• COVID-19: 720 new cases, one death (media)
• Latifi: Healthcare system prepared to handle increased hospitalisations (Koha)
• The two-day rate of COVID-19 infections affects roughly 400 children (RFE)
• Government pledges €75 million to subsidise energy for citizens and businesses (Kallxo)
• LDK leader Abdixhiku opposes electricity price increase (media)
• AAK ponders calling protests to oppose electricity price increase (Klan/RTK)
• Lajcak, Peach discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
• Hovenier: KFOR enjoys U.S.'s steadfast support (media)
• Xhacka at UN SC: Women in Kosovo raped, killed as part of ethnic cleansing campaign (Koha/Klan)

COVID-19: 720 new cases, one death (media)

720 new cases with COVID-19 and one death from the virus were confirmed in the last 24 hours in Kosovo. 159 recoveries were also confirmed during this period.

There are 5,678 active cases with COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Latifi: Healthcare system prepared to handle increased hospitalisations (Koha)

Minister of Health, Rifat Latifi, said Kosovo’s healthcare system is prepared to adequately respond to an increase of the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations.

Latifi made the comments in a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier who underlined the close and fruitful cooperation with Kosovo and the U.S. support towards the vaccination process.

Latifi added that Kosovo possesses sufficient doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for all citizens and spoke of the Ministry's plan to improve healthcare services for all communities in Kosovo.

The two-day rate of COVID-19 infections affects roughly 400 children (RFE)

In the last two days, 27 percent of all new coronavirus cases have been children and youth from 0-19 years of age, Radio Free Europe reported.

The total number of new infections over 17 and 18 January indicate that out of 1,448 cases, 65 were children ages 0-9 and 317 ages 10-19.

Kosovo health authorities said that up to 15 children a day are currently seeking medical attention for coronavirus at the paediatric ward of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo but that normally their condition is not serious and not in need of hospitalisation. At present, four children with a more serious condition are hospitalised.

Government pledges €75 million to subsidise energy for citizens and businesses (Kallxo)

Kosovo's Ministry of Economy announced that it would commit 75 million euros to subsidize the citizens and businesses to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis following the Energy Regulatory Office's (ERO) proposal to increase in electricity tariffs.

In a statement, the Ministry said that "given the extraordinary and unprecedented situation in the European electricity markets that has affected Kosovo, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo at the request of the Ministry of Economy has committed to subsidize the citizens and businesses of Kosovo, thus protecting them from tariff increases. Subsidies represent revenues for the sector that do not need to be covered by electricity tariffs and, consequently, mitigate the increase in electricity tariffs."

LDK leader Abdixhiku opposes electricity price increase (media)

Lumir Abdixhiku, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said the proposal for the increase of electricity price is "discriminatory" and any responsible MP would oppose such a plan.

"Irresponsibility has a price. The delayed response costs. And two weeks from now, this ignorance and irresponsibility of the Government, apart from the 100 million already wasted, will be paid by more than half of Kosovo families through their monthly power bills. And every month from now on, one-third of the average salary in Kosovo will go to electricity. Now this is a crisis," Abdixhiku said on Facebook.

AAK ponders calling protests to oppose electricity price increase (Klan/RTK)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) will be looking into the possibility of calling protests against the increase of electricity price.

The party said that while the north of Kosovo does not pay electricity bills at all, it would be "unfair" and "intolerable" to increase the price for the rest of the citizens.

Lajcak, Peach discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)

The EU Special Representative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, met Sir Stuart Peach, United Kingdom's Special Envoy to the Western Balkans.

"Had a good and comprehensive discussion about the Dialogue and regional issues with UK envoy for the Western Balkans Sir Stuart Peach in Brussels today," Lajcak wrote on Twitter.

Hovenier: KFOR enjoys U.S.'s steadfast support (media)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, met the Commander of KFOR, Major General Ferenc Kajari.

Hovenier said that he reaffirmed the United States' "steadfast, continued support for KFOR." He added on Twitter: "U.S. troop contributions at Bondsteel, one of the largest among allies, is proof of our commitment to @NATO_KFOR's indispensable role ensuring regional stability."

Xhacka at UN SC: Women in Kosovo raped, killed as part of ethnic cleansing campaign (Koha/Klan)

Albania's Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka said at the meeting of the UN Security Council on women, peace and security that there can be no peace without women and that this is the main priority of the country's agenda during its tenure as a member of the Council.

Xhacka said it is a sad truth that while men are mostly responsible for fighting, it is women who bear the biggest brunt. "I do not say this as a cliche. I say this as a lesson that we Albanians have learnt from our history. We saw this in Kosovo. Women were left behind to take care of their families, women were left to pick up the pieces. Women were raped, tortured and killed as intentional targets of a criminal campaign of ethnic cleansing," she said.