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Coronavirus situation:
* COVID-19 has been confirmed for another 1,388 people, with 36 deaths, the highest daily death since the pandemic began. A record number of deaths (16) has also been found in neighboring Latvia.
* The UK has started vaccinating its population with COVID-19. Vaccination is mainly administered to people over 80 years of age, nursing home workers, and health and social care workers. Britain has asked for 40 million. dose of 20 million. people. After the first dose of the vaccine, a second vaccine will be needed 21 days later. The first batch consists of 800 thousand. dose of vaccine. The UK is one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, with more than 61,000 people dying from the disease. people.
* Australian authorities extended the ban on international travel and cruises for another three months, until March 17, due to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Government program. The new government’s program has been presented to the Seimas. The Cabinet of Ministers will receive the authority to act when approved by the Seimas, which may happen on Thursday. Prime Minister-designate Ingrida Šimonytė said her government “does not come to make revolutions,” so some work will continue. He promised to initiate a national agreement on education early in the quarter. The outgoing prime minister, Saulius Skvernelis, criticized the program as unambitious and lacking in new ideas.
Pension growth. The Seimas established the procedure for the indexation of pensions. Changes were needed because pensions would not have increased under current economic recession provisions. According to the new law, pensions will increase an average of € 34 in 2021.
Good to the Ministry. The Competition Council has allocated 45 thousand LTL to the Ministry of Justice. a fine of 1000 euros for the “minimum” of its notary fees, as it restricted competition. The ministry must also rectify the violation within six months. The Ministry of Justice undertakes to appeal the decision. According to her, the abolition of notary services at minimum and fixed fees can make services for socially vulnerable people more expensive and less accessible, and the practice of minimum fees applies in other states as well.
Christmas presents. A population survey showed that despite the economic uncertainty from the pandemic, they plan to spend more money on gifts this year than last year. The average price of a gift should reach 27.8 euros, 13 percent. more than last year, and the total of all gifts is expected to increase from € 99 to € 108.
Changes in the prosecution. At the proposal of the President, the Seimas approved the dismissal of the Attorney General Evaldas Pašilis after the expiration of his mandate. President Gitanas Nausėda has decided not to appoint him for a second term, the name of the new candidate has not yet been announced.
Valinsk Assessment. The Prosecutor’s Office terminated the investigation into the possible incitement to hatred of the former president of Seimas, businessman, presenter Arūnas Valinskas. The forces of order appreciated his statement on the program that people like the Polish Lithuanian election campaigns, Valdemaras Tomaševskis, president of the Union of Christian Families, should be shot. The prosecutor ruled that A. Valinskas may have violated ethical and moral standards, but there were no grounds to prosecute him.
Polish media. Polish state oil company Orlen has acquired Polska Press, the country’s largest local and regional newspaper distribution agency. This is concerning for the state of media freedom, as the Polish ruling law and justice party has already been criticized for turning the media into government spokespersons.
Lukashenko’s anger. Belarus’ authoritarian President Aliaksandr Lukashenko has threatened to appeal the International Olympic Committee’s ban on his participation in Olympic events. The Belarusian National Olympic Committee, led by Lukashenko, imposed sanctions after finding that Belarusian athletes were discriminated against on political grounds. Belarus committee leaders have been banned from participating in Olympic events, including the Olympics, with limited funds.
Chief of the Pentagon. The US media have announced that President-elect Joe Biden intends to appoint the Pentagon’s first black leader, a position that should be filled by Reserve General Lloyd Austin. The nomination must be approved by the Senate and issued by the Upper House of Congress with special permission, as the country has a law that requires retired military personnel to wait seven years before serving as defense secretaries.
Protests in Armenia. Armenian protesters blocked the streets of the capital Yerevan. They announce the launch of a civil disobedience campaign, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian for his deal with Azerbaijan, which transferred control of certain areas of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.
Agreement on Northern Ireland. The UK and the European Union have announced an agreement on post-Brexit trade management with Northern Ireland, which will become the UK’s only land border with the Community from next year. This agreement has given a bit more optimism that both sides will also be able to negotiate trade after the UK’s withdrawal.
The height of Everest. China and Nepal have agreed on the height of Mount Everest: its new official height is 8,848.86 m, slightly higher than what Nepal had determined based on its previous measurement and about four meters higher than that of China.
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