Tag: tanker

  • Nachrichten 10.08.2021

    Nachrichten 10.08.2021

    Rumänien hat am Dienstag 312 neue Covid-Infektionen gemeldet: es ist der höchste Tageswert seit Ende Mai. Auch 4 neue Todesfälle in diesem Zusammenhang wurden bestätigt. Die Zahl der Covid-Patienten, die im Krankenhaus behandelt werden, steigt auf 660, davon liegen 86 auf der Intensivstation. Die Infektionsrate in Rumänien ist auf 0,12 pro 1.000 Einwohner gestiegen. Der Koordinator der rumänischen Immunisierungskampagne, Valeriu Gheorghiţă, rief die Bevölkerung im öffentlichen Rundfunk erneut dazu auf, die Covid-Schutzvorschriften einzuhalten und sich impfen zu lassen. Er warnte davor, dass die Delta-Variante viel ansteckender sei. Etwa 5 Millionen Rumänen, die rund ein Viertel der Bevölkerung des Landes ausmachen, sind bisher vollständig geimpft worden.



    Der rumänische Präsident Klaus Iohannis hat zugesichert, sich aktiv an den Prozessen zur Lösung der Klimakrise zu beteiligen, nachdem ein wichtiger UN-Bericht über die Beschleunigung des durch menschliches Handeln verursachten Klimawandels eine deutliche Warnung ausgesprochen hatte. In dem Bericht wird festgestellt, dass die globale Erwärmung bis etwa 2030 um 1,5 Grad Celsius höher sein könnte als zu Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts. UN-Experten sprechen von höchster Alarmstufe für die Menschheit und von noch nie dagewesenen Katastrophen, darunter mehr Hitzewellen und Überschwemmungen. Als Reaktion auf den UN-Bericht erklärte die Europäische Kommission, es sei noch nicht zu spät, diesen Trend zu stoppen, sofern die Länder der Welt unverzüglich und gemeinsam handeln. Die USA erklärten, die Welt dürfe ehrgeizige Klimaschutzma‎ßnahmen nicht aufschieben, und das Vereinigte Königreich stellte klar, dass der Übergang zu erneuerbaren Energien schnell erfolgen müssen. Diesen Ansatz trägt auch Frankreich mit. Greenpeace besteht darauf, dass es nun an den Regierungen der Welt liege, Ma‎ßnahmen zu ergreifen und sich zu einer Reduzierung der Treibhausgasemissionen bis 2030 zu verpflichten.



    Rumänien hat erneut bekräftigt, dass es alle aggressiven Handlungen, die gegen die Grundsätze und Normen des Völkerrechts versto‎ßen, aufs Schärfste verurteilt und seine Besorgnis über die negativen Auswirkungen dieser Handlungen auf die regionale und internationale Sicherheit bekundet. Bei einer offenen Debatte des UN-Sicherheitsrates im Videokonferenzformat erklärte das rumänische Au‎ßenministerium, der Drohnenangriff auf den Öltanker Mercer Street, bei dem auch ein Rumäne getötet wurde, sei eine Bedrohung des Friedens und ein eklatanter Versto‎ß gegen das Völkerrecht. Auch die Europäische Union verurteilte den Angriff und forderte die Einhaltung der Grundsätze und Normen des Völkerrechts. Die USA legten Informationen vor, wonach es sich bei der Drohne um ein Gerät aus iranischer Produktion handelte.



    Die Oberkammer des rumänischen Parlaments soll in einer au‎ßerordentlichen Sitzung zur Dringlichkeitsverordnung tagen, mit der die Regierung die Bestimmungen über die Abschaltung säumiger Kommunalversorgungskunden aufgehoben hat. Die Versorger durften aufgrund der Pandemie niemand abschalten. Nach Angaben der Behörden waren im Mai etwa 200 Tausend Kunden mit ihren Rechnungen für Strom oder Gas im Verzug. Die ausstehenden Schulden lagen bei umgerechnet etwa 50 Millionen Euro.



    Die rumänische Polizei hat eine Verkehrssicherheitskampagne mit dem Titel “Blick aus dem Krankenhaus” gestartet. Sie will gegen Verkehtrsunfälle durch zu hohe Geschwindigkeit ankämpfen. Gefährliche Fahrmanöver sollen auch in Vorschlägen zur Änderung der Stra‎ßenverkehrsordnung näher definiert werden. Das Innenministerium hat u.a. vorgeschlagen, die Strafen für Falschfahrer auf Autobahnen zu verdoppeln, d.h. 120 Tage Führerscheinentzug gegenüber den derzeitigen 60 Tagen, und 60 Tage Führerscheinentzug für das Befahren des Standstreifens auf Autobahnen gegenüber der derzeitigen Geldstrafe. In Rumänien ist die zu hohe Geschwindigkeit die Hauptursache für Verkehrsunfälle in der Sommersaison.

  • International community condemns attacks on civilian vessels

    International community condemns attacks on civilian vessels

    Repeatedly accused in recent years of posing a threat to freedom of
    navigation, after being blamed for attacks on several ships, Iran is again at
    the centre of a tense episode. This time it’s about an attack that took place
    in the Arabian Sea on 29th July on the Mercer Street oil tanker
    managed by an Israeli citizen. Two crew members were killed in the attack, a
    Romanian and a Briton. The vessel was sailing, empty of cargo, off the coast of
    Oman and the strike was carried out by drone in the Strait of Hormuz.




    Press agencies note that the incident marks a new chapter in the ongoing
    tensions between Israel and Iran, following other acts of sabotage that
    recently targeted other ships. The United States, Israel and the UK blamed the
    attack on Iran, who denies the allegations and says some countries intend to
    create insecurity and chaos in the international arena by orchestrating such
    measures. The European Union and NATO both strongly condemned the attack. Such acts contrary to the
    security and freedom of navigation in the region are unacceptable, said EU’s
    spokeswoman on foreign affairs and security policy Nabila Massrali, adding that
    the circumstances of this attack must be clarified. A NATO spokesperson
    recalled that freedom of navigation is vital for all NATO Allies, and must be upheld in accordance with
    international law and said NATO remains concerned about Iran’s destabilising
    actions in the region, urging it to respect its international obligations.




    In the wake of the incident, Washington vowed
    collective response together with its allies and in London, prime minister
    Boris Johnson said Iran must face up to the consequences of its actions. The
    Romanian foreign ministry has been in contact with officials from Israel, the
    United States and the UK, including high-ranking officials, and after the
    conclusion began to form, based on initial assessments, that Iran may be behind
    the attack, the four countries said they were preparing a coordinated response.
    In a telephone conversation with the EU foreign policy chief, Romanian foreign
    minister Bogdan Aurescu reiterated his strong condemnation of the attack
    against a civilian target and the impact of this incident on the freedom of
    navigation in the region, in keeping with the international law in the field.




    On Tuesday, representatives of the UK, Romania
    and Liberia informed the UN Security Council that it is very likely that
    Iranian forces used one or more aerial vehicles to carry out the strike off the
    coast of Oman. This attack disrupted and
    posed a risk to the safety and security of international shipping and was a
    clear violation of international law, the countries said in the letter to
    the Council, adding: This act must be condemned by the international
    community. Also on Tuesday, the Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional organisation
    whose members are all allies of the US or have tense relations with Tehran over
    the latter’s nuclear programme and for other political or religious reasons,
    also joined criticism of the attack and called on the international community
    to act in order to put an end to the acts of aggression against navigation in
    this area. (CM)



  • August 1, 2021 UPDATE

    August 1, 2021 UPDATE

    DIPLOMACY The Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu Saturday had talks over the telephone with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid, concerning the incident involving the Mercer Street vessel in the Hormuz Strait area, in which a Romanian and a British national were killed on 29 July. The Romanian foreign ministry says it is in touch with both the company managing the ship, and with the local authorities in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, and is prepared to provide consular assistance. Also on Saturday, Bogdan Aurescu exchanged views on the matter with the UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab, and agreed on the need to clarify as soon as possible the circumstances of the incident. Dominic Raab voiced the willingness of the British authorities to coordinate with the Romanian party with respect to the repatriation procedures. A Romanian national and a British citizen from the crew of the oil tanker “Mercer Street were killed in an attack in unclear circumstances, as the vessel was sailing with no cargo onboard off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea. The Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned ship is managed by the London-based company Zodiac Maritime, headed by an Israeli businessman.




    COVID-19 On Sunday 152 new SARS-CoV-2 infections were reported, out of nearly 22,000 tests. The authorities also announced no new COVID-related deaths, but reported 5 previous deaths, over 400 people hospitalised and 59 patients in ICUs. Meanwhile, new COVID-19 relaxation measures took effect in Romania on Sunday. In places with infection rates below 2 per thousand, outdoor events may be attended by up to 75,000 people, private indoor events by 400 participants, and sports competitions may be held with crowds up to 75% of the venue capacity. Participants must be vaccinated, tested or must have recovered from the disease. A maximum of 500 people may take part in rallies, with mandatory face covering, which remains a prerequisite in all indoor or busy areas. Also as of Sunday, the COVID-19 vaccine platform allows appointments for youth aged 12 to 17. Over 5 million people have received at least one dose of anti-coronavirus vaccine in Romania. 7,330 people have got the vaccine in the past 24 hours.




    FESTIVAL Cancelled last year due to the COVID pandemic, the Medieval Sighişoara Festival, the longest-lasting festival of its kind in Romania, bringing together artists, craftsmen and a large number of guests, came to a close on Sunday with a concert by the Romanian band Phoenix. The only medieval citadel still inhabited in southeastern Europe, Sighişoara saw over the weekend warriors, knights, ladies of the court and master craftsmen pouring in from all corners of the country and from abroad.




    MOUNTAIN RESCUE The president of Romania Klaus Iohannis posted a message on Sunday, on National Mountain Rescue Day, praising the “dedication and self-sacrifice of mountain rescue workers. The Romanian Mountain Rescue Association, known as Salvamont, the only mountain rescue service in the country, celebrated on Sunday 117 years since the first mountain rescue structures were established in the country.




    WEATHER Romania remains in the grip of a severe heat wave, with 16 counties and the capital Bucharest subject to code orange alerts for extreme heat and severe thermal discomfort valid on Monday, and a similar, code yellow alert in another 8 counties. The heat index is over the critical 80-unit threshold. Highs will be ranging between 37 and 40-41 degrees Celsius.




    MOLDOVA A new, pro-European and pro-reform government may be sworn in within days in the Republic of Moldova, after president Maia Sandu nominated Natalia Gavriliţă, from Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), for prime minister. She announced she would make public a proposed cabinet list in the following days, and voiced hopes that the new government will be sworn in as soon as possible. PAS, which holds a majority of seats in Parliament following the election of June 11, and the small party ŞOR, said they would support the new cabinet, whereas the Socialists and Communists warned they would vote against. Natalia Gavriliţă is the vice-president of PAS, a party founded by incumbent president Maia Sandu 5 years ago. She was an education minister in Maia Sandus cabinet in 2019, held several positions in Moldovas economy and education ministries, and worked for several years in private multinational companies.




    OLYMPICS Romanias rowing team returned on Sunday to the country with 3 medals—a gold and 2 silver—from the Tokyo Olympics. Romania finished the rowing competition on 4th place in the ranking after New Zealand (3 gold, 2 silver), Australia (2 gold, 2 bronze) and the Netherlands (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze). The 3 medals won by the Romanian team coached by the Antonio Colamonici (Italy) were brought home by Ancuţa Bondar and Simona Radiş—gold in women’s double sculls; Mihăiţă Ţigănescu, Mugurel Semciuc, Ştefan Berariu and Cosmin Pascari—silver in mens coxless four; and Marius Cozmiuc and Ciprian Tudosă—silver in mens two-frame event. The overall medal count for the Romanian rowers in the Olympics is 20 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze medals. So far in Tokyo Romania has won one other medal, silver for Ana-Maria Popescu in the epee event. (tr. A.M. Popescu)