September 21, 2020 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
Newsroom, 21.09.2020, 20:10
Covid-19 RO. Romania has for the first time exceeded 9,000 new cases of COVID-19 in a week. The rate of positive results in the total number of tests performed also increased. Also, the transmissibility index has again gone over 1. The latest report from the Strategic Communication Group indicates 808 new infections in the last 24 hours, out of almost 8,000 tests performed. On the other hand, the number of deaths associated with the new coronavirus has decreased to 23 announced on Monday at noon. 464 patients are in intensive care. The total number of deaths is 4,458. Romanian authorities are once again calling for health safety measures to be observed in order to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. The Minister of Health, Nelu Tătaru, has also drawn attention to the importance of vaccinating the population against seasonal flu, so that the COVID-19 epidemic does not overlap with a flu epidemic.
Statement. The presidents of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, and Poland, Andrzej Duda, state in a joint statement their will to support the people of Belarus in building a democratic path for their country. They call on the international community to join the EU and its member states in preparing a positive agenda for Belarus, together with a package of support for the countrys political, economic and social transition. The three heads of state are willing to provide Belarus with the expertise and know-how of their countries to implement political and economic reforms, to help build independent institutions and ensure an environment where respect for human rights and freedom of expression are a fundamental norm. The joint statement comes amid growing allegations of human rights violation and electoral fraud by the Minsk regime. In power for 26 years, the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is often described as the last dictator in Europe.
Meeting. We believe that Belarus is currently in a phase of transition to modernization and democracy, and the EU has a duty to support this effort, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu told a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. Minister Aurescu said that Romania supports the adoption of sanctions in Belarus as soon as possible and supports an OSCE mission to mediate dialogue in that country. EU foreign ministers failed to approve on Monday a list of Belarusian officials against whom Brussels could impose sanctions for rigging the elections, using violence against protesters and violating human rights. On the other hand, the EU Council at the level of foreign ministers will examine the issue of relations with Russia in the context of the incident with Aleksei Navalny during the next council meeting in October, announced the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
Market. The Romanian capital market has been upgraded from the status of “border market” to that of “emerging market”. The decision was made after the transactions of the main companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange were monitored for three years. The first two Romanian companies included in the emerging market index are Banca Transilvania and Nuclearelectrica. They will still have to meet the liquidity criteria in the next three months. The moment was marked at the Bucharest Stock Exchange, through an official opening of the trading session. Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, who attended the event, reaffirmed the governments intention to further support the development of the capital market.
Budget. In Romania, debates on the Liberal Government’s budget adjustment bill start in parliament this week, after it was radically amended by the specialized committees of the opposition Social Democratic Party. Among other things, an increase in pensions by 40% and an increase in teachers’ salaries were introduced in the bill, as of September 1st. Liberal Prime Minister Ludovic Orban has warned that it’s impossible to support the Social Democrats’ proposals. On Monday, the Senate approved the Social Democratic Party’s proposal to grant incentives for teachers and the auxiliary staff during a state of emergency and alert, because they are exposed to infection with the new coronavirus, after the model used for doctors and nurses that treat Covid-19 patients. The bill will be submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision making forum on this matter.
Tennis. Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, world number two, won on Monday the final of the WTA tournament in Rome, with total prizes of over 2 million dollars. Simona Halep met in the last act of this competition the Czech Karolina Pliskova (4 WTA), who abandoned the match when the score was 6-0, 2-1. Halep (28 years old) played her third final in Rome. In 2017 and 2018 she was defeated in the last act by the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.
Handball. The Romanian womens handball club CSM Bucharest on Sunday defeated Team Esbjerg of Denmark 30-29 away from home in Champions League Group A. Also in Group A, Metz Handball of France defeated SG BBM Bietigheim 36-27. The group leader with 4 points, CSM will next play Rostov-Don of Russia on September 27 at home. On Saturday, the other Romanian team playing in Champions League, SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea lost to Odense Handbold of Denmark, 30-21 in Group B. Râmnicu Vâlcea will next play CSKA Moscow on September 26. (M. Ignatescu)
