Radio România Internațional

Tag: WHO

  • May 29, 2024 UPDATE

    May 29, 2024 UPDATE

    Elections – The president of the Permanent Electoral Authority, Toni Greblă, has made a series of clarifications about the ballot on 9th of June, when Romanian voters are casting their votes in the local and European Parliament elections, held on the same day for the first time. Over 200,000 candidates have registered in the competition for the local elections and 494 for the European Parliament. He said there will be almost 19,000 polling stations around the country and 915 abroad, double compared to the previous elections. The foreign ministry sent as early as last week the materials needed for the voting process to the Romanian diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad. The list of voting stations abroad is available on the foreign ministry’s internet page in the section dedicated to the European Parliament elections. In another move, the Central Electoral Bureau said it would provide real-time updates online about voter turnout on election day.

     

    Measles – Romania has recorded over 16,500 new measles cases and 16 casualties in the last year, said the Public Health Institute in Bucharest. Most infections were reported in the centre of the country and in the capital city. The World Health Organization has published a report warning that measles cases are growing at an alarming rate around the world, amid a drop in vaccination rates. At over 60,000, the number of cases recorded in Europe this year is higher than in all of 2023. More than 56,000 cases were reported in the first three months of the year alone, as well as 4 deaths. According to the World Health Organization, Romania has the 5th highest rate of measles infections in Europe and the highest in the European Union, with some 240 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

     

    Bookfest – The 17th edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair was officially opened on Wednesday in Bucharest, in a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials from Romania and the neighboring Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population). The fair brings together 200 exhibitors and 150 publishing houses from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, the guest of honor this year. Until Sunday, lovers of the written word will be able to attend over 400 events: book launches, debates, thematic workshops, games for children and a raffle with surprise prizes. A project co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, Bookfest International Book Fair is organized by the Association of Romanian Book Publishers. At the previous international editions, the guest countries were: Spain, Hungary, France, the German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Poland, the Czech Republic, Israel, Sweden, the United States, Great Britain, Japan and Italy. Bookfest has local editions in Timisoara (west), Cluj-Napoca (north-west), Târgu Mures, Brasov (center) and another international edition in Chişinău, the capital of the Republic of Moldova.

     

    Emissions – The European Council and the European Parliament adopted the final form of the zero-emissions industry law, which offers advantages for investments in clean technologies. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Brussels, through this document, the EU aims to obtain, by 2030, at least 40% of the production of clean technologies that it needs to be done on the territory of the EU. In order to reduce emissions, the law also provides for carbon dioxide storage projects, and European companies that produce oil and gas have very clear obligations to ensure these deposits for injection. The target is 50 million tons of carbon dioxide injected into these deposits by 2030. And, as Romania is the second European producer, domestic companies have the obligation to make available deposits for the injection of 9 million cubic meters.

     

    Chişinău – The visit of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to the Republic of Moldova is “a strong sign of support”, the Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on Wednesday. During a press conference with Antony Blinken, she thanked the United States and other partners for the support given to the Republic of Moldova in order to strengthen energy security, modernize the agricultural sector and support exports. “Through unity and with the support of our partners, we will stand by our people and move forward,” Maia Sandu said.

     

    Acquittal – In Romania, the High Court of Cassation and Justice definitively acquitted the former Economy Minister, Adriean Videanu, and the businessman Ioan Niculae for setting up an organized crime group and for embezzlement in the Romgaz case. The damage was estimated by the prosecutors at over 60 million Euros. The defendants had also received an acquittal at the trial court, in December 2022, on the grounds that “the fact does not exist”, and on Wednesday, the panel of five judges rejected, with a majority, the appeals submitted by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism – DIICOT and the Romgaz Company. DIICOT claimed that Ioan Niculae’s company would have illegally received gas from Romania’s domestic production at very low prices, i.e. approximately a quarter of the market price. (LS)

  • From virus to vaccine

    From virus to vaccine

    The new coronavirus seems to have significantly reduced its virulence resources, at least in Romania. A report published, on Monday, by the Ministry of Health, indicates a very slight increase in the number of cases during the past week, compared to the previous interval. About 3,400 people were diagnosed in seven days, of which almost 950 were patients who had been infected before. Minister Alexandru Rafila said on public television that he no longer expected a new wave of coronavirus infections, that would lead to a large number of serious cases in Romania.



    The cold season remains complicated, however, because a large number of respiratory virus infections, around 100,000, especially among children, has been registered There are vaccines for two of the viruses, influenza and SARS-CoV-2, and specialists recommend immunization in this way, especially for people in vulnerable categories. The large number of people with respiratory symptoms, but also of children arriving at medical offices with fever and respiratory problems, urged the Minister of Health to remind parents that they have at their disposal the list of pediatric assessment centers where they can go with their children in case of respiratory infections, thus avoiding overcrowding in emergency rooms and hospitals.



    Alexandru Rafila: The respiratory syncytial virus (a common virus of the respiratory tract that causes mild symptoms similar to the common cold.) which is the cause of an epidemic at the moment in Romania and other countries in Europe, as well as in the United States, affects children, and causes a viral disease that can cause certain complications, usually bronchiolitis. Children with mild or moderate forms do not need to go to the hospital. It’s better to avoid staying for hours, for example, in emergency reception units, which are overcrowded, and this should be taken into account. We also developed a best practices guide on how a parent should make an informed decision regarding their own child, if they have a respiratory virus.



    On the other hand, the authorities in Bucharest do not exclude the option of calling on doctors from outside the European Union to cover the shortage of personnel in the health-care system. Minister Rafila has stated that Romania will organize a high-level regional meeting, next year, in March, which will focus precisely on the problems related to human resources in health. Representatives of the 53 member states of the WHO European region and of the European Commission bill be participating. The goal, Alexandru Rafila said, is to find legal solutions for doctors recruited from outside the EU, given that the recognition of professional qualifications in the EU countries is very strictly regulated. (MI)


  • March 17, 2022

    March 17, 2022

    WAR IN UKRAINE – In the absence of any
    sign the Russian forces are willing to break the siege on Mariupol, a city on
    the Azov Sea, efforts continue to evacuate the civilian population via
    humanitarian corridors. 30,000 inhabitants have so far left the city, including
    300 people Moscow claims to have crossed into Russia by bus. On Wednesday, a
    theatre in Mariupol sheltering hundreds of civilians was hit by shelling.
    According to Human Rights Watch, at least five hundred civilians had taken
    refuge within the theatre walls. Satellite footage shows the word children
    written in Russian on the walls of the theatre. The number of victims left in
    the wake of the attack is unknown, considering that rescue teams have so far
    been unable to intervene due to uninterrupted bombing. The United Kingdom, the
    United States of America, Albania, France, Norway and Ireland have called an
    emergency meeting of the UN Security Council as the humanitarian situation in
    this country continues to deteriorate, AFP reports. In turn, Russia has called
    for a one-day postponement of the vote on its humanitarian resolution
    regarding Ukraine. The request comes as Russia’s proposition failed to rally
    support from China and India, Moscow’s traditional allies in the Security
    Council. The Kremlin today rejected the ruling of the International Court of
    Justice, the highest judicial body of the UN, ordering Russia to immediately
    stop all military operations in Ukraine. The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov,
    said consent must be obtained from both sides for the ruling to be valid.




    NATO – In Brussels, NATO
    Defense Ministers decided to extend the term of the Alliance’s consolidated
    posture, particularly on the eastern flank, due to the war in Ukraine. NATO
    Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Russia’s readiness to use force
    must not be underestimated, nor should the fact that Russia is a nuclear power.
    The NATO official said there is unanimity in the Alliance’s decision not to
    send forces on the ground or to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Soltenberg
    explained that NATO wants to prevent the war in Ukraine from spreading to the
    region. In turn, NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoană, said
    the Alliance’s new posture does not mean the Alliance believes Russia will
    attack NATO, but is simply a form of deterrence. Mircea Geoană explained that the battlegroup created in Romania will soon be fully
    operational.




    REFUGEES – The UN High
    Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that over 3 million people have
    left Ukraine since the start of the war, of whom 450 thousand have reached
    Romania. This is the biggest war-caused migration in Europe since WWII. Adding
    to the number of refugees who left Ukraine are people who are displaced within
    the country’s borders. The humanitarian crisis has been worsened by continuous
    bombing targeting civilian objectives. According to the Romanian Border Police,
    over 15,200 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania within the space of 24 hours, up
    by 0.4% compared to yesterday. Right now, the border checkpoints are working at
    full capacity, with the observance of national and community regulations.




    TALKS – Romania’s president,
    Klaus Iohannis, is today receiving his Estonian counterpart, Alar Kari in
    Bucharest. Also today, Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, will also hold
    talks with the Romanian president and with his Romanian counterpart, Nicolae
    Ciucă. The agenda for talks includes the energy reform of the
    EU, in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Pedro Sánchez will call on Romania
    to support Spain’s energy reform of the European Union. One proposition is to
    eliminate natural gas from the method of calculating the price for electricity.
    The second point in Spain’s proposal is to give every state the possibility of
    introducing a cap on electricity prices for end users over a definite period of
    time and based on sound arguments. This week, Spain’s Prime Minister is touring
    Europe, meeting with 8 counterparts from member states, to discuss energy
    prices.




    COVID – The World Health
    Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the resurge in the number of
    coronavirus cases across the world, against the backdrop of the relaxation of
    restrictions and the promotion of the false idea that the Omicron strain is
    harmless. WHO director, Tedros Ghebreyesus says last week the number of
    infections went up 8% globally compared to the previous week. China is facing a
    large number of infections, after two years when incidence rates were kept at a
    minimum. Israel has announced two new cases of infection with an unknown
    variant, whereas France, the Netherlands and Denmark reported a type of
    infection that combines the Delta and Omicron strains. According to the latest
    report of the Group for Strategic Communication, Romania reported a little over
    4,000 new cases and 63 related fatalities within the space of 24 hours, of
    which 27 were prior to the reference period.




    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player
    Simona Halep, world no. 24, has advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA 1000
    tournament in Indian Wells, totalling some 8.5 million USD in prize money. In
    the quarterfinals, Halep ousted Petra Martic of Croatia. In the semi-finals,
    Halep will take on Iga Świątekof Poland, the competition’s third seed. The Polish player ousted Madison Keys
    of the United States in the previous round. Halep leads 2-1 head-to-head. (VP)





  • War in Ukraine – UPDATE

    War in Ukraine – UPDATE

    Shelling of major
    cities in Ukraine continued in the early hours of Monday, on the 19th
    day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The majority of Russian troops are amassed
    around the capital-city Kyiv. The situation is critical in Mariupol, a city
    currently surrounded by heavy equipment, where citizens are virtually trapped
    ant can’t leave the city. The Red Cross has called on both parties to agree on
    an urgent solution to prevent a worst-case scenario and ensure safe passage
    for civilians.






    After Russian
    airstrikes hit a large military base near the western city of Lviv, close to
    the Polish border, killing 35 people and leaving more than 130 in hospital, president
    Volodymyr Zelensky warned NATO in a recent video address that it is only a
    matter of time before Russia attacks NATO members.




    Late on Sunday,
    the WHO issued a press release, stating that the war in Ukraine could
    deteriorate the pandemic context across the globe. Ukraine’s vaccination rate
    is low, and while the infection rate isn’t particularly high, there is a
    considerable risk Ukraine could see more infections and deaths over the coming
    period. According to its report, some 791 thousand infections and 8 thousand
    related fatalities were reported in Ukraine and in surrounding countries over
    March 3-9.




    A new round of
    Ukraine-Russia negotiations is expected to take place on Monday

  • War in Ukraine – UPDATE

    War in Ukraine – UPDATE

    Shelling of major
    cities in Ukraine continued in the early hours of Monday, on the 19th
    day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The majority of Russian troops are amassed
    around the capital-city Kyiv. The situation is critical in Mariupol, a city
    currently surrounded by heavy equipment, where citizens are virtually trapped
    ant can’t leave the city. The Red Cross has called on both parties to agree on
    an urgent solution to prevent a worst-case scenario and ensure safe passage
    for civilians.






    After Russian
    airstrikes hit a large military base near the western city of Lviv, close to
    the Polish border, killing 35 people and leaving more than 130 in hospital, president
    Volodymyr Zelensky warned NATO in a recent video address that it is only a
    matter of time before Russia attacks NATO members.




    Late on Sunday,
    the WHO issued a press release, stating that the war in Ukraine could
    deteriorate the pandemic context across the globe. Ukraine’s vaccination rate
    is low, and while the infection rate isn’t particularly high, there is a
    considerable risk Ukraine could see more infections and deaths over the coming
    period. According to its report, some 791 thousand infections and 8 thousand
    related fatalities were reported in Ukraine and in surrounding countries over
    March 3-9.




    A new round of
    Ukraine-Russia negotiations is expected to take place on Monday

  • March 8, 2022 UPDATE

    March 8, 2022 UPDATE

    UKRAINE — Russia has sent into Ukraine almost all its initial invasion forces that had been amassed on the border, so most of its 150,000 soldiers are now on the Ukrainian territory, the Pentagon announced on Monday. Moscow continues its offensive to the north, towards Kyiv and to the south, towards the Azov Sea and the Black Sea. Russian ships are now preparing an attack on the city of Odessa, the Radio Romania correspondent reported. He also said that the local administration continues to urge people to leave the city, which is a strategic target for the invaders. A new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia has been announced for the next few days, without a firm date being announced. A meeting of the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers, with the participation of the Turkish foreign minister and mediated by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to be held on Thursday in Antalya, Turkey. The UN has requested free passage corridors in the war zones to deliver humanitarian aid to the population. More than 2 million Ukrainians have fled war in less than two weeks, the UN also announced. The World Health Organisation has announced that attacks on hospitals, ambulances and medical facilities in Ukraine have become more frequent, leaving the country without vital medical supplies.



    BUCHAREST – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday took part in a videoconference with the European Council President, Charles Michel, aimed at preparing the informal meeting of the European Council due on March 10 and 11 in Versailles. Attending were the prime ministers of the Netherlands, Greece, Croatia and Estonia. Talks focused, among others, on current security evolutions in Ukraine, efforts to manage and support the wave of Ukrainian refugees and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and Moldova. President Iohannis said Romania also supports the EU accession applications of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Also on Tuesday, President Iohannis said in Bucharest that the Russian invasion of Ukraine proved, once again, the need for NATO to consolidate its eastern flank. Iohannis made this statement during a trilateral meeting with Poland and Turkey, at the level of national security advisors. Iohannis hailed the recent decisions taken by NATO to deploy more forces on the eastern flank, and activate the NATO Response Force for collective defence and deterrence.



    CORONAVIRUS — Romanian Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said Tuesday that, starting March 9, all Covid-related restrictions will be lifted as the state of alert expires and will no longer be extended. Mask wearing will no longer be mandatory either outdoors or indoors, and the access to and schedule of commercial centres and public institutions will be unrestricted. Also, the green certificate and traveller location documents will no longer be required at checkpoints. The epidemic sees a declining trend across the country, with the 5th wave of the pandemic close to the end, president Klaus Iohannis said last week. Romania was on alert for nearly 2 years, beginning on May 15, 2020. Over these 2 years, says the Strategic Communication Group, some 64,000 SARS-CoV-2 patients died in Romania.



    VISIT – Romanian president Klaus Iohannis will have political consultations on Friday in Bucharest with the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, who pays an official visit to Romania, the Presidential Administration announced. The American official’s visit to Romania reconfirms the solidity of the bilateral Strategic Partnership and the firm commitment of the United States to supporting the security of Romania and of the NATO allies on the eastern flank, the Presidential Administration also announced.



    MOTION – A simple motion initiated by the Save Romania Union (USR, in opposition) against the Liberal Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu will be debated and voted on, on March 14, the Chamber of Deputies’ Standing Bureau announced on Tuesday. In the motion, the USR deputies are asking the Justice Minister to resign, saying that the dismantling of the Section for the Investigation of Crimes within the Judiciary, believed to have been set up to intimidate magistrates and end anti-corruption efforts, has been replaced with a similar but more harmful mechanism. (EE)

  • Nachrichten 23.01.2022

    Nachrichten 23.01.2022


    Bukarest: Etwas mehr als 14.000 COVID-19-Neuinfektionen wurden am Sonntag in Rumänien gemeldet, dazu 22 Todesfälle. Im Vergleich zu früheren Wellen ist die Zahl der Krankenhauseinweisungen von Infizierten nach Angaben der Behörden deutlich geringer. Etwa 600 Mesnchen befinden sich derzeit auf der Intensivstation. Die Behörden gehen davon aus, dass die Infektionsrate in den nächsten Tagen weiter ansteigen wird, was wiederum zur Bettenauslastung in Krankenhäusern führen wird. Das Worst-Case-Szenario rumänischer Behörden geht von 70.000 Infektionen pro Tag aus. Gegenwärtig liegt die Inzidenzrate in Bukarest bei 9,50 pro 1.000 Einwohner. Ab Sonntag können sich die Menschen in Bukarest und Ilfov in 20 medizinischen Einrichtungen auf COVID-19 testen lassen, 8 weitere werden voraussichtlich nächste Woche eröffnet. Die Ma‎ßnahme folgt einer Ankündigung des Ambulanzdienstes, wonach die Zahl der Personen, die einen COVID-Test beantragen, alarmierend zugenommen hat, was zu Verzögerungen von bis zu 72 Stunden bei der Ankunft der Testteams führt. Über 8 Millionen Rumänen haben bisher mindestens eine Impfung mit dem Anti-COVID-Impfstoff erhalten.



    Die USA lehnen weiterhin Vorschläge für eine grö‎ßere Unabhängigkeit der WHO ab, wie an den Verhandlungen beteiligte Beamte mitteilten. Der Vorschlag sieht eine Erhöhung des jährlichen Finanzbeitrags jedes Mitgliedstaats als Teil eines umfassenderen Plans zur Reform der Organisation im Zusammenhang mit der COVID-19-Pandemie vor. Die US-Regierung lehnt die Reform ab, weil sie bezweifelt, dass die WHO in der Lage sein wird, künftigen Bedrohungen, auch durch China, zu begegnen. Darüber hinaus, hat sich die Omicron-Variante in Europa durchgesetzt, ohne jedoch zu einem Anstieg der Zahl der Krankenhausaufenthalte auf der Intensivstation zu führen. Am Samstag meldete Polen eine rekordverdächtige Zahl von fast 41.000 Infektionen. Auch Russland meldete 57 000 Infektionen, die höchste Zahl seit Beginn der Pandemie. Italien meldete 171.000 Neuinfektionen. Das Vereinigte Königreich wiederum meldete an einem einzigen Tag 76 000 Infektionen, was den rückläufigen Trend der Inzidenzrate in diesem Land bestätigt.



    Bukarest: Rumänien feiert am Montag mit verschiedenen Veranstaltungen das 163-jährige Bestehen der Vereinigung der rumänischen Fürstentümer. Am 24. Januar 1859 wurde Alexandru Ioan Cuza von der Wahlversammlung in Bukarest zum Herrscher der Fürstentümer Moldawien und Walachei ernannt. Unter Cuzas Herrschaft (1859-1866) wurden durch radikale Reformen die Grundlagen des modernen Rumäniens gelegt. Cuza verabschiedete das Zivil- und das Strafgesetzbuch und schuf eine nationale Armee. Au‎ßerdem führte er die obligatorische Grundschulbildung ein und gründete die ersten Universitäten. Cuza war gezwungen, 1866 zurückzutreten und ins Exil zu gehen. Sein Nachfolger war König Karl I. von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Seine lange Herrschaft brachte Rumänien die Unabhängigkeit vom Osmanischen Reich ein. 1918 vollendete König Ferdinand der Einiger den Prozess der Nationenbildung, indem er die Gebiete mit rumänischer Bevölkerungsmehrheit 1918 vereinigte.



    Bukarest: Der Streik der Gewerkschaftsmitglieder der Bukarester Verkehrsbetrieben (STB) wurde auch am Sonntag fortgesetzt. Die Fahrer weigerten sich für den vierten Tag in Folge, mit Bussen, Trolleybussen und Stra‎ßenbahnen aus den Depots zu fahren, obwohl das Bukarester Gericht den Streik am Donnerstag ausgesetzt und die sofortige Wiederaufnahme des öffentlichen Verkehrs in der Hauptstadt angeordnet hat. Das Unternehmen war zu 25 % ausgelastet, obwohl Hunderte von Fahrern sich weigerten, ihre aus den Depots zu fahren. Der Bürgermeister von Bukarest, Nicușor Dan, sagte, dass zahlreiche STB-Beschäftigte bei der eigens eingerichteten Hotline Beschwerde eingelegt haben und behaupten, dass sie von den Gewerkschaften eingeschüchtert, bedroht und angegriffen werden, wenn sie die Arbeit wieder aufnehmen wollen. Die STB-Beschäftigten behaupten, dass ihre Gehaltsforderungen nicht erfüllt wurden, und fordern den Rücktritt des Direktors des Unternehmens. Gewerkschaftler der Bukarester Verkehrsbetriebe haben wiederholt behauptet, dass es sich um einen unabhängigen Protest der STB-Beschäftigten handele.

  • January 23, 2022

    January 23, 2022




    COVID-19 ROMANIA – A little over 14 thousand new cases of
    COVID-19 infection were reported on Sunday in Romania, in addition to 22
    related fatalities. Compared to previous waves, the rate of hospitalization of
    people who got infected is much lower, authorities say. Some 600 people are
    currently in intensive care. The authorities expect the infection rate to
    continue to rise in following days, which will in turn determine a rise in the
    rate of bed occupation across hospitals. In the worst-case scenario, Romania
    could report as many as 70 thousand daily infections in February. At present,
    the incidence rate in Bucharest has reached 9.50 per thousand inhabitants.
    Starting Sunday, people from Bucharest and Ilfov can test for COVID-19 in 20
    medical units, with an additional 8 expected to open next week. The measure
    follows an announcement made by the Ambulance Service, who said the number of
    people calling for COVID testing has increased alarmingly, causing delays of up
    to 72 hours in the arrival of testing teams. Over 8 million Romanians have so
    far received at least one shot of the anti-COVID vaccine.




    COVID-19 WORLD – The United
    States, the largest donor to the World Health Organization, continues to oppose
    proposals for a larger independence of the WHO, officials involved in
    negotiations have announced. The proposal stipulates an increase in the annual
    financial contribution of each member state as part of a broader plan to reform
    the Organization in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The US Government opposes
    the reform because it doubts the WHO will have the capacity to face future
    threats, including from China. In other news, the Omicron variant has become
    dominant in Europe, without however provoking an increase in the number of ICU
    hospitalizations. On Saturday, Poland announced a record-high number of
    infections, nearly 41 thousand. Russia too announced 57 thousand infections,
    the highest since the pandemic began. Italy reported 171 thousand new cases. In
    turn, the United Kingdom also reported 76 thousand infections in a single day,
    which confirms the downward trend of the incidence rate in this country.




    UNION – Romania will mark 163
    years since the Union of the Romanian Principalities on Monday by means of
    various events. On January 24, 1859, Alexandru Ioan Cuza was proclaimed ruler
    of the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, voted by the Elective Assembly
    in Bucharest. Cuza’s rule (1859-1866) laid the foundations of modern Romania
    through radical reforms. Cuza adopted the Civil and Criminal Codes and created
    a national army. It also introduced mandatory primary education and founded the
    first universities. Cuza was forced to step down and go into exile in 1866. His
    successor was King Charles I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. His
    long rule wound earn Romania its independence from the Ottoman Empire. In 1918,
    King Ferdinand the Unifier completed the nation-building process by uniting the
    territories with a Romanian majority population in 1918.




    STRIKE – The strike at the
    Bucharest Municipal Transport Company (STB) continued on Sunday for the fourth
    consecutive day, despite having been declared illegal under a court order. The
    Company operated at 25% capacity, although hundreds of drivers refused to do
    their daily rounds. The STB board decided not to take disciplinary action
    against those who wanted to resume work, considering no offenses have been
    reported so far. Bucharest Mayor, Nicușor Dan, announced numerous STB employees
    lodged complaints on the dedicated hotline, claiming they are intimidated,
    threatened and aggressed by trade unions if they choose to return to work. STB
    employees say their salary demands have not been solved and call for the
    resignation of the company’s director. Representatives of the transporters
    trade union have repeatedly claimed this was an independent protest of STB
    employees and that it played no part in its organization. (VP)

  • December 13, 2021 UPDATE

    December 13, 2021 UPDATE

    COVID-19 Romania on Monday reported 494 new Covid-19 infections, a lower number
    than in the previous day. 17 thousand tests have been conducted, which means an
    infection rate of 2.91. 45 fatalities have been reported and the total number
    of patients treated in hospitals has dropped to roughly 4 thousand. Out of
    these, 700 are in ICUs. Most of the cases have been reported in capital city
    Bucharest, and in Cluj, western Romania. 7.6 million people have been fully
    vaccinated in Romania so far. People coming to Romania from outside the
    European Union or from other states in the red tier who are unvaccinated will
    have to stay in quarantine for 10 days even if they have a negative PCR test.










    OMICRON Britain has reported the
    first death of a patient who was suffering from the Omicron variant.
    Authorities in London have so far reported over 3 thousand infections with the
    new variant and forecast that the total number of infections is going to reach
    one million. The Omicron variant has caused worldwide concern and has already
    been identified in 63 countries. In another development, the WHO has estimated
    the real tally of the Covid-19 could be three times higher than that announced.
    The information provided by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine shows 270
    million infections and 5.3 million deaths. The USA has been most affected with
    roughly 50 million cases and 800 thousand fatalities. The Delta variant is the
    most widespread variant in the USA, with 99% infections.











    TRANSDNISTER The Romanian foreign ministry said Romania does not
    recognise the legitimacy of Sunday’s elections in the breakaway pro-Russian
    region of Transdniester in the east of the majority Romanian-speaking Republic
    of Moldova. In a statement, it also reiterated its support for a comprehensive,
    peaceful and sustainable solution of the conflict in keeping with international
    law, respect for Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its
    internationally recognised borders and without affecting its European path. The
    Moldovan authorities also described the elections in Transdniester illegal.
    Transdniester de facto broke away from Moldova in 1992 following an armed
    conflict in which hundreds of people were killed and which only ended with the
    intervention of the Russian troops on the side of the separatists.










    SWIMMING Romania will bring five
    swimmers to the 25 m competition in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, taking
    place over December 16th and 21st. Among them are Robert
    Glinţă and David Popovici. Also on the Romanian team are George-Alexandru
    Stoica-Constantin, Alexandra Dobrin, and Bianca Costea. We recall that the
    Romanian team’s performance in the 25 m competition in Kazan, Russia, in
    November, earned them three medals. The gold went to David Popovici for 200 m
    freestyle, and a silver and a bronze went to Robert Glinţă for the 100 m and 50
    m events. Popovici at that point got the first gold medal for Romania in the
    history of 25 m events, after 4 silver and 8 bronze medals.








    (bill)

  • November 4, 2021 UPDATE

    November 4, 2021 UPDATE

    Covid — Almost 9,000 SARS-CoV-2 contamination in 24 hours and 489 deaths, of which 55 prior to the reference interval, were announced on Thursday in Romania. All beds in ICUs at national level are occupied, and 1,902 patients are hospitalized, of whom 33 are children. Most new cases were registered in Bucharest, where the incidence rate stands at 12.44 cases per thousand inhabitants, on a downward trend for 13 days. The president of the Medical College, Daniel Coriu, stated that over 92% of the infected people who have died were not vaccinated against COVID. The vaccination rate has slowed in recent days, after it was on an upward trend for two weeks. Over 82 thousand people have got vaccinated against Covid in the past 24 hours, of whim 43 thousand with the first dose. The total number of fully vaccinated people is a little over 6,400,000.



    Government — The Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced on Thursday evening that he would call the parties for consultations when an assumed parliamentary majority that wants to propose a government is formed. According to him, it is clear that the attempts at forming minority governments have not yielded results. Iohannis recalled that the latest proposal did not gather enough votes in Parliament and the Ciuca Government did not go for approval in Parliament. The last Prime Minister designate, the liberal Nicolae Ciucă, relinquished his mandate, on Monday, after having failed to obtain parliamentary support for a minority government made up of the PNL – UDMR. The first person President Iohannis appointed as prime minister was the USR leader, Dacian Ciolos, who did not gain Parliament’s support. We remind you that the government led by the liberal Florin Citu was dismissed by a censure motion. Meanwhile, negotiations between the parties continue. The Liberal representatives discussed on Thursday with those of the opposition Social Democratic Party – PSD for the formation of a government with full powers and a stable majority in Parliament. On Wednesday, the Liberals resumed negotiations with USR and according to the PNL leader, Florin Cîţu, there are great chances for the right-wing coalition to be rebuilt. USR leader Dacian Cioloş was more reserved and is waiting for the Liberals decision, after discussions with PSD.



    EBRD – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD has significantly improved its estimates on Romania’s economic growth in 2021 forecasting a 7.2% growth this year as against 6% as it estimated in June, a report published on Thursday shows. In 2022 the Recovery and Resilience Facility could lead to a rise in investment and a gradual increase in exports whereas the reduced private consumption and the fiscal consolidation could translate into a 4.4% GDP growth, the bank experts believe. According to them the main risk is posed by the development of the pandemic as Romania has the second slowest EU vaccination rate. According to the EBRD, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria are seeing a significant economic recovery after the difficult year 2020. Romania’s main growth engine seems to be its domestic demand.



    Tax evasion – The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) coordinated an action following which 4 people were arrested and 23 million Euros worth of assets were confiscated in a tax evasion case in the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia. According to an EPPO statement, those arrested are suspected of organized crime and tax evasion. The core of the criminal activity was located in Hamburg (Germany), and the money laundering was organized by companies from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with important connections in Romania. EPPO started operating on 1 June this year, being an independent EU body in charge of investigating, prosecuting and arraignment of those who perpetrated crimes against the EUs financial interests, including: fraud, corruption, money laundering, cross border VAT fraud. 22 of the 27 EU states are members of the EPPO.



    COP 26 — Nuclearelectrica executive director Cosmin Ghiţă and NuScale Power (USA) President and CEO John Hopkins on Thursday signed in Glasgow the official documents of the agreement based on which the two companies will work together to build a small modular nuclear reactor (Small Modular Reactor – SMR) in Romania. The power plant will be the first of its kind built in Europe. Nucleaelectrica and NuScale Power have concluded the partnership for its construction at a recent meeting of the heads of state, government officials, non-governmental associations and scientists at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.



    Foreign workers — The Romanian Labor Ministry suggest an increase in the number of newly admitted foreign workers on the Romanian labor market to 100,000 by 2022, double the figure reported in 2021. Foreign labor force is needed for the construction of residential and non-residential buildings, restaurants and road transport of goods. According to data provided by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, most foreign citizens who come to work in Romania are from Vietnam, the Republic of Moldova, Turkey and Nepal.



    WHO — The World Health Organization is concerned about the deteriorating health situation in Europe, currently considered the epicenter of the pandemic. According to the organizations director for Europe, Hans Kluge, the current transmission rate is worrying in several countries, and if the trend continues, there could be half a million new deaths by February. According to the WHO, the most complicated situations are currently reported in Eastern European countries that have poor vaccination coverage. Most deaths reported in the last seven days were registered in Russia, over 8,000, in Ukraine, 3,800 and in Romania, 3,100. The UK and Belgium have also been facing a surge in the number of new contaminations. A record number of new infections, almost 34,000, in 24 hours, has been reported in Germany, a situation that it last faced in December last year.




    Wrestling — The Romanian athlete Andreea Beatrice Ana won the gold medal in the 55 kg category on Thursday, in the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, after defeating the Russian Viktoria Vaulina in the final. Also on Thursday, another Romanian, Stefania Claudia Priceputu, won the bronze medal in the 50 kg category, after defeating the Tunisian, Sarra Hamdi (LS)

  • August 19, 2021 UPDATE

    August 19, 2021 UPDATE

    Laws.
    On Thursday, the Romanian Government
    discussed a number of normative acts on education. The documents aim, among
    other things, to supplement the posts in education by 3500, to include nurseries into the education system, and to continue
    the pilot program Hot meal in schools. A new way in which students
    with chronic diseases or who need long-term hospitalization can learn by means
    of the School in Hospital project was also discussed. The relevant minister,
    Sorin Campeanu, also announced that students who scored 10 in the baccalaureate
    or in the national evaluation will be rewarded. Also, the government adopted an
    Emergency Ordinance on waste management, a normative act that increases the targets for
    municipal waste recycling to 55% by 2025. By adopting this ordinance we have completed
    the new legislative package on waste management and fulfilled our obligations
    as a member of the European Union, Environment Minister Barna Tanczos said. He
    explained that, in this way, a case of infringement against Romania will be
    closed. The new GEO will introduce new obligations for the stakeholders in the
    chain and will regulate much more clearly separate waste collection activities
    and the transition to circular economy.




    Covid-19.
    The number of daily new cases of
    coronavirus infection has increased again in Romania, approaching the threshold
    of 600, according to authorities’ latest report. On Thursday, 595 new cases
    were reported, in some 32,000 tests performed, as well as 14 Covid-19 related deaths.
    Most cases were registered in Bucharest, in Ilfov (near Bucharest) and Galati
    (southeast). All counties and the capital remain in the green scenario in terms
    of infections. The pressure on the intensive care units however, where 153
    patients are hospitalized, is increasing. The authorities maintain their
    forecast according to which Romania will register 1,000 new cases of COVID-19
    per day at the end of August, and 1,500 daily new cases in mid-September. The epidemic
    in Romania maintained its upward trend last week, according to data released on
    Thursday by the National Institute of Public Health. The number of related
    deaths was also on the rise, almost all of them among unimmunized people. More
    than 2,400 new cases of COVID-19 were
    registered between August 9-15, 48% more than the previous week. The number of
    those who died rose by more than 20%, reaching 34 last week.




    WHO. The World Health
    Organization has criticized the rush of
    some states to administer the third dose of vaccine against COVID-19, stressing
    that the data have not yet shown the need for a booster, while people in poor
    countries remain unprotected. Giving booster jabs to people who are already fully vaccinated
    against coronavirus is like handing out extra life jackets to some while
    leaving others to drown. The statement describes the position of WHO officials towards the policy already
    underway in Israel and which is set to be implemented as of next month in the
    US, by means of which a booster will be administered to those already fully
    vaccinated. According to the WHO, there is no data confirming that those
    additional doses are needed. However, the number of cases of COVID-19 is
    increasing worldwide, especially among unvaccinated people who are more
    vulnerable to the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus. According
    to worldometers.info, more than 210 million people have been infected worldwide
    so far, and about 4.4 million have lost their lives due to Covid-19.






    Evacuation.
    A Romanian citizen, working for a NATO
    agency, was evacuated last night from Kabul by a plane of the Romanian Armed
    Forces, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced. Other Romanian citizens
    who had requested assistance for evacuation could not be picked up because they
    weren’t able to reach the airport. According to the MFA, at the time of the
    operation by the Romanian military aircraft, 33 Romanian citizens were
    registered as being in Afghanistan. Of these, 16 requested assistance for evacuation.
    They are employees of a NATO agency, of a UN program, and of a security company
    operating in Afghanistan respectively. The MFA has also announced that,
    considering the fact that most of the Romanian citizens who opted for
    evacuation are in locations outside the international airport, the Romanian
    authorities from the Inter-institutional Crisis Cell have taken steps to ensure
    their transfer to the airport. The group stays in permanent contact with
    Romanian citizens in various locations in Kabul, the Romanian line ministry has
    also stated. We recall that Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis convened for
    next Wednesday a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense on the
    security situation in Afghanistan and its implications for Romania.








    Afghanistan.
    The Taliban’s takeover of power in
    Afghanistan is the most important geopolitical event since the Crimean
    Peninsula crisis in 2014 and a new opportunity for China, Russia and Turkey
    to expand their influence in Central Asia, the EU security chief Josep Borrell said
    on Thursday, France Presse reports. Speaking in the European Parliament,
    Borrell reaffirmed the need for Europe to talk with the Taliban, in order to stop
    the humanitarian crisis, but stressed that this didn’t mean an official
    diplomatic recognition of the Taliban regime. For his part, European Parliament
    President David Sassoli said that all EU states must receive Afghan refugees
    threatened by Taliban and that they should be distributed equally among the member
    states. In another move, the British Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, has stated
    that Afghanistan’s situation encourages the
    perception that the West is weak, and the Islamists see the withdrawal of the
    allies as a victory that will inspire new terrorists. The situation in
    Afghanistan was also discussed in the British Parliament. Meanwhile, efforts
    continue to evacuate Western citizens and Afghan allies, most of them
    civilians, but access to Kabul airport is difficult. At the White House, president Joe Biden said the US troops could
    remain in Afghanistan beyond the deadline set for the end of August, if more
    time was needed to get all Americans out of that country. (MI)

  • July 1, 2021 UPDATE

    July 1, 2021 UPDATE

    CERTIFICATE A digital Covid certificate is available as of 1 July, to ease travel around the European Union. The document proves the owner has been vaccinated, has recovered or recently tested negative for the disease. The Special Telecommunication Service in Romania has created a web platform, which can be accessed at certificate-covid.gov.ro. After filling in a form, users can download a QR code, which can be printed or displayed on the mobile phone so that it may be scanned by customs officers. In another development, new relaxation measures were introduced in Romania on 1 July. Fairs and theme parks have been opened while accommodation facilities and gyms are allowed to operate at full capacity. Cafes and restaurants can stay open until 2 o’clock in the morning but access to night clubs and bars is only allowed to those vaccinated. On Thursday authorities announced 31 new Covid infections out of 26 thousand tests and reported only 5 fatalities in the past 24 hours. 450 patients are being treated in hospitals and 67 in intensive care.





    EU Slovenia took over on 1
    July the half-yearly rotating EU presidency from Portugal. PM Janez Jansa promised Slovenia will be an
    unbiased mediator in the dispute between various EU member states with respect
    to the rule of law and human rights. On the other hand, he called for consensus
    over the enlargement of the bloc. This is Slovenia’s
    second term at the helm of the EU since 2008. During its present term Slovenia,
    jointly with the EU’s main institutions will chair the Conference over Europe’s
    future.




    REGISTRY The Romanian Police announced that a national registry is operational, concerning people having committed sexual offences, exploitation and offences against children. This is a separate record from a persons criminal history, and is an operative identification and surveillance instrument focusing on perpetrators of human trafficking and exploitation and sexual offences. Individuals listed in the Registry are under an obligation to appear regularly before the police, to provide information and to notify the authorities of any travels longer than 15 days. Citizens may obtain their own integrity certificates, valid for 6 months, by submitting an application.





    UNEMPLOYMENT The unemployment rate in the EU dropped 0.1 last month compared to April, to 7.3%, but it is over the 6.9% mark reported in May 2020, the Eurostat announced on Thursday. The member states with the lowest unemployment rates, below 4%, are the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Germany, Malta, Poland and Hungary. At the opposite pole are Greece and Spain, with over 15%. With a 5.5% unemployment rate in May, down from 5.7% in April, Romania has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU.




    WHO Hans Kluge, the head of WHO Europe, Thursday announced during a news conference that the ten weeks of decline in the number of Covid-19 infections in Europe are over. According to the WHO official, a new wave of infections is expected unless citizens and authorities comply with medical rules. Last week the number of new cases rose by 10% driven by increased mixing, travel, gatherings and easing of social restrictions, Kluge said. ‘This is taking place in the context of a rapidly evolving situation. A new variant of concern -the Delta variant and in a region where despite tremendous efforts by member states, millions remain unvaccinated, the WHO official went on to say. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • July 1, 2021

    July 1, 2021

    CERTIFICATE A digital Covid certificate has been made available
    today in an attempt to ease travel around the European Union. The document
    proves the owner has been vaccinated, has recovered or recently tested negative
    for the disease. The Special Telecommunication Service in Romania has created a
    web platform, which can be accessed at certificate-covid.gov.ro. After filling
    in the form, all those interested can download a QR code, which can be printed
    or displayed on the mobile phone so that it may be scanned by customs officers.
    In another development, new relaxation measures have been adopted in Romania on
    July 1st. Fairs and theme parks have been opened while accommodation facilities
    and gyms are allowed to function at their full capacity. Cafes and restaurants
    can stay open until 2 o’clock in the morning but night clubs and bars can be
    accessed only by those vaccinated. Authorities in Romania on Thursday announced
    31 new Covid infections out of 26 thousand tests and reported only 5 fatalities
    in the past 24 hours. 450 patients are being treated in hospitals and 67 in
    intensive care.








    UE Slovenia is today taking over the half-yearly rotating EU presidency from
    Portugal. This has been Slovenia’s second mandate at the helm of the EU since
    2008. The Slovene presidency will attach priority to the recovery and
    strengthening the bloc’s resilience and strategic autonomy. During its present
    mandate Slovenia and the EU’s main institutions will have the occasion of
    leading the Conference over Europe’s Future.








    TENNIS Romania’s tennis player, Irina
    Begu on Wednesday night made it to the third round of the Wimbledon tournament
    after a three-set win against Petra Martic of Croatia. Begu has thus equaled
    her performance in 2015 when he qualified for the third round of Wimbledon, the
    year’s third grand slam tournament. The Romanian will be up against Iga Swiatek
    of Poland on Friday. Another Romanian, Sorana Cirstea has qualified for the
    second round after a two-set win against Samantha Murray Sharan of Britain. Cirstea will today play
    12th-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Begu and Cirstea are Romania’s only
    representatives in the singles contest of Wimbledon.








    WHO Hans Kluge, the head of WHO Europe, on Thursday announced during a news conference that the ten weeks of decline in
    the number of Covid-19 infections in Europe are over. According to the WHO
    official, a new wave of infections is expected unless citizens and authorities
    are complying with medical discipline rules. Last week the number of new cases
    rose by 10% driven by increased mixing, travel, gatherings and easing of social
    restrictions, Kluge said. ‘This is taking place in the context of a rapidly
    evolving situation. A new variant of concern -the Delta variant and in a region
    where despite tremendous efforts by member states, millions remain unvaccinated
    the WHO official went on to say.








    WEATHER The weather remains unstable in
    Romania with an overcast sky, and thunderstorms in some areas in the north,
    north-west, center and south-east. Some torrential rains are expected in the
    mountains. Temperatures are lower than yesterday but the weather remains hot in
    most of the regions with discomfort indexes above normal. The highs of the day
    range between 23 and 34 degrees Celsius with a noon reading in Bucharest of 28
    degrees. Meteorologists have issued yellow warnings for hot and unstable
    weather for almost the entire territory with the exception of some areas in the
    country’s west.




    (bill)





  • Award for the Piatra Neamt hero-doctor

    Award for the Piatra Neamt hero-doctor

    Romanian doctor Catalin Denciu, who, in November last year, risked his life to save the patients from the fire that broke out at the Intensive Care Unit of the Piatra Neamt County Hospital has been awarded by the World Health Organization. Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned, in the speech given at the opening of the organization’s main annual assembly, the sacrificial power shown by Piatra Neamt hero doctor Catalin Denciu, as he announced that he was being honored with the Director General’s Award for Global Health.

    Dr. Catalin Denciu is an intensive care specialist in Romania. He was on duty in November last year, caring for patients with COVID-19, when a fire broke out in the hospital. Ten patients died in the fire, and in trying to save others, Dr. Denciu suffered third-degree burns to 40% of his body, the WHO head said. Today we will honour him with an award for his service, sacrifice and example he set, the WHO Director General said of the Romanian selfless physician, also stating that such cases are just a few examples of the millions of stories about courage, suffering, despair, struggle and triumph of the medical workers fighting the pandemic.

    The WHO also posted on its Twitter account a video-message from the hero-doctor, who accepted the award on behalf of the entire medical staff and patients and their families:

    Being a doctor means responsibilities and huge expectations. I urge you to support the medical staff and fight together with them in order to fight the pandemic. There are heroes every day in this battle, in growing numbers, and they keep going, despite all hardships. I am honored to accept this award on behalf of all healthcare workers in Romania and around the world who are in the first line of this fight. (…) It’s an award for those resilient, for those who do not give up and keep on going, Dr. Denciu said in a thank-you response to receiving this recognition.

    10 people died on November 14th in the fire that destroyed the Intensive Care Unit of the County Hospital in Piatra Neamt. Catalin Denciu was on call that day, and when the fire broke out he got in trying to save as many patients as possible, without thinking that he was putting his own life in danger. After that, he was taken by a military plane to Belgium where doctors there saved his life and where he is still recovering. His gesture has been widely recognized, including by Belgians, who called him The Hero of 2020. In the meantime, the investigation continues, but the exact causes of the tragedy are still not clear. Following a verification carried out nationwide immediately after the tragedy, some 2 thousand instances of non-compliance with the fire regulations were reported. (MI)

  • April 2, 2021 UPDATE

    April 2, 2021 UPDATE

    VACCINE Romania’s vaccine rollout is in full swing at a rate of over 50,000 doses per day. So far over 2 million people have been vaccinated, and half of them have also got the booster dose. President Klaus Iohannis has announced that in the following period Romania will receive a significant amount of vaccine and the rollout can be stepped up. The head of the Romanian state has urged citizens to trust the benefits of immunization. In turn, the National Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca announced that 15 new vaccination centers are to become available as of April 5th. On Friday Romania registered a new all-time high in the number of patients in intensive care (1,454). Over 5,800 new infections have been reported at national level and 146 related fatalities. Roughly one million Romanians have been infected since the onset of the pandemic and the death toll stands at 24,000. A curfew between 8 pm and 5 am is in force over the weekend in the regions with an infection rate above 4 per thousand, with shops to be closed at 6 pm. At a rate above 7.5 cases per thousand, these measures are applied throughout the week, not only at weekends.



    PANDEMIC The World Health Organisation has criticized the sluggish pace of Europe’s vaccine rollout, also mentioning the latest surge in coronavirus infections. The statement was made by the WHO European branch several days ahead of the Catholic Easter. Immunization and restrictions remain the main solutions to contain the spread of the more contagious variants, which have become dominant in countries like France, Spain or Germany. On Thursday, authorities in Berlin reported over 24 thousand new cases and over 200 Covid-related fatalities. In Spain, which has a major community of Romanians, the infection rate exceeded 150 cases per one hundred thousand people and in some regions indoor bars and restaurants have been closed. Travel restrictions have been imposed these days when Spain is celebrating the Holy Week without street events for the second year in a row. In Greece, where the number of active cases and infections isn’t going down, authorities have decided to open shops under very strict medical protocols after six weeks of lockdown. According to worldometers.info, over 130 million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus and 2.8 million have died since the beginning of the pandemic.



    EASTER Roman-Catholic and protestant believers the world over, including from Romania, are celebrating the most important Christian holiday, the Lord’s Resurrection, on April 4th, a month before the Orthodox believers. This is for the second year when Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic believers from all over the world, will deliver a mass in front of a lower number of participants because of the pandemic. On Good Friday, Pope Francis commemorated Christ’s passions and crucifixion. In spite of the lockdown in Italy, churches are open and citizens can attend religious services close to their homes, however they have to fill in a form stating their reasons to travel. In Romania on Saturday night the curfew has been lifted between 10 pm and 2 am, so that believers may attend the Easter Mass.



    FRIGATE ‘Regina Maria’ Frigate moored in the military port of Constanţa (south-eastern Romania) after completing its participation in the missions of SNMG-2 (Standing NATO Maritime Group 2), in the Black Sea. The vessel, equipped with a Puma Naval helicopter and having a unit of combat divers on board, took part in naval, air and anti-submarine surveillance and medical evacuation missions, jointly with 4 other combat ships from Bulgaria, Greece, Spain and Turkey. NATOs standing naval presence in the Black Sea contributes to enhancing the Allies collective defence capabilities in the region, reads a news release issued by the Romanian Naval Forces Command. (tr. A.M. Popescu)