October 28, 2020

Click here for a roundup of domestic and international news

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Newsroom, 28.10.2020, 14:02

COVID-19 According to the Strategic Communication Group, in the
past 24 hours Romania has seen an all-time high of Covid-19 infections, 5343,
out of the 36,815 tests conducted nationwide. The number of fatalities is also at
an all time high, 107, bringing the death toll to 6,681. Since the onset of the
pandemic Romania has confirmed 222,559 infections, whereas 159,855 people have
been declared cured. 861 patients are being treated in IC units, 41 more than
in the previous day. The highest rate of infection has been reported in Cluj,
western Romania, the capital city, Bucharest, and in Alba county, also in the
west. 6,851 Romanian nationals have been confirmed infected abroad, most of
them in countries like Germany, Italy and Spain. The death toll of the
Romanians abroad stays at 126.

ELECTION Over 70 million Americans have
already cast ballots in the US presidential election, more than half the total
turnout of the 2016 election with one week to go until Election Day, says a
Tuesday tally from the U.S. Elections Project also cited by Reuters. This
massive turnout is indicative of the growing interest in the contest between
Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden as well
as the voters’ desire to reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19. According
to the US Elections Project, the final turnout might reach a record turnout of
about 150 million, representing 65% of those eligible to vote, the highest rate
since 1908. We recall that the US election system which is unique in the world
and was created more than 200 years ago has been adjusted to the needs of a
present population of 300 million being a combination of direct and indirect
voting. Voters in the USA can vote in three different ways. They can opt for
postal voting or go to the polls earlier or right on the election day. They don’t
vote directly for the president but for a representative of that candidate’s party known as an
elector. There are 538 electors who then vote for the president on behalf of
the people in their state and a majority of 270 of these votes is needed to win
the presidency. This year the US election is due on November 3rd.

AMBASADORS Six people are being heard
today by the specialized commissions in the Romanian Senate and the Chamber of
Deputies to be appointed Romania’s ambassadors abroad in Morocco, Mauritania,
North Macedonia, Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Uzbekistan and Albania. On October
the 7th and 19th, the parliament commissions heard and
endorsed another 16 candidates proposed to become Romania’s ambassadors abroad.

VISIT Romanian Prime
Minister Ludovic Orban last night ended his formal visit to Paris with a
meeting of the Romanian community in France. In another development, during a
meeting with representatives of the MEDEF, France’s largest employers’
association, the Romanian officials urged the business people in France to
invest in Romania, in key fields such as healthcare, transport and energy
infrastructure, research and telecommunication. Orban and his French
counterpart Jean Castex had earlier signed an upgraded roadmap for the
bilateral strategic partnership for the following four years. The Romanian
official also met Richard Ferrand, the head of the National Assembley and
Gerard Larcher, president of the French Senate.

FOOTBALL Romania’s
football champions CFR Cluj on Thursday will be playing on their own turf Swiss
side Young Boys in their second match counting for Europa League group A. In
their first game the Romanians secured a 2-0 win against Bulgarian side CSKA
Sofia in a group which also includes AS Rome who defeated Young Boys 2-1 in an
away game.

(bill)