July 5, 2021

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 05.07.2021, 13:55

COVID-19 ROMANIA – Romania continues to report decreasing numbers of infection, and the
entire country is in the so-called green scenario. 28 new cases of COVID-19
were reported on Monday, in addition to 45 related deaths. 65 patients are
currently in intensive care. Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 34
thousand people lost their lives to the virus. On the other hand, another 12
thousand people got immunized on Sunday. Since the start of the vaccination
campaign on December 27, 2020, over 4.7 million people have completed the full
immunization scheme.

COVID-19 WOLRD
– Over 184 million people got infected with COVID-19 all over the world so far.
According to worldometers.info, nearly 4 million people were killed and 169
million have recovered. In Europe, the authorities warn against the rapid
spread of the Delta strain of the virus, discovered in India. The French
Government said the infection rate might go up by the end of the month unless
the vaccination campaign picks up. France too is discussing the possibility of
imposing mandatory vaccination for workers in the healthcare system, where the
immunization rate remains below expectations. Italy maintains the state of
alert, despite the improving epidemiological context and with the lifting of
several restrictions. Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza advised caution,
particularly against the backdrop of the Delta strain now spreading fast.
Meanwhile, several regions in Spain continue to report growing numbers of
infection.

EXPLOSION -
Two of the workers injured in the blast at Petromidia Refinery in Năvodari, who
were transported to a hospital in Bucharest, are due to be transferred to a
clinic abroad. They are currently stable and their medical expenses will be
covered by KazMunayGas Group, the majority shareholder at Rometrol. Prosecutors
have launched a criminal investigation for manslaughter, bodily injury and
criminal damage following Friday’s explosion at Petromidia Refinery, which
killed one person and injured another five. According to Rompetrol, the
incident was caused by a crack in one of the pipes.

DEATH – Luminiţa
Gheorghiu, one of the most acclaimed film Romanian actresses, has passed away.
Her name is tied to the new wave of Romanian cinematography. She featured in The
Death of Mr. Lăzărescu directed by Cristi Puiu,
after having starred in another feature film of his, Stuff and Dough, a
production that marked the beginning of the so-called new wave in Romanian
cinematography. Her rich filmography includes appearances in The Moromete
Family directed by Stere Gulea, 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days directed by
Cristian Mungiu which scooped the Palme d’Or at Cannes, 12:08 East of
Bucharest directed by Corneliu Porumboiu and Child’s Pose directed by Călin
Netzer, which grabbed the Golden Bear.

TAROM – The
European Commission on Monday launched an investigation to ascertain whether
the support measures provided by the Romanian state to the national airliner
TAROM fall in line with EU regulations on state aid for companies facing
difficulties. The financial situation at TAROM has been difficult for several
years. In February, 2020, the state granted TAROM a bailout aid worth €36.7 million,
approved by the Commission. On May 28, 2021, the Romanian authorities notified
the Commission over plans to restructure TAROM under a public funding worth
€190 million. This new assistance will be granted as capital injections, state
subsidies and the elimination of debt tantamount to the original bailout
package and its related interest. The investigation allows Romania and third
parties to make observations without affecting its result.

FOOTBALL -
Romania’s Under-23 team continues its training ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
Romania was drawn in Group B and will play Honduras on July 22, South Korea on
the 25th and New Zealand on the 28th. Romania qualified
to the Olympic Games after reaching the semi-finals of the 2019 Under-21
European Championship hosted by Italy and San Marino. Romania’s last
participation in the football event at the Olympic Games dates back to 1964,
when our country ranked 5th. Previously, Romania took part in the
1924 (Paris) and 1952 (Helsinki) editions.

TENNIS -
Raluca Olaru of Romania and Nadiia Kichenok of Ukraine are today going up
against Caroline Dolehide of the United States and Storm Sanders of Australia
in the round of 16 in the women’s doubles at Wimbledon. Olaru and Kichenok are
seeded 13th in the competition. Raluca Olaru is the last representative of
Romania at Wimbledon. (VP)