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29th Mar 2024

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Mecca only accepts 'immunised' pilgrims at Ramadan

The Saudi hajj and umrah ministry announced that three categories of people would be considered "immunised": those who have received two doses of the vaccine; those administered a single dose in the past 14 days; and people who have recovered from the virus, The Guardian writes. Unlike hajj, the shorter umrah pilgrimage is non-compulsory and can be performed at any time of year.

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Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told

Italian central banker Piero Cipollone in his first monetary policy speech since joining the ECB's board in November, said that the bank should be ready to "swiftly dial back our restrictive monetary policy stance."

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