COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – Another 3,240 new cases of
\nCOVID-19 and 130 related fatalities have been reported in the last 24 hours in
\nRomania. 1,076 patients are in intensive care. As of today the authorities have
\nintroduced restrictions to limit the spread of the virus. All classes will move
\nto online until December 9. Stores will close at 9 PM and the wearing of masks
\nbecomes compulsory in public areas. Nighttime mobility will be restricted for
\nwork and health emergencies only. Delivery services, pharmacies and gas
\nstations will remain open from 9 PM till 5 AM the next day. Produce markets in
\ninterior spaces will be shut down for the following month. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
COVID-19 IN THE WORLD – The global number of
\ninfections has exceeded 50.8 million, while the global death toll stands at
\n1.26 million, according to the latest worldometers.info update. The United
\nStates continues to have the highest number of infections, some 10.3 million,
\nfollowed by India and Brazil. Numerous states have returned to restrictions in
\nan attempt to thwart a new wave of the pandemic. In Europe, France is facing
\ndifficulties, with over 40.000 fatalities caused by COVID-19. Schools remain
\nopen, but teachers have expressed concern and announced a strike on Tuesday.
\nThey are calling for restricting the number of in-class students, reorganizing
\ncafeterias, taking on additional cleaning staff to sanitize all areas and
\nadditional funds for ventilation systems. Other countries are reintroducing
\nlockdown restrictions across Europe, although most Governments decided schools
\nshould stay open. Schools in Italy, Slovakia, Belgium and Austria have moved to
\nremote teaching exclusively, while online teaching has been imposed only for
\nthe secondary education system and high schools in Greece. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
2021 DRAFT BUDGET – Liberal Prime
\nMinister Ludovic Orban will today present the drafts for the 2021 state budget
\nand social security budget before the Chamber of Deputies. The Social-Democrats
\nclaim the budget law should be made known to the public, adding that, according
\nto their data, the Government is planning tax rises. Prime Minister Orban said
\nhis Liberal Cabinet wants to adopt the 2021 budget laws by December 31 this
\nyear, most likely after the Cabinet is sworn in. The Prime Minister pointed out
\nno additional taxes will be introduced. The budget for next year will seek to
\nensure investments in transport infrastructure, healthcare and education, and
\nwill also provide all the necessary funds required to pay salaries and
\npensions. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
VISIT – Foreign Minister Bogdan
\nAurescu is today paying an official visit to the Hague, invited by his Dutch
\ncounterpart, Stef Blok. The visit is part of an effort to boost bilateral
\ndialogue in the context of marking in 2020 140 years since the establishment of
\ndiplomatic ties between the two states. According to a Foreign Ministry
\nrelease, the two officials will review the status of bilateral relations and
\ndiscuss strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Minister Aurescu
\nwill tackle hot topics on the European agenda, such as the COVID-19 pandemic,
\nthe 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework, the Recovery Plan, the upcoming
\nEU-UK partnership, Romania’s Schengen accession and climate change. The
\nRomanian official will also underscore the importance of stepping up security
\ncooperation at NATO and EU level as well as promoting robust trans-Atlantic
\nties. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
US ELECTION – Democrat Joe Biden has won the US
\npresidential election, but Republican Donald Trump, the acting president, wants
\nto organize a series of rallies to challenge the results of the ballot. Trump
\ntook again to Twitter accusing the Democrat camp of defrauding the election,
\nparticularly the postal voting process in Philadelphia and Detroit, without,
\nhowever, providing any evidence to substantiate his claims. Meanwhile,
\nPresident elect Joe Biden continues to work with his team to take over his
\nmandate in January 2021. Today he is due to announce the setting up of a task
\nforce made up of public health experts, charged with the management of the
\nCOVID-19 pandemic as an immediate priority. On Sunday, his team launched a
\ntransition website listing the top priorities of his mandate, which include the
\neconomy, combating racism and climate change. Joe Biden wants the US to
\nimmediately rejoin the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
HANDBALL – The Romanian men’s
\nhandball team on Sunday evening defeated Montenegro on home turf 36-27 in
\npreliminary Group 7 of the 2022 European Championship, to be hosted by Hungary
\nand Slovakia. In the other group fixture, also on Sunday, Sweden trounced
\nKosovo away from home, 30-16. Sweden is top of the group tables with 4 points,
\nfollowed by Romania and Montenegro, each with 2 points, and Kosovo with 0
\npoints. Romania will next play Kosovo away from home on March 10, 2021. A
\nfour-time World Champion in the 1960s and the 1970s, Romania last qualified to
\na European championship in 1996. In the women’s competition, Romania has been
\ndrawn in a group with Norway, Germany and Poland in the 2020 European
\nChampionship, due to kick off next month.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
(Translated by V. Palcu)<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A roundup of domestic and international news<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":75903,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[35851,28963,35374,30168,29710,31286,30664],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-104712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsflash","tag-2021-draft-budgets","tag-bogdan-aurescu","tag-covid-19","tag-ludovic-orban","tag-restrictions","tag-romanias-handball-team","tag-us-election"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n