The Buzău County Emergency Hospital reports no available ICU beds for COVID patients amid a surge in severe cases, leaving some patients in the emergency unit due to a lack of oxygen-equipped spaces. Pneumology chief Nicoleta Bîrcă describes high patient loads, severe forms of illness, and long-term health risks, urging adherence to protective measures, testing, and vaccination to curb the pandemic.

Italy extends the interval between Pfizer and Moderna doses from 21 to 42 days to accelerate first-dose coverage amid limited vaccine supplies. AstraZeneca doses left unused due to public hesitation will be offered without restrictions. Health minister Roberto Speranza expects all citizens over 80 to be vaccinated in April and those over 60 by June, supported by incoming deliveries including Johnson & Johnson doses. Most of Italy enters the orange zone, allowing limited relaxations, with further easing possible in May depending on epidemiological improvements.

PNL leader Ludovic Orban asked party members to refrain from public comments criticizing Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu, emphasizing that political responsibility for the minister lies with USRPLUS. Several PNL leaders planned to urge Prime Minister Florin Cîțu to take action regarding Voiculescu’s perceived errors, including calls for his dismissal. Meanwhile, senior PNL figures publicly criticized Voiculescu and other officials over the evacuation of patients from Foișor Hospital. USRPLUS reaffirmed its full support for Voiculescu, maintaining coalition tensions.

Images and files allegedly taken from Hunter Biden’s hard drive, published by the Daily Mail, depict him with nude women and drugs, along with messages suggesting involvement with escorts and significant financial difficulties. Additional material reportedly includes emails, photos, and videos referencing his lifestyle and financial issues. The laptop was left at a repair shop in Delaware, whose owner provided a copy of the drive to Rudolph Giuliani. Claims from Donald Trump’s camp about conflicts of interest involving Joe Biden and Burisma were not substantiated.

Ludovic Orban conveyed to USR‑PLUS that responsibility for keeping Vlad Voiculescu as health minister lies with the party backing him, emphasizing PNL’s concern over how the Health Ministry is being managed following the Foișor Hospital incident. He reaffirmed that the prime minister may propose a minister’s dismissal when government performance is affected and that each coalition party must evaluate its own ministers. He also noted that a potential change of Raed Arafat would require an objective assessment of his activity and stated that replacing Voiculescu would not, in his view, break the coalition.

Dan Barna stated that the governing coalition will continue and that Vlad Voiculescu will remain as Minister of Health, noting that his dismissal was never considered. Coalition discussions addressed several administrative issues while reaffirming commitment to the governmental reform program.

Dan Barna and Lucian Bode exchanged remarks following the controversial nighttime evacuation of patients from Spitalul Foișor. Barna suggested responsibility lay with those who allowed gendarmes to stand by as patients were crowded during the transfer, while Bode defended the Jandarmeria Română and stated that the security company was responsible for protective measures and failed to request support. The dispute followed Prime Minister Florin Cîțu’s comments about honor in handling the situation.

Village leaders from Tanna in Vanuatu say the spirit of Prince Philip lives on despite his death, reflecting a long‑standing local belief that revered him as a divine figure. Discussions continue among community elders about how to honor his passing and interpret the future of the cult, with no decision yet on whether his spirit will be associated with another member of the British royal family. The tribe plans to send a confidential message to the royal family, and the origins of the tradition are linked by anthropologists to local mythology and Philip’s 1974 visit to the islands.

Ukraine’s president seeks direct talks with Russia’s leader amid rising tensions as Moscow masses around 80,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders and Crimea. Kyiv reports that its request for dialogue has gone unanswered while Zelenski prepares to travel to Paris for discussions on the escalating conflict in Donbas. Russia criticizes Ukraine for alleged provocations and insists on progress on the Minsk peace accords before new negotiations, with the Normandy Format remaining the primary platform for diplomatic efforts.

Police in Giurgiu conducted searches at three international passenger transport companies suspected of providing falsified COVID‑19 test certificates to travelers. Five search warrants were executed as part of an investigation into forged documents, with administrators alleged to have issued test results without actual testing. The operation was coordinated with prosecutors and supported by the Special Intervention Brigade.