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Chicane To Perform In Bucharest At Tuborg Green Fest

Chicane, one of the world’s most appreciated electro-dance bands, will perform in Bucharest at Tuborg Green Fest in the first week of September, in Izvor Park near the Parliament Palace in Bucharest, according to a press release.

Romanian PM Calls For Banks’ Fast Response To Loan Requests

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Saturday said he will have talks with the banks’ representatives to ask them to hasten the deadline for responding to companies’ request for loans.

18 People Found With A/H1N1 Virus In C Romania During Summer School

Eighteen people in Brasov, central Romania, of whom five are Romanians, were confirmed to carry flu virus A/H1N1 by Cantacuzino National Institute, the Health Ministry said in a press release.

Romanian Social Democrats Back Parliamentary Investigation For Tourism Min

Romania’s Social Democratic Party supports the setting up of a parliamentary committee to investigate tourism minister Elena Udrea, party spokesperson Bogdan Niculescu Duvaz said on Saturday, pointing to the case of former sports minister Monica Iacob Ridzi.

Romania’s “First Home” Program To Gain Funds Next Yr Too, If Successful – PM

If the “First Home” program is successful, it will be further funded by state guarantees next year, Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said in a press conference on Saturday.

Romanian Govt Promotes In ’09 Most Substantial EU-Funded Projects Session – PM

Romanian Prime Minister on Saturday said the government is promoting this year the most substantial projects session meant to absorb European funds in 2009 and 2010, when the projects are likely to be implemented.

Romania Received First EC Loan Tranche Worth EUR1.5B – State Secretary

Romania received the first part worth EUR1.5 billion of the loan from the European Commission, state secretary within Romania’s Finance Ministry, Gheorghe Gherghina told MEDIAFAX.

Colliers: „First House” Program Ups 2-Room Flat Prices In Bucharest By 15%

The price of old two-room apartments in Romania’s capital city Bucharest rose 10%-15% after the government launched the "First House" program, according to real estate consultancy firm Colliers.

Romanian Health Min Wants 50% Wage Cut For Ministers

Romanian health minister Ion Bazac agrees with the prime minister’s proposal to reduce by 20% the ministers’ wages, from August until December, and wants to ask for a 50% cut, health ministry spokesperson Oana Grigore told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Romanian National Railroad Company Rents Out Train Station Spaces

Romanian national railroad company CFR SA intends to put up for rent commercial spaces in 12 train stations, including Bucharest North, at starting rents between 0.8 lei (EUR1 = RON4.2156) and RON500 per square meter, VAT excluded, per month, according to the company.

Romanian PM Proposes 20% Wage Cut For Ministers In „Rational Spending” Bid

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc on Friday said he would propose all ministers to have their salaries cut by 20% from August until December, in a move to keep tighter grip on public spending, adding he will accept to have his salary cut.

Romania’s 1H Exports Dn 25% On Yr, Seen Dn Up To 30% In ’09 – Assoc

Romania’s exports fell 20%-25% in the first six months compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the estimations of the National Association of Imports and Exporters in Romania, or ANEIR.

Romanian Police Investigates Alleged Relic Smuggling Operation

Several people, including an Austrian businessman and a former employee of the Romanian Hunedoara County Culture Department, are under investigation by police concerning an alleged illegal export of steam locomotives, which could be part of the national patrimony.

Pension Law In Romania To Adjust Retirement Age, As Stipulated By IMF Agreement

The new pension law will observe the stipulations of the agreement Romania signed with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission on increasing the retirement period particularly for women and adjusting it at 65 years-old after 2014, Government officials said Friday.

Appeals Court: Romania Fin Min To Pay Some RON1.5M Salary Rights To High Court Staff

The Bucharest Court of Appeals on Friday ruled that Romania’s Finance Ministry and the Court Of Accounts must pay salary rights of nearly 1.5 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2325) to Supreme Court magistrates and auxiliary staff.

Heatwave, Rainfall, Windstorms Prompt Yellow Code Advisory For W, C, N Romania

The Romanian weather authority issued a yellow code advisory for hot weather with temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius throughout most of the country, coupled with windstorms and rain in the western, central and northern areas.

Romania To Take EUR1B Loan From Local Mkt To Restructure Debt – Pres

Romanian President Traian Basescu stated Thursday that the government would take a EUR1 billion from the local market, to restructure its short-term debt, adding that the loan conditions would be more advantageous than those of a loan taken from the international market.

Steaua Reaches Third Preliminary Round In Europa League After Victory Over Ujpest FC

Romania’s Steaua Bucharest qualified in the third preliminary round of Europa League after a 2-1 victory in the away match over Hungary’s Ujpest FC on Thursday.

Cutting Budget Spending Is Not A Solution For Now – Romanian President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday said he does not encourage reducing budget spending at present, although this would be the easiest solution, economically speaking.

Romanian Pres Wants „First House” Progr To Back Newly-Built Houses, Not Flats Already Mortgaged

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday said he hopes the “First House” program will mainly back newly-built houses and that "apartments already mortgaged would not be included in this program."

Bks To Take Over Houses In “First House” Program Unless State Pays Loan Guarantee

Banks will take over the houses bought with state-guaranteed loans if the guarantee is not paid by the state, and will no longer be forced to observe certain conditions in the contract, according to the decision on amending “First House” program norms, approved Wednesday by the government.

Romania’s Steaua Bucharest Fined EUR50,000 Over Home Match Incidents

UEFA’s Disciplinary Body applied a fine of EUR50,000 to FC Steaua following the incidents in the match against Hungary’s Ujpest FC in the second preliminary round of the Europa League, www.sportm.ro reported.

Romania Regional Development Min Calls On Mayors To Sell ANL Houses

Romania’s minister for regional development and housing, Vasile Blaga, on Thursday urged mayors countrywide to sell the houses the ministry built via the National Housing Agency (ANL), arguing that this way, the money will return to local authorities and then be spent to build other houses.

Agriculture Should Become A Priority To Romania – Social Democrat Head

Agriculture should become a strategic sector and a priority to Romania, said social democrat leader Mircea Geoana on Thursday, at the inauguration of a new irrigation system in Dabuleni, southern Romania.

Romanian Travel Agencies Saw 20% Drop In 1H Sales On Outgoing Segment

Romania’s internal tourism saw a slight increase in the first six months of 2009, while the number of holidays spent abroad by Romanians fell 20% compared to the same period a year ago, according to data presented by the National Association of Travel Agencies on Thursday.

Romanian Pres Blasts Education Min, Unions Over Sluggish Reform

Romanian president Traian Basescu said Thursday that education minister Ecaterina Andronescu resorts to unacceptable compromise in the reform of education, prodded by electoral interests, while unions are the main element blocking the improvement of the education system.

Romanian President: No Safeguard Clause Or Restrictive Fin Measures – Important, But Not Enough

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Romania has made progress in the justice sector and the fact that the EC didn’t trigger the safeguard clause or apply restrictive financial measures is important, but it is not enough.

Romanian Tourism Ministry Agrees To Scrap Limit On Holiday Ticket Fees – Official

Romania’s Tourism Ministry agrees with the proposition of associations in the sector to eliminate the cap on fees charged by tour operators for the sale of vacation packages using holiday tickets, set at 10% in the draft law introducing tickets, state secretary Corneliu Popovici said Thursday.

Israeli Doctors Needed Romanian Ministry’s Permission To Work In Sabyc Clinic – Health Min

Romanian health minister Ion Bazac on Thursday said the Israeli doctors were not allowed to work in the Sabyc fertility clinic without the approval of the Health Ministry, adding that they didn’t ask for such an authorization from the ministry.

Romanian Prosecutor Gen Requires Parliament Approval To Investigate Ex Youth Min

Romanian prosecutor general Codruta Kovesi required Parliament approval Thursday for the opening of criminal investigations on former youth and sports minister Monica Iacob Ridzi over misappropriation of public money.

Romanian Justice Min Deems Reform Process In Legal Sector A Priority

Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu on Thursday said that finding a solution to continue the reforms and the changes in the legal system in times of deep crisis should be the priority in the upcoming period.

Romanian Govt To Consult With IMF On Unitary Pay Law Before Completing Draft

The Romanian government will consult with the International Monetary Fund starting next week on the structure and application of the unitary pay law in the public sector and will then complete the draft law, government sources told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Hungarian Police Arrests New Suspect In Romanian Handball Player Murder

Hungarian police arrested Wednesday a 26-year old man connected to the murder of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma in February, said Police spokesman Zoltan Csanyi, quoted by Hungarian press agency MTI.

Romanian Tourism Min Says Parliament Should Investigate All Former Liberal Ministers

Romanian tourism minister Elena Udrea said she thinks the Parliament should set up inquiry committees for all the liberal ministers of the country’s former government, to check how they spent public money.

Romanian National Integrity Agency To Check Wealth Of Youth Min – Sources

The Romanian National Integrity Agency (ANI) took notice and initiated investigations regarding the wealth of new youth and sports minister Sorina Placinta, agency sources told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romania Halts Tourism Brand Proceedings Over Bid Challenge

Romanian Tourism Ministry has suspended proceedings to select the winner of a EUR2 million contract to create the country’s tourism brand, pending settlement of four challenges to the auction process, minister Elena Udrea said Thursday.

Romania’s Tourism Law Hopefully In Parliament In Fall – Minister

Romania’s new tourism might enter debates in Parliament at the resuming of works in fall, after the summer recess, Romanian tourism minister Elena Udrea said Thursday at the seminar Mediafax Talks about Romanian Tourism.

Romania’s Steaua Bucharest Rattled By Bomb Threat In Budapest

The staff and team of Romanian football club Steaua Bucharest was waken up Wednesday night, around 02:00 local time, following a bomb threat at their hotel in Budapest, according to Romanian sports daily ProSport.

Romanian Prosecutors To Probe Fraud Allegations Against Ex-Youth Minister

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Wednesday requested prosecution against former youth minister Monica Iacob Ridzi on corruption charges, the head of National Anticorruption Department (DNA), Daniel Morar, said.

Romania’s Govt OKs „First House” Program’s Changes – Sources

Romania’s Government approved Wednesday the changes brought to the "First House" program and agreed during the bank managers’ Tuesday talks with Prime Minister Emil Boc, official sources told MEDIAFAX.