Morning headlines – January 18th 2022

Coronavirus and vaccines

• Vaccination in Romania: In the last 24 hours, more than 16.000 people got vaccinated. Totally, more than 8,02 million people got the vaccine, with more than 7,92 getting both doses and 2,23 of them getting the third dose. (Press release)
• Coronavirus in Romania: In the last 24 hours, there were recorded 8.118 SARS CoV-2 cases, 17 deaths, and in ICU there are now 485 people hospitalized. (Press release)

Global political and military events

• The German foreign affairs minister visits Moscow. After a visit, on Monday, in Ukraine, Annalena Baerbock got to Moscow for discussions with the Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The two will analyze the security situation between Russia and Ukraine. (Tass)
• Great Britain sends troops and antitank systems to Ukraine. The British Armed Forces sends antitank systems and trainers to prepare the Ukrainian military. The Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that the first light antitank equipment, together with ten military, arrived to Kiev, without specifying the type of weapons. (BBC)
• The British Defence minister invited the Russian counterpart to London. Ben Wallace stated on Monday that he invited the Russian counterpart, Sergey Shoigu, to London, to discuss the detente situation from the Ukrainian-Russian border. (Daily Mail)
• The EU is afraid that Russia will integrate the separatist regions from Ukraine. The European diplomacy’s chief, Josep Borrell, has stated, on Monday, at the European Parliament’s tribune, that there are concerns regarding a `de facto integration` in Russia of the separatists regions uncontrolled by Kiev. (AFP)
• North Korea has confirmed the launch of two ballistic missiles. Pyongyang confirmed on Tuesday morning the launch of two tactical ballistic missiles on Monday from the Pyongyang airport region. The two missiles hit targets on an island in the east. (KCNA)
• Russia and Belarus are preparing for military exercises. Several Russian soldiers and equipment have arrived in Minsk for the February 2022 Union Resolve exercises. Until then, troops will be alerted and inspected. (Tass)
• Russia is inspecting British military facilities. Russian troops will inspect a British military unit on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the 2011 Vienna Document on Increasing Confidence and Security in the OSCE. (Tass)

Romania's defense and security

• The government has announced new electricity and gas caps on February 1. At energy, the ceiling will decrease from 1 lei to 0.8 lei per KW, and the consumption limit will increase from 300 KW to 500 KW for which this price is calculated, resulting in a compensation of 0.291 lei per KW, which will it means that the consumer will be charged 0.68 money per KW. For SMEs, for large, non-household consumers, the price will be capped at one leu per KW. For gas, the ceiling will decrease from 0.37 to 0.31 lei per KW, and the consumption limit for 5 months will increase from 1,000 to 1,500 KW. Also, a 40% discount will be applied, thus ensuring a price of 0.221 lei per KW. For SMEs, schools, hospitals, churches, the food industry will provide a price of 0.37 lei per KW. (Mediafax)
• One million energy bills will be recovered. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca announced on Monday evening, at the end of the coalition meeting, that one million incorrectly issued bills will be recalculated, without the Romanians being disconnected or paying penalties. (Digi24)