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Romanian Accused Of Murder Sentenced To 16 Years In Italian Prison

An Italian court on Monday convicted Romanian national Doina Matei to 16 years in prison, Italian news agency AGI reported.

Romania Pushes For 1yr Delay On Animal Welfare Norms

Romanian authorities will try to convince European Commission to accept a on-year derogation, for 2008, from EU norms on the stunning of pigs before slaughter. Talks are currently unfolding in Brussels.

Swiss Political Shift Might Trigger Referendum On Free Movement

Switzerland’s former justice minister, far-rightist Christoph Blocher, might propose the organization of a referendum against the expansion of the agreement on free movement for Bulgaria and Romania, according to a well-known Swiss journalist, quoted by swissinfo.org.

Romanian PM Proposes One Third Of Car Tax Revenue For Environmental Projs

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu asked the ministers of finance and environment to come up with a system to allow the country’s controversial car tax to be collected as state budget revenue, with about one third of the money going into environmental projects.

Austria To Gradually Drop Labor Restrictions Come ’09

Austrian finance minister Wilhelm Molterer, who is also Vice Chancellor in the Austrian Cabinet, said Monday, in Bucharest, that Austria will gradually lift restrictions imposed on the labor market, starting with the year 2009.

E.ON Gaz Romania Sees Household Gas Prices Up 30% In 2008

E.ON Gaz Romania sees the country’s household gas prices rising 10% in January 2008 and estimates prices will grow by 30% at the end of next year, the Romanian unit of Germany’s giant E.ON said Monday.

Traffic Doubles At W Romanian Border As Romanians Return For Holidays

Romanians working abroad have started to return in the country for the winter holidays and authorities are taking all necessary measures to decongest traffic at the western border.

Intercity Train Smashes Truck In W Romania

An intercity train going on route Budapest-Bucharest derailed on Sunday night near the town of Arad, western Romania, after colliding with a truck.

Number Of Foreign Tourists To Register Slight Increase In ’08 Compared To ‘07

The number of foreign tourists to visit Romania and that or Romanians to spend their vacations abroad would slightly increase in 2008 against 2007 according to estimations of the Association of Employers in Romanian Tourism, or FPTR.

Romania’s Defense Council To Debate Moldova’s Shocking Gesture-Sources

Romania’s Supreme Defense Council, or CSAT, will debate next week about the diplomatic relations between the country and the Republic of Moldova and the consequences of Moldova’s gesture to declare two Romanian diplomats personae non-gratae, official sources said.

Bronze Medal Slips Through The Fingers Of Romania’s Handball Team At World Championship

Romania’s women’s handball team lost the bronze medal on Sunday in the small finals of the World Championship, after it was defeated 36-35 in extra time by Germany’s team.

Wind Energy Investments Remain Theoretical Plans For Romania

Romania has great potential to produce wind energy as it can sustain wind turbines with a total power capacity of 14,000 MW. Unfortunately, projects were drawn up only in theory.

New Education Laws To Be Launched Monday For Public Debate

Romania’s education minister Cristian Adomnitei will launch on Monday for public debate the new education law package, aiming to improve the financing system, to pay more attention to schools and open a larger perspective for universities.

MediaPro Group Has New Operations Manager

Florin Alexandresu, current CME Sales Strategist for Slovakia, Romanian and Sales Director Nova TV, the Czech Republic, was appointed operations manager of MediaPro group, and is to coordinate the operational activity of all companies activating under the MediaPro brand.

German Star Sandra To Perform In Romania’s Sinaia Mountain Resort

German singer Sandra, who is to perform on Saturday evening in Sinaia, one of Romania’s mountain resorts, asked organizers that a six-mirror room be placed near the stage, and that French Champaign be ready and waiting for her in her hotel room.

Ex APD Head Accuses Romania’s Pres Of Trying To Discredit The Association

Cristian Parvulescu, the former president of the ProDemocratia Association, or APD, Saturday accused president Basescu of trying to discredit the Association.

Traffic On Romania’s Roads Blocked Due To Heavy Snows

Traffic throughout Romania is blocked or restricted due to heavy snows and ice, according to the Info-Traffic Center.

Romania’s Liberal Democrats Vote Merger With Democrats

The extraordinary congress of the Liberal Democratic Party, or PLD, Saturday voted with only one vote against and six abstentions in favor of the merger through absorption with the Democratic Party.

Romanian Pres Asks PM, Foreign Affairs Min Not To Expel Moldova’s Diplomats

Romania’s president Traian Basescu asked Prime Minister Tariceanu and foreign affairs minister Adrian Cioroianu not to expel Moldova’s diplomats in Romania, as an answer to Moldova’s gesture to declare two Romanian diplomats personae non-gratae, official sources said.

Moldova To Receive Employment Rights Equal To Romania’s In EU-President

Romania’s president Traian Basescu said Friday in Brussels he hopes that Modova’s citizens and those living in the Republic of Cape Verde receive, in the EU, employment conditions equal to those of Romanian citizens.

Romania’s Natural Gas Prices To Grow In Single-Digit Jan 1 – Econ Min

Romania’s natural gas prices in 2008 will see a single-digit rise on January 1, 2008, Economy and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said Friday, adding the increase would have an anti-inflationary effect.

Basescu Says EU Agrees To Send Mission In Kosovo, Delay Decision On Province Statute

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Friday European Union leaders agreed, at Romania’s proposal, to send a policing and security mission to Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo and postpone until January a decision regarding the status of the province.

Romanian Food Processors To Recall Products In View Of Reprocessing, Redistribution

Romanian food processors will be allowed to recall products from stores in view of reprocessing or redistribution according to a draft amending the government decision regarding the infringement of sanitary veterinary norms.

Romanian Fiscal Authorities “Blind” With Respect To Econ Development-Eurobank

International analysts have once more criticized Romania’s revenues and expenses policy. The most recent observations coming from Eurobank economists show Romanian fiscal authorities seem “blind” with respect to the country’s economic development.

European Courts To Acknowledge Romania’s Forensic Investigations

European courthouses will admit as evidence the forensic investigations conducted by the Romanian Police Department following the accreditation of seven national services within the Criminalistic Institute.

Romania’s Oil Co Petrom Hikes Gas, Diesel Oil Prices

Romania’s largest vertically integrated oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) will hike Saturday the prices for gas by 0.08 lei (EUR1-RON 3.5484) per liter, and for diesel oil by RON0.04 per liter, fueled by the increase in international quotations adjusted, the company said in a statement Friday.

Bus Overturns On Hungarian Motorway, 13 Injured

A bus with Romanian plates overturned on the M5 motorway near Szeged, southeast Hungary, near the Romanian border on Friday morning, and three people have been seriously hurt, Hungarian news agency MTI reported National Disaster Management officials as saying.

Romanian PM Disappointed With Moldovan Attitude

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Friday he is disappointed with the attitude of Moldovan authorities, who expelled two Romanian diplomats and declared them personae non grata.

Romania Qualifies In 2007 Women’s Handball World Championship Semis

Romania qualified in the semifinals of the 2007 Women’s Handball World Championship in France after it beat the host Thursday in Paris 34-31 (8-14), after four sets of overtime.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Sales Up 15.3% In First 11 Mo Of ‘07

Sales of Romanian car maker Dacia, on a world level, hiked in the first 11 months of the year by 15.3%, to 207,890 cars, from 180,271 units sold in the same period of the previous year, while the number of cars sold by Dacia majority shareholder Renault Group, climbed by 1.3%, to 2.279 million.

Romanian Draft Civil Procedure Code Simplifies Divorce Procedures

The Romanian draft Civil Procedure Code presented Thursday by resigning justice minister Tudor Chiuariu simplifies the divorce procedure through party agreement, thus courts might be handle less such trials, while civil registry offices will acknowledge the separation of the couple.

Romanian Chamber Speaker To Suggest Justice Minister Candidate

Romanian liberal Bogdan Olteanu, chairman of the Chamber of Deputies said Thursday he will propose that Norica Nicolai take over the vacant position of justice minister.

A Total Number Of 16 Insurance Cos Eye RCA In ’08

A total number of 16 companies turned to the Romanian Insurance Surveillance Commission (CSA) to maintain, in 2008, their authorization to offer the mandatory civil liability insurance for cars (RCA), according to data issued by the regulatory authority.

Romanian Director Mungiu Nominated For Golden Globes

Romanian director Cristian Mungiu was nominated for the Golden Globe awards, in the “best foreign language film” section, to be awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in a ceremony on January 13 in Los Angeles, according to goldenglobe.org.

Romanian Authorities To Ban Heavy Traffic On National Road 1 In ‘08

Romanian authorities intend to maintain for 2008 traffic restrictions for freight vehicles over 7.5 tons on National Road 1, between Bucharest and Brasov, during daytime, from Monday until Friday.

Romania, Second In EU By Labor Cost Growth – Eurostat

The growth rate in labor costs in Romania slightly decreased in the third quarter to 23.2%, but Romania still ranks second in top of EU states after Latvia, which reported a 30% hike, and topped the average of the 27 EU states by at least six times, according to Eurostat, the EU Statistical Office.

Romania Signed EU Reform Treaty In Lisbon

Romania’s President Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu and foreign affairs minister Adrian Cioroianu signed Thursday in Lisbon the European Union’s reform treaty, alongside leaders of all EU member states.

Romanian Democrats Willing To Collaborate With Leftists On Uninominal Vote Draft Law

Romania’s Democratic Party, or PD, is willing to collaborate with the leftist Social Democratic Party, or PSD, to pass the law introducing a majority uninominal voting system in two rounds of elections, democrat leader Emil Boc said Thursday.

Aussie Pop Princess Kylie Minogue To Perform In Bucharest On May 17

Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue will perform on May 17, 2008 at the Cotroceni Football Stadium in Bucharest, Romania, organizers Emagic Entertainment told Mediafax Thursday.

Heavy Metal Legends Iron Maiden To Perform In Bucharest Aug. 4

Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden will be performing at the Cotroceni Football Stadium in Bucharest, Romania, on August 4, as part of their Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008, organizers Emagic Entertainment told Mediafax Thursday.