Elementary School Pupils Could Learn To Play Chess At School Starting This Fall
Children attending primary schools will be able to learn how to play chess, starting this fall, within several programs carried out by experts with the Romanian Chess Federation, the Education Ministry said.
Education Minister Remus Pricopie approved Monday, through order of the minister, the school curricula for the optional subject “Education through chess,” for the first and second school year. (Curentul)
Doctor Says Everybody Should Get Tested For HIV, Hepatitis B & C Every Five Years
Doctor Streinu-Cercel said everybody should get tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C every five years, especially in case of risky behaviors including tattoos, body piercings and unprotected sex.
He also said that people who were operated on or underwent blood transfusions before the anti-communist revolution of 1989 must get tested periodically. (Adevarul)
Three Conpet Managers To Be Sacked Due To Public Procurement Flaws
Minister-delegate for Energy Razvan Nicolescu asked the general manager of Romanian state-run oil transporter Conpet Ploiesti (COTE.RO) to dismiss three managers of the company, following public procurement flaws.
The three managers are Narcis Florin Stoica, deputy general manager, Nicolae Dobromir, operations department manager and Vasile Crisan, head of logistics and procurement department.
According to a press release of the Energy Department, most irregularities stem from organizing bids for the acquisition of railway transport services, a contract exceeding EUR10 million, by favoring certain economic operators. (Romania Libera)
Romania Ranked Last By Absorption Of EU Structural Funds End-2013
Romania is ranked last in the European Union regarding the absorption of EU structural funds at the end of 2013, according to the most recent EU statistics – as per an annual report of the Romanian Academic Society.
By comparison, Bulgaria’s contracting rate of EU structural and cohesion funds reached 112.54% at the end of December 2013 (the contracting rate stood at 106% for all types of project-based financings, including projects for agriculture and fishing). Domestic payments to beneficiaries reached 54% and the absorption rate was 49.46% (51.29% for all types of financings). (Curentul)
Romania’s Grain Output Rose Almost 64% On Year In 2013
Cereal output rose 63.9% in 2013 in Romania which, although ranked among the largest corn and wheat producers in the European Union, places near bottom in terms of yields per hectare, the country’s statistics institute said Monday.
The area cultivated with corn in 2013 accounts for 47.1% of the grain growing area and the area cultivated with wheat makes up 39%. Cereal output rose 63.9% on the year in 2013 due to increased yields per hectare (average output per hectare) for corn (double), barley and two-row barley (+39.8%), wheat (+31.2%) and oat (+16.6%).
Vegetable output rose 12.7% due to increased yields per hectare (+15.3%), although the cultivated area fell 2.2%. Production of oil plants climbed 79.3%, due to an increase in cultivated area (+13.6%) and higher yields per hectare. (Curierul National)