June 13, 2021

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 13.06.2021, 13:55

G7 The latest G7 three-day summit is due to
end today in southwestern England with talks over climate change. The second
day was devoted to ways of fighting pandemics and also to cooperation against
the threats posed by China and Russia. However, according to Radio Romania
correspondent in London, the tensions caused by Brexit in Northern Ireland are
making headlines in the UK. The EU is threatening with legal and economic
sanctions unless the government in London, which negotiated and signed the
Brexit agreement several months ago, implements it in Northern Ireland where products
coming from the UK must be checked. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the EU
doesn’t understand the situation in Northern Ireland though. Also during the G7
summit, US president Joe Biden has emphasized the need for an alliance to
offset the power and influence of China mainly in the developing countries
where Beijing’s investment is significant.

FOOTBALL Austria takes on North Macedonia in Bucharest today while
the Netherlands plays Ukraine in Amsterdam in group C of the European Football
Championship 2020. Also today, Croatia is up against England in London in group
D. Belgium secured a 3-0 against Russia in Sankt Petersburg while Finland
surprisingly defeated Denmark 1-0 in Copenhagen. In the second half of the game
the Danes’ play was impacted by the dramatic moment when their teammate Christian
Eriksen went into sudden cardiac arrest on the pitch. In group A on Saturday
Wales vs Switzerland ended in a one-all draw in Baku, Azerbaijan, after on
Friday Italy had clinched a 3-0 win against Turkey in Rome. For the first time
in its history, Romania’s capital Bucharest is hosting four games. Besides the
match today, the National Arena will see the matches pitching Ukraine against
North Macedonia on 17th June, Ukraine versus Austria on 21st
of June as well as a game from the round of 16 due on 28th of June.
Also as a first Romania will have two teams of referees at EURO 2020.

COVID-19 The number of Covid-19 infections remains low in Romania with
only 127 new cases reported on Saturday. Five Covid-related fatalities have
been reported in the past 24 hours while 236 patients are in intensive care.
The infection rate is going down in Bucharest as well where 0.14 cases per
thousand have been reported. At present all the Romanian territory is in the
green tier. On the other hand, the vaccine rollout is moving at a lower pace
with only 39 thousand doses administered in the past 24 hours. Since the
vaccine rollout commenced in late December 2020, 4.1 million people have been
vaccinated in Romania. In another development, the European digital certificate
is due to become operational in Romania on July 1st. The
aforementioned document proves that a person has been vaccinated, tested
negative or had the disease in the past.

PANDEMIC The mayor of Moscow has reintroduced
restrictions for both people and businesses after the Covid infection rate has
reached the figures registered in winter. The number of Covid cases in Russia
has increased and most of the new cases are in the capital city. On Saturday
Moscow reported 67 thousand new cases, the highest number since December.
Employers have been requested to allow at least 30% of the employees to work
from home. Employees over 65 years old and with chronic diseases have been sent
to work from home with the exception of those vaccinated. According to the authorities,
the latest surge in the number of infections is due to people’s ignoring prevention
and protection rules and to the sluggish vaccine rollout. In another
development, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the government must
be cautious as it decides whether to end all Covid restrictions in England on
21st June. Cases are rising as the Delta variant spreads. Over 176
million infections have been reported worldwide since the beginning of the
pandemic with 3.8 million fatalities, according to data released by
worldmeters.info. Most of the fatalities have been reported in the USA, India
and Brazil.

(bill)