Covid Romania - On Sunday Romania registered 323 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a smaller number than in the previous day, but the number of patients in ICUs is on the rise, reaching 112 at present. Six Covid-related deaths have been registered in the last 24 hours. On the other hand, interest in vaccination remains low. All in all, about 5 million Romanians have been fully vaccinated.
Navy Day – Navy Day was marked on Sunday in Constanta, the largest Black Sea port in Romania, through a restricted ceremony, due to the pandemic. Attending the ceremony, alongside high-ranking state officials, the President Klaus Iohannis congratulated the Romanian seafarers and highlighted that the spirit of sacrifice, devotion and professionalism are their most important qualities. According to President Iohannis, the strategic relevance of the Black Sea area for Euro-Atlantic security is a certainty today. However, the region is still facing security challenges, both military and non-military, conventional, as well as hybrid and cyber, which is why an increased commitment is required to strengthen security and increase national resilience, the President added. A formation of fighter planes consisting of Puma Naval helicopters, a Puma IAR helicopter, Romanian Air Force MIG-21 and F-16 aircraft, British Typhoon aircraft and a US P-8 research aircraft flew over the Military Port at the end of the official ceremony. A parade of military ships took place at sea, which was led by the frigate Marasesti, the largest warship ever built in Romania.
Assumption of the Virgin Mary – Christians on Sunday celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which commemorates the moment of the Virgin’s departure from this world. The Virgin Mary is the person who enjoys the greatest honor in the Christian religion, after to the persons of the Holy Trinity. The Virgin Mary is the patron saint of most monasteries in Romania, the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin being considered the feast of pilgrimages. Crowds of pilgrims visit the monasteries dedicated to the Virgin, to pray before her miracle-working icons. The religious events will also mark the 150th anniversary of the first gathering of the Romanians abroad and the first Congress of Romanian students, which took place from August 15-16, 1871 at the Putna Monastery (northeast). It was then that the ideals of unity of all Romanians were affirmed. Among the pilgrims present in Putna there are 650 students from the country and abroad, who will participate in a congress on Monday.
Afghanistan – A 'peaceful transfer of power' to a transitional government will take place in Afghanistan, where the Taliban are close to taking full control of the country, Afghan Interior Minister Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal said on Sunday, according to AFP and Reuters. He said there would be no attack on the capital Kabul. Previously, the Taliban said they had been ordered to remain at the city gates and not enter the Afghan capital. In the last ten days, insurgents have taken control of most of Afghanistan's provincial capitals. The crisis in Afghanistan and Belarus' actions point to the need to reshape EU rules on migration and asylum, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said on Sunday. Many member states fear that events in Afghanistan could lead to a new migrant crisis similar to that which Europe faced in 2015-2016, when the chaotic arrival of more than 500,000 people from the Middle East tested the European countries’ security and social welfare systems.
Pandemic – Sunday saw the coming into effect of the updated list of countries with an epidemiological risk. As of August 15 inlcuded on the red list are Turkey, Israel and the USA, a list which also includes Spain, Greece, Great Britain and Portugal. Instead, the Netherlands and Malta returned to the yellow zone, following a decrease in the Covid incidence. Bulgaria remains in the green zone. Since August 13, for crossing state borders within the EU, only digital certificates have been recognized as documents proving vaccination, recovery from the disease and a negative Covid test result. The obligation to present the digital certificate is valid only for those countries that require such documents as a vaccination certificate, negative test results or vaccination proof, as well as upon return to Romania from countries on the yellow and red lists. Tourists returning from a country on the green list do not have to present the digital certificate and are not quarantined. (LS)