October 15, 2017

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Newsroom, 15.10.2017, 19:09

RESHUFFLE – The Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose has said he will present president Klaus Iohannis, on Monday, with his proposals for the new heads of the development, transport and European funds ministries, namely Paul Stanescu, Felix Stroe and Marius Nica, respectively. The nominations were made on Friday by the Social Democratic Party, the senior partner in the ruling coalition. They will replace Sevil Shhaideh, Rovana Plumb and Razvan Cuc, who have resigned. Shhaideh and Plumb are being investigated by the National Anticorruption Directorate for corruption. Also on Friday, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the Social Democrats ruling partner, said it would not withdraw support for its representative in the cabinet, the minister for liaison with Parliament, Viorel Ilie, who is under investigation for influence peddling.

MEETING – Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu on Tuesday is to attend the Foreign Affairs Council meeting hosted by Luxembourg. According to a Ministry release, the agenda of the meeting includes hot topics on the European agenda, such as the developments in Iran and North Korea and human rights. Ministers will also exchange views over the situation in Turkey and regional security.

MARATHON – Duncan Cheriyot Koech of Kenya won Sundays mens race in the 10th edition of Bucharest International Marathon. Almaz Gelena Erba of Ethiopia won the womens race, where Romanian Ana Veronica Rodean came in third. Over 17,000 people took part in this years edition. Camelia Potec, the chairman of the Romanian Swimming Federation, Ana-Maria Popescu, multiple Olympic epee champion, former rower Camelia Lupascu and former judoka Alina Dumitru were the events ambassadors.

SUMMIT – Attending the Consumer Summit in Bratislava, Romanian authorities got involved in clarifying dual standards of food quality, creating a new mechanism of cooperation to identity products that might have different quality parameters. According to a release of the Agriculture Ministry, Romanian experts will work together with MEPs to come up with new regulations in this field. With a view to analyzing and identifying dual food standards for products manufactured in Western Europe and exported to Eastern Europe, this February Romanian authorities set up a task force made up of representatives of the Agriculture Ministry, the National Food Safety Authority and the Consumer Protection Agency. Romania believes that a new and clear legislation is needed at EU level, in addition to specific and unitary methodologies and a strong cooperation between Member States and the Commission, so as to best respond to issues posed by dual food standards.

THEATRE FESTIVAL – Theatre companies from several countries, including Israel, the United States, France, Poland and Russia are as of Sunday taking part in the second edition of the International Festival of Yiddish Theatre. Hosted by Bucharest, the event offers workshops, conferences, exhibitions and concerts.

ELECTION – The Conservative Peoples Party led by 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, the acting Foreign Minister, has won Sundays election according to exit polls, making Kurz the youngest Prime Minister in the world. Kurz wants to suppress the far right, taking a strong stand against migrants and promising to prevent a new European migration crisis. For over a decade the Social Democrats ruled in Austria alongside the Peoples Party.

TERRORISM – The death toll of Saturdays double-bomb attack in Mogadishu has reached 130, while over 300 are wounded, making it the worst terrorist attack since 2007, when Al-Qaeda jihadists launched the insurgency against the Government backed by the UN and the African Union. The Police says a truck blew off in front of a hotel, hosting government offices, restaurants and retail stores, causing the collapse of several buildings and car fires. Two hours later a second bomb went off in a residential district. Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has called a three-day period of national mourning. Although the attack hasnt been claimed, Al-Qaeda terrorists frequently launch attacks on Mogadishu and its surroundings, France Press reports.

TENNIS – The pair made up of Irina Begu of Romania and Sara Errani of Italy on Sunday won the womens doubles of the WTA tournament in Tianjin, China, after defeating Dalia Jakupovic of Slovenia and Nina Stojanovic of Serbia, 6-4, 6-3 in the finals. Also in China, at the tournament in Shanghai, Horia Tecau of Romania and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands lost 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 to Lukasz Kubot of Poland and Marcelo Melo of Brazil in the semi-finals of the 1000 ATP Masters. Tecau and Rojer will nevertheless play in the ATP Finals to be hosted this month by Singapore. Romanian Simona Halep, WTA no. 1, will also play in the WTA finals. (Translated by V. Palcu)