IMF The IMF expects 2023 to be tougher than
\n2022 for most of the global economy. The main economic growth engines, namely
\nthe United States, the European Union and China will see their economic
\nactivity slow down, so that 2023 will be difficult for the global GDP, the head
\nof the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, told the
\nAmerican TV station CBS. In October, the
\nIMF downgraded its global economic outlook for 2023, following the war in
\nUkraine, sharply rising interest rates and inflationist pressure. Georgieva
\nsaid that China, which sees a surge in COVID-19 cases following the dismantling
\nof its strict zero-COVID policy, may have its economy affected. Meanwhile,
\nthe EU has been especially hard hit by the war in Ukraine, with half of the
\nbloc expected to be in recession this year, Georgieva said. Also, the global
\ngrowth rate will slow down from 3.2% in 2022 to 2.75 this year, while
\ngovernments will have to make sure they have sufficient revenues for
\nexpenditure, as they will no longer be able to borrow money in advantageous
\nconditions. As regards Romania, the economic growth rate will slow down to 2.8% this year, from more than 5% in 2022.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
NATO NATO allies will discuss, in the
\nupcoming months, about the share earmarked for defence, given that some of them
\nhave requested that the current 2% share of national output to be the minimum
\ntarget spent on defence, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the
\nGerman news agency DPA. The chief of the Alliance also said he would chair a
\nnumber of meetings on this topic, and that his goal was to reach an agreement
\nahead of the next summit in Vilnius in July 2023.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
SURVEY 2023 starts on a pessimistic note for
\nmost Romanians, according to a survey conducted by the Romanian Institute for
\nEvaluation and Strategy. More than half of the participants in the poll believe
\n2023 will be worse for Romania than the year before. Active people aged 36 to
\n65 are the most pessimistic, while the less educated respondents are more optimistic
\nin this respect. In terms of living standards, half of respondents have little
\nexpectations from the year that has just started. People aged over 51, with
\nmonthly revenues below 400 euros, have the darkest view of the future. Unlike
\nthem, those with incomes above 800 euros a month say 2023 will be the same as
\n2022. However, the most optimistic in terms of financial future are young
\npeople aged below 35. As for the changes they would like to see in their
\ncountry, most respondents indicated the politicians, the political class or the
\ncountry leaders, followed by the Government and the ruling parties.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
CORRUPTION The European Parliament has
\nlaunched an urgent procedure to wave the immunity of two members of the
\nEuropean Parliament – Italian Andrea Cozzolino and Belgian Marc Tarabella,
\nfollowing a request from the Belgian judicial authorities. A number of current
\nand former European officials or employees are investigated in this case. The
\nscandal began in December, with the arrest of the Greek MEP Eva Kaili, who is
\naccused of accepting large sums of money to peddle influence for Qatar and
\nMorocco at the European Parliament.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
FOOTBALL FIFA will ask every country in the
\nworld to name a stadium in honour of Pel\u00e9, said FIFA president Gianni Infantino,
\nattending the funeral in Santos, Brazil. Edson Arantes do Nascimento by his
\nreal name, Pel\u00e9, the only footballer who won three world titles, died aged 82.
\nThroughout his career he scored almost 1,300 goals. He was designated
\nfootballer of the 20th century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999,
\nPlayer of the Century by FIFA in 2000 and won the Golden Ball. (EE, AMP)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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