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Two Romanian Sailors On UK-Flagged Ship Seized In Gulf Of Aden

Two Romanian sailors are among the 25-member crew of UK-flagged vehicle carrier Asian Glory seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden late Friday, according to the ship’s owner, British ship management company Zodiac Maritime Agencies.

Code Orange, Yellow Warnings For Floods in W, NW Romania

Romanian hydrologists on Friday issued orange and yellow code warnings targeting floods in the country’s western and northwestern regions, between 2 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Romania Beats Australia 2-1 At Hopman Cup

Romania’s Sorana Carstea and Victor Hanescu have beaten Australia’s Samantha Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt 7-5, 6-1 Saturday in mixed doubles to give Romania a 2-1 win in the opener of the Hopman Cup teams tennis tournament held in Perth, Australia.

Romania Cigarette Prices Most Impacted By Excise Duty Hike In 2010

The excise hike and the higher exchange rate used for computing excise duties as of January 1 would significantly impact cigarette and tobacco products prices, which are expected to grow by 14%, while the prices of the other excisable products would only register a single-digit growth.

Romanian GDP Seen Up On Higher Exports In 2010 – Analysts

The Romanian economy is seen growing by an average of 1.2% in 2010, mainly supported by exports and the industry, while the constructions sector would continue to be the most impacted by the financial crisis, according to analysts polled by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Farmers To Get State Guarantee Of Up To EUR2.5M For Loans

Romanian farmers can take bank loans with a state guarantee of up to EUR2.5 million, Agriculture Minister Mihail Dumitru said Tuesday after a Cabinet meeting.

Romania’s Govt To Limit Budget Revisions – Draft Law

Romania’s government will no longer be able to make more than two budget revisions during a year, and the budget won’t be revised in the first half of the year, according to the fiscal responsibility draft law.

Romanian Govt To Reduce Variable Salaries, Layoff Employees To Limit Staff Expenses

The Romanian Government may not increase public sector salaries in the last six months of its term, but variable salary rights may be decreased in order to meet the quarterly limits on staff expenses, together with layoffs.

Romania’s Defense Council To Discuss Rosia Montana Gold Mining Project Based On Expertise

Romanian President Traian Basescu said late Tuesday on OTV the country’s High Council for Defense (CSAT), which he heads, will discuss the gold mining project Rosia Montana when an expertise on it is ready.

Romania Nov Residential Building Permits -15.6% MM, -15.4% YY

Romania issued 3,463 building permits for residential projects in November, down 15.6% compared with October, and 15.4% lower on the year, the statistics institute INS said Wednesday.

Romanian President Says Job Cuts In Education Target Substitutes, Pensioners

Romanian President Traian Basescu said late Tuesday on OTV the government’s decision to scrap 15,000 jobs in the education system next year targets substitute teachers and retired teacher who continue to work.

Romania Nov Overdue Loans Up 11.5% MM To RON8B

Romanian non-government overdue loans rose 11.5% on the month to 8 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2099) in November, central bank data showed Tuesday.

Two Romanian Sailors Aboard UK-Flagged Tanker Captured By Somali Pirates

Two Romanian sailors are aboard the UK-flagged ship St. James Park seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, said Adrian Mihalcioiu, International Transporters Federation representative in Romania.

Romania PM Calls On Lawmakers To Debate Fiscal Liability Law With Urgency

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc on Tuesday said the fiscal liability law will be approved by the government and sent to Parliament, and called on lawmakers to debate the draft with urgency.

Romanian Govt Counts On Recent Measures To Cut Budget Spending To 2.5% Of GDP

Romania’s government estimates its recent measures to freeze pensions, scrap several social facilities and defer some of its obligations will cut public spending by 13.5 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2099), or 2.5% of GDP, and failure to adopt these measures would boost the budget deficit to 8.4% of GDP.

Romanian Clunkers Program To Continue In 2010 – PM

The Romanian Government will continue the clunkers program in 2010, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday.

Romanian Senate To Hold Vote On Govt’s Ability To Pass Decrees During Parliament Recess

Romanian senators will convene in extraordinary plenary meeting on January 6, 2010 to debate and hold a vote on the draft law regulating government’s ability to issue decrees during the Parliament’s recess, Senate’s quaestor Dumitru Constantin said Tuesday.

Romanian Parliament Holds Plenary Meeting To Adopt State Budget On Jan 11

The Romanian Parliament will hold an extraordinary plenary meeting on January 11 to debate the 2010 state budget, Chamber of Deputies vice-president Ludovic Orban told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Moldovan News Agency BASA-press Closed Over Financial Crisis

The Republic of Moldova’s independent news agency BASA-press will shut down as of January 1, 2010 because of the financial crisis, agency managers told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Government Delays Implementation Of Mandatory Energy Certificate Law Until 2011

The law stating real estate transactions in Romania would require an energy certificate will be enter force as of January 1, 2011, its implementation having been delayed by the Government through an emergency ordinance.

Romania’s Jobless Rate Seen At 9-10% Next Year Depending On Public Sector Adjustments – Analysts

Romania’s jobless rate is seen rising to 9-10% next year from an estimated 8% this year and will largely depend on what measures the government takes in the country’s overstaffed public sector, analysts said.

Romania Defers Health Insurance Contribution Payments For Non-Taxable Pensions Until 2011

Romania’s government decided to postpone until January 1, 2011 the payment from the state budget of health insurance contributions for retirees with pensions lower than 1,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.1997).

Romanian Self-Financed Public Institutions Exempt From Meal Voucher Ban

Romanian public institutions financed entirely through their own means, such as schools and hospitals, will be allowed to grant meal vouchers to their employees, an exception to the rule imposed by the Government as of next year.

Romanian Sailors On UK-Flagged Tanker Seized In Gulf Of Aden – Media

Romanian and Russian sailors are among the 26-member crew of UK-flagged tanker St. James Park, seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden while on its way to Thailand from Spain, Itar-Tass reported.

Romania’s Second Nuclear Pwr Plant To Have 1,000 MW, Seen Built Until ‘30

Romania’s second nuclear power plant will have 1,000 MW and will be built until 2030, ten years later than authorities' previous estimations, according to an appendix to the 2010 budget of the Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business Environment.

Romania’s Culture Ministry Requests Nearly RON690M From State Budget In 2010

Romania’s Culture Ministry requests nearly 690 million lei (EUR1=RON4.1997) from the state budget to unfold its activity in 2010, according to the ministry’s 2010 draft budget.

Bucharest Court Places 14 Of 15 Weapons Heist Suspects In Preventive Arrest

The Bucharest Court on Monday evening placed under preventive arrest for 29 days 14 of the 15 suspects in the case regarding the weapon heist at the Ciorogarla military base, near capital city Bucharest.

Romanian Public TV, Radio Cos Request State Budget Funds For 2010 Activity

Romania's national television company SRTv requested around 185 million lei (EUR1=RON 4.1997) from the state budget to finance its activity in 2010, while Romania's national radio company SRR requested around RON191.5 million for 2010.

Romania ’09 Inflation To Exceed Again Ctrl Bk’s Target – Analysts

Romania’s inflation will exceed again the upper limit of the central bank’s target interval for 2009, of 2.5%-4.5%, but the disinflation process will continue next year, according to financial analysts polled by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Constitutional Court Says State Not Compelled To Compensate Pvt Emergency Medical Services

The Romanian Constitutional Court ruled that the state cannot be compelled to cover the cost of emergency medical services provided by private operators, from public funds or the national health insurance fund.

Weapons Stolen From Romanian Military Base Functional, Unused – Police Chief

The weapons found following searches in the case of the theft at the Romanian military base in Ciorogarla are functional and unused, as they were stolen without their ammunition, Romanian Police department inspector general Petre Toba said Monday.

Romanian Parliament To Set State Budget Adoption Calendar Tuesday

The Romanian Parliament’s standing offices meet Tuesday to set a calendar for the adoption of the 2010 state budget, Senate secretary Gheorghe David told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Over 75% Of Cos In Romania Lowered Training Budgets By 30-40% In 2009

Over three quarters of companies operating in Romania lowered their training budgets by 30%-40% in 2009 because of the crisis and focused on in-house and online training, which led to a decrease of nearly 50% on the local training market, to EUR17.5 million, human resources experts said.

Indonesian Police To Deport Romanian Fraud Convict

Indonesian police will deport Romanian Nicolae Popa, convicted in absentia for defrauding more than 100,000 people in a massive Ponzi scheme and detained in Jakarta, the Jakarta globe reported in its online edition.

Romanian Police Makes New Arrests In Weapon Heist Case

Romanian police arrested Liviu and Alexandru Iordan Sunday in mountain resort Sinaia, in connection with the weapon heist at the Ciorogarla military base.

Romanian Government Approves 2010 Draft Budget

Romanian government on Wednesday has approved a much-needed draft budget for 2010, which will be sent to parliament on Thursday for urgent debates and approval.

Romania’s New Environment Min Promises Clunkers Program Start On Jan 1, ‘10

Romania’s new environment minister, Laszlo Borbely, promised Wednesday upon being sworn in, that the 2010 edition of the Romanian clunkers program will begin on January 1 for cars and “as soon as possible” for tractors.

Romanian Romaero Cleared To Lay Off 200 Staff In ‘10

Romanian state-run aircraft maintenance services provider Romaero (RORX.RO) may lay off up to 200 employees in 2010, provided the move doesn’t endanger its defense production capabilities or its obligations to the Ministry of Defense, according to the company’s restructuring program.

Romanian Energy Watchdog To Keep Gas Prices Unchanged Jan 1

Romania’s energy regulatory authority ANRE will keep unchanged household and industrial gas prices as of January 1, 2010, and may change the electricity prices according to inflation rate, ANRE’s president Petru Lificiu said Wednesday.

Romania Must Send EC Data On Four Steel Plants By Jan 20

Romania complied with all the obligations in the EU Accession Treaty regarding the steel sector but must send the European Commission various data on four steel plants until January 20, 2010, namely on Mechel Targoviste, Mechel Campia Turzii, ArcelorMittal Hunedoara and ArcelorMittal Galati.