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rich 9.com.ph Romanians went to the polls for the first in a succession of elections. Anti-reform and anti-EU candidates and parties were previously expected to poll well in the presidential and parliamentary elections. Romania has featured less and less in EU politics in recent years. At first glance, this is surprising considering that it is the sixth-largest country in the European Union in terms of population size and of huge strategic significance given its location on the southeastern flank of both the bloc and NATO . This is particularly relevant when one considers that, of all EU member states, Romania has by far the longest shared border with Ukraine . It is also the most important base for US and NATO forces in southeastern Europe. Moreover, it faces military threats like no other country in the EU: Russia's Shahed drones regularly explode either over or on Romanian territory . In 2023, the government in Bucharest went so far as to construct air raid shelters for residents in the Danube Delta. Romania's silence on international matters However, unlike Poland or the Baltic states, Romania contributes very little to debates about how to handle Russia and support Ukraine. Romania's general silence on this and other important political matters is largely down to President Klaus Iohannis , who has been in office for 10 years. Silence and a low profile on both the domestic and international political stage have become his trademark — even though the Romanian constitution sees the president as the country's most important voice at home and an important foreign policy player abroad. From election promises to political passiveness This is the situation in Romania as the country heads into two weeks of elections. The first round of the presidential election will take place on Sunday. A week later (December 1), Romanians will elect a new parliament, and a week after that (December 8), there will be a runoff in the presidential election if — as expected — none of the candidates gets an absolute majority in the first round. Having served two terms, President Iohannis is no longer able to run. His support in society and political circles has hit rock bottom anyway. Ten years ago, he ran for president promising root-and-branch reform and to liberate the country from evils such as corruption . But Iohannis, who is a member of Romania's German minority and was previously mayor of Sibiu in Transylvania, never really found his feet in the presidential palace or Bucharest's political jungle, and soon slipped into a passive role. It is against this backdrop that nationalist and anti-reform forces have gained strength. Social Democratic candidate ahead in the polls The favorite going into Sunday's first round of the presidential election was Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Back in 1990, after the overthrow of the communist Ceausescu regime the previous year, the PSD — which then operated under a different name — was a melting pot for former regime officials. It has dominated Romania's political landscape for 35 years, making it the only party that survived regime change in the former communist bloc. The shadow of corruption In contrast to what its name suggests, the PSD does not have a social democratic orientation, but generally adopts right-wing populist, nationalist positions mixed with left-wing social rhetoric. For many urban Romanians, the PSD is the epitome of corruption in the post-communist state . In rural regions in the east and south, however, it remains the dominant political force. Ciolacu, who is currently at about 24% in the opinion polls, is a PSD veteran, having worked his way up to the top of the party and government from his early beginnings in provincial politics in the early 1990s. He represents the conservative nationalist wing of the party and has on numerous occasions been linked to cases of alleged corruption, including a recent scandal surrounding a luxury trip. Nevertheless, many Romanians see Ciolacu as a dependable PSD politician who guarantees stability and calm and never forgets the "ordinary people." Should Ciolacu be elected president, it is unlikely that Romania will take an anti-European turn — as has been the case under Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary. It is instead likely that Romania will remain a loyal member of the EU and NATO abroad, but that necessary justice and anti-corruption reforms will be stopped at home. Ultranationalist in second place in the polls Things will look very different indeed if George Simion is elected president. Simion, who was polling at about 15% before the election, is head of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR). He is an anti-European ultranationalist, although he has hardly anything in common with the last two generations of Romanian nationalists, who were firmly rooted in the past. The radical right leader has copied a lot from politicians like Donald Trump and Viktor Orban and garnered a lot of attention as a result of his social media activities. He is banned from entering Moldova and Ukraine because he claims parts of their territory should belong to Romania. Simion is also suspected of having links to the Russian secret service, although no proof of this has ever been provided. Progressive also in the running Neck and neck with Simion at 15% and vying for second place in the first round of the presidential election was Elena Lasconi, chairwoman of the progressive liberal Save Romania Union (USR). A former star journalist and presenter on a private TV channel, Lasconi entered politics a few years ago and was elected mayor of the southern Romanian town of Campulung. Her party, the USR, was established about a decade ago as an anti-corruption civic movement and stood for progressive, liberal policies. For several years now, however, the USR has become bogged down in everyday party politics and repeated fights about the direction the party should take. The USR left a government coalition formed in 2020 with the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) after only 10 months following a dispute about judicial reform. Balancing act and family dispute Elena Lasconi's political style and election campaign reflected the problems of the USR. She was trying to manage a balancing act between progressive politics and being in touch with ordinary people. A few years ago, she voted against gay marriage in a referendum initiated by the Orthodox churches, provoking a very public family dispute — her daughter identifies as "part of the LGBTQ community". Lasconi now speaks out in favor of civil partnerships for members of the LGBTQ community but remains opposed to gay marriage. When speaking in public, she wears a large cross around her neck and clothes that are inspired by traditional Romanian costumes. Who would win a runoff? Should it come to a runoff on December 8, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu would in all likelihood prefer to stand against George Simion. As was the case in 2000, when former Communist Ion Iliescu faced off against ultranationalist Corneliu Vadim Tudor, it is likely that many Romanians would opt for what they see as the "lesser evil," and that is Ciolacu. If, on the other hand, Lasconi makes it into the second round, two contrasting Romanias would be pitted against each other: city against country, tradition against modernism, a rigid apparatus against the forces of reform. The forecasts for the outcome of the parliamentary election on December 1 tell a remarkably similar tale: Recent polls suggest that the PSD will get 25% to 35% of the vote and both the nationalist AUR and the national liberal USR 15% to 21%. This article was originally published in German.WASHINGTON — Scott Bessent, the veteran hedge fund manager who Donald Trump picked to become the next Treasury secretary, wants tariffs, a shadow chair for the Federal Reserve and maybe a weaker dollar. If confirmed by the Senate, he will have a sprawling remit: oversee public financing, economic sanctions and the Internal Revenue Service; engage in international economic diplomacy; and help ensure the smooth functioning of financial markets. Bessent, who currently runs macro hedge fund Key Square Group LP, will be crucial to implementing the president-elect’s agenda, which includes renewing some of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts that expire next year and loosening financial regulations. Below is a roundup of what Bessent has said over the past year on policies that will influence the U.S. economy. Federal Reserve Trump has said that a president should have some say over interest rates and monetary policy, a move that would undercut the longstanding independence the central bank has enjoyed from the executive branch. Bessent doesn’t seem to disagree with Trump, and even criticized the Fed himself in September after its jumbo rate cut. —“If you were concerned about the integrity of the institution, you would not have done it. You especially would have not done a jumbo cut. In reputation, everything is optics ... tell me on what planet is it conceivable that waiting two months is make or break, versus the integrity of the institution.” — Bloomberg News, Oct. 11 Bessent will also have a hand in helping Trump choose a replacement for Fed Chair Jerome Powell when his term expires in May 2026, and at least three other appointments to the board in the next four years. Trump has flirted with the idea of firing Powell before, but Bessent has floated a fresh idea. —“You could do the earliest Fed nomination and create a shadow Fed chair. And based on the concept of forward guidance, no one is really going to care what Jerome Powell has to say anymore.” — Barron’s interview, Oct. 9. —“If you believe forward guidance is good, why can’t you give forward guidance on who the Fed chair is going to be. You could do one of two things: The current Fed chair could be reappointed, so you’ve created a path there. Or the new Fed chair nominee would give forward guidance beyond the current Fed chair’s sell-by date.” — Bloomberg Radio on Oct. 11. Tariffs Trump has vowed to impose massive new tariffs, eyeing a duty of 10% to 20% on all foreign goods and 60% or higher on goods coming from China. On the campaign trail, he also made threats of even-higher rates on specific countries and products. While Bessent has at times suggested that Trump is signaling a maximalist approach as a negotiation tactic, in an op-ed Nov. 15 for Fox News he signaled strong support for tariffs. —“For too long, the conventional wisdom has rejected the use of tariffs as a tool of both economic and foreign policy. However, like Alexander Hamilton, we should not be afraid to use the power of tariffs to improve the livelihoods of American families and businesses.” —“Tariffs are also a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives. Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defense, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing cooperation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” Markets Treasury secretaries have traditionally refrained from attributing market gains to the work of their bosses since that would mean taking the blame for a downturn — not to mention that the stock, currency and bond markets move for often unrelated, and even inexplicable, reasons. But when markets go up, Trump enjoys a boast. In a Nov. 11 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal under the headline “Markets Hail Trump’s Economics,” Bessent did the job for Trump. —“Asset prices are fickle, and long-term economic performance is the ultimate measuring stick. But recent days prove markets’ unambiguous embrace of the Trump 2.0 economic vision. Markets are signaling expectations of higher growth, lower volatility and inflation, and a revitalized economy for all Americans.” —“The rally in equities was particularly unusual given that interest rates also moved higher. The combination of the steepening yield curve, stable inflation expectations and the rise in stocks indicates that markets expect the Trump agenda to foster noninflationary growth that will drive private investment.” Dollar policy It’s no secret that Trump likes the dollar’s role as the world’s reserve asset, and the accompanying economic and geopolitical power. But he also wants a weak enough foreign-exchange rate to buoy the U.S. manufacturing sector. The dueling forces may become a pillar of his administration’s economic agenda, and as Treasury chief, Bessent will oversee U.S. currency policy. —“The reserve currency can go up and down based on the market. I believe that if you have good economic polices, you’re naturally going to have a strong dollar.” — Oct. 13 interview in Financial Times —“It’s a market reaction and he understands that tariffs cause a stronger dollar, so a weaker dollar with tariffs is an economic abnormality. We could see what’s called the dollar smile. What we have now is high interest rates and high deficit and inflation above target. If you get inflation down ... interest rates could come down, and you would have a market-based dollar depreciation. But in terms of an over-weak dollar policy, I wouldn’t expect that at all.” — Nov. 5 Bloomberg TV interview —“Trump’s election drove the largest single-day increase in the U.S. dollar in more than two years, and third largest in the last decade. This is a vote of confidence in U.S. leadership internationally and in the dollar as the world’s reserve currency.” — Nov. 11 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal Debt and taxes Bessent will also oversee management of the government’s nearly $29 trillion debt pile. He’s said Trump will aim to shrink federal budget deficits to 3% of gross domestic product, from roughly 6.2% at the end of the latest fiscal year. —“I think we’re going to do it through deregulation, energy dominance and re-privatizing the economy ... I think a priority is going to be turning off the [Inflation Reduction Act] ... I don’t think anyone is going to have a problem with slowing down or cutting off this IRA.” — Nov. 6 interview with CNBC —Issuing ultra long-term bonds “would have been a great idea,” Bessent said in a June 7 Bloomberg interview. “When rates are very low, you should extend duration,” he said. “I think it’s very unfortunate what Secretary Yellen’s doing. She’s financing at the front end, and she’s making a bet on the carry trade, which is not good risk management.” Bessent will also play a key role shepherding the extension of Trump’s signature 2017 tax cuts, many of which are set to expire in 2025. —“I’ve already been in conversations with a lot of the Republicans who will chair those committees and I can tell you in the Republican Congress, especially in the House, there’s a big appetite for pay-fors. So it will be a negotiation.” — Nov. 6 CNBC interview ——— (With assistance from Saleha Mohsin.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Julie Appleby | KFF Health News Unauthorized switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, say federal regulators . The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August. Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage? “They really have this tightrope to walk,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. “The more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.” CMS said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative. In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching. And CMS has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized plan-switching from accessing the ACA marketplace. Still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. For example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended. Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during mid-December — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year. “Hit the ground running,” said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the anti-fraud protections CMS put in place, Nolan said. “Bottom line is: Fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said. Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. They can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and state ACA websites , consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators. CMS says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time. Organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director of Florida Covering Kids & Families, a program based at the University of South Florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering Florida navigator program. Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it. “Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. The problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. Brokers generally blamed much of the problem on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. Though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone. Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. Some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify. Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. The practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; Democrats demanded more oversight and punishment of rogue agents, while Republicans said fraud attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. The fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the Trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the entire year. The actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, used by 31 states . The remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. Related Articles Health | Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’ Health | US food supply still one of the safest in the world despite recent outbreaks, FDA says Health | More foods are making us sick: What to know as foodborne outbreaks hit Health | At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall Health | Which health insurance plan may be right for you? For its part, CMS says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. The agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. Still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. They say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. “There will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. She said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done. “We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “They are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” The agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information.Why Aston Villa still miss Douglas Luiz ahead of his return with Juventus in the Champions League - despite playing just 312 minutes since his £42m summer move to Italy Douglas Luiz returns to Villa Park for the first time since his transfer to Juventus The Brazilian helped guide Aston Villa to the Champions League last campaign Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all on bombshell chat with Mo Salah - LISTEN NOW to It's All Kicking Off! New episodes every Monday and Thursday By TOM COLLOMOSSE Published: 17:49 EST, 26 November 2024 | Updated: 17:50 EST, 26 November 2024 e-mail View comments It sums up Aston Villa 's tumultuous summer window that there will be no trace of their most significant transfer deal when they meet Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday. Knowing they needed a big sale in June to avoid a possible 10-point deduction for breaking Premier League spending rules, Villa allowed key midfielder Douglas Luiz to join Juventus in a £42million agreement that included Samuel Iling Jr and Enzo Barrenechea, who were fringe players for the Serie A side. Iling Jr and Barrenechea were despatched on loan to Bologna and Valencia respectively, with boss Unai Emery believing neither can deliver in the Premier League this season. Luiz misses this clash through injury but even if he had been fit, the Brazilian would probably not have played a major role. Luiz has played only 312 minutes under new Juventus coach Thiago Motta, starting just twice. It is understood he has struggled with the intensity of some of Motta's training sessions, especially the drills on defensive positioning. Indeed, Luiz has been pushed to the fringes in Italy to such an extent that supporters have wondered whether he might return to Villa Park – though Emery batted away that idea on Tuesday. 'He must meet the challenge there with his quality and help them to get their objective collectively,' he said. 'I am not thinking about him wanting to leave there, but I don't know. I think he is now injured.' The irony is that Luiz might have come in extremely handy for Villa right now. Douglas Luiz's 10 goals and 10 assists last season were key in Villa's march to fourth place But the Brazilian has played just 312 minutes under new coach Thiago Motta, starting just twice Luiz might have come in extremely handy for Unai Emery's stuttering Aston Villa right now His 10 goals and 10 assists last season were a key factor in Villa's march to fourth place but the relationship with boss Unai Emery had become somewhat tense by the end. Anyone who saw Emery bawling in Luiz's face during the first half of last season's Europa Conference League tie against Olympiacos at Villa Park, which Villa lost 4-2, would have realised that not everything in the garden was rosy. Emery orders his players to operate at maximum focus not just in games and training sessions, but during the long afternoon analysis meetings, too. 'Your lifestyle outside the club is reflected inside,' Emery has said. 'The mentality is to think football and show high commitment to your club and your team-mates.' While there is no suggestion Emery was uncomfortable with Luiz's lifestyle, he and his staff had started to believe the 26-year-old had taken his eye off the ball ever so slightly. That is why, when Villa knew they would need to make at least one big sale to meet profitability and sustainability regulations, Luiz was the man to go. For Juventus, it was a handy way to move Iling Jr and Barrenechea off the books. Expect Villa to try to do the same across the next two or three windows. While those reasons may have been sound, Villa have not come close to finding a central midfield pairing as effective as the Luiz-Boubacar Kamara axis. Each needed the other, with Luiz's levels dropping after Kamara was injured, but they dovetailed beautifully. With Kamara still struggling with injury, the current pairing of Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana have not yet reached the heights of Kamara and Luiz. They gave Emery control in the middle and Villa have not rediscovered it. 'We must be stronger defensively in everything, starting with the ball and trying to dominate matches,' said Emery. 'But I have confidence because the players have showed the capacity to respond and react quickly.' While this is no time to panic, Villa are not what they were a year ago. In early December, Emery's men defeated Manchester City and Arsenal in the space of four days. Douglas Luiz returns to Villa Park for the first time since his summer move on Wednesday Tyrone Mings (left) and Ollie Watkins train ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie This term, though they are only three points adrift of Chelsea in third spot, and well-placed in the Champions League, their only 'statement' victory was over Bayern Munich. They have lost to Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool, and only drew with a faltering Manchester United side in the final part of Erik ten Hag's reign. After tackling Juve, Villa travel to Chelsea on Sunday before they face winnable home matches against Brentford and Southampton. While they should have enough to see off those teams, it is tempting to wonder whether, under Emery, Villa will be capable again of reaching the heights of last season. Consider the evidence. Transfer chief Monchi has said publicly that Villa's best way of generating revenue is through player sales. Luiz's departure helped Villa fall on the right side of the line but his replacements have not yet reproduced his output. Read More Aston Villa had the Premier League's most effective offside trap but now it's being exposed Even if Villa qualify for the Champions League again, PSR guidelines may mean at least one more high-profile sale. If they not, there may be more. Then there is Emery's ultra-intense approach. Though successful, it wrings every last drop of mental and physical energy from the squad. Villa may well beat Juventus on Wednesday and will surely finish comfortably in the top half of the table again. Yet Villa's league performances across the year in 2023 were exceptional – 85 points from 42 games, a fraction more than two per match, with 48 goals conceded. Across 2024, their average is 1.5 per game and they have already let in 53 goals, which shows how difficult it is to maintain certain standards. Understandably, most Villa supporters will not hear of any doubts about the Emery regime, and there are surely more good times ahead but in six winless matches, tiny cracks have started to appear. Emery needs to fix them fast. Champions League Unai Emery Juventus Share or comment on this article: Why Aston Villa still miss Douglas Luiz ahead of his return with Juventus in the Champions League - despite playing just 312 minutes since his £42m summer move to Italy e-mail Add commentPublished 4:48 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2024 By Data Skrive The Duke Blue Devils and the Oklahoma Sooners hit the court for one of six games on the college basketball slate on Wednesday that include a ranked team. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.‘Rahul Gandhi Not the Leader of INDIA Bloc’: Samajwadi Party Leader Ram Gopal Yadav on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s Desire To Lead Multi-Party Alliance

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