September 20, 2020

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsroom, 20.09.2020, 13:57

Covid-19 RO. The Bucharest authorities reported 1,231 new cases of COVID-19, after
performing over 13,300 tests. Since the start of the pandemic, at the end of
February, more than 112,000 people have been infected with the new coronavirus
in Romania. Of these, some 90,000 have been declared cured and 4,435 have died.
470 patients are currently in intensive care. A protest against the protection
measures implemented in schools was held in Bucharest on Saturday evening. Participants
in the event challenged medical recommendations, such as wearing protective
masks and keeping physical distance. They also challenged specialized studies
that demonstrate the effectiveness of these measures in limiting the spread of
the new coronavirus and even the risk it poses. Similar protests took place in
Cluj (northwest), Timisoara (west), Oradea (northwest). In turn, specialists have
again stressed that there are serious concerns about the risks associated with
infection with the new coronavirus and have called for responsibility and compliance
with health protection rules. Doctors emphasize that wearing a protective mask
is one of the simplest and most effective measures to prevent infection.

Anniversary. The capital of Romania celebrates, today, 561 years since it was first
mentioned in documents. This year, the events part of the Days of Bucharest take place in a special context,
caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Tonight, an online retrospective of the
iMapp Bucharest International Festival is scheduled, with a review of the
previous six editions. Video projections are also taking place on the facades
of the National Theater, the InterContinental Hotel and the University
buildings. The projections have no sound, and the artistic content will be short,
to prevent people from stopping for too long and thus avoid congestion. Several
tram sets, personalized with graffiti made by some of the best street art
artists in Bucharest, are running, in an exhibition of moving urban art, to
several areas of the capital.

Pope. A plaque
commemorating Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Romania was unveiled on Saturday
at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Bucharest. The plaque includes a medallion
representing the Holy Father giving the apostolic blessing to Romania. Last
year, between May 31 and June 2, Pope Francis paid a historic three-day visit
to Romania under the motto Let’s walk together. He made this visit
20 years after that of Pope John Paul II, the first of a Sovereign Pontiff to a
predominantly Orthodox country.

Migration. The European Commission will present a draft reform of EU’s migration
policy on Wednesday. Postponed several times, this new pact on migration and
asylum was due to be presented on September 30, but the fire that destroyed the
refugee camp in Moria (Greece) on September 9 emphasized the urgency of a
lasting European solution. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
has promised measures to fight traffickers, strengthen external borders and
deepen partnerships with non-EU countries, and create legal access routes. In
her first speech on the state of the EU held a few days ago, Ursula von der
Leyen said that there would be common structures for asylum and return, as well
as a strong new solidarity mechanism, in the context of countries at the
forefront of migrants’ arrival – Greece, Malta or Italy – saying they had to
deal with a disproportionate burden. In recent years, attempts to move asylum
seekers within the EU have been hampered by the refusal of the Visegrad Group
countries (Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) to accept migrants.

Voting. On Sunday and Monday, Italians vote to reduce the number of
parliamentarians, through a national referendum, organized in parallel with the
local elections in seven regions. Italy has the second busiest parliament in
Europe and the reduction of the legislature from 945 to 600 members is an
electoral promise of the 5 Star Movement, which is governing together with the
Democratic Party. At the same time, the left-wing government of Giuseppe Conte
has to pass an important test of confidence in the local elections, given that
in three of the seven regions the victory of the right is not ruled out.
According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Rome, there are also 50 Romanian
candidates on the lists.

Tennis. The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, number 2 in the world, plays,
today, in the semifinals of the WTA tournament in Rome, against the Spaniard
Garbine Muguruza (17 WTA). Also today, the Romanian-German pair Raluca Olaru /
Anna-Lena Friedsam play in the final of the tournament, having as opponents the
players Su Wei Hsieh (Taiwan) and Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic), the first
seeds in the competition. The tournament in the Italian capital takes place
without spectators, and competitors must follow strict rules to prevent
infection with the new coronavirus. The prizes are worth a total of almost 1.7
million euros. (M. Ignatescu)