August 23, 2016 UPDATE
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Newsroom, 23.08.2016, 12:30
CORRUPTION Anti-corruption prosecutors in Romania have decided a 30- day preventive detention for the vice-president of the National Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices, Lazar Iordache, who has been charged with bribery and influence peddling. According to the Anti-corruption Directorate in April and June this year, Lazar Iordache promised a high Health Ministry official 5% of the money allotted for two hospitals. On April 28th Iordache allegedly gave the official about 28 thousand euros so that he may intervene with other officials in the ministry for the money to be disbursed. The money pledged and given by Iordache was part of the funds the ministry allotted for the two hospitals, including for building a water treatment facility.
EXPLOSION A team of experts is investigating the circumstances of the explosion that killed a man wounding three others at the Navodari refinery in southeastern Romania. Two nitrogen tanks and a gas pump went off at the refinery causing a blaze. The authorities intervened promptly, rescued the personnel and put out the fire. According to experts, there are no gas emissions dangerous to people in the region.
TALKS German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian PM Matteo Renzi discussed on Monday on board an Italian aircraft carrier about the impact of Britain’s decision to leave the bloc. Angela Merkel has said that the EU has to prove that it is able to prosper without Britain. She recalled that the EU had been born from some of the “darkest moments” of European history but added that in the face of “enormous challenges” it must now work together, strengthening internal and external borders, boosting economic growth and providing jobs for its young people. “We respect the choice made by the citizens of Britain but we want to write a future chapter“, Italian PM Matteo Renzi has said in his turn. ‘Europe after Brexit will relaunch the powerful ideals of unity and peace, freedom and dreams’, the Italian official has also said. The meeting in Italy was held three weeks ahead of the EU summit in Bratislava, which is seen as crucial for the future of the Union.
PROTEST Romanian road freight and passenger carriers have announced they will run at low speed at least one hour per day on the main roads across the country. They are discontented mainly because car insurance premiums have doubled from 2,000 to more than 4,000 Euros within a year. Consequently, road carriers in Romania report high costs, adding they can no longer be competitive at a European level. The line associations call on the government to freeze car insurance premiums and have warned that if measures are not taken urgently, they might call an all-out strike on September 15th. Also, animal breeders took to the streets and continue to protest in front of the Government headquarters. They say they will give up protests only when they receive subsides for 2015 in their entirety.
