September 23, 2016
New protests against the Senates vote, blocking criminal investigation against former deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Oprea are scheduled today in Bucharest and other big cities across the country
Newsroom, 23.09.2016, 12:00
SCANDAL— Former Romanian Deputy Prime Minister, Gabriel Oprea, has sent a request to the Senate Speaker, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, on the resumption of voting in Parliament regarding the start of criminal investigation against him, for manslaughter. On Monday, with only 45 “yeas” and 73 “nays”, the Senators voted against the request made by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate regarding the start of criminal investigation against Oprea. New rallies against the vote in the Senate are scheduled this evening in Bucharest and other big cities across the country. On Thursday, thousands of people took to the street, chanting slogans denouncing corruption in Parliament.
VISIT — Romanian PM Dacian Ciolos held talks on Wednesday, the last day of his visit to New York, with representatives of US companies willing to invest in Romania. The PM presented the American investors the measures taken by the government in an effort to assure economic stability and improve the management of state-owned companies, laying emphasis on cutting red tape. The American investors insisted on the need to have a predictable and transparent business environment in Romania. The PM said the American investors showed interest in developing the capital market in Romania and in the portfolio of the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Dacian Ciolos also attended in New York the UN General Assembly session, had a series of bilateral meetings and participated in the summit on refugees and migrants.
MEASELS EPIDEMIC — The vaccination law is going through an endorsement process, says the Health Ministry, which vehemently criticised the campaigns against the vaccination of children. Three infants died of measles, with doctors saying the immunisation might have prevented the outbreak of measles, which affects almost half of the country. Sources with the Health Ministry say hundreds of cases were registered in 23 of Romania’s counties in the first eight months of the year. Family doctors say the poor measles vaccination coverage is caused by the parents’ refusal to vaccinate their children. They say the danger is increased by the fact that infants under one year of age are not normally vaccinated against the virus, which they can easily contract when getting in direct contact with sick children. Doctors have initiated an awareness raising campaign and have launched an appeal to the population, to make it understand that the vaccines included in the national program are intended to eradicate dangerous and potentially deadly diseases.
RadiRo — Six symphony orchestras from Europe and Asia, alongside prominent conductors and soloists are taking part, in Bucharest, in the third edition of the International Radio Orchestras Festival – RadiRo, which runs until October 1. This year, alongside five European Orchestras- the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the National Radio Orchestra, the festival has among its honorary guests an orchestra from Asia, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra of China, which opens the festival today.
TTIP — Government officials from the EU member states are today meeting in Bratislava (Slovakia), for talks on the draft trade agreements with the US and Canada. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the US (TTIP) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) are facing increasing opposition by some European politicians and protesters. Critics of the agreements say the proposals favour multinational companies, to the detriment of people’s interests and will lead to the dissolution of public services. According to the BBC, France has urged the EU to abandon the TTIP trade deal. The two trade agreements should be approved by all national parliaments of the EU member states.
TENNIS— Romanian tennis player Patricia Tig (WTA No.135) has today qualified for the semi-finals of the Seoul tennis tournament, with 250,000 dollars in prize money up for grabs. Patricia Tig defeated Spanish Sara Sorribes Tormo (WTA No.139) in three sets. Patricia will now face Lara Arruabarrena (WTA No.90). Another Romanian tennis player, Monica Niculescu (WTA No.55) will meet in the quarterfinals Slovakian Jana Cepelova (WTA No.102). In another move, Romania’s Davis Cup team will face the team of Belarus, in the first round of Group 1 Europe/Africa Zone, following Thursday’s draw in London. The match is due between February 3 and 5, 2017, and Romania will be playing away from home. The Romanian and Belarusian team have met only once so far, in 2005, in the first round of the World Group, when Romania defeated Belarus 3-2, on home turf. (Translated by D. Vijeu)
