May 9, 2021

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 09.05.2021, 13:44

Celebrations. Romania marks on Sunday three
important events in its history. 9th May is Europe Day, which marks
the anniversary of the 1950 declaration of the then French foreign minister Robert
Schuman proposing the creation of a new form of political cooperation on the
continent and viewed as the first step in the foundation of the European Union.
President Klaus Iohannis said in a statement on Europe Day that the anniversary
this year came a time when the community bloc is greatly tested, but that the
challenges the member states are facing together will not diminish but
reiterate the relevance of the European project. 9th May also marks
Victory Day of the United Nations Coalition and the unconditional surrender of
Nazi Germany in 1945, which led to the end of WWII. In Romania, 9th
May is also State Independence Day. In 1877, foreign minister Mihail
Kogalniceanu proclaimed in Parliament the independence of the Romanian state
from the Ottoman Empire. To mark the three important events in the history of
the Romanian people, a military and religious festivity was held on Sunday outside
the Heroes Memorial at the Defence University in Bucharest.

Pandemic Romania. The pace of the coronavirus
pandemic continues to slow down in Romania. Only three counties and the capital
Bucharest are still in the amber zone, with the incidence rate being under 1.5
cases per 1,000 inhabitants in the rest of the country. More than 850 new cases
and 63 new related fatalities were reported on Sunday, with the death toll
nearing 29,000. The vaccine roll-out continues with a daily record of more than
110,000 doses being administered on Saturday. Many Romanians got their jabs at
the vaccination marathons held this weekend. Two such activities are held in
Bucharest at two different locations, which are open round the clock until
Monday morning. 1,200 volunteers are taking part. Sibiu, in the centre, is
hosting a so-called Vaccination Music Summit, with local musicians and bands
providing live entertainment for those who come to get their vaccine. The event
is meant to mark Europe Day and two years since Sibiu hosted a European Union
summit.

Pandemic world. Spain is entering the first
phase of easing restrictions as the state of emergency comes to an end.
Measures differ depending on the region, but wearing face masks is still
mandatory across the country. Night-time movement outside the home will from
now be allowed and restaurants can stay open longer, but no later than 11 pm. Household
visits are allowed, but the authorities are advising caution. According to
Radio Romania’s correspondent in Madrid, the night-time curfew remains in place
in Valencia and the Balearic Islands. In India, however, the death toll passed
4,000 for the second day in a row, with more than 22 million infections being
recorded.

Athletics.
The European Athletics Council meeting in Lausanne awarded Cluj Napoca, in the
west of Romania, as host of the 2023 European Under 20 Athletics Championships,
the Romanian Athletics Federation said on its official website. In June this
year, Cluj Napoca is also hosting
the European Athletics Team Championships 1st League. Some 1,500 participants
from 48 different countries are expected to compete in the Cluj Arena in 2023.

Volleyball. Romanian men’s volleyball side
lost to Switzerland 3-1 on Saturday in Group E of the 2021 European
Championship qualifiers. This is Romania’s second defeat after losing 1-3 to
Slovakia. In their first group match, they defeated Albania 3-nil. The second
qualifying tournament will be held next weekend in the Romanian city of
Ploiesti. Qualifying matches were initially scheduled for last summer but because of the coronavirus pandemic, they were first postponed and then grouped into two
tournaments. The winners of the seven preliminary groups and five of the best
second-ranked sides will qualify for the championship, which will be hosted
jointly by four countries, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Finland
between 1st and 19th September. (CM)