\n
<\/p>\n
Covid-19.
<\/p>\n
Energy.<\/strong> The Bucharest executive is continuing
<\/p>\n
Inflation.<\/strong>
<\/p>\n
Protest<\/strong>.
<\/p>\n
Ukraine.<\/strong>
A roundup of domestic and international news<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":105194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[35374,28918,29488,28905],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-105693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsflash","tag-covid-19","tag-energy","tag-inflation","tag-ukraine"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/strong>Authorities in Bucharest have today reported
\nmore than 12,000 new coronavirus infections. In Romania, the highest number of
\npeople infected with SARS-CoV-2 since the beginning of the pandemic – 40,018 -
\nwas registered on February 1. 75 deaths were also reported, of which 11 from
\nprevious reporting timeframes. (…) The authorities are considering the
\npossibility that the current alert may not be extended, which would also lead
\nto the lifting of the restrictions in force. The Minister of Health, Alexandru
\nRafila, has announced that details will be presented this week. He has again
\ncalled for vaccination, especially for vulnerable groups. <\/p>\n
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\ntalks to finalize new support measures that will help the population deal with
\nthe crisis caused by rising energy prices. The authorities are also considering
\nthe big consumers for whom they are preparing an additional assistance package,
\na package that needs the endorsement of
\nthe European Commission. In this regard, the Ministry of Energy will discuss
\nwith EC representatives the
\nauthorization of the scheme that would allow maintaining their competitiveness
\nin relation to the other competitors in the European area and outside it, but
\nalso to retain about 200 thousand jobs.<\/p>\n
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\nIn Romania, the annual inflation rate rose
\nto 8.35% in January, from 8.19% in December, given that the prices of non-food products
\nrose by more than 10%, food prices by 7%, and prices of services by almost 6
\npercent, according to data released today by the National Institute of
\nStatistics. The Central Bank forecasts an inflation rate of 11.2% at the end of
\nthe second quarter, 10.2% at the end of the third quarter of this year and 9.6%
\nat the end of the fourth quarter of 2022, according to the Quarterly Inflation
\nReport published at the end of last week. The forecast trajectory of the annual
\ninflation rate is substantially influenced by the future evolution of energy
\nproduct prices, burdened by major uncertainties, the Central Bank says. <\/p>\n
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\nSeveral unions in the Romanian
\nmetallurgical industry, mainly representing employees from ALRO Slatina (south)
\nand Alum Tulcea (southeast), are protesting today at the Government
\nheadquarters, the main demand being the regulation of the energy market. They
\ncall for a cap on natural gas and electricity prices at the value of December
\n2020, for at least one year, and the establishment of a different regimen for non-domestic customers who have benefited from
\nstate aid, under a 2019 emergency ordinance, and those who haven’t been covered
\nby the said ordinance. Also, the unions demand the elimination of exemptions
\nfor the beneficiaries of this ordinance, and a maximum price of 750 lei \/ Mwh.<\/p>\n
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\nGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets today
\nin Kiev with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenski in a bid to show solidarity
\nand help avoid a war in Europe, after warnings that a Russian invasion of
\nUkraine could be imminent, Reuters reports. The trip is part of a string of
\ndiplomatic efforts to ease the crisis through dialogue, in addition to the
\nWest’s warning that Russia risks unprecedented sanctions if it decides to
\ninvade Ukraine. Scholz will also travel to Moscow on Tuesday for talks with the
\nRussian President Vladimir Putin. In another move, Ukraine has called on Russia
\nfor an urgent meeting, along with other OSCE countries, for Moscow to explain
\nthe massive deployment of border troops. Russia has denied that the mobilization of
\nabout 100,000 troops at Ukraine’s borders is for invading the neighboring
\ncountry, but several Western powers have warned that Moscow is preparing to
\nattack. (MI)<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"