Morning headlines – January 25th 2022

Coronavirus and vaccines

• Vaccination in Romania: In the last 24 hours, more than 12.000 people got vaccinated. Totally, more than 8,05 million people got the vaccine, with more than 7,94 getting both doses and 2,30 of them getting the third dose. (Press release)
• Coronavirus in Romania: In the last 24 hours, there were recorded 12.082 SARS CoV-2 cases, 40 deaths, and in ICU there are now 629 people hospitalized. (Press release)
• The vaccines for kids arrive in Romania. 114.000 vaccine doses from Pfizer BioNTech company dedicated to the vaccination of kids aged 5-11 years, starting 26th January, arrive in Romania on Tuesday. (Press Release)

Global political and military events

• Joe Biden discussed with European leaders about the military capabilities in the region. Joseph Biden has discussed, on Monday evening, with Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, as well as with Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, Olaf Sholz, Germany’s chancellor, the Italian prime-minister, Mario Draghi, Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, Boris Johnson, Great Britain’s prime-minister, and NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg. The leaders asked for a unitary position, the consolidation of Eastern Europe’s capabilities and the continuation of the diplomatic efforts. (Mediafax)
• The United States is putting 8.500 troops on standby for Eastern Europe dislocation. Around 8.500 US soldiers were put on standby for a possible dislocation to Eastern Europe, given the Russian troops presence at the border with Ukraine, said, on Monday, Pentagon’s spokesperson, John Kirby. (AP)
• Macron proposes Putin a peace plan. Emmanuel Macron will discuss with Vladimir Putin on the phone these days, when he will propose a peace plan given the security situation at the Ukrainian-Russian border. (AFP)
• Normandy Format meeting. The representatives of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine will meet in Paris to find solutions for the implementation of the Minsk agreements. (AFP)
• Russia and China’s plans for a new global order. The Ukrainian crisis is part of Russia and China’s plans to reduce US’s power globally and to make the world safer for autocratic regimes, given the political `interferences` attributed to Washington, says FT. (FT)
• Greece and Turkey, hit by Elpida storm: Athena is covered by snow. A snow layer covered Greece’s capital, from the Acropolis hill to the southern coast, disturbing the air traffic, stopping the public transport and leaving tens of drivers stuck over night on a highway. (Mediafax)
• Seven American soldiers were wounded after a failed landing of an F-35C aircraft. The pilot catapulted himself during the landing on USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier’s deck, in the South China Sea. (Mediafax)\
• Putin discussed with the Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel, said Kremlin on Monday. Also, the two agreed to `activate` contacts on different levels and consolidate the bilateral connections. (Mediafax)
• Italy: No winner in the first round of the presidential elections. On Monday, no winner was elected for the first round of the presidential elections in Italy, after the main parties governing the country announced that their parliamentarians will have white ballots. (Hotnews)

Romania’s defence and security

• Romania's oil and gas imports increased by more than 50%. Romania imported crude oil and natural gas in the first ten months of 2021, amounting to 2.831 billion euros, up 52.6% compared to the same period last year, according to data centralized by the National Institute of Statistics. (Digi24)
• Romania remains among the three most corrupt countries in the EU. The Corruption Perceptions Index 2021 published by Transparency International on Tuesday shows that Romania, with only 45 points out of 100, remains among the three most corrupt states in the European Union, along with Hungary (43 points) and Bulgaria (42 points) points. (Hotnews)
• Romania borrows the most expensive in the EU. If in February 2021 Romania accessed loans with an interest rate of 2.65%, at the end of 2021 it increased to 5.37%. The last loan made by the Ministry of Finance was 710 million lei, due in 2029. (Digi24)