August 14, 2018

Over 60 protesters and gendarmes injured in Friday's protests filed for damages; The Romanian economy went up 4% in the first semester

Ştefan Stoica, 14.08.2018, 13:19

PROTESTS — Today is the last day on which the people injured in Fridays protests in Bucharest can file for damages. This far, over 60 people, including gendarmes, have filed complaints. Prosecutors continue investigations into the forceful intervention of security forces against protesters. The Federation of Romanian Associations in Europe called on the authorities to identify with due urgency the people who instigated violence on August 10th. The federation called on the president, the prime minister and on state institutions to generate urgently a strategy to put a stop to the exodus of Romanians from the country, at the same time encouraging the return of the diaspora. They also call on the political class to stop using the diaspora as a weapon in their domestic strife. On Monday, people were back on the streets to protest in Bucharest.

BUCHAREST — The Romanian economy went up 4% in the first semester of the year as against the same period last year, according to the National Institute of Statistics. In the economic forecast for spring, published in May, the EC has maintained its 4.5% estimate regarding Romanias economic growth, with an expected growth of 3.9% next year. The World Bank announced recently that the Romanian economy will have a growth of 5.1% in 2018, but warned that this is above potential. The IMF expects the growth figure to be at 5%.

BUCHAREST — The Romanian military navy celebrates today heroes fallen in the defense of the countrys independence and sovereignty, according to the Defense Ministry. On this occasion, sailors took part in the military and religions ceremony organized at the Monument of Sailors in Constanta. The most important naval exercise of the year will take place on Wednesday, on the Romanian Day of the Navy, held on August 15th each year, with events being held in Constanta, Mangalia, Braila, Tulcea and Bucharest.

ATTACK- Several pedestrians were injured after a driver ran over a checkpoint around the British Parliament building, and was arrested. The area around Parliament has been cordoned off. The anti-terror branch of Scotland Yard has opened an investigation. The UK has been hit by a wave of attacks in 2017, which left 36 people dead and over 200 injured. 4 of the attacks have been claimed by ISIS.

TENNIS- Romanian tennis player Ana Bogdan, 82nd seeded, plays today against Russian Ekaterina Makarova, 49th seeded, in the first round of the WTA tournament in Cincinnati, OH, with 2.8 million dollars in prize money. Irina Begu was eliminated in the first round by Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. She goes next to play against competition favorite Simona Halep. In the doubles, the Romanian-Russian pair Raluca Olaru/ Vera Zvonareva, qualified on Onday to the eight finals, playing against the Czech couple Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova. Irina Begu pairs up with Monica Niculescu for the first doubles game in Cincinnati, against the Australian-American pair Asleigh Barty/ CoCo Vandeweghe.