Morning headlines – September 23th 2021

Coronavirus and vaccines

• Vaccination in Romania: In the last 24 hours, more than 17.000 people got vaccinated. Totally, more than 5.4 million people got the vaccine, with more than 5.2 getting both doses.
• Coronavirus in Romania: In the last 24 hours, there were recorded 6.789 new SARS CoV-2 cases, 129 deaths, and in ICU there are now 990 people hospitalized.
• The third dose of vaccine will be administrated starting September 28th. The authorities have decided to administrate the third dose of vaccine, only with messenger RNA-based vaccines, to vulnerable people, those who are exposed to the virus and those who have received the second dose six months ago.

Global political and military events

• The US and France have cooled down the submarine crisis after a discussion between the two presidents. The US State Secretary, Antony Blinken, and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will discuss, on Thursday, in New York, after Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden have discussed, on Wednesday, on the phone, and have established to resume cooperation, including the diplomatic one, and they are also expected to meet next month. (Mediafax)
• UN reunion on Afghanistan. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has stated, on Wednesday, after a meeting with the foreign ministers of the five members of the UN Security Council, that they all want a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. The reunion developed after the United Kingdom requested it. (AP)
• Algeria has closed the air space for the Moroccan aircrafts. Due to border security tensions and the disputes on the Saharan territories, the High Security Council in Algeria has decided, on Wednesday, to close the air space for all Moroccan civilian and military aircrafts. (AP)
• Estonia will withdraw the troops from Mali if Bamako brings in Russian troops. The minister of defence from Tallin, Kalle Laanet, has stated, on Wednesday, that he will withdraw the troops from this country if the military junta will sign an agreement with the Russian mercenaries to train the armed forces and protect its leaders. (AP)
• The natural gases stocks in Europe, at the lowest level. The European natural gases are at the lowest level in the last decade, increasing the risk of higher prices. (Mediafax)
• Ukraine promises a strong response after the assassination attempt which targeted a presidential counselor. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has warned, on Wednesday, that he will respond to the assassination attempt which targeted one of his counselors. (Mediafax)
• Russian military aircraft crashed in Khabarovsk. An AN—26 aicraft, with six people on board, crashed on Wednesday, in Khabarovsk. A search mission of the victims is now being developed. (Tass)
• Russia-NATO discussions. The NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, met, on Wednesday, with the Russian foreign affairs minister, Sergey Lavrov, given the UN General Assembly meeting. No media agency was allowed at the meeting whereat they discussed about the security and collaboration of the two sides. (Tass)

Romania’s security and defence

• Iohannis visits New York. President Klaus Iohannis participated, on Wednesday, at the Global Summit organized by the US and met with the secretary general of the International Organization of Franchophony, Louise Mushikiwabo, and the executive president of American Jewish Committee, David Harris. (Presidential Office)
• The MFA hosted the 10^th ministerial conference of the Democracies’ Community. The foreign affairs minister, Bogdan Aurescu, hosted, on Wednesday, the 10^th ministerial conference of the Democracies’ Community, developed in the context of the UN General Assembly from New York and Romania’s presidency of the Democracies’ Community. (MFA)