June 10, 2014 UPDATE
A roundup of domestic and international news
România Internațional, 10.06.2014, 12:03
The Republic of Moldova’s signing of the Association Agreement with the EU could create difficulties in the relationship with Russia — sources with the Russian Foreign Ministry said at the end of the meetings in Chisinau and Tiraspol between the secretary of state with the Russian Foreign Ministry, Grigori Karasin, and the Moldovan officials. The talks at the Moldovan economy ministry with the Moldovan foreign minister, Natalia Gherman, and with the Moldovan PM Iurie Leanca, focused on bilateral cooperation and also on the negotiation process regarding the Transdniester issue settling, in the context of the conclusion, on Monday in Vienna, of a new round of talks in “5+2” format.
The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered the setting up of humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to leave the conflict areas in the east of the country, as announced by the presidency in Kiev on Tuesday. Ukrainian troops have underway what they refer to as ‘anti-terror operations’ in the pro-Russian regions in the east and south east, where the separatist insurgence has left over 200 rebels, soldiers and civilians dead. At the same time, Ukraine announced that they reached an understanding with Moscow on a few points in the plan proposed by President Poroshenko to end the violence, according to Reuters. After the initial discussions, the Ukrainian leader said he hoped that the fighting would stop by the end of the week.
The former speaker of the Israeli Parliament, Reuven Rivlin, representing the Likud party (the ruling nationalist right wing party) is the new president of Israel. He was designated president by secret vote by the 120 MPs of the Knesset. Reuven Rivlin succeeds 90 year old Shimon Peres, whose mandate expires next month.
Tuesday morning’s latest attack by Taliban fighters against the main Pakistani airport, in Karachi, ended with no casualties, AFP reports. The Sunday and Monday Taliban attacks at that airport left 37 dead. The Pakistani Taliban, the main enemy of the government, announced that the attacks were in retaliation for the killing last year of one of their commanders in a US drone strike.
Five soldiers with ISAF, the international security force in Afghanistan, were killed in a friendly fire incident in Zabul Province, in the south of the country, according to a press release by the coalition which provided no details on the issue. According to Afghani police and insurgents, the five were killed in a helicopter strike by the allies. This is the worst loss by NATO forces since five British troops were killed in April in a helicopter crash in Kandahar, the main Taliban stronghold. NATO troops have handed over control to Afghan troops in June 2013, and since then provided mainly training and support mission, mostly by air.
Underground train employees in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, have announced they will go off their strike, at the same time saying that they will decide on Wednesday whether the stoppage resumes or not on Thursday, the opening day of the World Football Championship, according to AFP. The strikers demand that employees fired after protests should be reinstated. The strike has already caused major disruptions in Brazil’s largest city, and risks creating even worse difficulties in case it is resumed on Thursday. The 20 million inhabitant city will play host on Thursday to the opening match, that between Brazil and Croatia. The match, attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and 11 heads of state, is expected to be watched by at least a billion people worldwide.
