THE WEEK IN REVIEW

12-16 August, 2024

Leyla Cheamil, 17.08.2024, 13:50

Romanian Navy Day marked on August 15

In Romania, Navy Day was celebrated, on Thursday, in the big port cities on the shores of the Black Sea or the Danube. The most impressive events took place in Constanţa, where, along with the thousands of spectators, attending were President Klaus Iohannis, President of the Senate, Nicolae Ciucă,as well as the ministers of Defense and the Interior. The demonstration exercise, the biggest naval show of the year, was attended by over 2,000 Romanian military sailors and from the allied forces deployed in the country, 15 maritime and river military ships, Coast Guard ships, F-16 fighter aircraft, two patrol and search and rescue airplanes, American and French, Puma Naval helicopters, and paratroopers. At the end of the exercise, there was a parade of military ships and aircraft, sail ships and civilian boats, in front of the several thousand people who attended the event. The head of state stated that Romania is recognized and appreciated at the allied level as a solid pillar of regional security, and a major contributor to the process of strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense pillar on the eastern flank. He specified that, although these are times marked by multiple security challenges, in the context of the war started by Russia in Ukraine, Romania is, today, a safe and stable country, and the citizens are defended and protected against any potential threats. On Navy Day, the head of state conveyed to the sailors that the devotion, tenacity, and spirit of sacrifice that define them represent an example of excellence, and that the Romanian naval forces are a symbol of national power and resilience.

Romanian firefighters fighting fires in Greece and Albania

Romania sent, on Tuesday, a second contingent of firefighters to support the efforts to fight the vegetation and forest fires affecting the Attica region of Greece. According to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, 40 firefighters and two special extinguishing and rapid intervention vehicles were supplied to Greece by air, and two other machines for extinguishing forest fires. A massive fire that wreaked havoc near Athens was extinguished after three days with the help of Romanian firefighters. On Monday, the Inspectorate announced that a Romanian firefighter, who participated in extinguishing a fire, suffered superficial injuries to the face, but did not require specialized treatment. The missions will continue over the following days, depending on the concrete situation on the ground. Whole towns in Greece were evacuated. Meteorologists have announced a red code for fires, due to high temperatures that will reach 40 degrees Celsius in many regions of the country, as well as strong winds. Also, since Wednesday, two Romanian aircraft have been helping the intervention forces from Albania to put out the forest fires in this country. According to a press release from the Ministry of Defense, they were a Spartan aircraft configured for firefighting and a Hercules for logistical support.

Investigation into suspicious deaths at St. Pantelimon hospital in Bucharest

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu sent his Control Corps to the Ministry of Health to examine how the institution carried out inspections, in April, at St. Pantelimon Hospital in Bucharest, after an employee from the ICU Department reported several suspicious deaths of some patients, within a span of a few days. The conclusions of the inspection showed that the accusations are not confirmed, and that there were only communication problems inside the hospital. On Wednesday, the head of the Control Corps of the Ministry of Health, Sorin Luca, resigned, amid the investigation subsequently launched by prosecutors, as well as the arrest of two of the ICU physicians with St. Pantelimon, accused of having knowingly caused the death of at least one patient in serious condition.

Romanian football teams in European competitions

Romania’s vice-champion in football, CFR Cluj (north-west), qualified for the Conference League play-off, after defeating the Israeli team Maccabi Petah Tikva with a score of 1-0, on Thursday evening, at home, in the second leg of the tour the third preliminary round. CFR Cluj also prevailed in the first leg with the same score. Romanian Cup winners Corvinul Hunedoara were beaten 6-1 away by Kazakhstan’s FC Astana in the Europa Conference League on Wednesday, and exited the European competitions. Also, on Tuesday, the title holder, FCSB, was eliminated from the Champions League by the Czech team Sparta Prague, which prevailed with the score of 3-2, in Bucharest, in the second leg of the third preliminary round. The first game had ended in a tie, 1-1. FCSB will continue in the Europa League play-off, where they will face the Austrian team LASK Linz. On the other hand, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee announced, on Wednesday, that it received from the Organizing Committee the bronze medal for gymnast Ana Maria Bărbosu, for the third place won in the floor event at the Olympic Games in Paris. Last Saturday, before the end of the Olympic Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sports decided that Ana Maria Bărbosu won the bronze medal, and that Sabrina Voinea, her compatriot, finished the competition in 4th place. This decision overturned the ranking decided by the referees at the end of the floor event of August 5. The International Olympic Committee sent that American Jordan Chiles, who had won third place, must return the medal. We recall that Romania ended its participation in the Olympic Games in Paris with nine medals: three gold, four silver and two bronze, coming in 23rd in the nation ranking.