A roundup of domestic and international news
COVID-19 - Romania reports over 107,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic in late February. 471 patients are in intensive care, out of nearly 6,900 hospitalized across the country. So far the death toll stands at 4,285. Meanwhile, 2 days after the start of a new school year, several schools in the country went into the so-called red scenario, with all classes held online, after teaching staff tested positive for Covid-19. In Romania the green scenario involves in-person classes, and the yellow scenario is a blend of online and face-to-face teaching. In other news, the Health Ministry announced purchasing double the amount of flu vaccines compared to last year. Three million vaccine doses will be given for free, especially to people over 65, to chronic patients, particularly those with respiratory and heart conditions, to institutionalized children and elderly, to healthcare personnel and pregnant women.
REPORT - The report of the Budget and Finance Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate regarding the budget adjustment law has been approved. The report will next be submitted to debate and vote in Parliament. Acting on the proposal of the Social-Democrats, who are currently holding majority in Parliament, MPs in the Committee repealed the article providing for a 14% increase in the pension point, which means the law on the public pension system still stands. The latter stipulates at 40% increase of pensions starting this autumn. MPs also voted for an increase in the base salaries of teaching staff starting this year.
ELECTION - President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday called on Romanians living in the Diaspora to register for postal voting for the legislative election, saying there are no guarantees polling stations would be opened in all countries. Also on Wednesday, the President ratified a law allowing Romanians abroad to vote for the legislation election of December over the course of two days. The vote can be extended until midnight on the second day, but only for those voters inside the polls. Romania's Foreign Minister has also recommended to all Romanians residing abroad to opt for postal voting, the safest and simplest way allowing them to exercise their constitutional right to vote in the delicate context generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
TALKS - Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Wednesday had talks with his counterpart from Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides. The two officials appreciated the level of bilateral relations, expressing an interest to boost political and diplomatic dialogue as well as sectorial cooperation. Minister Bogdan Aurescu underlined the importance of the Romanian community in Cyprus, which represents a bridge between the two countries, hailing cooperation at the level of the Diaspora, including a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018 in this field, which is yielding real benefits.
FLIGHTS - The Foreign Ministry in Bucharest announced that commercial flights to and from Poland will resume starting Wednesday. The measure adopted by Warsaw authorities will be in place until September 29, as Poland is taking new measures regarding incoming and outgoing flights in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry also states that people traveling to Poland from another EU Member States, as well as from Norway, the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of Iceland and the Principality of Lichtenstein are still permitted entry to this state without being subject to other restrictions or special measures such as compulsory quarantine or self-isolation.
STATE OF THE UNION - European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday delivered her first state of the union address before the European Parliament in Brussels. The coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainty it brings is not over, and the people of Europe are still suffering. It is a period of profound anxiety for millions, von der Leyen pointed out. The European official expressed her gratitude towards doctors and nurses and every other worker in the front line, who are taking risks so others won't. Ursula von der Leyen announced the Union will create its own biomedical agency for advanced research and development, dubbed BARDA. Leyen said she would call a global health summit, due to take place next year in Italy. President von der Leyen went on to say that the Green Deal will be the engine of the EU's economic recovery, in addition to digitization. The European official said the Single Market is key to economic recovery, aiming to replace coal with hydrogen, thus helping achieve a climate-neutral economy. Ursula von der Leyen also announced the European Commission is proposing to increase the 2030 target for emission reduction to at least 55%.
TENNIS - Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, world no. 2, on Wednesday got through to the round of 16 at the WTA tournament in Rome, where she is seeded first. Simona defeated Jasmine Paolini of Italy (99 WTA) 6-3, 6-4. Also in the women's singles, Irina Begu (77 WTA) will play Johanna Konta (13 WTA) of Great Britain on Thursday. In the women's doubles, Romanian Raluca Olaru and Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany qualified to the quarterfinals after defeating Miyu Kato of Japan and Sabrina Santamari of the Untied States, 6-4, 6-3. Also in the doubles, Simona Halep and Monica Niculescu will play Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara of Japan in the round of 16. Totaling some €1.7 million dollars, the tournament in Rome is a Premier 5 competition and is unfolding with the full observance of pandemic-prevention measures.
(Translated by AM Popescu & V. Palcu)
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