The Romanian Parliament passed a change to the Constitutional Court law which makes it possible for large corruption cases to continue even when the constitutional challenges will be invoked. This will be applied only to new lawsuits, while the ones where the constitutional challenge has been raised will continue under the old ruling.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is analyzing the possibility to lend up to EUR 200 million for the Kaulfand operations in Poland and Bulgaria and for Lidl's activity in Romania and Bulgaria, according to Bulgarian media. The funding should cover the market entry costs for the two retailers on these new markets.

BNR admits: Banks passed the crisis by throwing the burden to consumers – in Ziarul Financiar, Kazakhs menace the state with Petromidia shutdown, while having the most powerful lawyers aside – in Ziarul Financiar, Raiffeisen, ING and BRD will list Fondul Proprietatea – in Ziarul Financiar, Flanco escapes bankruptcy after eight months of emotions – in Ziarul Financiar, Consumer loans from 2005 have the biggest arrears – in Ziarul Financiar, Chaos for submitting declarations for intellectual property rights and registered individuals – in Gandul

The consortium made of Raiffeisen Capital & Investment S.A, ING Bank and BRD - Groupe Societe

Local lender BCR has taken a EUR 75 million loan from the European Bank for Investments (EIB), which will be channeled towards financing for small and medium enterprises. Companies with up to 249 employees, including new companies, which work in industry, tourism, services, agriculture and construction can ask for financing from this line.

The National Integrity Agency (ANI) bill has passed the Senate voting and remained unchanged compared to the version which was cleared by the Chamber of Deputies last week. The law had to be re-examined following a Constitutional Court ruling. The bill needs to be signed by Romanian president Traian Basescu. It includes the mandatory declaration of assets and interests by trade union leaders.

The Bucharest University will open on Wednesday, August 25, the Center for Japanese Studies, the first such center in Romania, aiming to promote and support the research activity in Japanese studies. The project benefits from the support from the Japanese Government and from several Japanese NGOs. The center will provide the tools for research projects on Japan and training for researchers in Japanese studies.

Shipyard group Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., which is running business in Romania through Daewoo Mangalia Heavy Industries, may build wind farm technology at a shipyard venture in Romania, depending on demand in Europe, according to a company representative quoted by Bloomberg.

Oil and gas group Rompetrol says it will pay off USD 100 million of the USD 570 million it owes to the Romanian state by the end of the year, according to company representatives who attended a press conference earlier today. The company has already paid USD 71 million from the entire amount. The loan payment, which is due at the end of September this year, stems from Petromidia's refinery debt from 2003, which was converted by the then Government into seven-year maturity bonds, which now need to be repaid, or else they will be converted into shares.

Angela Gheorghiu is a Romanian opera singer and one of the most famous contemporary sopranos. Often compared to Maria Callas, she is known for her powerful and flexible voice, stage presence and the way she brings to life very different opera characters.

Two Romanian projects will be featured at the Venice Architecture Biennale, which will start on Sunday, August 29, and will last until November 21. The two national projects will have their opening on Friday and Saturday at Romania's pavilion in the Biennale and at the Romanian Institute of Culture and Humanistic Research.

Bucharest will have a new stadium next year, when the Lia Manoliu stadium, which is currently in works, will be finalized. The structure of the stadium is 90 percent finalized, according to its constructors, Astaldi-Max Boegl.