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Japan’s Carmaker Mitsubishi Mulls Investing In Romania

Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi Motors is considering investing in Romania, following talks with Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu, who proposed an investment in a car plant, the Romanian Government said Thursday in a statement.

Romania To Privatize Cinema Halls Oct-Nov – Minister

Romania’s film distribution company RADEF RomaniaFilm will be privatized in October-November, either by selling cinema halls to a single investor or by selling groups of cinema halls in different regions, culture minister Adrian Iorgulescu said Thursday.

Romanian Govt Cancels Bucharest Airports Merger To Allow Bourse Listing

The Romanian government cancelled the decision to set up the National Airport Company with the merger of Bucharest's Otopeni and Baneasa international airports.

Sex Pistols, Róisín Murphy, Kaiser Chiefs To Play Sziget Festival In Budapest

The most influential punk band of all time, living legends Sex Pistols, are among the headliners of this year’s Sziget festival in Budapest, Hungary, to take place August 12-18, along Iron Maiden, R.E.M and Die Ärzte.

Oil Tycoon Patriciu, Richest Romanian In Forbes World’s Billionaires

Romanian businessman Dinu Patriciu ranks 462nd in Forbes magazine World’s Billionaires top, with an estimated $2.5 billion.

Romanian Food Sector Employers, Unions Want Retailers Probed

Employers and unions in Romania’s food sector asked competition and consumer protection authorities for a confidential investigation of possible abuses committed by retailers with respect to suppliers

Romania’s Jan Net Salary Dn 5.2% M-M To RON1,200

Romania's net average salary fell 5.2% to 1,200 lei (EUR1-RON3.7197) in real terms in January 2008, compared with December 2007, the National Institute for Statistics said Thursday.

Romania’s Jan Pwr Output Up 6.9% On Yr, Resources Dn 4.2%

Romania’s power output rose 6.9% on the year in January, while the country’s power resources fell 4.2% on the year in the first month of 2008, the National Statistical Institute, or INS, said Thursday.

His Holiness Teofan Elected Bishop Of Moldova

The Holy Synod elected eight high church officials within the most important poll organized by the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) after the fall of communism in 1989.

Romanian Parties Sign Education Pact

The pact for education was signed on Wednesday afternoon by president Traian Basescu as well as all Romanian parliament parities.

Romanian Govt OKs New Structure Of Council Overseeing Securitate Files

The Romanian government on Wednesday adopted the new organic structure of the National Council in charge with overseeing the files of former communist secret police, or CNSAS, Marius Oprea, adviser to Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu said.

Romania’s Energy Watchdog To Decide End-Mar On New Gas Price Hikes

Romania’s energy watchdog will decide whether to hike end-user natural gas prices by the end of March, following unofficial requests from gas distributors Distrigaz Sud and E.ON Gaz Romania.

Romanian Govt Postpones Decision On Cutting Budget Expenses

Romania’s Executive on Wednesday postponed making a decision on a draft ordinance aimed at cutting expenses in the public sector, by temporarily blocking new hiring or banning public institutions from purchasing cars and furniture.

Romania’s Privatization Authority Cancels Privatization Offer For Antibiotice

Romania’s privatization authority AVAS repealed the privatization offer for the country’s last remaining state-owned drug maker Antibiotice SA (ATB.RO), after last week the Government annulled the decision to sell the company through open bid, AVAS announced on Wednesday.

BMW To Launch New X6 Model In Romania By Mid-Summer

German carmaker BMW will launch its X6 model in Romania by mid-summer, BMW spokesman Andreas Lampka said Wednesday.

Romanian Govt Decided To Hold Local Polls Jun 1 – Sources

The Romanian government decided in principle to organize local elections on June 1, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Arabian Businessman Confirms Interest In FC Rapid Bucharest

Arabian businessman Fatih Taher, owner of several companies in Romania, on Wednesday said his company Griro SA was interested in purchasing FC Rapid Bucharest football club.

Tiamat To Play Artmania Festival In Sibiu, Central Romania

Swedish metal band Tiamat returns to Romania on July 18 to play the Artmania festival in Sibiu, central Romania, as part of the tour promoting their latest album Amanethes, to be released on April 18.

Romanian Senate Halves Fines For Unpaid Road Tolls

The Romanian Senate on Wednesday adopted a proposal halving fines for drivers with unpaid road tolls and eliminated the possibility for fines to be paid on the spot.

Human Rights Court Rules Against Romania For Ill-Treatment And Ethnic Discrimination

The European Court of Human Rights, or ECHR, ruled against Romania for ill-treatment and racial discrimination, forcing the government to pay EUR15,000 to a boy of Roma origin, beaten by police in 2001, when he was 14.

Distrigaz Sud: Natural Gas Prices Should Rise In 2Q

Distrigaz Sud said that the tariff for imported natural gas should grow in the second quarter to $420 per 1,000 cubic meters, from the current $370.

Wage Hikes Over 10% For Romanian Rail Employees Entail Layoffs – Minister

Romanian transport minister Ludovic Orban said Wednesday a wage increase of over 10% for railroad employees is only possible in the context of layoffs, and cutting expenses for maintenance and investments to hike wages is unacceptable.

Romanian Railroad Traffic Resumed After Warning Strike

Romanian railroad employees ended their two-hour warning strike Wednesday morning and rail traffic has been resumed, but is expected to go back to its regular schedule around 8 p.m..

Romanian Democrat Liberal Ousted From Party For Indecent Behavior

Bogdan Boza, counter-candidate of Romanian President’s daughter Elena Basescu during the elections on February 24 for the position of secretary general of the Democratic-Liberal Youth Organization (OT- PDL), was ousted from the PD-L branch of Bucharest’s District 1.

Thermal Pwr Consumption In Romania Down By Over 25% In Last Three Yrs

The average thermal power consumption in Romania went down by over 25% during the last three years, according to the Romanian Association of Thermal Power Metering Services Providers (ANPSC).

Romania’s Dacia Launches New Sandero Hatch In June

Automobile Dacia SA, the Romanian unit of French carmaker Renault, will start production of its brand new five-door hatch Sandero in May, which will be launched on the Romanian market in June at a price no higher than EUR9,500 for the most equipped model.

Romania’s Automobile Privatization To Be Concluded Soon – Ford

U.S. giant Ford Motor Co said Tuesday as a reaction to the approval of the law over the privatization of Romania’s auto assembly plant Automobile Craiova that the privatization process will be concluded soon.

www.sport.ro Romania’s Most Visited Sport Website

Romanian TV channel Sport.ro, part of MediaPro media trust, on Tuesday said its website www.sport.ro was the most visited Romanian sport site in February, outranking top-sites www.prosport.ro and www.gsp.ro.

Romanian Deputies Adopt Uninominal Voting System Law

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies Tuesday adopted 231 to 11 and 18 abstentions the law introducing the uninominal voting system.

Romanian Deputies Decide County Council Heads To Be Elected Uninominally

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies approved Tuesday, during debates on the draft introducing the uninominal voting system, an amendment according to which county council presidents are to be elected uninominally.

Romanian Transport Min Says Rail Employees Warning Strike Is Immoral

The planned strike of railroad employees is immoral and affects passengers, Romania’s transport minister Ludovic Orban said Tuesday, adding he might appeal in court a potential general strike.

Serb Protesters Hang Romanian Flag At UN Mission Building In Kosovo

Employees in the Kosovo legal system staged a protest Tuesday at the headquarters of the United Nations mission in Kosovska Mitrovica, raising the flags of Serbia and Romania.

Romanian Democrat Liberals To File Criminal Complaint Against PM

Lawmakers of Romania’s Democratic Liberal Party, or PDL, will file a criminal complaint against Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu Tuesday for failing to observe the parliament’s decision to cancel the car tax, said democrat liberal Cristian Radulescu.

Romanian Deputies Maintain 5% Threshold For Parliament Elections

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday maintained the electoral threshold at 5% or six deputy and three senator mandates for deputies and three for senators, at the debates on the draft law introducing the uninominal voting system for parliament elections.

Linkin Park To Play Bucharest This Summer

U.S. rock band Linkin Park is set for a concert in Bucharest this summer, organizers Music Management told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Budget Cuts Will Not Affect National Health Programs – Minister

Romanian health minister Eugen Nicolaescu said that the cut by RON433.7 million in the budget of the Health Ministry in the year’s first budget revision would not affect the country’s national health programs.

Romanian 07 GDP +6% On Yr Vs +7.9% Yr Ago

Romania’s 2007 gross domestic product growth slowed to 6% on the year in real terms, compared with a revised 7.9% a year before, the National Statistical Institute, or INS, said Tuesday.

Romanian Govt Denies Any Knowledge Of Ransom Paid For Journalists Kidnapped In Iraq

The Romanian government has no information regarding any ransom paid to the kidnappers of three Romanian journalists in Iraq in 2005, government spokesperson Camelia Spataru said Tuesday.

Romanian Deputies Debate Uninominal Voting System Law

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies started Tuesday debates on the draft law introducing the uninominal voting system for legislative elections.

Iraqi Court Of Cassation Cancels Death Sentence For Mohammad Munaf

The decision of the Iraqi court of cassation canceling the death sentence for Mohammad Munaf, accused of kidnapping three Romanian journalists in 2005, refers to the fact that the kidnappers released the journalists after negotiating with the Romanian authorities and after receiving ransom.