Morning headlines – January 20th 2021

Coronavirus and vaccines

• The EU starts the verification of the Russian vaccine. Russia has asked for the authorization of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in the EU, said, Wednesday, the Russian sovereign investment fund, which was part of serum’s development, says Mediafax. The European Medicines Agency said that it will give more information when the vaccine’s verification will start.
• Hungary approves the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. The Hungarian regulation body in the sanitarian field had approved the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik, said on Wednesday the Index.ru agency, quoting unknown sources, says Reuters.
• The EU is recognizing the quick COVID-19 tests. The European leaders have agreed, on Wednesday, to mutually recognize the quick COVID-19 tests.
• In Romania, more than 38.000 people were vaccinated against COVID-19, Wednesday. Almost 3.200 got revaccinated.
• Cashiers in banks and supermarkets are included in vaccination phase IIIA. People working in the private sector and who are directly engaging with many citizens will be included in the phase IIIA of the vaccination, says, Wednesday, prime-minister Florin Citu, when the Government reunion was over. He said that among these people are also the cashiers in banks and supermarkets. About the moment this phase will start, he said that will happen as soon as possible.
• Restrictions are being loosened in Bucharest. According to the Financial Magazine, Traian Berbeceanu, the prefect of the Capital said, Wednesday night that if the infection rate in Bucharest will stay below 3/1000 inhabitants, the restaurants, bars, cinemas, theatres and game rooms will open, Saturday, with a 30% capacity for each unit.

Global military and political events

• The US reenters the Paris Agreement and will continue to be part of WHO. The American president, Joe Biden, has signed, Wednesday, only a few hours after taking power, 17 executive orders, among them some related to US’s comeback to the Paris Agreement on climate changes, blocking of the decision to withdraw from the WHO, stopping the construction of the wall with Mexico and protecting the young immigrants, says Reuters and AFP. The EU was pleased with the decision.
• Trump’s closest allies, sanctioned by China. China has imposed sanctions to 28 Americans, including the former State Secretary, Mike Pompeo, for “crazy actions and serious interferences in China’s domestic affairs”, said the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, says Reuters.
• Bulgaria is no longer building the nuclear power plant in Belene. The Government of Bulgaria has decided, on Wednesday, to build a new reactor at the current nuclear power plant from Kozlodui, abandoning the project involving the second nuclear power plant from Belene, says AFP.
• Victims after the explosion in Madrid. Three people have died and eight were hurt after the explosion of a condo building in Madrid. The police did not offer information about what provoked the explosion.
• A military airplane crashed in New York. Three military from the National Guard have died after a UH-60 Black Hawk for medical evacuation, which took off from the Rochester airport, has crashed.

Romania’s defence and security

• We have money the EU is saving for us, but we need reforms. The Minister of European Investments and Projects, Cristian Ghinea, has stated that the money from the European Union, allotted to Romania through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan is “not normal European funds, is not following cohesion regulations”, and all this country must do is to propose a series of “reforms, (…) bi-annual targets”, to report to the European Commission to get these amounts of money, says Agerpres.
• The Section for Investigating Crimes within Justice is to be disestablished. The government has approved, in Wednesday’s meeting, a memorandum which foresees, among others, to disestablish the Section for Investigation Crimes within Justice, until the end of February, says Agerpres.
• Romanians will get the best price for energy. The National Authority for Energy Regulations decided the Romanians will get the best price from their energy supplier, with no subscription, until June 30^th, says Digi24.