Study: Over 60% Of Youths Aged 14 To 18 Drank Alcohol In Last Month
Over 60% of Romanian youths aged 14 to 18 either drank alcohol over the last month or they are currently drinking alcohol, according to a study by Open-I Research.
The study shows the probability of youths drinking alcohol on a regular basis increases if they have family issues or if their parents or friends drink alcohol.
Moreover, alcohol consumption tends to be associated with the consumption of other substances too, such as tobacco and marijuana.
According to the study, 54% of youths drink alcohol mostly along with their friends at school or outside school, compared with 13% who drink alcohol alone. (Adevarul)
Energy Holding CE Hunedoara Went Insolvent In January
Romanian state-run energy holding Complexul Energetic Hunedoara went insolvent in early January 2016 and GMC SPRL Craiova was appointed judicial administrator.
The company is in a critical situation and runs the risk of being unable to pay salaries.
GMC recently denounced the collective labor contract, saying it is burdensome for the company, but also mentioned other shady contracts in its recent report.
CE Hunedoara holds two thermal power plants, Mintia and Paroseni, and operates four pitcoal mines in Jiu Valley, namely, Livezeni, Lonea, Vulcan and Uricani, respectively.
CE Hunedoara was set up in 2012, through the merger of state-owned thermal power producers Deva and Paroseni, and produces electricity using coal. The company holds approximately 5% of Romania’s electricity production and employs 6,257 people.(Adevarul)
Court Of Accounts Issues Report On Performance Of Romania Electricity Market
Romania’s energy regulator ANRE contests a recent report of the Court of Accounts which unveiled major irregularities in consumers’ electricity bills.
ANRE said in a statement that the Court of Accounts’ audit report regarding the performance of the local electricity market does not present updated and objective conclusions, as it provides mixed data from two different regulatory periods. Therefore, ANRE said it filed objections against the Court of Accounts’ report.
The report says electricity consumers in Romania ended up covering losses of EUR1.8 billion due to the lack of investments by energy companies. The operators, either power producers, companies in the distribution and transport sector, covered their errors and thefts in the system with the help of household and non-household consumers.
It also says consumers’ bills were boosted both by power losses in electricity grids and by investments made by distribution operators for the very purpose of reducing losses, with the latter proving to be inefficient. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Liberal Catalin Predoiu To Run For Bucharest Mayor
The National Liberal Party officially designated Catalin Predoiu as its candidate for mayor of capital Bucharest.
Liberals said Vasile Blaga will be actively involved in favour of Predoiu in the Bucharest mayoral race.
In turn, Predoiu will hold on to Teodor Atanasiu who is political coordinator of the Bucharest branch of the Liberal Party. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romanian President Iohannis Met With Ukrainian President Poroshenko
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis welcomed Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, on Thursday, as part of Poroshenko’s official visit to Bucharest.
Poroshenko on Thursday said he supports Romania’s initiative for the creation of a NATO flotilla in the Black Sea zone.
Iohannis, in turn, assured Romania is ready to support Ukraine in its domestic reforms needed to honour its commitments upon its association with the European Union.
The Ukrainian President’s agenda included meetings with Senate Speaker Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, Chamber of Deputies Speaker Valeriu Zgonea, and Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos. (Puterea)