania’s neighbor. According to a Romanian Foreign Ministry communiqué, the head of the Romanian diplomacy encouraged Ukraine to continue on the path of reforms, but highlighted the difficult context in which they must be achieved, as a result of Russias aggression. He also expressed support for strengthening the sanctions against Russia, as well as for the EU supporting Ukraine, including through the allocation of a new financial tranche through the European Peace Facility (EPF). In the context of the food crisis caused by Russias aggression, Aurescu pointed out that approximately 2.7 million tons of Ukrainian cereals have transited Romania so far, representing about half of the total amount of cereals exported by Ukraine. He also pleaded for the intensification of EU support for the Republic of Moldova (an ex-Soviet state, with a majority Romanian-speaking population), the states of the regions of South Caucasus and Central Asia, which are particularly vulnerable to the actions of the Russian Federation.

Covid Ro – In the last 24 hours, 3,288 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were registered in Romania, with 1,123 more than the previous day. In the Covid units, the number of hospitalized patients is 2,132, 237 more than the previous day. Also, 115 people are hospitalized in ICUs, 7 more than the previous day. Of the 115 patients admitted in ICUs, 95 are unvaccinated. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, two and a half years ago, 65,815 people diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania.

Corruption — The Romanian National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) informed on Monday that, in June, 27 defendants received definitive sentences in cases that it investigated. They were accused by anti-corruption prosecutors of taking and giving bribe, influence peddling, and European funds embezzlement. Among those definitively convicted are a mayor, two police officers, two aviation commanders, two directors of local public institutions, an advisor in a ministry — writes the DNA press release. The sentences ruled by the judges against the 27 defendants vary between 9 years in prison and a 7,500 lei (equivalent to 1,500 Euros) criminal fine.

Tennis — Polands Iga Swiatek continues to lead in the world ranking of professional tennis players (WTA), published on Monday. She is followed by the Estonian Anett Kontaveit and the Greek Maria Sakkari. Romania has five representatives in the WTA Top 100: the former world leader Simona Halep who remains on 16th position, Sorana Cîrstea who climbed one place on 33rd position, Irina Begu who advanced four positions being ranked 45th, Jaqueline Cristian who climbed three places and is on 62nd position, and Elena-Gabriela Ruse who also climbed three positions, being now ranked 69th. In the doubles ranking, Monica Niculescu is ranked 40th, one position higher than last week, Gabriela Ruse remains on 55th position, Raluca Olaru climbed four places and is on 58th position, while Irina Bara dropped four positions, being ranked 61st.

Rugby — Romanias national rugby team was defeated by the Uruguayan national team, 20-26, in a test match held in Montevideo. One week ago, also in Uruguay, the Romanians won a friendly match, score 30-22. On July 1, Romania was defeated by the Italian national team 45-13, in a test match held in Bucharest. The Romanian rugby players are qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which will take place in France. Romania will play in Group B, and will play matches in Bordeaux and Lille, alongside South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and the team from the Asia-Pacific area that will obtain qualification. Since the inaugural tournament in 1987, Romania has participated in all editions of the World Cup, except for the 2019 one, when, although it had qualified on the field, it was disqualified for using a naturalized player from Tonga, even though he did not meet the eligibility criteria. Numerous voices from the sports world and from the press then demanded, without success, the resignation of the president of the Romanian Rugby Federation, Alin Petrache.