Drobeta Turnu Severin Mayor Joins UNPR
Constantin Gherghe, mayor of Drobeta Turnu Severin, joined the National Union for the Progress of Romania Monday.
Gherghe left the Democratic Liberal Party six months ago to join the Popular Movement Party. (Romania Libera)
Gasoline Prices In Romania Rose More Than 11% In January-September
Gasoline prices in Romania increased by more than 11% in the first nine months of the year, while diesel fuel prices rose by nearly 8%, the biggest fuel price increases in the EU .
Romanians bought gasoline for nearly EUR1.25/liter (RON5.604/liter) in January, the price stood at EUR1.386/liter(RON6.11/liter) early October, 11.15% higher.
The next biggest price increases were recorded in Croatia, with a 3.98% price increase, followed by Austria with a 3.13% price increase. (Adevarul)
EU Steps Up Crackdown On Tax Evasion
European Union finance ministers agreed Tuesday on a far-reaching crackdown on tax evasion that will bring the bloc’s standards on par with global rules by 2017, although Austria is getting an extra year to build up a data-exchange system with its banks.
The agreement extends an existing law, known as the Administrative Cooperation Directive, under which member states already share information on income from employment, directors’ fees, life insurance, pensions and property to cover all forms of financial income, including dividends, interest and account balances.
Once implemented, the law will bring the EU to into line with a standard agreed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, through which countries and jurisdictions can automatically exchange information, making it easier to identify people cheating on their taxes by moving money abroad.
The new EU law also aims to ensure that member states share as much information among themselves as they have committed to share with the U.S. under its Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. (Romania Libera)
Food Safety Authority Says 384 Animals Died Of Blue Tongue Disease In Romania
According to food safety authorities, 384 animals have died in Romania of the blue tongue disease, which has so far affected 1,895 cattle, sheep and goats in the country.
The illness has affected animals in 26 counties, predominantly in Valcea. Buzau county has reported 259 cases, Gorj – 244, Vrancea – 187, and Prahova – 162. The food safety authority estimates only 0.02% of livestock prone to the disease in the 26 counties has been affected.(Evenimentul Zilei)
Nearly Twenty People Returning From Ebola Affected Areas, Under Medical Supervision
Nearly 20 people who came to Romania from areas affected by the Ebola epidemic are under strict supervision of Romanian authorities, the health minister said.
Minister Nicolae Banicioiu said the people in question are Romanian citizens who have returned to the country.
All 18 people are under permanent monitoring by county public health departments for 21 days, which is the Ebola virus incubation period.
(Adevarul)
Pfizer Breast Cancer Drug To Get FDA Priority Review
Pfizer said Monday an experimental breast cancer treatment will be given an accelerated review by US regulators, speeding up the process for potential approval, AFP reported.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted priority review for palbociclib, which would treat certain postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer, the US pharmaceutical giant said.
Under the priority review status, the FDA accelerates the review time from 10 months to a goal of six months, with a decision on approval expected by April 13, 2015, it said.
In April, Pfizer said a clinical trial had shown palbociclib slows the growth of advanced cancer. Administered with another drug already on the market, letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, the treatment stops cancer growth for 20 months on average, it said. (Romania Libera)