August 6, 2021 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 06.08.2021, 20:14

Covid-19RO. In
Romania, the number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections remains high, with more than
200 cases per day. On Friday, 230 new cases and 5 related deaths were reported.
Some 500 patients are hospitalized, 68 of them in intensive care. As
regards the vaccination rollout, the number of fully vaccinated people went
over 4.9 million on Thursday. According to a report by the National Public Health
Institute, over 80% of the people diagnosed with the disease last week had not
been vaccinated. Data also indicates that over 85% of the COVID-related deaths
were reported among unvaccinated or partly vaccinated patients. On Thursday,
the Romanian government extended the state of alert by another 30 days.

Wildfires. Several European
countries have volunteered to help Greece, after the Athens government activated the
EU Civil Protection Mechanism, due to the wildfires that are devastating the
country. One of them is Romania, who on
Friday sent 108 fire-fighters and 23 fire engines. The hundreds of fires in
Greece and Turkey have affected the air quality in the east of the
Mediterranean, as smoke carrying fine particles has spread as far as to
northern Africa. Adding to this is the high concentration of African dust over
Greece, which also reduces air quality. The Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis has
stated his country is facing an unprecedented environmental crisis. He added
that if anyone still has the slightest doubt that climate change is real, they
should come to Greece to see its severity first hand. Over 150 wildfires have
been reported in Greece so far, and one of them is threatening Olympia, the
site of the ancient Olympic Games, where the Olympic flame is lit in modern
times.

Moldova.The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population) on ​​Friday gave the vote of confidence to the government led by Natalia Gavriliţă, previously nominated by the pro-European president Maia Sandu. The executive received 61 of the 101 votes in the Chisinau legislature, all from the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS). Gavriliţă said the government’s ‘Moldova of Good Times’ program focuses on reforming the justice system, on eliminating corruption, attracting investment and creating well-paid jobs, reducing poverty and raising pensions, according to Radio Chisinau. She also spoke about the problems facing the country: migration and a dropping birth rate, poor infrastructure, poor education and health system. She also spoke of the promotion of an active foreign policy and taking the necessary steps for the country’s accession to the EU. In Bucharest, Prime Minister Florin Cîţu wished the new Government of the Republic of Moldova success and assured Natalia Gavriliţă that the Romanian authorities would support all her efforts and those of her Cabinet aimed at deepening reforms, consolidating the rule of law and the country’s European path.

Cooperation. Romania and Canada
on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening cooperation
in the civilian nuclear power field. The document was signed by Romania’s
Energy Minister Virgil Popescu and Canada’s Ambassador to Romania, Annick
Goulet. Attending the event, PM Florin Cîţu said the memorandum would
consolidate bilateral cooperation in the field, as the Canadian partners would
be involved in the Cernavoda nuclear power plant projects and in other civilian
nuclear power ventures in Romania. The Canadian industry has exceptional
experience in CANDU projects and has already completed CANDU upgrade and
construction projects, the PM added, and voiced his satisfaction that Canadian
partners are joining the US ones in developing the nuclear sector in Romania.
In turn, Ambassador Annick Goulet emphasized that cooperation in the nuclear
power field has been a vital element of the 55-year long relations between the
2 countries.

Festival. One of the most
eagerly awaited summer festivals in Romania, Electric Castle, started on Friday
and is scheduled to end on August 15. The opening gigs were hosted by the
Banffy Castle in Bonţida, and others will follow in the city of Cluj Napoca in
the coming days. After a difficult period for festival goers, things are
returning to normal. According to the organizers, hundreds of volunteers are
helping in this year’s edition, as they did in previous years as well. Taking
part in the 10-day event held in over 20 locations in Bonţida and Cluj are 250
artists from 23 countries.

Olympics. The Romanian
Cătălin Chirilă on Friday qualified for the semifinals of the 1,000m canoeing
race in the Tokyo Olympics, after winning the first of the 5 qualifying series
held at the Sea Forest Waterway base. The semi-finals are scheduled for
Saturday. Over the years, kayak and canoeing have brought Romania 34 Olympic
medals, 10 gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze. The last gold medal was won by Florin
Popescu, currently the coach of Romania’s Olympic canoeing team, and Mitică
Pricop, 21 years ago in Sydney. (MI)