CABINET – The Romanian President is expected to make a decision in the nomination of three new ministers in the Dancila cabinet reshuffle. Former Justice Minister Tudorel Toader is slated to be replaced by Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Eugen Nicolicea. The Social Democratic Party withdrew its support for Toader after the latter refused to push the controversial executive orders on changing the Criminal Code. In addition, the PM submitted to the presidency the resignations of Minister for European Funds Rovana Plumb and the Minister for Romanians Abroad, Natalia Intotero. The two are running for the European Parliament in May. Proposals for the two positions are Deputy Oana Florea and Senator Liviu Brailoiu respectively.<\/p>\n
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TERRORISM \u2013 A local Islamist movement is responsible for the deadly attacks that left almost 300 dead and about 500 injured on Sunday in Sri Lanka, as announced on Monday by the government spokesperson. The authorities are investigating possible ties with foreign organizations. The US State Department warned that more attacks were possible in the country, with little or no warning. On Sunday, within a few hours, several bombs exploded in three churches and four luxury hotels on the island. The police arrested at least 24 people in relation to the attacks, which have not been claimed. A general curfew was lifted Monday morning, but schools and universities are still closed. The airport is open, with heightened security measures.<\/p>\n
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TENNIS \u2013 France qualified for the finals of the Fed Cup after defeating Romania 3-2 on Sunday in Rouen. In a dramatic game, the pair Caroline Garcia\/Kristina Mladenovic defeated the Romanian pair Simona Halep\/Monica Niculescu 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals. On Sunday, in the first singles game, Halep defeated Garcia, then Pauline Parmentier defeated Irina Begu. On Saturday, also in the singles, Halep defeated Mladenovic, while Garcia defeated Mihaela Buzarnescu. In November, France and Australia are playing for the title. Romania will be playing in the quarter finals of the 2020 editions, where they will be possibly facing the Czech Republic, the US, Spain, or Germany.<\/p>\n
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KIEV \u2013 EU officials sent their congratulations to the winner of the presidential elections in Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, noting that the vote emphasized commitment to democratic values in this country at war, situated on the borders of the Union. Russian PM Dmitri Medvedev said that Moscow has an opportunity to improve relations with Ukraine with this new presidency. Television actor Zelenski won in the run-off elections with about thee quarters of the vote on Sunday. Incumbent Petro Poroshenko admitted defeat and congratulated his former opponent. The president is elected for a five year term. The winner is a very popular figure as a result of a television series where he plays a history teacher who becomes the president. Ukraine this year will also hold parliamentary election in October this year.<\/p>\n
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BUCHAREST \u2013 Romania’s Constitutional Court is expected to issue a verdict today in the case in which Speaker of the Senate Calin Popescu-Tariceanu was acquitted for false testimony. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate accused him of lying in testimony given in the case of the transfer of a stretch of forest and a farm to rightful owners from the Romanian state. Prosecutors appealed in November last year the initial decision, with the court proceedings being postponed several times. The Senate speaker called the trial a set-up. Also being prosecuted in this trial under similar charges is Dorin Marian, former head of the Presidential Administration in 2000.<\/p>\n
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