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Romania, EU’s Most Corrupted Country-Global Watchdog

Romania is the EU country most affected by corruption, according to the 2007 Global Corruption Barometer published Thursday by the Berlin-based organization Transparency International (TI).

Bucharest Traffic Jams Risk Blocking Emergency Call No. 112

The emergency call number 112 risks to be blocked due to the large number of calls received from divers complaining about traffic jams in Romania’s capital city of Bucharest, said Adrian Fulea, spokesperson with the Special Telecommunication Service, or STS.

Great Britain Maintains Restrictions For Romanian, Bulgarian Citizens

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu went on an official visit in Great Britain to try and negotiate the faith of Romania citizens who wish to live and work in this country.

Romania’s News Agency Mediafax Receives Award During Business Superbrands Gala

Romania’s largest news agency Mediafax, newspaper Ziarul Financiar and Business Magazin were awarded Wednesday evening within the Business Superbrands Gala during a ceremony that paid homage to the most valuable brands in the Romanian industry.

Romanian Democrats, Liberal Democrats Officially Approve Setting Up New Party

The leadership of the Democratic Party, or PD, and the Standing Office of the Liberal Democratic Party, or PLD, approved Wednesday the setting up of a new party.

RTL Aims Buying Minority Stake In Antena 1, Antena 2, Euforia TV Stations

German group RTL is negotiating with Romania’s media group Intact to buy a minority stake in TV stations Antena 1, Antena 2 and Euforia.

Arabia’s Al Arrab Did Not Inject Yet EUR35M In Romania’s Electroputere

Saudi Arabia's Al Arrab Contracting Co., majority shareholder of Romanian electrical equipment-producer Electroputere, did not inject EUR35 million into the company’s working capital, as previously announced by Romania’s privatization authority AVAS.

Authorities Demolish Illegal Rromani Immigrant Camp In Rome

Italian authorities evacuated and demolished, Tuesday, a Rromani camp abusively set up on the shores of river Aniene, at Ponte Mammolo (outskirts of Rome), inhabited by some one thousand Romanian Rromani people, together with numerous other extra-community citizens.

EU Commissioner Invites Farmers To Debate Agriculture Policies On Her Blog

Romanian farmers can express their opinion on the reforming of the Common Agriculture Policy, or CAP, on the personal blog of European commissioner for agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian Prosecutors Allege Over 140 Interior Min Employees Involved In Corruption Deeds In 2007

Romania’s General Anticorruption Department said it probed over 1,100 employees with the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform during January-November 2007 and prosecutors charged 163 of them with alleged corruption.

Anticorruption Prosecutors Name Magistrates Involved In Rigging Contest

Romania’s National Anticorruption Department, or DNA, made public on Wednesday the name of the five magistrates and a notary public involved in defrauding the contest to fill in top prosecutor and judge positions.

Santa Claus For Rent In Romania For RON100 – 350 An Hour

Renting Santas has become a habit for corporate Christmas parties in Romania and business is blooming for companies providing this service, as Santas have been already booked for the holidays.

FC Steaua Midfielder Banel Nicolita To Be Appointed Antiracism Ambassador

FC Steaua midfielder Banel Nicolita is to be appointed Friday as Romania’s antiracism ambassador and he will thus be included in the world group of professional footballers promoting tolerance and fair-play in sports and beyond.

Romanian Lottery To Pay RON17M Damages To Ftbl Fed-Court

A Bucharest court on Wednesday ruled in favor of the Romanian Football Federation, or FRF, in a suit against the Romanian Lottery, forcing the lottery to pay damages exceeding 17 million lei (EUR1-RON3.5278), plus legal expenses.

Strong Wind Closes Romanian Constanta Sud Seaport

Romanian Constanta Sud and Midia seaports were closed Tuesday night due to strong wind of up to 60km per hour, said the director of Constanta Harbor Master Alexandru Mezei.

Gothic Metal Pioneers Paradise Lost To Rock Bucharest On Jan. 19

British gothic rock band Paradise Lost returns to Romania on January 19 for the third time, with a concert promoting the band’s new album ‘In Requiem’, event organizers, One Event, said Tuesday.

Petrom Sale Transparent, Approved By Romanian Govt, Parliament- Co Officials

The sale of Romania’s largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) was transparent, as it was closely monitored by international institutions and approved by the Romanian government and parliament, the company said in a press statement.

Romanian Democrats, Liberal Democrats Still On Talks Over Leadership Of New Structure – Sources

Romanian democrat and liberal-democrat leaders consider changing the interim leadership of the newly formed Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) by appointing Theodor Stolojan as executive president and Vasile Blaga as vice-president or secretary general.

Moldovan Presidency Snaps At Romania’s Embassy Over Media Scandal

The press department of the Moldovan Presidency announced Tuesday that Romania’s Embassy to Chisinau should hold accurate information on the country where it unfolds its activity, following a press statement released by the embassy and published in Moldovan daily "Timpul."

Land Prices In N Bucharest Climbed To EUR6,000 Per Square Meter- Study

Land prices in Bucharest’s northern area climbed up to EUR6,000 per square meter over shortage of lands used for construction works, as indicates a study conducted by realty consulting company Colliers.

Romanian-Canadian Rosia Montana Gold Corp. To Scale Back Activities

Romanian-Canadian Rosia Montana Gold Corporation said Tuesday, in a press conference in Romania’s central city of Alba Iulia, that it would scale back its activities, cutting nearly two-thirds of the subsidiary's 325 full-time employees.

Romania To Amend Car Tax Legislation-Econ Min

Romania will amend its car tax legislation by correlating the first registration tax to the car’s market value and allowing population to appeal the taxes, minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian said Tuesday.

Romania’s Sanitary Authority Says No More Bird Flu Cases In Danube Delta Area

Romania’s sanitary veterinary and food safety authority ANSVSA said Tuesday that no other bird flu cases were identified in the Danube Delta, Murighiol location, in Romania’s southeastern county of Tulcea, where the bird flu virus H5N1 was identified late November.

Romanian Senators Unanimously Enact Animal Protection Law

Romanian senators unanimously enacted Tuesday a draft law on animal protection, considering how much Romanians love animals and even give pet names to their cattle.

Romania Ignores People’s Will, Unlike Switzerland – President

Romania’s president Traian Basescu criticized in Bern, Switzerland, the Romanian political system that does not take into consideration the people’s will.

Parliament Committee OKs Ungureanu As Foreign Intl Service Head

The parliament committee supervising the activity of Romania’s Foreign Intelligence Service, or SIE, unanimously approved the appointment of former foreign minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu for the leading position in the service.

Romanian Prosecutors Probe Alleged Fixed Ftbl Matches

Romanian prosecutors investigate possible fixed matches in national football League I, vice-president of Poli Timisoara club Emil Rosianu said Tuesday.

Romania’s Democratic Liberal Party – New Structure, Not Merger – Official

Romania’s Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) leader Theodor Stolojan said Tuesday after a meeting with democrats that what the two parties decided is “not a merger, but the creation of a new party, the Democratic Liberal Party”.

Car Tax Changes Can Only Be Technical – Romanian PM

The car registration tax can be changed if there are technical asymmetries, but it will neither be reduced, nor eliminated, said Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, adding that economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian will hold talks with the European Commission, in this respect.

Romanian Transp Ministry To Reinstate One-Day Road Toll

Romania’s Transports Ministry plans to reinstate the one-day road toll for most types of vehicles, except freight transport vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons, and prices are to be set by government decision.

Romanian Taxi Law Norms Enter Force

The Norms for the application of the Law on taxi driving came into force Monday, when they were published in the Romanian Official Gazette, according to the Romanian Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform.

International Analysts Say Romanian Economy Outlook Is Gloomy

International analysts are anticipating stagnation and even worsening of the economic situation in Romania, according to a study compiled by Erste Bank and the Center for European Economic Research. However, most people interviewed said that the current situation is acceptable.

Romanian Democrats, Liberal Democrats Merge

The leader of the Romanian Democratic Party, Emil Boc, and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Theodor Stolojan, announced Monday that their two parties would combine, forming the Democratic Liberal Party.

Romanian Social Democrats Remain In Opposition

Romania’s Social Democratic Party, or PSD, on Monday decided to remain in opposition instead of forming a possible government alliance with the liberals, PSD head Mircea Geoana said.

Romanian First – Eight Teams In IFFHS Chart

Romania is registered in November, for the first time, with eight teams in the International federation for Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) chart, published Monday, in Dusseldorf, the top Romanian position (70) being held by Steaua Bucharest, with the same rank as in October.

Head Of Romanian Ftbl League Indicted In Bribery Probe

Romanian prosecutors on Monday charged Dumitru Dragomir, head of the Professional Football League, or LPF, with taking bribery in a land purchase deal.

EC Makes Suggestions To Romania Regarding Agriculture Sector

The European Commission suggested that Romania wait for the Rural Development Program, or PNDR to be officially approved in order to receive financing projects in the sector of rural development.

One Dead, Seven Injured In Car Crash In Hungary

The driver of a minibus registered in Romania died and other seven passengers were injured in a car crash Monday morning in Hungary near the city of Barand, some 30 kilometers away from Romania’s border crossing point Bors.

Romania Ranks Ten On Income From Immigrants Chart

Romania is ranked ten in the world when it comes to the sums of money sent, by immigrants working abroad, to their home countries, the value reaching $6.8 billion in 2007, according to a report compiled by the World Bank on a world level.

Romanian Justice Min Proposes New Criminal Procedure Code

Romanian justice minister Tudor Chiuariu announced Sunday, in a press conference, that the institution he runs will send to Parliament and the High Council of the Magistrates a new Criminal Procedure Code.