INFECTIONS – The wave of
\nrespiratory infections and flu is intensifying on a weekly basis. Experts warn
\nthe upward trend will tone down starting February at the earliest. During this
\ninterval, doctors say a larger number of respiratory infections, particularly
\nin children, is to be expected. On the other hand, the first cases of Flurona -
\nwhich is a simultaneous infection with both flu and COVID-19, have been
\nreported in Romania, whereas a 74-year-old woman has died. Doctors say that Flurona
\ninfections have a higher degree of severe evolution. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
DEFENSE – Defense
\nMinister Angel T\u00eelv\u0103r on Tuesday met with Romanian servicemen deployed to the
\nmilitary base in Bemowo Piskie in Poland, and had talks with his Polish
\ncounterpart, Mariusz Blazczak, about the situation in the region due to the
\nRussian aggression in Ukraine. Minister T\u00eelv\u0103r pointed out Romania and Poland
\ndisplayed solidarity with Ukrainian refugees. Minister Angel T\u00eelv\u0103r was
\naccompanied by the chief of general staff, General Daniel Petrescu. On Monday,
\nthe two officials met with Romanian servicemen deployed to the NATO base in Pristina,
\nKosovo, and discussed with the Kosovo Force commander, General Angelo Michele
\nRistuccia about the security developments in the region. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
GOVERNMENT – Romania’s Prime
\nMinister, Nicolae Ciuc\u0103, said in today’s government
\nsession that total investment stood at some 14.6 billion EUR at the end of
\n2022, a record high for Romania, which confirms an upward trend of the Romanian
\neconomy. Nicolae Ciuc\u0103 quoted a recent
\nstudy of the Economic Department of Harvard Academy which states that Romania
\nhas become the 19th most complex and sophisticated economy in the
\nworld, with a potential for growth. Results by the end of 2030 should push
\nRomania in the top 10 countries. As regards foreign direct investment, the
\nPrime Minister said that in 2022 their volume exceeded the level of 2008, the
\nyear that marked the highest such level. Last but not least, Nicolae Ciuc\u0103
\nhighlighted the contribution of European funds. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
NATIONAL BANK – The National
\nBank of Romania today increased the monetary policy interest rate to 7%, in an
\nattempt to keep inflation in check. Central Bank experts expect the annual
\ninflation rate to slightly go down this quarter and the downward trend to pick
\nup speed in the following months. Starting this summer, the inflation rate
\nshould drop below 10%, bank experts also say. The new increase in the monetary
\npolicy interest rate is likely to trigger an increase in the interest rates of
\ncommercial banks, particularly in case of loans. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
IRAN -
\nIran’s ambassador in Romania was summoned at the Foreign Ministry headquarters
\non Tuesday, where he was notified regarding Romania’s firm opposition to the
\nenforcement of the capital sentence, irrespective of circumstances, and to the
\nhanging of protesters by Teheran authorities. The decision follows the hanging
\nof two Iranian protesters on January 7 in Teheran. The Romanian Foreign Ministry
\nexpressed deep concern with the continuous violation of human rights in Iran,
\nincluding the sentencing of protesters for political reasons, in the absence of
\na fair trial, in the context of nationwide protests triggered in September
\n2022, caused by the death of Masha Amini. The Romanian Foreign Ministry
\nreminded the Iranian ambassador regarding the conclusions of the Foreign
\nAffairs Council meeting of December 12, 2022, with a focus on all issues that
\ndid not receive a constructive response from Teheran authorities. The Romanian
\nMFA also pointed out that the said aspects in the conclusions still need to be
\nresolved, failure of which would negative impact Iran’s relations with the EU. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
GOLDEN
\nGLOBES – Steven Spielberg’s The
\nFabelmans and Martin McDonagh’s The
\nBanshees of Inisherin have won the top awards in Tuesday’s Golden Globes
\nAwards Gala. Austin Butler, the male lead in Elvis (directed by Baz Luhrmann) was designated best actor in a
\ndrama, whereas Cate Blanchett scooped the award for best actress for her role in
\nTar (directed by Todd Field). The
\naward for best scenario wnet to Martin McDonagh for The Banshees of Inisherin. Santiago Mitre’s Argentina, 1985 got the award for best foreign motion picture,
\nwhile Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
\ngot the award for best animation. House
\nof the Dragon got the award for best series. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr
\nZelensky, a former actor himself, conveyed a recorded message on this occasion.
\n(VP)<\/p>\n
\n
\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":105208,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[37312,31421,29527,35519,36714],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-106409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsflash","tag-defense-meeting","tag-golden-globes","tag-government-meeting","tag-infections","tag-monetary-policy-interest-rate"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n