August 19, 2019

The Romanian and US presidents, Klaus Iohannis and Donald Trump, will hold talks on Tuesday in Washington; The Romanian Minister of Health has ordered inspections in psychiatric hospitals across the country after a patient in a clinic in the southeast

Ştefan Stoica, 19.08.2019, 14:00

WASHINGTON — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis will be on a two-day visit to the United States, invited by his counterpart Donald Trump. The two heads of state will hold talks on Tuesday at the White House. On the agenda is, among other things, developing the strategic partnership between the two states, including in matters of energy and security. Iohannis will discuss with Trump energy security matters, considering that the US is worried that Europe would become too dependent on Russia in energy. The Romanian president said he hoped that energy legislation, which has upset foreign investors, including American ones, would be adjusted. At the same time, he said that he would discuss with the American president the issue of eliminating visas for Romanian citizens. In Washington, the head of state will also bring up at the White House the contingents of American enlisted men in Romania, in order to specify that the country can accommodate more of them. At the same time, Iohannis will renew his invitation for Donald Trump to visit Romania. This is the Romanian presidents second visit of his term to the White House, and comes as Romania celebrates this year 30 years since the fall of communism, and 15 years of NATO membership.

BUCHAREST — The Romanian Ministry of Health has ordered inspections in all psychiatric hospitals across the country, as announced by line minister Sorina Pintea. This comes in the aftermath of the tragedy that occurred on Sunday night at a psychiatric hospital in the southeast. The director of the hospital resigned after the report of the investigation run by the ministry at the clinic. Meanwhile, the highest court in Buzau County ordered the 38 year-old attacker to be evaluated in detention to establish mental competence. Prosecutors have initiated indictment procedures for first degree murder against him. The patient in the clinic in Buzau County killed five fellow patients and injured eight using an IV tree.

LONDON — In London, over 100 MPs have called for the emergency recall of the British parliament against fears that PM Boris Johnson could enact a no-deal Brexit on October 31. The British PM meets this week French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. At the same time, documents from the British government leaked to the London press indicated that the executive expects large scale shortages of fuel, food, and, medicines if a no-deal Brexit is enacted. The minister in charge of preparations for separation, Michael Grove, alleges, however, that the documents are being used as a scare tactic by opponents of the Brexit, and that the are made for the worst case scenario, which he said was very unlikely.

BUCHAREST – The Romanian Defense Ministry holds on Monday at Mihail Kogalniceanu 57 Airbase a military ceremony for the departure to Mali of the Carpathian Pumas Detachment. The 120 enlisted men will be backed by four IAR-330 Puma helicopters. Romania will join the UN in supporting Mali in continuing to apply the peace accords, civilian protection, and preventing the return of hostile armed units to populated areas. Their mission starts in mid-October. They will be running medevac, troop and materiel transport, air patrol, and surveillance missions for a year.

HONG KONG — Hundreds of thousands of protesters have gathered on Sunday in Hong Kong, in the 11th week of demonstrations. On the eve of the event, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and EU head of diplomacy Federica Mogherini issued a joint declaration, saying that fundamental freedoms have to be supported. The EU-Canada statement expressed worries that violence would escalate, and urged all sides to ease tensions. Protests in the Asian financial hub threaten to cause a recession, the first in 10 years. They were caused by a plan to pass a bill to facilitate extradition from the territory to mainland China. The bill has been temporarily withdrawn.