FLU
\nThe Bucharest-based National Centre for the Supervision and Control of
\nTransmissible Diseases with the National Institute of Public Health on Thursday
\nannounced two deaths caused by the flu in Romania. The country’s Health
\nMinister Alexandru Rafila had earlier presented during a news conference the
\nsituation of diagnosed infections at national level but the authorities decided
\nnot to announce an epidemic because the situation isn’t dramatic yet in spite
\nof the growing number of cases. According to Rafila the flu season has expanded
\na few more weeks and the infection rate is presently at 37% with a peak
\nexpected around January 15th and 10th. The number of
\ninfections will go down after that date and the Education Ministry says that
\nstudents will go back to classes after the winter holiday on Monday according
\nto the schedule. Face-covering is recommended not imposed but the infected
\nstudents will not be allowed to attend classes. <\/p>\n
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FUNDS Romania absorbed 11.3 billion EUR last
\nyear, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuc\u0103 has announced, saying this is the highest
\nlevel of absorption since Romania accessed European funding. In 2023, Romania
\nwants to maintain or exceed the current level, which will require solidarity,
\ndialogue with social partners, coordination between ministries and political
\nstability.<\/p>\n
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TENNIS Romanian tennis player Irina Begu on Thursday qualified for the
\nquarterfinals of the Adelaide International 1, an Australian tennis tournament
\nwith more than 826 thousand US dollars in prize money. The Romanian secured a
\n6-3, 6-0 win against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia. Begu, 32, will be up against
\nVeronika Kudermetova of Russia. Also on Thursday Romanian Sorana Cirstea
\nconceded defeat to the competition’s odds-on favourite, Ons Jabeur of Tunisia. <\/p>\n
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MOLDOVA Moldova’s relation with Romania has nothing to do with our
\ncountry’s relations with Russia, good or bad, but rely on our way of moving
\nforward and on our appreciation for the values that bind us, Moldova’s
\nambassador in Bucharest, Victor Chiril\u0103, has said. Romania is a country
\nthat will help the Republic of Moldova in any situation, no conditions
\nattached, the Moldovan diplomat also told a radio show. At the same time,
\nrelations with Bucharest are on an upward trend. We’ve seen just how
\nimportant Romania is for Moldova, not just last year, but also during the
\npandemic. Romania stood with us and provided us with assistance to cope with
\nthe pandemic, ambassador Chiril\u0103 went on to say. The Moldovan diplomat
\nalso recalled Romania’s support in the first months of 2022, when the Republic
\nof Moldova faced an energy crisis. In turn, Romania’s ambassador in Chi\u0219in\u0103u,
\nCristian-Leon \u021aurcanu, said that the two countries share a special relation
\nbased on the unity of language, history and culture. The Romanian
\ndiplomat in turn mentioned the initiative of the Foreign Ministers of Romania,
\nGermany and France to launch the Support Platform for the Republic of Moldova,
\na multidimensional instrument of support allowing the international community
\nto help Moldova. Ambassador \u021aurcanu promised Bucharest would continue to
\nactively get involved at European and international levels to muster a robust
\nfinancial, technical and political assistance for the Republic of Moldova.<\/p>\n
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FUNERAL Over 100 thousand Christians on
\nThursday attended the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict 16th at the Vatican.
\nBenedict passed away on December 31, 2022, nearly 10 years after stepping down
\nfrom the Holy See. According to Radio Romania’s correspondent in Rome, Italian
\npresident Sergio Mattarella and Germany’s president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier,
\nas well as representatives of royal houses, ministers and international
\nofficials attended the event. Representatives of other Christian churches,
\nincluding the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as leaders of other religions
\nattended the funeral. The Romanian Orthodox Church was represented by the
\nRomanian Bishop of Italy, Siluan. Pope Francis presided the mass, while
\ncardinal Giovanni Battista Re was the main celebrant at the altar. The funeral
\nsermon was delivered by Pope Francis.<\/p>\n
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(bill & VP)<\/p>\n
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