* NEWS *

EDITORIAL

Imperial hubris – Fritz Stern – Ziua – read here -
“The United States, with its claims of exceptionalism, is usually thought of as free of historical analogies. But comparisons with the fate of earlier empires are becoming more common”.

POLITICS

President Basescu mocks Teodor Melescanu – Anca Hriban, R.I.P. & D.I. – Ziua – read here -
“Teodor Melescanu, Romania's defense minister and at present an interim minister of justice as well, announced yesterday that he might not obey the Romanian President's request for the start of criminal investigations against 8 former and present ministers, because the documents received from Presidency did not include the actual criminal inquiry records against the accused. According to the law, such documents are to reach the minister of justice so that the latter would address the Prosecutor's Office“.

PSD leaders make room for ex PM – Cristian Andrei – Ziua – read here -
“The reactivation of Adrian Nastase, formerly a president of the PSD (Social-Democrat Party) and also a PM, has become a priority for his adepts who wish him to get a reliable position on top of the party”.

Flawed career of prosecutor Codrut Olaru – S.A. – Ziua – read here -
“In today's edition you can read about the career of prosecutor Codrut Olaru. Although accused of abuse at work, favors for criminals and traffic of influence, Traian Basescu appointed him head of the DIICOT (Department to Counter International Organized Criminality and Terrorism)”.

LATEST

Proposal to make bribe for doctors legal – D.M. – Ziua – read here -
“Bribing doctors is so common in Romania that there have even come up proposals to make it legal, according to the BBC. The most recent proposal belongs to the College of Doctors in Cluj, who is asking authorities to modify the legislation in order to allow doctors to get the so-called 'gifts' from patients after the latter have recovered”.