At least 50
people were killed and another 50 wounded in a gun attack at a gay nightclub in
Orlando, Florida, in the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the US. The
attacker, who was shot dead in the fire exchange with the police, was
identified by television stations as Omar Mateen, an American citizen of Afghan
origin. The police have not confirmed his identity, but are investigating the
incident as an act of terrorism, saying the gunman appeared to have leanings
towards Islamic
radicalism. The authorities
have allowed a local imam to appear in a press conference to make an appeal to
calm and ask the population not to jump to conclusions as to the attacker’s
motives.
The
Romanian foreign minister Lazar Comanescu on Monday attends a ministerial
meeting to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the
comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty. The document was negotiated between 1993
and 1996 and adopted in September 1996. The signatory parties undertake not to
test nuclear weapons and take every necessary measure to prevent and ban such
actions on their territory. Romania signed the treaty in 1996 and ratified it
in 1999. In Vienna, minister Comanescu will chair the opening of the
ministerial segment of the Preparatory Committee of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty Organisation and give a talk on the global efforts to implement the
treaty as an essential component of the international security architecture.
As of Monday, the Romanian Naval Forces and the US Navy
will be carrying out drills in the Black Sea to exercise standard procedures
and enhance interoperability between the fleets of the two states. Romania
participates with the Queen Marie Frigate, a corvette, two dredgers, two rocket
vessels, a Puma Naval helicopter and divers from the Special Operations unit.
Two MiG21 Lancer planes belonging to the Romanian Air Forces will also be used
in combat simulations. The US participates with its USS Porter destroyer, which
will be exercising standard communications procedures with the Romanian Navy.
The vessel first arrived in the Constanta port in 2006, and this is its third
trip to Romania.
Croatia defeated Turkey 1-nil in their Euro 2016 Group D opener on Sunday. Also in Group D, defending European champions Spain meet the
Czech Republic on Monday. In Group E, Belgium face Italy, while Ireland take on
Sweden, also on Monday. We recall that Romania lost their opening Group A match
against France 1-2, while Switzerland defeated Albania 1-nil, also in Group A.
On Wednesday, Romania face Switzerland. In another move, UEFA has started an
investigation into the clashes between Russian and English fans on Saturday and has threatened to disqualify Russia and England from Euro 2016 if such
incidents occur again.
Air France pilots are on strike until Tuesday, which could
disrupt travel plans for football fans at the European Championship. On
Saturday, Air France cancelled 30% of its flights, but said it would try to
ensure minimal disruption to flights serving the cities hosting Euro 2016
matches. The pilots’ trade union demands that the government give up on a new
labour law that makes it easier to fire staff. Their strike is a new escalation
of social tensions in France. The garbage will not be collected in Paris until
Wednesday, while the rail network has resumed services after a 9-day strike. In
the neighbouring Belgium, railway workers are going on strike on Sunday night
for a week. (Translated by: C. Mateescu)