A roundup of domestic and international news
COVID-19 IN ROMANIA - Romania has increased its vaccination rate, with over 80,000 doses being administered on Thursday for the second day in a row, while the total number of people given at least one dose exceeded 2.5 million on Friday. Also as of Friday, people will be able to get the AstraZeneca vaccine without an appointment in the centers where this jab is available. According to Prime Minister Florin Cîţu, Romania is expected to hit the 35% mark in early July in terms of the share of the population that got immunized, which will allow for a gradual relaunch of the economy. On the other hand, the number of ICU cases among Covid patients is still high, at almost 1,500, but the overall number of hospital admissions is decreasing, with almost 13,000 Covid patients currently receiving hospital treatment. Almost 3,700 new infections were recorded on Friday, as well as 137 new deaths. The incidence rate has dropped to 6 per thousand inhabitants in Bucharest.
COVID-19 EUROPE -France became the third country in Europe to pass 100,000 Covid-related deaths after the UK and Italy. France has 30-40,000 new cases and 300 fatalities daily and 30,000 Covid patients are in hospital, including almost 6,000 in severe condition. Even though the situation remains complicated, the French authorities have begun discussing relaxation measures from mid-May. In Italy, Prime Minister Mario Draghi has talked about the reopening of restaurants and schools starting Monday, April 26. Expressing a "prudent optimism", the Italian Prime Minister said his Government decided to take a "calculated risk" and classify regions with a satisfying epidemiological evolution in the "yellow zone", where restrictions are less severe. In Madrid, the Spanish government has ruled out extending the state of emergency beyond May 9. Under the current regulations, a nighttime curfew starts at 11 PM while the number of people in public spaces is limited.
NATO - Romania will begin withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan from May 1, together with all its NATO allies. Defense minister Nicolae Ciucă recalled that two decades ago, Romania made the decision to join the coalition fighting terrorism and its strategic allies in an international effort to combat an enemy that threatened citizens' peace and security. Over these almost 20 years, tens of thousands of Romanian military carried out various missions in the theatre of operations in Afghanistan, having a significant contribution to improving the security situation in the region. Romania lost 27 military in Afghanistan, while more than 200 were wounded. 649 Romanian military are currently deployed in that country as part of the Resolute Support mission under the NATO aegis.
SUPPORT -The European Commission has approved a government 500 million euro support scheme for Romanian companies in the areas of tourism, accommodation and food services as well as travel agencies hit by the Covid pandemic. In the form of direct aid, the scheme will cover up to 20% of losses incurred last year compared with 2019 and will be granted until December 31, 2021 at the latest. Support may benefit over 7,300 firms.
5G - The government has approved a bill on 5G communications that significantly boosts internet speed for mobile devices. According to interior minister Lucian Bode, the bill called for special attention because the new technology can also give rise to complex threats to national security through access to sensitive information structures. The US authorities warned that the advance of the Chinese giant Huawei in this field poses a security risk owing to the involvement of the Chinese state, so Romania and the US last year signed a memorandum on the introduction of certain rules for the authorization of 5G providers. The tender to assign the 5G spectrum in Romania, which was already postponed twice, may be held in the second part of the year.
DACIA - Sales of Dacia cars in Europe saw a 67% growth in March, while the car maker's market share increased from 2.4 to 2.5%, according to a report from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. The statistical data cover the European Union, the UK and the European Free Trade Association countries, namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The Romanian Dacia manufacturer was taken over by the Renault group in 1999. Launched in 2004 with the Logan model, Dacia has since become an important player on the European car market.
HANDBALL - Romania are facing North Macedonia on Saturday in Bucharest in the first leg of the 2021 World Championship play-offs in women's handball. The return match is due to take place on April 21, in Skopje. Commentators say booking a place should not be a problem, given that the number of participants grew to 32. The tournament will be hosted by Spain. Europe has 50% of the available places. Romania is yet to miss a women's World Championship, where it has won four medals over the years: gold in 1962, silver in 1973 and 2005 and bronze in 2015. (C.M. & V.P.)
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