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Romanian Dita Tomescu Wins Olympic Gold In Women’s Marathon Final

Romanian Constantina Dita Tomescu, 38, crossed the finish line of the Women's Marathon to claim the title at the Beijing Olympics in 2 hours 26.44 minutes on August 17.

Ukraine Stops Works At Bystroe Canal

The Ukrainian authorities annulled their decision to carry on with the second stage of works at the Danube-Black Sea deep-water navigation canal (the “Bystroe Canal Project”), Romanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.

Fitch Affirms Romania’s Banca Comerciala Romana At A –

Rating agency Fitch Ratings affirmed Romania’s Banca Comerciala Romana BCR rating at Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default (IDR) A minus, the agency said Friday in a press statement.

Romania Might Assign 6% Of GDP To Upgrade Road Infrastructure – Min

The Romanian government might gradually assign 6% of the gross domestic product, starting with 2009 until 2012, to upgrade the country’s road infrastructure, health minister Eugen Nicolaescu told a press conference Friday.

Romania’s Healthcare Might Get 5% Of GDP In ’09-Min

The Romanian government might allocate funds matching 5% of the gross domestic product to the healthcare field in 2009, with the percentage to reach 7% of the GDP in 2012, Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu said Friday.

Romania Received EUR560M In EU Funds For Rural Development

Romania received the first tranche of European Union funds for rural development worth nearly EUR560 million, namely, a 7% downpayment of the total sum assigned until 2013 to fund projects contracted via the National Rural Development Plan (PNDR).

Romania Extended Yellow Code Warning For Heatwave

The Romanian meteorological authorities (ANM) extended the yellow code warning for heat until Saturday for 14 counties and for the capital city Bucharest, expecting temperatures will continue to rise to 37-38 degrees Celsius.

Romania Hikes Subsidy For Diesel Fuel Used In Farming To RON109.2M

Romania hiked Wednesday the state aid granted to farmers who benefit from subsidies for diesel fuel used this year in agriculture by 49.2 million lei (EUR1=RON3.5370) to RON109.2 million.

Romania Fin Min Points Finger At U.S. Bechtel Over Transylvania Motorway Problems

Potential problems with the construction of Transylvania Motorway, which connects central Romanian Brasov to western Bors, should be linked to U.S. constructor Bechtel, as the Romanian authorities have done their part of the deal, economy and finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Speed Limitations For Romanian Trains Due To Heatwave

Romania’s state-owned railway company CFR on Thursday said train drivers were instructed to reduce speed during daytime, when track temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius.

German Tourist Attacked By Bear Central Romania

A bear attacked a group of three German tourists in Bucegi Mountains, central Romania, severely wounding a man while he was asleep, mountain rescuers said Thursday.

Romanians Advised Not To Disclose Sensitive Data To Employers

Romania’s Association of Credit Brokers, or ARBC, on Thursday warned individuals not to disclose sensitive data or to present personal documents and information when applying for a job, following a recent incident when several people were victims of a fraud.

Twelve Bears Captured In C Romania To Be Transported To A Reservation

Twelve bears were captured in mountain resort Sinaia, central Romania, and will be taken to a reservation in Arges county, southern Romania, as they had come down into town numerous times over the last few days, Sinaia mayor Vlad Oprea said Thursday.

Romanian Trade Union Cartel Alfa Pleads For Ceasefire In Georgia

Romania’s trade union Cartel Alfa on Thursday urged Russian and Georgian authorities to cease fire and peacefully resolve their differences, after the Caucasus conflict left ten members of the Longshoremen Union in Georgia’s port of Poti dead and 15 others injured.

Rice: NATO Membership Helps Solve Old Differences, Like Btw Romania, Hungary

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday said NATO membership allows states to resolve old conflicts, giving as example the differences between Romania and Hungary and between Bulgaria and Turkey.

Romania’s BCR Launches Products, Services To Help Implement EU-Funded Projs

Romania’s largest lender by assets Banca Comerciala Romana, or BCR, launched several products and services to implement projects using non-reimbursable European funds, the bank said Thursday.

Romania’s 1H Curr Acct Def Up 8.5% On Yr To EUR7.98B

Romania's first half current account deficit rose by 8.5% on the year inthe first half to EUR7.981 billion, primarily as a result of a higher trade deficit, the central bank said in a statement Thursday.

Romania’s First 7-Mos Used Car Registrations Double On Yr, To 112,054 Units

Romania’s used car registrations reached 112,054 units in the first seven months of 2008, double compared to the same period a year ago, while new car registrations lowered 2.3%, to 171,385 units, according to data offered by the Romanian Driving License and Car Registration Department (DRPCIV).

Romanian Govt Oks Construction Of 861 Housing Units For Young People

Romania’s National Housing Agency (ANL) will start building a total 861 housing units, which will be rented out to young people aged up to 35 who cannot afford to buy an apartment or rent a privately-owned housing unit at current market prices.

Romanian Ana Maria Branza Wins Olympic Epee Fencing Silver

Romanian Ana Maria Branza won Olympic silver in the epee fencing final after being defeated by German Britta Heidemann, 11-15.

Romanian Artists Protested In Front Of Culture Ministry

Nearly 50 Romanian artists and performers picketed the Ministry of Culture Wednesday, displeased with the draft law stipulating a new evaluation grid for their activity and payment.

EIU: Romania’s High Foreign Debt Ups Vulnerability To Changes In Investor Sentiment

Romania’s economy is vulnerable to changes in investor sentiment, due to its large external financing requirements, the Economist Intelligence Unit, or EIU, said in a report.

Romania’s Henri Coanda Intl Airport To Pay EUR5.95M For IT Services

Romania’s Henri Coanda/Otopeni International Airport on Wednesday said will pay EUR5.95 million for IT services at check-in counters, baggage reconciliation and automatic people movers.

Heatwave To Affect 15 Romanian Counties, Bucharest

Romanian authorities issued yellow code warning for heat for 15 counties in the eastern, western and northern part of the country, as well as for the capital city Bucharest, expecting temperatures up to 37-38 degrees Celsius.

Romanian Privatization Agency Cancels Sale Of Equip Mkr Fortus Iasi

Romania’s privatization agency AVAS decided to annul the sale contract of industrial equipment maker Fortus Iasi to metal distributor Metalexportimport Bucharest over unobserved contractual obligations, and requires penalties of EUR713,000.

Bucharest’s Intl Airport Baneasa To Be Closed For Runway Repair Works

Bucharest’s international airport “Aurel Vlaicu” Baneasa will be closed between September 29 and October 12 for runway repair works, the airport’s general manager Stefan Mladin told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romania To Send Aid To Georgia

Romania will send humanitarian aid to Georgia, consisting mainly of medicine and sanitary equipment, in response to a request of the authorities in Tbilisi, the presidency said in a statement Tuesday.

Romania’s Rompetrol Mulls Gas Distr Network Expansion By 2012

Rompetrol Downstream, the retail division of Romania’s second-largest oil company, Rompetrol Group NV, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGaz, plans to extend by 2012 its franchised gas station network with another 250-300 units from independent companies.

Romanian Mihai Covaliu Wins Olympic Sabre Fencing Bronze

Romanian Mihai Covaliu Tuesday won bronze at the sabre fencing competition within the Beijing Olympics.

Romtelecom Listing Postponed For ‘09 On Financial Mkts Crisis

The stock market listing of Romanian fixed-line telephony operator Romtelecom was postponed for 2009, due to problems on international financial markets, Romania's communication and IT minister Karoly Borbely said Tuesday.

Romanians Confidence In Major Cos Managers Above W Europe Avg – GfK

Managers of major companies in Romania are considered trustworthy by 46% of the Romanian respondents, exceeding the Western European average, but below the Central end Eastern European countries, according to a survey conducted by market research company GfK.

Romania Defense Council Meeting Set For Tues – Sources

Romanian President Traian Basescu summoned a meeting of the Supreme Defense Council, or CSAT, for Tuesday (August 12 – e.n.) on a subject yet to be announced, presidency sources said Monday.

Romania’s Rompetrol To Cut Gas, Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.04, RON0.08 Per Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol Group NV, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGaz, will cut Tuesday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.04 lei (EUR1=RON3.5644) per liter, and RON0.08 per liter, respectively, the company said in a statement.

Monica Serbanescu Nominated For Head Of Romania’s Anticorruption Dept

The Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu on Monday said he will nominate prosecutor Monica Serbanescu as president of the country’s anticorruption department DNA, replacing Daniel Morar whose 3-year mandate expired today.

Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry Recommends Romanian Citizens To Avoid Georgia

The Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry recommended Romanian citizens to avoid traveling to Georgia, especially to the Southern Ossetia and Abkhaz regions, and the border regions of Chechnya.

Fitch: Romania’s Economy Looks More Like Overheating Than Expected In January

Romania's economy shows little sign of adjusting to a more sustainable growth path and the economy looks more like it’s overheating than expected in January, Andrew Colquhoun, director with Fitch Ratings, told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Romania’s Romtelecom Lowered Fees By 40% For Long Distance Calls During Busy Hours

Romania’s telecom operator Romtelecom reduced on Monday by 40% the fees for long distance calls during busy hours, and by 17% the fees for calls to networks of other hard-line operators, the operator said Monday.

Romania, Second In CEE By Real Estate Deals In 1H ’08

Romania ranks second in Central and Eastern Europe in terms of large real estate deals closed in the first half of the year, which totaled EUR815 million, up 18.6% from the same period a year ago, realtor Cushman & Wakefield said in a report Monday.

Romania’s 1H Trade Def Up 11.25% On Yr To EUR10.79B

Romania’s first-half trade deficit rose 11.25% on the year to EUR10.793 billion, from EUR9.701 billion in the same period a year earlier, the National Statistics Institute said Monday.

Romanian July Inflation 9.04% On Yr, Hits 3-Yr High

Romania’s inflation accelerated by 0.69% on the month in July, and the higher prices for electric power and gas have brought the annual index to 9.04%, the highest level in three years, the National Statistic Institute said Monday.