Press Review - May 22, 2017

05.22.2017 By Oana Gavrila

Trump Tells Middle East To 'Drive Out' Islamist Extremists

U.S. President Donald Trump urged Arab and Islamic leaders on Sunday to unite and do their share to defeat Islamist extremists, making an impassioned plea to "drive out" terrorists while toning down his own harsh rhetoric about Muslims, Reuters reported.

Trump singled out Iran as a key source of funding and support for militant groups. His words aligned with the views of his Saudi Arabian hosts and sent a tough message to Tehran the day after Hassan Rouhani won a second term as Iran's president.

He portrayed the conflict as one between good and evil, not between civilizations, and made clear in a forceful tone that Washington would partner with the Middle East but expected more action in return.

"There is still much work to be done. That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamic extremism, and the Islamists, and Islamic terror of all kinds," he said in his speech.

China 'Dismantled' CIA Spying Operations and Killed Sources – Report

The Chinese government “systematically dismantled” CIA spying operations in the country starting in late 2010 and killed or imprisoned at least a dozen CIA sources over the next two years, a report cited by The Guardian revealed.

In an apparent attempt by China to intimidate serving or would-be spies, one source was reportedly shot in front of his colleagues in the courtyard of a government building.

Some investigators were convinced there was a mole within the CIA, while others believed the Chinese had hacked the covert system the CIA used to communicate with its foreign sources.

As many as 20 CIA sources were killed or imprisoned in China over a two-year period, the New York Times said, citing two former senior US officials.

Public Sector Wage Law In Culture, Entertainment

Wages of artists, cultural managers and support staff in culture and entertainment would increase an average 25%-40%, while some categories of public sector employees would have their wages cut by as much as 18% under the wage bill.

Among management positions in cultural institutions, the biggest pay raise (+79%) is set for deputy managers, head accountants and head engineers, whose base salary is now at RON5,878 and is set to reach RON8,774 in 2022.

Artists are set to get raises of 3% to as much as 134% for artistic managers, painters, artistic consultants and producers. On the other hand, make-up artists, wig  makers and theater tech operators will see a 18% decrease in pay.

In public national museums, wages of managers are taken down 5%. Executive museum staff will get raises of 144%.

Social Democrats Seek to Reassign Priorities in Tax Collection

Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party The ruling party wants to repeal a rule in the fiscal procedure code stating taxes may be paid only after paying outstanding fines.

Initiators of the bill said local authorities are often unable to collect due taxes because of taxpayers outstanding traffic fines.

The Senate is the first chamber notified in this matter.