Romanian Senate Chairman Mircea Geoana (in picture) has been suspended for six months from the Social Democratic Party, through a decision by the party's Standing National Bureau, party leader Victor Ponta said Monday. Ponta made it clear that Geoana would still have the Social Democratic Party's endorsement as head of the Parliament's upper house.

Romanian firm Visual Fan has started to sell its own mobile phone, under the Allview brand. The phone, called Allview Q1 G3T, can connect to 3G and Wi-Fi networks and costs RON 519 (EUR 120), according to the company.

Romania started 2010 under the shadow of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which, together with the European Commission and the World Bank, gave the country a EUR 20 billion loan in 2009 to weather its economic storm. Initially set out as a safety net loan, the money proved to be life saving. But, as with any loans, this came with a set of strict conditions and paved the way for another loan, expected for 2011.

The Romanian Cultural Institute in Bucharest will organize the screening of the Shukar Collective Project documentary on December 16, from 18,00 hours. The screening will take place at the ICR headquarters, 38 Aleea Alexandru in Bucharest

Over 30,000 Romanian employees in the mining and energy sectors threatened to go on full-blown strike starting January 10 if power company Electra is not set up and negotiations to create new jobs and prevent collective layoffs in the two sectors are not initiated.

The number of Romanians who went to work abroad tripled in 2010 on 2009, according to the Thera Group recruitment company.

Bucharest hosting the 2020 Olympic Games in Bucharest would attract many investors and the move is

Vienna trams will include carriage bodies made in Romania, as the Bucharest Transport Company (RATB) and Siemens Austria have signed a production contract. The carriage bodies will be produced by RATB in its factory.

Street celebrations and street shops return to Bucharest during the winter season. This year, a couple of new Christmas markets have emerged – such as the one in the Old Town, an area of Bucharest which has flourished. See below the list of Christas markets and fairs in Bucharest. Drop us a line if you find a new one and we'll write about it.

Romanian arm wrestler Ion Oncescu has won his fifth world title in the 100 kg category, in the championship held in the United States between December 6 and 12, according to the Romanian Arm Wrestling Association.

Discussions between Romanian authorities and the International Monetary Fund on a potential new loan agreement will begin on January 20, said Prime Minister Emil Boc Sunday on ProTV.

*Raiffeisen sells EUR 30 million of retail loans every month, same as in 2009 – in Ziarul Financiar
*120 Romanians pay between EUR 30,000 and EUR 50,000 a year to send their children to foreign private highschools – in Ziarul Financiar
*Exports reach peak in October, at EUR 3.52 billion – in Ziarul Financiar
*Tiriac invests EUR 14 million in expanding the auto network – in Ziarul Financiar