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Bucharest Makes World Record Bid With 281-Kilo Cake

Romania’s capital city Bucharest attempted a new world record on Sunday with a 281-kilogram (619.49 pounds) fruit and cream cake, after it previously made another two bids, with the world’s longest smoked sausage and the biggest Christmas give-away ever.

Romanians Pay EUR45M For New Year Tour Packages

Romanian travel agencies cashed in slightly over EUR45 million from tourists who want to spend the New Year in Romanian resorts and foreign localities, the Federation of Tourism Employers’ Associations, or FPTR, said Sunday.

Romanian President Calls On Ministers’ Solidarity Over ‘Tough Decisions’

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Saturday asked the ministers to show solidarity in the tough measures they are about to make, which will most likely defer several parliament-approved laws due to the economic downturn.

Romania’s Rompetrol Cuts Pump Prices By RON0.06/Liter

Rompetrol Downstream, the fuel distribution unit of Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol Group NV , on Saturday cut its gasoline and diesel oil reference prices by 0.06 lei (EUR1=RON3.9297) per liter, the company said in a statement.

Bucharest Breaks World Record For Longest Sausage

Romania’s capital city Bucharest has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records on Saturday with the world’s longest sausage, of 392 meters.

Romanian Health Min Makes Surprise Visits To County Hospitals

Romania’s newly appointed Health Minister, Ion Bazac, has made surprise visits to county hospitals nationwide to see how fit they are to respond to emergencies during holidays.

Fitch Revises Dn Romania’s 09 Econ Growth F’cast To 1%

Fitch Ratings revised downwards its forecast on Romania’s 2009 economic growth to 1%, two percentage points less than its previous prediction, made in November.

Romania Ready To Offer Support In Baghdad Talks On Troop Presence

A Romanian delegation formed of two Foreign Ministry officials left for Baghdad end last week to provide technical assistance in view of potential talks to extend Romanian military presence in Iraq after December 31, the ministry said Tuesday.

Romanian Prosecutors Indict High Officials In Graft Case

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Tuesday indicted Paul Pacuraru, former labor minister during April 3, 2007 – September 23, 2008, and Ilie Morega, member of the General Assembly of Shareholders in thermal power producers Rovinari and Turceni, and the Oltenia National Coal Company (SNLO), on charges of corruption.

Romania’s New Transp Min To Sack 24 Subordinated GMs, On High Salaries

Romania’s new Transport and Infrastructure Minister Radu Berceanu said Tuesday that he would dismiss the managers of the 24 companies in the ministry's subordination, due to their high salaries.

Romania’s Environ Min Vows To Tackle Car Tax Issue In Jan ‘09

Romania’s new environment minister, Nicolae Nemirschi, said Tuesday, after taking over his portfolio, that he rejoices the "support" of Prime Minister Emil Boc in tackling the car tax issue in January 2009.

Romanian Govt To Back SMEs, Youth, Tourism – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said the new government set tourism, youth, sports and SMEs among its priorities and Elena Udrea is the right person to head the Tourism Ministry.

Romania’s Fin Min First Priority Is Naming State Secretaries

Romania’s new Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Tuesday that his first priority is naming state secretaries, as the institution needs a leading team.

Romania’s New Agric Min Says Ministry Employees Too Involved In Politics Should Go

Romania’s new minister of Agriculture, Forests and Rural Development Ilie Sarbu said Tuesday upon taking office that ministry employees who got too involved in politics should resign.

Romania’s Alro Slatina Employees Protest Against Management Board Plans

Over two thousand employees of Romania’s Alro Slatina, the largest aluminum producer in Central and Eastern Europe, owned by Dutch-based Vimetco, gathered Tuesday morning to protest in front of the company’s building against the board’s decision to sack staff.

Romanian New PM Took Over Attributions, Office

Romania’s new Prime Minster Emil Boc and former Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu signed Tuesday at the government headquarters a protocol for the handing over and receipt of documents regarding the government’s activity, then government said in a statement.

Ferrari California To be Launched In Romania Jan ‘09

The latest model of Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari, California, will be launched on the Romanian market at the end of January, at a price starting from EUR180,000, VAT included.

Romanian President Hoped Liberals Would Have Had A Flexible Stance Following Poll Results

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday night on a TV show he tried to convince former Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu to give up his request to stay at the head of the Cabinet instated following the elections, and hoped until the last minute the National Liberal Party would become “flexible”.

Romanian New PM, Ministers Take Over Portfolios

Romania’s new Prime Minister Emil Boc, sworn in Monday, arrived at the government headquarters Tuesday morning to take over his office and talk to his ministers before the Cabinet meeting scheduled for later in the day.

Romanian President Says Constitution Is Ambiguous, Needs Revision

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday evening in a TV show that the country’s Constitution needs to be revised and its errors and ambiguities need to be cleared, and the new center-left coalition government has a majority large enough to allow it to look into the fundamental law.

Romanian PM Voices Confidence In Partnership With Pres, MPs And Church

Romanian newly appointed Premier Emil Boc on Monday said he believes in a partnership with the President, the parliament and the Church, arguing the country needs solidarity based on collaboration.

Romania’s New Govt: A Political Compromise For Populace Benefit – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday said the newly appointed center-left government is the result of a political compromise in the public’s interest, mentioning he finally saw his dream come true, namely a government that won a transparent support in parliament.

Romania’s New Environ Min Eyes To Suspend Car Tax Ordinance

Romania’s designated environment minister, Nicolae Nemirschi, said Monday it will propose the Prime Minister and the government to suspend the ordinance tripling the pollution tax for cars and to amend it in near-time.

Romanian Commerce Chamber Official Sentenced To 5 Yrs In Jail For Corruption

A Romanian court on Monday sentenced the Commerce and Industry Chamber’s representative for Europe, Magda Tepoi, to five and a half years in prison on charges of embezzlement of European funds and corruption.

Romania To Keep Flat Tax, Introduce Fiscal Exemptions For Poor People – Designated PM

Romania’s designated Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday the flat tax will be maintained, but a series of fiscal exemptions will be introduced for underprivileged categories, thus rejecting the accusations of now outgoing Prime Minister that the new ruling will leave out the flat tax.

Romanian Umbrella Killer Asks For Italy’s President Support

A Romanian national sentenced to 16 years in jail for killing an Italian woman by stabbing her through the eye with an umbrella on Monday sent a letter to Italy’s president asking him to allow her to do time in a special center, where she could take care of her two children.

Romanian Bks Close For Winter Holidays, Units In Malls Open Shorter Hrs

Most bank units in Romania will be closed on December 25 and 26, and on January 1-3, 2009, and only those located in shopping centers will be open and function on a special schedule.

Romania’s Energy Watchdog Confirms Keeping Household Gas, Pwr Prices Unch Jan 1

Romanian household natural gas and electricity prices will remain the same in the first quarter of 2009, while electric power prices for industrial consumers will hike by around 1.5%, Romania’s Energy Authority ANRE confirmed Monday.

Romania’s Cigarette Producers Hike Pk Price By RON0.2 On Higher Excise

Cigarette producers in Romania increased Monday the price of a pack of cigarettes by 0.2 lei (EUR1=RON3.9305), as the minimum excise per 1,000 cigarettes will hike on January 1, 2009.

Romania’s New Govt Eyes Pension Point At 45% Of Gross Avg Wage – Designated PM

Romanian designate Prime Minister Emil Boc told Parliament Monday the new Government eyes reaching a level of the pension point equal to 45% of the gross average wage on economy, if the public system of pensions can sustain the move.

Officials In State Co Boards To Have Rights Suspended One Year – Designated PM

Romania’s designated Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday in Parliament that dignitaries part of managing boards of state-owned companies will have their rights suspended for a year.

Bucharest Councilors OK RON23.4M Additional Budget Revenues

Bucharest city councilors on Monday approved a budget revision for the Romanian capital, including 23.4 million lei (EUR1-RON3.9305) additional revenues and RON403 million reduced expenses with foreign debts.

Romania’s Rompetrol To Cut Gas, Diesel Oil Prices By RON0.03, RON0.08/Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGaz, will cut Tuesday its gasoline pump prices by 0.03 lei (EUR1=RON3.9305) per liter and diesel oil prices by RON0.08 per liter, the company said in a statement.

Romanian Senate Allows Govt To Issue Emergency Decrees During Parliament Recess

Romanian senators decided Monday 114 to one votes to allow the government to issue emergency decrees during the Parliament’s recess.

Romanian President Asks Parliament Consent To Keep Romanian Troops In Iraq In ‘09

Romanian President Traian Basescu sent a letter to Parliament Monday requiring its consent to keep Romanian troops in Iraq in 2009.

Romanian Household Gas, Pwr Prices May Stay Unch Jan 1 – Sources

Romanian household natural gas and electricity prices might remain the same on January 1, 2009, while electric power prices for industrial consumers might be slightly increased, sources within the Regulation Committee of Romania’s Energy Authority ANRE, told MEDIAFAX on Monday.

Romanian Parliament Summoned In Jan To Discuss ’09 State Budget – Sources

Romania’s new ruling coalition formed of democrat liberals and social democrats decided to summon the Parliament in extraordinary meeting in the last week of January to debate the 2009 state budget draft, which they will most likely complete on January 20.

Pvt Individuals In Romania To Pay 16% Tax For Commercial Real Estate Transactions

Private individuals in Romania who carry out real estate transactions for commercial purposes will pay the value added tax, or VAT, of 19%, while a tax of 16% will be levied on this sort of operations, regardless of who performs them.

Romania’s New Cabinet Members Meet Before Parliament Votes On Investiture Monday

The ministers nominated by Romania’s designated Prime Minister Emil Boc are participating in an informal meeting Sunday afternoon at the Palace of Parliament.

Lower VAT For Food Prod Scrapped From Romania’s Final Governing Agenda

The Romanian democrat liberals and social democrats have put away from the final version of the governing agenda the proposal to lower the 19% value added tax, or VAT, to 5% for basic food products and to increase it to 25% for luxury items.