Newsflash 16.06.2013
For a round-up of domestic and international news, click here
Mihai Pelin, 16.06.2013, 19:17
The 20th edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, the third largest in Europe after those in Edinburgh and Avignon came to an end on Sunday in Sibiu, central Romania. On the festival’s last day actors from Belgium presented a show entitled ‘Pedaling toward the sky’, a mixture of film clips, songs and dance performances. During this edition the festival saw the inauguration of a ‘hall of fame’, where 6 leading names in theatre, including director Silviu Purcarete and theatre critic George Banu were each awarded a star. The Sibiu International Theatre Festival this year included over 350 events, from theatre shows, to street performances, workshops, conferences and book launches.
The White House has announced in a communiqué that the United States is ready to directly cooperate with Iran in the issue of its controversial nuclear programme, after the victory in the presidential election of moderate Hassan Rohani. Such a commitment is mainly aimed at finding a diplomatic solution meant to defuse tension at global level over Iran’s nuclear programme, the US presidency has underlined. Hassan Rohani, a moderate religious leader, has emerged as winner of the presidential election in the first round, a win, which marks the come back of the moderates and the reformers after a long period of time. The successor of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has pledged more flexibility in the dialogue with the West, but the strategic files, such as the nuclear one, or the international relations, remain under the direct authority of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, press agencies have announced.
Romanian president Traian Basescu on Sunday told a private TV channel that he believed the upcoming IMF meeting would acknowledge the fulfillment of most of the obligations Romania assumed in the present accord with that financial institution and would validate the conclusion of a new one. On the other hand, the president believes that, although the government still has no intention of raising pensions and salaries, Romania is no longer facing a period of austerity. The president has also envisaged a better evolution of the economy and of the labor market. Romania has signed an agreement with the IMF, the EU and the World Bank, for a precautionary loan, under which it pledged to reduce arrears and privatize a series of big state companies, particularly in the field of energy and transport.
North Korea on Sunday proposed a fresh round of high-level talks with the United States over its controversial nuclear programme aimed at easing tension on the peninsula, France Press reports. However, pundits believe that Washington is unlikely to accept Pyongyang’s offer unless the latter takes concrete action towards denuclearisation. In another move, interministerial negotiations between the South and the North, scheduled for last Wednesday in Seoul have been postponed in the last minute. The recent months have been marked by rising tension on the peninsula, sparked off by Pyongyan’s third nuclear test in early February.
Romanian president Traian Basescu has summoned the country’s Supreme Defence Council, which is due to convene in Bucharest on Monday. High on the agenda are talks over plans to equip the Romanian Armed Forces between 2013 and 2022 and the state of the defence industry. Also high on the agenda are discussions about the Romanian contingents available for international peacekeeping missions in 2014 as well as the privatization of the Romanian Aeronautic Industry.
Romanian rowers Roxana Borha and Iulia Taran became bronze medallists in the 200-meter double kayak race held on Sunday, the last day of the European Kayak-Canoe Championship in Portugal. The Romanian delegation walks away from this competition with five medals, two silver and three bronze.
