Morning headlines – August 5th 2021

Coronavirus and vaccines

• Vaccination in Romania: In the last 24 hours, more than 15.000 people got vaccinated. Totally, more than 5 million people got the vaccine, with more than 4,8 getting both doses.
• Coronavirus in Romania: In the last 24 hours, there were recorded 271 new SARS CoV-2 cases, 1 death, and in ICU there are now 67 people hospitalized.

Global political and military events

• Russia is testing a new hypersonic missile. The Russian Armed Forces has started the hypersonic missile tests (can reach speeds up to 5 Mach) with medium range (has a speed action for up to 5.000 km) Kh-95, which can carry nuclear ammunition and it is launched from Tu-22M3M and Tu-160 M bombers. (Nezavisimaya Gazeta)
• Georgia is buying Javelin missiles. The US State Department has approved, on Wednesday, a possible sale of missile and Javelin systems to Georgia. It is a 30 million dollars contract for 82 Javelin missiles FGM-148 and 46 launchers (Javelin Command Launch Units – CLU). (Military Leak)
• Russia is organizing a military drill at the border with Afghanistan. More than 2.500 military from Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are participating, between 5^th and 8^th of August, to military drills in the Kharb-Maidon field, 20 km away from the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. (TASS)
• Forest fires in Bulgaria is making victims. Two people have died and many people were wounded in Bulgaria, while they were trying to extinguish the fires. (AFP)
• Turkey saved an energy plant from the fire. An energy plant from South of Turkey was evacuated, on Wednesday, from the fires which could not be extinguished so far and that lasted for a week now. (AP)
• Taiwan buys 40 artillery systems for 750 million dollars. The US Defense Department has approved, on Wednesday, the sale of self-propelled artillery systems (M109A6 with 155 mm) to Taiwan to „better defend the island from a possible invasion of China”. (AP)

Romania’s defence and security

• August 5 - Military Physical Education Day. In 1929, the Law on Physical Education was established, the normative act by which the military section of the National Institute of Physical Education was transformed into the Military Institute of Physical Education, subordinated to the General Staff. (MoND)
• Almost 1,000 Romanians died in traffic accidents this year. 932 people died and another 2,004 were injured in road accidents in the first seven months of this year, according to the Romanian Police. The 3 main causes: speed, irregular crossing and pedestrians on the road.