Radio România Internațional

Tag: drug tests

  • July 12, 2024 UPDATE

    July 12, 2024 UPDATE

    WEATHER A code orange alert for extremely hot weather has been issued for Romania’s central, northern and south-eastern regions on Saturday and Sunday whereas the rest of the territory remains under a code red alert. This has been the most significant extreme-weather alert in Romania, where highs are expected to range between 37 and 41 degrees Celsius. The noon reading in Bucharest is expected to stay around 40 degrees. Local and national authorities have been making efforts to diminish the effects of the heatwave that has engulfed Romania. First aid points have been set up in towns and cities across the country in order to help the citizens affected by the extreme heat. The circulation of heavy vehicles has been restricted on motorways in the 28 counties that are presently facing extremely hot weather.

     

    DECREE The Romanian government had to amend an emergency decree on drug testing of drivers amid rising pressure from civil society. Unless the lab tests of biological samples are ready within 72 hours, drivers can have their licenses back. According to the authorities, all drivers are to take a drug test if road traffic agents have found illegal substances in their vehicle or in their possession. Should final lab tests turn positive, drivers will lose their licenses again and will bear the full consequences of the law.

     

    BEARS The Chamber of Deputies is to convene in an emergency session next week to endorse a number of legislative amendments regarding the bear population of Romania. According to one such proposal, some 500 bears that endanger human lives are expected to be shot. Romanian forests are home to some 8,000 bears, although their natural habitat can sustain only half this figure, former Environment Minister Tánczos Barna told Radio Romania. The rise in bear population and their ever-growing presence close to human settlements were submitted to public debate again after a young girl was tragically killed a couple of days ago in a popular hiking trail.

     

    WAGES The net average wages in Romania dropped to 1,025 Euros in May, roughly 10 Euros less compared to April, the National Institute for Statistics says. The gross average wage stood at 1,671 EUROS, 35 EUROS less than in April 2024. The highest average wages have been reported in the IT sector, including the provision of IT services – 2,250 EUROS, while the lowest average wages (550 Euros) have been reported in the clothing manufacturing industry.

    (bill)

  • April 13, 2016

    April 13, 2016

    CONSULTATIONS — Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis continues his consultations with the parliamentary parties on the national security laws. Today, president Iohannis has talks with representatives of the National Party for the Progress of Romania, ALDE and those of the national minorities. On Tuesday, the Romanian president met representatives of the Social-Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania. The Social-Democrats stated their readiness to participated in drafting the package of national security laws. The leader of the Social-Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea proposed the establishment of a think tank including two members of each party and representatives of relevant institutions in the field. The Liberals agreed to join the think tank to be set up by Parliament and advocated the need for a stronger parliamentary control of secret services in Romania. In turn, the leader of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor stood for the control of the secret services to be rethought.



    IMF — Washington hosts the annual spring meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, rallying thousands of government officials, NGOs, academics and representatives of the private sector. IMF director general, Christine Lagarde said that the countries were recovering from the crisis, but the recovery was slow, too fragile and there were increasing risks related to the stability of that trend. On the other hand, the IMF has revised upward its estimates on the Romanian economic growth rate this year, from 3.9% to 4.2%, according to the report made public by the IMF. The IMF warns that Romania’s economic upsurge this year will be followed by a drop down to 3.6% next year, which however, will be one of the highest growth rates in Europe.



    DEBT DISCHARGE LAW — The Chamber of Deputies of Romania’s Parliament, which is the decision-maker, has today voted on the debt discharge law article by article. It will cast its final vote today as well. The law was submitted again to Parliament for debate and approval by the head of state. The law refers only to loans which did not exceed 250,000 euros when they were given. Furthermore, people who contracted a loan in order to buy or have a dwelling built and those who guaranteed a loan by a dwelling can make use of the debt discharge law. On the other hand, people who are already subject to forced execution can also benefit from that law. Bank representatives said recently that a long series of trial would probably take place and the debt discharge law would be challenged for each client.



    INVENTIONS — 40 countries are attending the international exhibition of inventions in Geneva lasting over April 12th-17th. Romania is present with 30 inventions at the 44th exhibition. Tomorrow, the Romanian stand will host the second Romanian-Swiss business forum and on Friday, a round table-discussion involving the Romanian participants will be held. Last year, the Romanian inventors won 28 medals, of which 18 were gold and 7 silver.



    DAKINO — The 25th DaKINO International Film Festival is under way in Bucharest between April 12th and 17th. The festival starts with the screening for the first in Romania of the film Room directed by Lenni Abrahamson, starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. The film got three nominations to the Oscar awards and Brie Larson, won the 2016 Oscar for best actress in a leading role, the Golden Globe and BAFTA awards. Bucharest is also the venue for the Cinepolitica International Film Festival. The films to be screened include The Fool directed by Yuriy Bykov and The White Knights directed by Joachim Lafosse.



    DRUG TESTS— Romanian biathlonist Eva Tofalvi tested positive for meldonium at a drug test in Oslo in March, the International Biathlon Union has announced. She participated in five winter Olympic Games, as well as in European and World Biathlon Championships. Her greatest performance is victory at the World Cup in 2008. Eva Tofalvi is the second Romanian athlete who tested positive for meldonium after athlete Mirela Lavric tested positive at the World Indoor Championships in Portland in March, where she had won the bronze medal with the 4×400 m relay team. Mirela Lavric is one of the most talented Romanian athletes in the last ten years, having won medals at under 21 competitions. Meldonium has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency list of substances banned from use by athletes since January 1st.


    (Translated by A.M. Palcu)