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Bucharest 1st District Schools Benefit From ‘After School’ Ed Progr

Local authorities in Bucharest 1st District on Tuesday announced the “After School” program, meant to help pupils do their homework under teachers’ supervision, is currently operational in half the schools in the district, as well as in several high schools.

Romanian Pres Expects IMF Support For Reforms

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday the stance of the International Monetary Fund IMF was by far more relaxed than his attitude in demanding the Government to make more aggresive reforms.

Romania To Sign Agreement With IMF, EC In 10-14 Days – PM

Romania will sign the agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission in 10 to 14 days, after it receives a reply on the letter of intent sent by the Government, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday.

Canada’s Sterling Gets $5M Financing For Ops In Romania, North Sea

Canadian international oil and gas company Sterling Resources inked a $5 million financing agreement with Canaccord Capital Corporation, for starting drilling programs in the North Sea and Romania.

Romanian Def Min Blames Weapon Heist, Info Leaks On Indiscipline

Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Stanisoara on Tuesday said the weapon heist at a military base and leaks of classified information at another are indicative of lack of discipline and firmness of commanders, as well as of superficially conducted controls.

Romania Defense Min Denounces Low Budget Despite Strong NATO Commitments

Romanian defense minister Mihai Stanisoara said Tuesday that, despite Romania’s NATO membership commitments, which stipulate 2% of GDP for the sector, the sum was way below this level over the past few years and, although set at 1.81% of GDP in 2008, the defense sector budget saw only 1.5% of GDP.

Lukoil Romania Hikes Gas, Diesel Oil, Cuts LPG Pump Prices

Lukoil Romania, a unit of Russian oil company Lukoil Holdings, increased Tuesday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.02 lei (EUR1=RON4.2924) per liter and cut the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices by the same amopunt, the company said in a statement.

Limp Bizkit To Play Bucharest On June 28

U.S. nu metal band Limp Bizkit included Romania in their will "Unicorns N' Rainbows 2009” tour and will have a concert in Bucharest on June 28, at Arenele Romane in Carol Park, according to the band’s official website.

Romanian Govt To Revise Budget In April Or May

Romania's Government will revise in April or May, for the first time this year, the 2009 budget, after the authorities and the International Monetary Fund agreed upon a budget deficit of 4.6% of the gross domestic product, from 2% of the GDP prior forecast, government sources told MEDIAFAX.

New Romanian Criminal Code Redefines Self-Defense

The Romanian Parliament Commission analyzing the Criminal Code set, on Tuesday, the definition of self-defense as the repulsion of the unauthorized night time attempt by a person to enter the home, estate or annexes of another person.

Romanian Senate Commission OKs Decree Regarding Expropriations For Passageway In Bucharest

The commission for public administration in the Romanian Senate gave the go-ahead to government emergency decree 12/2009 allowing the start of expropriations for the construction of the Basarab Passageway in capital Bucharest.

Romania’s Rodipet To Be Redeemed By State – AVAS

Romanian print media distributor Rodipet will be transferred under the state ownership, as the buyer, Magnar Two, systematically breached the sale terms, according to a decision of the Board of Directors of the country's Privatization Authority AVAS.

Romanian Charged With Rape In Rome Released After 34 Days In Custody – Press

The Court of Appeals in Rome, Italy, has decided to release Romanian citizen Karol Racz, following 34 days in custody, after he has proven his innocence of the second rape he was charged with, the online edition of Italian daily Tempo said.

Romanian Public Sector Unionists Threaten Ample Protest In Bucharest

Romanian public sector employees affiliated to the "Cartel Alfa" union federation threaten to stage an ample protest in capital city Bucharest when the government approves an emergency decree lowering bonuses in the public sector, which unionist consider cuts into employees’ base wages.

Romania Might Face Unemployment Crisis – State Secretary

Romania is not facing an unemployment crisis yet, but this may happen, state secretary on employment issues with the Labor Ministry Dumitru Cornoiu said Tuesday during the seminar “How the labor market is changing”, organized by business daily Ziarul Financiar.

Romanian PM Urges Prosecutors To Ignore Political, Media Pressure

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc urged prosecutors Tuesday to ignore political pressure saying people’s confidence in the independence and impartiality of legal investigations should prevail over political, media pressures and the temptation of corruption.

Romanian Former PM Corruption Trial Postponed For The Second Time

The Romanian Supreme Court decided Tuesday to once more postpone trying the case in which former prime minister Adrian Nastase is charged with corruption for his 2004 presidential election fund-raising campaign.

Court Postpones Custody Trial Of Romanian TV Star Mihaela Radulescu

A Bucharest court adjourned Tuesday for one week the custody trial between Romanian TV star Mihaela Radulescu and her former husband Elan Schwartzenberg, and Radulescu was required to indicate an address for social workers to investigate the case of her son.

Robber Shoots Cab Driver In C Romania

A cab driver in the central Romanian city of Brasov was shot in the lower jaw Saturday evening by an unknown man who tried to rob him at gunpoint.

IMF Deal Keeps VAT, Flat Tax And Salaries – Romanian President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said at the end of the meeting with Austrian investors on Monday, that the deal with the IMF and the European Commission will comprise certain elements which prove that the loan is only “a safety belt.”

Romania, IMF Agree On 4.6% Of GDP Budget Deficit In ’09 – Sources

The International Monetary Fund delegation in Romania agreed with the Government a budget deficit of 4.6% of the gross domestic product in 2009, compared with the 2% of the GDP target included in the budget law, sources close to the talks told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian President Undecided On Running Again

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday said he has not decided if he will run for a new mandate at the elections this year.

IMF, Romania Agree To „Almost Freeze” Public Salaries – Sources

The International Monetary Fund and the Romanian government agreed to "almost freeze" the public sector salary fund, and authorities could make only certain adjustments, sources close to the talks told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

Romanian Labor Min Significantly Revises ’09 Jobless Estimates

Romania's labor minister Marian Sarbu said Monday the number of the unemployed in Romania will be at around 800,000 at the end of 2009, significantly above the 525,000 initially estimated.

Romanian Energy Watchdog Keeps Household Gas Price Unch In 2Q – Sources

Romania’s Energy Watchdog ANRE decided to keep the natural gas tariff for household users unchanged in the second quarter of the year, sources within the institution told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

Romanian Industry Employers Left Out Of IMF Negotiations

Romanian industry employers are unhappy they were excluded from negotiations regarding the agreement with the International Monetary Fund, describing the proceedings as “completely opaque”, a Romanian Industry Union (UGIR-1903) statement said Monday.

Bucharest 1st District Schools To Have Panic Buttons By End June

Bucharest authorities announced on Monday all schools in the first district will be equipped with panic buttons by end June, in a move to address security breaches and violent incidents.

Romanian President Meets With Austrian Counterpart

Romanian President Traian Basescu visited his Austrian counterpart, Heinz Fischer, stressing the importance of co-operation with Austria, both in economics and politics.

Romanian Public Employees Get To Keep Salary Bonuses – Unionists

Romanian unionists in the public sector and officials of the Labor Ministry on Monday agreed to maintain large part of the salary bonuses for employees, trade union representatives said.

IMF Sees Romanian Economy Contracting 4% In 09, Budget Def At 6% Of GDP

The International Monetary Fund sees Romanian economy contracting by 4% in 2009 and estimates a budget deficit of up to 6% of the gross domestic product, a trade union leader said after meeting the IMF delegation in Romania.

Time Warner To Invest $241M In CME

Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (CME), the owner of Romanian TV station PRO TV, announced Monday it will partner up with U.S. giant broadcaster Time Warner, which will invest $241.5 million in CME.

Romanian Car Maker Dacia To Expand Model Range After SUV Launch

Romanian car maker Dacia will continue to expand its model range after the launch of the sixth car in the Logan line, the Dacia SUV, Amont Renault design manager Patrick Lecharpy said Monday.

Austrian Bks To Continue Financing Romanian Units – Austrian President

Austrian President Heinz Fischer stated Monday, after meeting Romanian President Traian Basescu, that the credit lines for the Romanian units of Austrian banks will continue, adding that "there would be certain problems that need to be discussed."

Romanian Singer To Undergo Liver Transplant Tuesday Morning

Cristi Minculescu, the frontman of Romanian rock band Iris, will undergo surgery Tuesday morning, in a German hospital, whereby he will receive a part of his wife’s liver, band manager Cosmin Nicoara told MEDIAFAX.

Romania’s Agreement With IMF, EC To Be Announced This Week – EU Commissioner

Joaquin Almunia, E.U. Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, said Sunday in Brussels that the financial agreement between Romania and the International Monetary Fund and the E.U could be announced this week.

Romanian Exchange Office Burglary Suspect Confirmed By DNA Evidence

Romanian investigators have DNA evidence proving that the man charged with breaking into an exchange office in the northwestern city of Cluj-Napoca is also guilty of breaking into the home of Cluj County Council president Alin Tise, judicial sources said.

Romanian Seaside Hotels Ready To Welcome Tourists For Easter

Romanian travel agencies said 41 hotels on the seaside are ready to welcome tourists for Easter this year, of which, 22 hotels in Mamaia resort, three in Eforie Nord and 16 hotels in Olimp, Venus, Saturn and Mangalia resorts.

Court Rejects Appeal In Romania’s Rafo Onesti Trial By Irrevocable Decision

The Brasov Court of Appeals rejected by irrevocable decision the appeal of UK-registered crude oil supplier Glencore Energy in the trial against Romanian refinery Rafo Onesti, at its request to register $75 million in receivables, representing the value of 123,530 tons of crude oil.

Romania To Have Nearly Optimal Weather This Year

The year 2009 will be “nearly optimal from the point of view of weather”, with precipitation close to multiannual average values, but drought may affect certain parts of Romania in summer.

Romanian Social Democrat Ministers To Meet With IMF Officials Monday

A delegation of Romanian social democrat ministers led by party leader Mircea Geoana meets with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, Monday afternoon at the Romanian Senate.