May 9, 2021 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 09.05.2021, 19:00

Celebrations. Romania marked 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. Sunday was the third day in a row to see more than 100,000 doses
administered. 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 and where over
16,000 people were vaccinated in the first 48 hours. Sibiu, in the centre, hosted
a so-called Vaccination Music Summit, with local musicians and bands providing
live entertainment for those who came to get their vaccine. The event marked
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.

Tennis. Romania’s Patricia
Ţig on Sunday lost to American player Christina McHale, thus failing to qualify
for the singles main draw at the WTA tennis tournament in Rome. Another Romanian
player, world no. 3 Simona Halep will play straight in the second round. She is
the defending champion in Rome. (CM)