9 July, 2015
News and Current Affairs
Ştefan Stoica, 09.07.2015, 11:59
Romanian PM Victor Ponta has resumed his full attributions, taken over for the last three weeks by deputy PM Gabriel Oprea. Ponta returned to Romania on Wednesday, after undergoing knee surgery in Turkey late last month. On 15 June, when he had the operation, the official had been summoned for an interview with anti-corruption prosecutors, after being informed ten days previously that he was under official investigation for forgery, aggravated conspiracy to commit tax evasion and money laundering. The alleged violations date back to when he acted as a lawyer and came up as part of another case, one involving his party colleague, Senator Dan Sova.
The Greek government said it would comply with the deadline for submitting to Eurozone partners a concrete and credible plan for reform, in a hope to persuade foreign lenders to release rescue funds. The President of the European Commission had called on Athens to submit its proposal until midnight tonight, allowing the executive to study them ahead of Sunday’s European summit, which many see as Greece’s last chance to sidestep bankruptcy. The Greek state issued an official request for a three year loan from the Eurozone emergency fund, the European Stability Mechanism. In its letter to the community body, the Greek Finance Ministry promised to reform, starting Monday, the taxation and pension system.
The sweltering weather continues over most of Romania’s south and east, where maximums are expected to reach 35 to 37 degrees Celsius, with the heat index above the critical threshold of 80. In the rest of the country, temperatures dropped to between 24 and 33 degrees. Wednesday was the hottest day of the year so far, with over 39 degrees in the west of the country, where two counties were under code red. Isolated torrential rain is expected to come with the relative cooling. The noon reading in Bucharest today was 32 degrees.
Two Romanian tennis players are facing off in Wimbledon today along with their pairs in the doubles. Florin Mergea pairs up with Indian player Rohan Bopanna, while Horia Tecau once again pairs up with Dutch player Jean-Julien Rojer. This could become Tecau’s fourth Wimbledon finals. He qualified so far three times to the finals in tandem with Robert Lindstedt of Sweden, in 2010, ’11 and ’12, losing every time.
Romania’s football vice-champions ASA Tg. Mures won the Supercup after defeating 1-0 standing champions Steaua Bucharest. This is their first national trophy. Steaua and ASA will represent Romania in the Champions League and Europa League groups. Two other Romanian teams play in a continental competition today. FC Botosani plays the return leg with Tskhinvali of Georgia, after tying 1-all at home. Astra Giurgiu plays in the preliminaries to the Europa League.
The vice-chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower chamber of the Romanian Parliament, Liberal Dan Motreanu, was interviewed today by anti-corruption prosecutors. He was placed under investigation last week for influence peddling and abuse of a top position in a political party for undue gains and money laundering. The MP is being investigated as part of the criminal case against George Scutaru, former presidential adviser, who is accused of bribe taking and money laundering, allegedly occurring back in 2008.
US Air Force Secretary Deborah James, speaking to Reuters, said that Russia was the greatest threat to the national security of the US, and that Washington should bolster its military presence across Europe, even if NATO allies are faced with budgetary restraints. She made the statement after visiting various US allies and partners in Europe. Secretary James admitted that Europe faces challenges with migration and economic issues, but emphasized the fact that the North Atlantic alliance and its commitments should be a clear priority for all member states.
