August 2, 2014
Click here for a roundup of Romanian and international news
Mihai Pelin, 02.08.2014, 13:43
The President of Romania, Traian Basescu, Friday described as inappropriate the nominations made by PM Victor Ponta for the Budget and Culture ministers. The head of state has announced that he does not reject the nominations, Rozalia Biro, from the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania for Culture Minister and Claudiu Manda, from the Social Democratic Party for Budget Minister, but that he gives PM Ponta until early next week to come up with other nominations. In turn, the latter said he would not make new nominations unless the President rejected the current ones. Rozalia Biro (49) was elected as Senator in 2012 senator and is currently probed into by the National Anti-Corruption Directorate for misuse of authority. Claudiu Manda (39) is currently deputy chairman of the Budget Committee in the Chamber of Deputies.
More than 200 thousand people are spending this weekend on the Romanian seacoast. The resort of Mamaia is hosting today a new impressive carnival with impressive floats and costumes showcasing the life of the 15th Century Moldavian ruler Stephen the Great. Mamaia is the only resort in Europe to offer its tourists free parades, street parties and large-scale outdoor shows throughout the summer season.
US president Obama called on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to stop supporting the pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine, in the first phone talk the two had since the downing of the Malaysian airliner. In turn, Putin told Barack Obama that economic sanctions were counterproductive. According to experts, the sanctions, which deny the access of Russian state-owned banks to the European capital market and ban sales of military equipment and technology, are the harshest on Moscow since the end of the Cold War. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army has resumed its offensive against the pro-Russian insurgents, after having suspended it to facilitate the access of an international mission to the crash site. Dutch and Australian experts accompanied by OSCE observers, are investigating the site in the secessionist-controlled area in east Ukraine. The Boeing 777 carried 298 people and was downed by a missile on July 17th.
In Libya, clashes continue between Libyan forces and Islamist militants, with over 200 people dead since July 13th. The US, UN and several Western countries suspended embassy operations and evacuated their diplomatic personnel. For the moment, the Romanian embassy remains operational and provides assistance and protection to the Romanian citizens in that country.
Gaza sees fresh clashes between Israeli troops and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. On Friday Israel announced the ceasefire agreement with Hamas was no longer valid. According to international news agencies, the parties accused each other of breaking the truce, which was due to last for 72 hours. The US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the breaking of the truce.
Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, is to become No. 2 in the WTA ranking, after the Chinese Na Li, who currently ranks second, has announced she will not participate in the upcoming tournaments, because of an injury. Therefore, Na Li will be outrakned by Simon Halep, who is currently 3rd in the WTA rankings. The world leader is Serena Williams.
