oleh admin | Mar 27, 2025 | europe, international relations, military, nato, news
On Wednesday, NATO issued clarification regarding remarks made earlier in the day by its Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, about four American soldiers reported as missing during training exercises in Lithuania. Initially, these statements implied that the soldiers might have perished.
NATO stated in an update on X that the search continues,” they wrote. “We apologize for any misunderstanding regarding Secretary General’s comments made earlier today. His reference was towards new information circulating but did not confirm the status of the missing individuals, whose whereabouts remain unclear.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said earlier on Wednesday that four US soldiers who went missing while training in Lithuania had died, adding he did not yet know any details.
A U.S. official, requesting confidentiality, mentioned that the incident involved four troops during a training exercise.
Rutte stated while visiting Warsaw that he had been informed about the deaths of the soldiers and expressed his condolences to their families as well as to the United States.
“This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones,” Rutte told reporters in Warsaw.
A statement from US Army Europe and Africa public affairs office in Wiesbaden mentioned that the soldiers were involved in planned tactical exercises when this occurred.
The Lithuanian national broadcasting company, LRT, reported that on Tuesday afternoon, U.S. servicemen along with one of their vehicles went missing during an exercise at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training grounds in Pabradė. This town is situated just under ten kilometers away from the Belarus border.
The Nordic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are all part of NATO and have frequently experienced tense relations with Russia following their independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
Tensions escalated even more due to Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda has been one of the most outspoken supporters of Kyiv in its fight against Moscow’s forces.
oleh admin | Mar 25, 2025 | europe, nigeria, passports and international travel, Travel, world
The Nigerian travel content creator, Alma Asinobi, who recently accomplished her groundbreaking trip spanning all seven continents using only her Nigerian passport, has marked this achievement by recognizing the Nigerian flag as both the initial and quickest one to visit each continent globally.
Following 71 hours, 26 minutes, and 25 seconds of continuous journeying, Asinovi arrived in Sydney on a Sunday after traversing the Nigerian flag from Antarctica through South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and finally reaching Australia.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday following her accomplishment, she shared, “The Nigerian flag has officially become the first and quickest one to reach all seven continents! Seems like my job here is finished. I am really looking forward to returning home.”
Her trip wasn’t without hurdles as Asinobi encountered problems with visas, delayed flights, and various travel limitations because of her Nigerian passport.
Asinobo mentioned that she was not allowed to board her flight to Perth, Australia, which led her to reschedule for a later departure to Sydney. This misfortune resulted in her delayed arrival.
Acknowledging the rest she required following the extensive tour, she mentioned that even during her sleep, the impact of her travels persisted. She explained that she would often wake up in distress after having dreams about a last call for departure.
Wow… Continent 8 (Dreamland) really worked out well for me. No visas required, no flights necessary, just a comfortable bed. Honestly, any bed would’ve done the trick. All I wanted was for my puffed-up feet to stay still for a few hours, and mission accomplished.
“As I slept, I heard ‘this is the final boarding call…’ and jolted out of bed in surprise, realizing it was just a dream. This isn’t usual,” she penned.
According to PUNCH Online, although Asinobi did not surpass the current Guinness World Record of 64 hours held by American veteran Johnny Cruz Buckingham, her achievement still holds significant historical importance. Her accomplishment has ignited extensive conversations regarding passport inequality and the obstacles hindering worldwide movement for Nigerians.
She eagerly anticipates her homecoming celebration on March 30, with plans to set another record by having Nigerians gather signatures on the flag she transported around the globe.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
oleh admin | Mar 25, 2025 | croatia, europe, nightlife, tourists, Travel
Croatia has become the newest nation to participate in the European initiative aimed at curbing disruptive tourist behavior.
Hvar Island, famous for its vibrant nightlife, is now implementing measures to address and reduce the rowdy conduct associated with its well-known status.
To distance itself from party tourism, Hvar—the town named after the island—has decided to keep noise limitations in place throughout the summer season. This decision will notably affect clubs, discothèques, and open-air locations.
Several tourism rules regarding attire and conduct apply to visitors, and being mindful of these can help them avoid fines.
Hvar is rebranding itself as a family-friendly destination
Last week, the councillors of Hvar decided to keep the summertime limitations in place.
limit noise
to 85 decibels.
This situation is akin to a bustling restaurant, which implies considerable modifications for the island’s trendy outdoor clubs that operate during high season, along with eateries that accommodate outdoor weddings.
The decision apparently faced opposition from eateries, pubs, and various enterprises. It encountered lobbying efforts from the hospitality industry, which suggested an alternative approach of circumventing.
noise
By announcing the whole island as a year-round entertainment hub, local news site CroatiaWeek reports.
I believe this is a catastrophe. We have consistently provided our support.
stricter rules
“And improved oversight, but now we’re swinging from one extreme to another. This isn’t the correct method,” stated Vicko Visković from the hospitality group Dictum Factum to the Croatian publication Dnevnik.hr.
However, local officials aim to indicate a move toward a more family-oriented and environmentally friendly tourism approach.
“Open-air clubs in Hvar and Split might have promoted extreme revelry among visitors in past years, thereby reinforcing the perception of Croatia as a ‘party destination’,” explains Darijo Šarić, who leads the premium villa rental platform VIP Holiday Booker.
Nonetheless, Croatia has progressively earned a reputation as a family-oriented destination, providing cultural wealth, stunning landscapes, and a laid-back ambiance.
Visitors may face an immediate fine of up to €700 in Croatia for such violations.
These limitations coincide with an broader initiative aimed at promoting high-quality tourism throughout Croatia, which ultimately enhances the well-being of local inhabitants.
In numerous city centers such as Split and Dubrovnik, you can obtain instant permits.
fines
Up to €700 can be fined for inappropriate behavior. This encompasses consuming alcohol or using drugs outdoors, relieving oneself or being sick in public areas, as well as strolling through town without a shirt or wearing only swimming attire.
You may face fines of up to €4,000 for causing public disorder, which includes acts like fighting, using abusive language through yelling or quarreling, and exhibiting drunk behavior.
Eliminating noble pen shells – a critically endangered species crucial for the Mediterranean ecosystem – from Croatia’s coastal areas
beaches
includes a penalty of €67 for each shell.
These penalties are primarily meant to discourage negative actions instead of penalizing individuals,” Šarić explains. “In essence, it’s all about taking responsibility and maintaining Croatia as a beloved, secure, and hospitable location for everybody.
oleh admin | Mar 25, 2025 | europe, infectious diseases, medicine and healthcare, news, public health
The measles outbreak in Romania persisted for almost three years until Dr. Claudia Cojocaru contracted the virus from a patient she treated in the infectious disease ward of a Bucharest hospital back in 2019.
The illness—one of the most highly infectious globally—struck her severely, even resulting in her admission to the very hospital where she was employed.
It was not until after Cojocaru made a recovery and gave birth to her second daughter nearly a year later that she came to understand how her illness would alter the course of her career. She transformed into an outspoken advocate for vaccinations in a nation plagued by widespread health misinformation, antiscience political tendencies, and a beleaguered healthcare sector.
“I got to know measles very intimately,” Cojocaru, a neonatologist who is also training in family medicine, told SANGGRALOKAHealth. “[Now] I’m the one [parents] call when they have mixed messages”.
Romania reports the lowest measles vaccination rate within the European Union, where only 62 percent of individuals were fully vaccinated as of 2023.
That’s well beneath the 95 percent threshold required to stop measles outbreaks among infants and individuals with compromised immune systems who can’t receive vaccinations.
The outcomes include further lethal outbreaks. Romania’s previous measles epidemic concluded in 2020, however, the government announced yet another one.
December 2023
.
Approximately 31,000 individuals were affected, resulting in 22 fatalities last year, with 44 percent of those cases being unvaccinated children under five years old. No particular cure exists for this condition.
However, even though Romania’s outbreak is the biggest one in Europe, it isn’t the sole nation dealing with measles.
In the last year, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Austria, and France have individually documented numerous cases, with infections continuing to rise.
expected to rise
in the coming months.
This suggests that Romania’s recent measles outbreak might serve as an early warning of similar epidemics that could occur in other parts of Europe.
“The challenge spans across the entire region,” Dr Dragan Jankovic, who heads up efforts towards measles elimination at the WHO’s European office, told SANGGRALOKAHealth.
2024 turned out to be the absolute worst year for measles in Europe.
since the 1990s
, he added. “This is precisely why nations must step up once more and begin vaccinating individuals who have yet to receive their shots.”
Why vaccination rates plummeted
By 2013, Romania’s measles vaccination rates were comparable to or exceeded those of numerous other European Union nations.
However, vaccinations declined during the 2010s because of an “uptick” in vaccine reluctance, postponements in immunisation schedules, kids dropping out of follow-up visits as their families relocated, insufficient vaccine supplies, and a significant exodus of medical professionals from the nation.
according to a study
headed by the country’s main public health institution.
“It’s akin to a perfectly mixed cocktail being prepared before an outbreak,” said Dr. Stefan Dascalu, an immunologist at Oxford University from Romania, who wasn’t part of the study, to SANGGRALOKA Health.
If you neglect one of these issues, it will spread.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided ample opportunity for such sentiments to flourish. Similar to what occurred in numerous other nations, false information about vaccines along with conspiracy theories resulted in widespread doubt towards public health measures, sparking an upsurge in anti-scientific discourse that aided in
raise three conservative political parties
to the Romanian parliament, where they currently have control over approximately
third of seats
.
“God has not been vaccinated,” Diana Sosoacă, the leader of the SOS Romania party, stated during a speech last year.
barred from running
In the latest presidential election, following a court ruling that found some of her remarks “at odds with democratic principles.”
Since the onset of the pandemic, public trust in standard childhood vaccinations has
plummeted
in Romania.
For Cojocaru and other vaccination supporters in Romania, combating online conspiracy theories and anti-scientific political stances is just part of the challenge. They must also confront healthcare professionals who oppose vaccines—sometimes even facing resistance from within the medical community itself.
Romania’s healthcare system lacks adequate resources; the nation allocates insufficient funds for its medical needs.
5.8 per cent
In terms of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it allocates approximately half of what the European Union spends on healthcare. The country continues to face challenges stemming from past corruption during the Communist period.
“You’ll still encounter this widespread belief that if I visit a doctor, I must offer a little bribe… as otherwise, they might not attend to my needs,” Dascalu explained.
Many people think doctors are “corrupt or earning substantial profits or influenced by pharmaceutical companies,” which is quite a complicated issue to tackle, he mentioned.
Moreover, the measles vaccine is provided at no cost and advised for young children, though it isn’t compulsory. Additionally, although medical students study the historical background of vaccines, they do not
always trained
On how to provide them to patients.
In the meantime, certain healthcare providers offer patients inaccurate details regarding vaccinations and their possible adverse reactions. Additionally, these professionals frequently fail to inform individuals about which vaccine corresponds to which illness or when they ought to come back for subsequent visits, as reported.
a 2019 study
those following vaccination discussions at clinics throughout Romania.
Officials from Romania’s National Institute of Public Health did not reply to SANGGRALOKAHealth’s queries for information.
When patients express worries or even conspiracy theories regarding vaccines, Cojocaru mentioned that she aims to remain composed and unbiased, clarifying that vaccinations such as the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine are among the most thoroughly researched and safest medications available.
Cojocaru also informs her patients that she has vaccinated her two children, aged 5 and 7, who are both healthy.
I avoid pushing or teasing them,” she stated. “I inform them that there’s no rush for making decisions; my channel remains open. Should they have questions or worries, they can reach out to me anytime.
Implications for Europe
Regardless of how many households Cojocaru convinces to get vaccinated, it won’t suffice if there remain clusters of unimmunized individuals since the illness spreads so easily.
In Romania’s previous measles outbreak, individuals lacking health insurance, people experiencing poverty, single-parent households, and the Roma ethnic group were notably more susceptible, as indicated by the national public health institute’s research.
However, “no individual nation can be immune to the introduction of the virus,” Jankovic stated. “Once this virus enters a country and comes into contact with susceptible individuals, it will lead to cases, and regrettably possibly even outbreaks.”
Only four European Union nations — Hungary, Malta, Portugal, and Slovakia — boast measles immunization rates at 95 percent or above.
In numerous nations, the number of susceptible individuals seems to be increasing. Since the pandemic began, routine childhood vaccination rates have declined globally, leading international health organizations to initiate a promotional drive known as the
“big catch-up”
in 2023.
Jankovic stated that typically, nations that performed well throughout the pandemic—such as those boasting robust healthcare systems, effective public health communication, and consistent approaches to managing the crisis—seem to be progressing smoothly with regular childhood vaccinations.
However, some nations with inadequately coordinated efforts, contradictory advice, and overburdened medical facilities now appear to be in a worse situation, he mentioned.
“If you experience confusion… this will inherently impact not just that particular vaccine, but also other vaccines already within the system,” Jankovic stated.
Experts warned that without a sustained effort to enhance trust in public health initiatives and increase vaccination rates for measles and other illnesses, similar issues facing Romania might emerge across other parts of Europe.
“We are now facing the danger of losing all these investments,” Jankovic stated. “Should those skeptical attitudes towards vaccinations turn into a worldwide trend, we will be in serious trouble.”
oleh admin | Mar 25, 2025 | business, europe, investing business news, investing company news, investors
The German technology behemoth SAP SE has climbed to the top as Europe’s largest publicly traded company, overtaking the market valuation of the Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk.
The global software firm headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, experienced an increase of over 1% in its stock price during early trading in Frankfurt. This boosted the company’s value, which had already surged by 40% in the last year, bringing its market capitalization close to approximately €312 billion.
“The present advancements in the stock market highlight the significant part played by tech firms in maintaining Europe’s competitiveness globally,” said an SAP representative to SANGGRALOKABusiness. “Our ongoing investments in cloud services, artificial intelligence, and innovation demonstrate SAP’s dedication to fostering digital transformation and sustainable expansion for enterprises across the world.”
At the same time, the drugmaker’s stock price in Copenhagen dropped over 2%, pushing the firm’s market capitalization slightly above 2.3 trillion Danish kroner (€309 billion). Despite announcing a 25% rise in revenues for 2024, the company’s share prices have plummeted nearly by half compared to last year’s levels.
Novo Nordisk gained prominence primarily because of its weight-loss medication, Wegovy, which drove the company’s stock prices upward until last summer when they reached approximately 1,000 Danish krone (€134). This was nearly twice their current value of 516 Danish krone.
However, the most recent updates regarding the findings of the company’s upcoming weight loss medication, CagriSema, seem discouraging since they did not demonstrate better outcomes than current treatments.
The doubt pulled down the stock price, which had already declined by approximately 16% this year.
In the meantime, the German technology firm won over its investors by adopting a strategy centered around subscription-based cloud services enhanced with advanced AI capabilities, projecting substantial increases in revenue.
JPMorgan recently stated that an “appealing buying chance has presented itself” regarding the SAP shares, noting that the investment firm’s analysts maintained their “Overweight” recommendation for the company’s stock along with setting a €300 price target.
oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | art, europe, exhibitions, french, news
Bucharest – Thirty Years Later
An exhibit featuring photographs by Laure Hinckel is set to debut at the Macadam Gallery in Paris later this week.
The exhibition, presented by the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in Paris, presents “a visual conversation on the evolution of Bucharest across thirty years.”
This features 18 photos captured across different locations in Bucharest during 1994 and 2024, alongside a set of collectibles such as posters, postcards, and notebook pages.
An initial exhibit, showcasing photographs taken in 1994, took place in January 1995 at the French Institute in Bucharest.
Bucharest – Three Decades On
This visual conversation continues and strengthens the cultural connections between France and Romania,” according to a statement about the event.
Laure Hinckel is a French translator who focuses on Romanian literature. Following her studies in journalism at Tours, she worked with various publications in France before moving to Romania as a journalist. Her translation portfolio includes works by Camil Petrescu, Ștefan Agopian, Matei Vişniec, Andrei Pleșu, and Mircea Cărtărescu.
She was honored with the Antoaneta Ralian Translation Award, presented by Radio Romania during the Gaudeamus Book Fair, for her bilingual album.
Bucharest – Three Decades On / Bucarest – Trente Ans Après
.
The album
Bucharest – Thirty Years Later / București – După Treizeci De Ani
will be showcased in April at the
Festival du Livre 2025
in Paris.
The exhibition will be accessible from March 27 to June 1.
(Illustration: ICR)
simona@romania-insider.com
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