June 24, 2014
A roundup of domestic and international news.
România Internațional, 24.06.2014, 00:00
Head of the Romanian Intelligence Service, George Maior, will be heard in Parliament later today in relation to a corruption case involving Mircea Basescu, the Romanian President’s brother. The MPs want to know if the Romanian Intelligence Service has informed President Basescu on his brother’s activities. Mircea Basescu was detained Thursday evening by anti-corruption prosecutors being suspected of trading in influence, specifically of receiving 250,000 euros in February 2012 in order to intervene at judiciary level for a milder sentence of an underworld boss that was sentenced to seven years and six months in jail that same year. On Monday, President Basescu denied having received any information on his brother’s activities from the Romanian Intelligence Service. More on this issue, after the news.
Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean is taking part in a 2-day meeting in Brussels with his counterparts from the NATO contries. This is the last NATO forerign ministerial meeting ahead of the Summit in the UK, due on September 4 and 5, 2014. NATO’s support to Ukraine and the implications of Russia’s actions, the future of Afghanistan and preparations for the NATO Summit in Wales top the agenda of the two-day meeting of the Alliance’s 28 foreign ministers which has started today.
Trade unions in the health sector have again picketed the Health Ministry’s headquarters in Bucharest today, asking for a 10% increase in salaries and the unblocking of vacant jobs. Trade union leaders say that unless the Government answers their demands, they will stage protest actions countrywide. A new round of negotiations has been scheduled to take place in the following days at the Finace Ministry’s headquarters.
A joint meeting of the Romanian and Israeli governments, chaired by prime ministers Victor Ponta and Benjamin Netanyahu, respectively, is today being held in Jerusalem. According to the Radio Romania correspondent, the meeting’s main goal is to boost bilateral dialogue, given that Israel is a strategic partner of Romania in the Middle East. Bilateral accords are to be signed at the meeting, in sectors like security, economy and culture.
The Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament has started this week with the preliminary rounds. WTA 3rd ranked, Romanian Simona Halep, seeded first in the competition is today playing the 91st ranked Teliana Pereira of Brazil. Also today, Sorana Carstea, will play against Victori Duval of the US, Alexandra Cadantu will meet Italian Camila Giorgi and Irina Begu will be up against Virginie Razzano of France.
