Romania Sets Up Lab For Testing Cellphone Radiation
Romania’s telecom regulator ANCOM will be able to perform tests in a laboratory to be opened Monday in Prejmer (central county of Brasov) to see whether the level of radiation from cellular phones sold in the country observes the European Union standards regarding health and user safety for cellphone radiation exposure.
The lab was built by a consortium comprising Comtest Voluntari and Thermo Fix Brasov. The contract, worth RON18.1 million (VAT included), was awarded early 2013 and targeted the design, construction, supply, installation and integration of specific equipment, as well as training the telecom regulator’s staff that will work in the lab.
Financing was covered from the regulator’s own revenue. (Evenimentul Zilei)
PM Ponta Promises No Tax Increases
Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Monday assured Romanians that the government will not increase taxes and will keep the 16% flat tax rate unchanged.
“I want everybody to stay calm and relax because there will be no tax increases, but, on the contrary, the government ought to ready the budget for 2015-2016,” said Ponta, adding the budget aims to continue the country’s economic growth and related social measures.
He also said he is open to dialog with Romania’s newly elected President Klaus Iohannis. (Jurnalul National)
Romania’s Ponta Vows To Stay On As Prime Minister
Victor Ponta, who lost the presidential elections to Sibiu’s mayor Klaus Iohannis, said he won’t step down as head of Romania’s Government.
Ponta, who is also head of the ruling Social Democratic Party, also said he is determined to continue to run the government alongside his current political partners.
Some social democrats recently said Ponta’s campaign manager and PSD’s executive president, Liviu Dragnea, as well as Ponta himself ought to resign following the party’s poor results at the presidential elections.
Klaus Iohannis, the mayor of Transylvanian city of Sibiu and leader of the center-right liberal party, defeated Ponta in the second round of presidential elections held Sunday, November 16. (Romania Libera)
International Media Comment On Iohannis’ “Surprising Victory”
The International media have largely commented on Romania’s presidential elections, noting the “surprising” victory of Klaus Iohannis.
BBC News online wrote that “opposition candidate Klaus Iohannis won a surprise victory in Romania’s presidential election, defeating PM Victor Ponta after a tight race.” It also wrote that “Romania is one of the most corrupt EU states, something the center-right Iohannis vowed to tackle.”
According to The Guardian, “Romania’s prime minister conceded defeat on Sunday night after an extremely close presidential runoff against an ethnic German Transylvanian mayor. Victor Ponta had been the favorite to win, but was narrowly edged out by Klaus Iohannis, the mayor of the city of Sibiu, who has promised a crackdown on corruption.”
“In a surprising turnaround, Prime Minister Victor Ponta conceded Romania’s presidential runoff election late Sunday night to the center-right candidate, Klaus Iohannis, the mayor of the Transylvanian city of Sibiu,” wrote The New York Times. (Evenimentul Zilei)