English

Romanian Singer Madalina Manole Willingly Ingested Toxic Substance, Investigators Say

Prosecutors say Romanian singer Madalina Manole, who was found dead Wednesday morning in her home, willingly ingested a toxic substance, which qualifies her death as suicide.

Romania Leader In E Europe Regarding End-Of-Life Care Development

Romania has become leader in Eastern Europe regarding end-of-life care, although, during Ceausescu communist regime, care for terminally ill was non-existent, according to a survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Over 72,000 Romanians Left For Work Abroad In 1H 2010

Over 400,000 Romanians applied for jobs abroad ion the first half of the year and 72,462 were hired for periods of three to 12 months, according to statistics of recruitment website Tjobs.ro.

Romania May Indus Output Sees 5th Biggest Monthly Fall In EU

Romania’s industrial production nudged down 0.2% on the month in May, the fifth largest decrease in the European Union, official data showed Wednesday.

Romania’s June Annual Inflation, 3rd Highest In EU

Romania posted the third highest annual inflation rate in the European Union in June, after Greece and Hungary, official data showed Wednesday.

Romanian Singer Madalina Manole Found Dead, Suicide Suspected

Romanian singer Madalina Manole was found dead Wednesday morning in her home in Otopeni, near Bucharest.

Romanian Transporters Say Progressive Income Tax Will Encourage Black Labor Mkt

A progressive income tax in Romania will only encourage the black labor market and drive foreign investors away, as workforce costs will be on the rise, according to representatives of companies in the Romanian transport sector.

Romanian President Challenges Constitutionality Of Revised National Integrity Law

Romanian President Traian Basescu challenged with the Constitutional Court the revised version of the law regulating the activity of the country’s National Integrity Agency (ANI), the Presidency said in a press release Tuesday.

Romania, Switzerland To Sign EUR130M Cooperation Agreement In August – Swiss Ambassador

Romania and Switzerland will sign a EUR130 million five-year agreement on August 26, for cooperation in various fields, including cyber crime fighting, Swiss Ambassador to Bucharest Livio Hurzeler said Tuesday.

PM Frowns On Romania’s Low EU Fund Absorption Rate, Fears Country Might Lose The Money

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Tuesday said he is displeased with Romania’s low absorption rate of European Union funds, which, he stressed, might prevent Romania from using all EU grants at its disposal in 2010.

Romanian PM Bans Ministers From Speaking Publicly On Topics Without Govt Approval

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday the finance minister’s public statements about the introduction of a progressive taxation system as of next year was not considered and approved by the Government and banned ministers from speaking publicly about unapproved issues.

Romanian Automobile Dacia Made 300,000 Sandero Cars In 2 Yrs

Romania’s Automobile Dacia, owned by French Renault, has produced 300,000 Sandero cars since the 2008 launch of the model, which has become Dacia’s best-sold car model, especially in Western Europe, the company said Tuesday.

Maximum Flood Alert On Prut River In E Romania Extended Until Friday

Romanian hydrologists maintain the maximum flood alert level on river Prut, in the east of the country along the border with the Republic of Moldova, until Friday around noon.

KazMunayGas May Use Preemption Right Over Possible Romanian Stake In Rompetrol

Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas, owner of Rompetrol group, could buy back any shares Romania might take over in oil refinery Rompetrol Rafinare (RRC.RO) if the former is not able to fully repay its debt to the country, the head of Rompetrol said Tuesday.

Romania Public Debt Rises To 34% Of GDP In April

Romania’s public debt rose to 34.07% of the gross domestic product in April from 30.06% of the GDP a month earlier, Finance Ministry data showed Tuesday.

Romania To Allot RON900M For Flood Defense Projects

Romania’s Environment Minister, Laszlo Borbely, announced Tuesday that the Government would allot around 900 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2471) for flood defense projects, the largest amount for such a project in the last 20 years.

Romania Jan-May FDI Fall 32% To EUR1.43B

Foreign direct investment, or FDI, in Romania fell to EUR1.43 billion in the first five months, from EUR2.1 billion in the year-earlier period, the central bank said Tuesday.

Romania Jan-May Current Account Gap Widens 46% To EUR2.9B

Romania's current account deficit widened 45.7% to EUR2.87 billion in January to May, from EUR1.97 billion in the same period a year earlier, largely due to the decreasing surplus in the current transfers balance, the central bank said in a statement Tuesday.

Chelsea London Wants Striker Mutu Suspended Indefinitely Over EUR17M Debt

Chelsea London has called on FIFA to suspend Fiorentina’s Romanian striker Adrian Mutu until he pays the London club EUR17 million damages for testing positive for cocaine in 2004, the Italian media reported Tuesday.

President Says Romania Could Overcome Crisis More Easily If It Used EUR30B EU Funds

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday, in the presence of the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, that Romania could overcome the economic crisis “more easily” if it used the EUR30 billion non-reimbursable funds from the European Union.

Romanian Ambassador To Chile Involved In Car Crash, One Person Injured

Romania’s Ambassador to Chile, Valentin Florea, was involved in a car crash, said the online Monday edition of Chilean daily La Nacion, according to which the Romanian diplomat was unhurt, but another driver was seriously injured.

Romanian President Basescu Restates Support For Palestine-Israel Direct Negotiations

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday, after meeting with Palestinian National Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, that Romania encourages and strongly supports the resumption of direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel.

Romanian Justice Min To Be Reorganized; To Keep Two State Secretaries, One Undersecretary

Romania’s Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu on Monday said his ministry will be reorganized and a decision on the number of employees to be sacked will be made after the Government meeting next Wednesday.

Romanian FM Cuts Utilities, Transport, Staff Spending Amid Austere Measures

Romania’s Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi on Monday said his ministry has already taken spending cut measures, which imply, among others, the renegotiation of rental contracts, a cut in utilities costs and the switch to low-cost flights and internet telephony.

Half Of Romanian Journalists Consider Media Outlet Owners Influence Editorial Content – Survey

About half of Romanian journalists (50.8%) and almost as many Romanian Public Relations professionals (44%) believe editorial content is generally influenced by media outlet owners, said a survey on transparency in PR-media-public relations.

Romanian Ctrl Bank Move Depends On Insider Trade Case Ruling

The central bank will not act against the four bankers involved in an insider trading case until the court issues a ruling, central bank official Adrian Vasilescu told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Authorities Seize EUR13.5M In Insider Trading Case

Romanian prosecutors seized assets worth a total EUR13.5 million in the case involving the insider trading charges brought against the chairman of lender Banca Transilvania, Horia Ciorcila and three other bankers.

Negative Experience With Telecom Operators Made 44% Of Romanians Terminate Contracts

Nearly half the customers of Romanian telecom operators (44%), dissatisfied with the service they received, have stopped using the supplier and 72% have told others about their negative experience, says a study by GfK Romania.

Banca Transilvania Shares Suspended From Trading In Bucharest

The shares of Romanian lender Banca Transilvania (TLV.RO) were suspended Monday from trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, following the indictment of the bank’s chairman on insider trading charges.

Romanian Banca Transilvania Chairman Faces Insider Trading Charges

Romanian lender Banca Transilvania’s (TLV.RO) chairman, Horia Ciorcila, was sent to trial on charges of insider trading and market manipulation, investigators announced Monday.

Romania’s Electronic Road Toll System Might Be Available As Of Oct 1

Romania’s Transport Ministry plans to postpone the implementation of the country’s electronic road toll system until October 1, as the auction selecting the company to insure the system was challenged and implementation procedures were hindered.

Romania Jun New Car Registrations +18% M-M To 10,285 Units

Romanian new car registrations rose 18% to 10,285 units in June, from 8,654 units a month earlier, Interior Ministry data showed Monday.

Romania OMV Petrom, Petrofac Sign Production Enhancement Deal

Romanian leading oil company OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) Monday said it has awarded a 15-year production enhancement services contract to Petrofac Limited for the management of Ticleni oilfield, southwest Romania.

Romanian Developer Impact Dubbed Insolvent, Appeal Pending

The Bucharest Court allowed Thursday the insolvency request lodged by Romconstruct Ploiesti against Impact Developer & Contractor (IMP.RO), but the latter said it will appeal the decision.

Romania Jan-May Trade Gap Narrows To EUR3.8B

Romania’s trade deficit narrowed to EUR3.8 billion in January-May, from EUR3.9 billion in the same period the year earlier, the National Statistics Institute said Monday.

Romania June CPI + 0.16% On Mo, +4.38% On Yr

Romanian consumer prices inched up 0.16% in June from May, held back by cheaper food, while the annual inflation eased to 4.38%, the country’s statistics institute INS said Monday.

Romania’s Annual Inflation Decreased To 4.3%-4.4% In June, To Hit 7% In July – Analysts

Romania’s annual inflation decreased to 4.3 – 4.4% in June, from 4.42% in May, and is expected to hit about 7% in July, economic analysts said.

Romanian Ministers, Prefects To Present Monthly Reports On EU Fund Adsorption, Investments – PM

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday he will set up a system monitoring EU fund absorption and public investments, adding that the ministers and prefects who will not “fight to get each penny” granted by EU will “leave”.

Romania To Reduce VAT If Feasible Alternative Measure Found, Taxing Pensions Not Enough – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Sunday the value added tax can be reduced only if authorities find other means to cover the revenues brought to the state budget by the 5-percentage point VAT increase, adding taxing pensions is not enough.

Meteorologists Issue Code Yellow Rain Alert For NE, C, SE Romania, Valid Until Sunday Evening

Romanian meteorologists issued a code yellow alert for rain, thunderstorm and hail in the northeastern, central and southeastern parts of the country, valid until Sunday at 9 p.m..