Morning headlines – September 17th 2021

Coronavirus and vaccines

• Vaccination in Romania: In the last 24 hours, more than 11.000 people got vaccinated. Totally, more than 5.3 million people got the vaccine, with more than 5.2 getting both doses.
• Coronavirus in Romania: In the last 24 hours, there were recorded 4.441 new SARS CoV-2 cases, 71 deaths, and in ICU there are now 741 people hospitalized.

Global political and military events

• Elections in Russia for the State Duma. The elections that will take three days – in order to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic – have started today in the Russian Federation; Russians are choosing the members of the State Duma (Mediafax).
• Med7 summit in Greece. The Med7 summit of the EU Mediterranean countries takes place today, in Athens, with representatives from Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Spain, Portugal and France; Slovenia Croatia are joining the summit for the first time. (Digi24)
• China asked to join the transpacific free trade. The Chinese Minister of Trade has announced, on Thursday, that he asked to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is the most important free trade pact in the region, composed of 11 countries. (AP)
• Missiles attack over an electric power facility in Kabul. Several missiles were launched towards the electric facility in Kabul last night, without affecting, however, the electric energy distribution. The attackers are yet to be identified. (AP)
• After China, Russia also criticizes the AUKUS treaty between Australia, UK and the US. The Russian MFA spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, has stated, on Thursday evening, that Russia expects Australia to respect the responsibilities of a country that has no nuclear military capabilities. Prior to that, China has accused the three countries that signed the AUKUS treaty for having a `cold war mentality` and threatened Australia that it will be the target of a nuclear attack. (AP)
• The first S-500 Prometeu system was received by the Russian military. The deputy prime-minister, Yuri Borisov, has stated, on Thursday, that the Russian military already got the first anti-ballistic defense system S-500 Prometeu. (Tass)
• The RAPID TRIDENT 2021 military drill starts in Ukraine. Next week, the RAPID TRIDENT 2021 military drill will start in west of Ukraine. 6.000 soldiers from 15 countries will participate at the drill that takes places from September 20^th until 1^st of October. (Reuters)

Romania’s defence and security

• MFA asks Great Britain for explanations. Romania’s embassy to London asked for some explanations after British media reports that the border authorities are mostly checking Romanian citizens. Acc ording to The Guardian, more than 60% of the EU citizens stopped and verified are Romanians. (MFA)
• The Romanian Chief of Defence Staff participates at the Reunion of Chiefs of Defence from the NATO Military Committee. The Chief of Defence Staff, lieutenant-general Daniel Petrescu, participates at the reunion of the defence chiefs from the NATO Military Committee, which takes place in Athena, Greece, between September 17-18^th. (MoND)