January 5, 2023

january 5, 2023 A roundup of domestic and international news

FUNDS - Romania absorbed 11.3 billion EUR last year, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă has announced, saying this is the highest level of absorption since Romania acceseed European funding. In 2023, Romania wants to mantain or exceed the current level, which will require solidarity, dialogue with social partners, coordination between ministries and political stability.



FLU - Health authorities might declare a flu epidemic today in light of rising infection rate reported in the last three weeks. Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said that, in that event, no restrictions would be introduced for citizens, although special measures would be taken at the level of hospitals, such as restricting visitation rights during the interval. Health safety measures addressing medical staff and patients in hospitals will be increased, including through the wearing of face masks and epidemiological screening, in order to prevent people suffering from respiratory diseases from coming to work.



UKRAINE - Criticism is surging in Russia after the Ukrainian attack on a makeshift barracks in Makiiva, eastern Ukraine, which killed some 89 people. The Ukrainian General Staff has confirmed that its forces carried out attacks using HIMARS systems, although it claims the attacks killed some 400 people and wounded another 300. The United States did not comment on these figures, although the spokesman of the National Security Council, John Kirby, says the US administration has no regret. "This is war. Ukrainians were invaded and they respond", Kirby pointed out, adding that "Russian soldiers on Ukrainian territory make them a legitimate target".



MOLDOVA - Moldova's relation with Romania has nothing to do with our country's relations with Russia, good or bad, but rely on our way of moving forward and on our appreciation for the values that bind us, Moldova's ambassador in Bucharest, Victor Chirilă, has said. "Romania is a country that will help the Republic of Moldova in any situation, no conditions attached", the Moldovan diplomat also told a radio show. At the same time, relations with Bucharest are on an upward trend. "We've seen just how important Romania is for Moldova, not just last year, but also during the pandemic. Romania stood with us and provided us with assistance to cope with the pandemic", ambassador Chirilă went on to say. The Moldovan diplomat also recalled Romania's support in the first months of 2022, when the Republic of Moldova faced an energy crisis. In turn, Romania's ambassador in Chișinău, Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, said that the two countries "share a special relation based on the unity of language, history and culture". The Romanian diplomat in turn mentioned the initiative of the Foreign Ministers of Romania, Germany and France to launch the Support Platform for the Republic of Moldova, a multidimensional instrument of support allowing the international community to help Moldova. Ambassador Țurcanu promised Bucharest would continue to actively get involved at European and international levels to muster a robust financial, technical and political assistance for the Republic of Moldova.



FUNERAL - Over 100 thousand Christians today attended the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict 16th at the Vatican. Benedict passed away December 31, 2022, nearly 10 years after stepping down from the Holy See. According to Radio Romania's correspondent in Rome, Italian president Sergio Mattarella and Germany's president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as well as representatives of royal houses, ministers and international officials attended the event. Representatives of other Christian churches, including the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as leaders of other religions attended the funeral. The Romanian Orthodox Church was represented by the Romanian Bishop of Italy, Siluan. Pope Francis presided the mass, while cardinal Giovanni Battista Re was the main celebrant at the altar. The funeral sermon was delivered by Pope Francis.



TENNIS - Romanian tennis player Irina Begu on Thursday advanced to the quarterfinals of the Adelaide International 1 tournament underway in Australia, totaling some 826 thousand USD in total prizes. Begu ousted Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in the previous round, 6-3, 6-0. Begu (34 WTA) will take on Veronika Kudermetova (25 WTA) of Russia in the next round. Also on Thursday, Sorana Cîrstea will play the top seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in the round of 16. (VP)



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Publicat: 2023-01-05 13:55:00
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