Expats

Shops across Eastern Europe extend winter sales in aggressive bid to lure cautious consumers [Mar 20, 2012] By Alison Mutler, The Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania - After months of the coldest weather in living memory, spring has finally arrived in Prague, Belgrade and Bucharest. But the gloom has not lifted ... [via YahooNews] More >>

IMF official in Romania rejects criticism [Feb 05, 2012] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania The head of the International Monetary Fund's mission in Romania on Sunday criticized politicians and media for accusing him of misconduct for having attended a party held by government officials at a time of harsh austerity measures. A video of the party that Jeffrey Franks attended last week at a restaurant in a Romanian mountain resort has ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Ex-Romanian dictator's gifts up for auction [Jan 27, 2012] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania What did they give the dictator who had everything? An African leopardskin or a silver dove ? a novel offering from the former Shah of Iran ? are just two examples of gifts received by Nicolae Ceausescu that will be auctioned off Thursday, on what would have been the late Romanian leader's 94th birthday. The auction which is billed "the Golden ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Ex-Romanian dictator's gifts up for auction [Jan 26, 2012] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania What did they give the dictator who had everything? An African leopardskin or a silver dove ? a novel offering from the former Shah of Iran ? are just two examples of gifts received by Nicolae Ceausescu that will be auctioned off Thursday, on what would have been the late Romanian leader's 94th birthday. The auction which is billed "the Golden ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Romanian riots reveal growing gloom in region [Jan 19, 2012] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania Romanian cities are gripped by the worst street violence in over a decade. Slovaks seem poised to re-elect a confrontational and divisive populist. Hungary alarms the European Union with laws that erode democratic rights. In former Soviet bloc nations now part of the EU, frustration is mounting due to economic stagnation and worrisome governance ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Protests continue in Romania for 4th day [Jan 15, 2012] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania Protests continued in Romanian cities Sunday reflecting widespread anger against austerity measures and an unpopular government. The protests, in their fourth day, are the most serious since President Traian Basescu came to power in 2004. They are the result of frustration against public wage cuts, slashed benefits, higher taxes, cronyism in ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Romanian parliament votes to euthanize stray dogs [Nov 22, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania Romanian lawmakers voted Tuesday to make it legal to euthanize the thousands of stray dogs that roam the country's streets, angering animal rights activists who have lobbied for months to stop the measure. Bucharest alone is home to an estimated 50,000 stray dogs, according to local media, and they are a part of city life, crossing the street ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Romanian parliament votes to euthanize stray dogs [Nov 22, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania Romanian lawmakers voted Tuesday to make it legal to euthanize the thousands of stray dogs that roam the country's streets, angering animal rights activists who have lobbied for months to stop the measure. Bucharest alone is home to an estimated 50,000 stray dogs, according to local media, and they are a part of city life, crossing the street ... [via YahooNews] More >>

French fashion designer inspired by Romania [Nov 17, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania One model dressed as a Transylvanian roof, while another sashayed in an outfit meant to resemble the streets of Bucharest. Welcome to fashion, Romania-style. Romanian-based French designer Philippe Guilet, who has worked with the likes of Jean-Paul Gaultier and Karl Lagerfeld, has created a collection inspired by Romania's ancient peasant ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Well-known anti-communist activist dies in Romania [Oct 12, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania Ion Diaconescu, an anti-communist activist who helped Romania's push toward democracy, has died. He was 94. Diaconescu, whose was imprisoned for 17 years by the communists for his political beliefs, died Tuesday night, said former Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea. No cause of death was given, but Diaconescu had recently been treated for ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Celebrated Romanian jazz musician Raducanu dies [Sep 19, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania He was known as "Mr. Jazz of Romania" and his family had been making music in the country for centuries. Celebrated jazz musician Johnny Raducanu, 79, died of a heart attack at home Monday, said Dr. Bogdan Oprita. Raducanu was beloved by Romanians for his gentle wit, his irreverent comments about politics, and his humanity as much as his music ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Gold mine plans divide 1 Transylvanian town [Aug 21, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press ROSIA MONTANA, Romania This is fairy tale land and there's even a pot of gold buried beneath it. But not everyone's happy. With the precious metal at an all-time high, a Canadian company is eager to start blasting out mountains and demolishing parts of the ancient Romanian town of Rosia Montana to build an open-cast mine where 300 tons of gold and 1,600 tons of ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Gold mine plans divide one Transylvanian town [Aug 21, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press ROSIA MONTANA, Romania This is fairy tale land and there's even a pot of gold buried beneath it. But not everyone's happy. With the precious metal at an all-time high, a Canadian company is eager to start blasting out mountains and demolishing parts of the ancient Romanian town of Rosia Montana to build an open-cast mine where 300 tons of gold and 1,600 tons of ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Gold mine plans divide one Transylvanian town [Aug 21, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press ROSIA MONTANA, Romania This is fairy tale land and there's even a pot of gold buried beneath it. But not everyone's happy. With the precious metal at an all-time high, a Canadian company is eager to start blasting out mountains and demolishing parts of the ancient Romanian town of Rosia Montana to build an open-cast mine where 300 tons of gold and 1,600 tons of ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Jewish group: Romanian word is anti-Semitic [Aug 08, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania A prominent Jewish group on Monday called on the Romanian Academy to change its dictionary definition of an anti-Semitic slur to make it clear that it is a pejorative. Maximilian Katz, director of the Center for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, told the Associated Press in an interview Monday that the commonly used Romanian word is ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Jewish group: Romanian word is anti-Semitic [Aug 08, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania A prominent Jewish group on Monday called on the Romanian Academy to change its dictionary definition of an anti-Semitic slur to make it clear that it is a pejorative. Maximilian Katz, director of the Center for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, told the Associated Press in an interview Monday that the commonly used Romanian word is ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Forget austerity: Romanians fixate on the IMF shoe [May 10, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania In Romania this week, it's all about the shoe. Romania has borrowed billions from the International Monetary Fund but some are wondering whether IMF envoy Jeffrey Franks needs a loan himself after he was seen wearing shoes with a hole on a visit with President Traian Basescu. The image on Saturday has eclipsed any of Franks' comments about public ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Moonwalking lawmaker told to put dance shoes away [Apr 18, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania A moonwalking politician might not be the best reason to pay attention to Romanian politics, but the antics seem to be working. Edmond Talmacean, a 40-year-old Bucharest politician, has inspired national headlines with his Michael Jackson-inspired moonwalk on a television show and his impersonations of the late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. His ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Romania riveted by media celebrity divorce [Mar 04, 2011] ALISON MUTLER Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania The wedding was watched on television by 2.5 million people. The marriage played out under the media microscope. And now, almost five years later, Romania is again riveted as the nation's most famous couple divorces. It's a Cinderella tale with a materialistic twist. The beautiful, doe-eyed beauty from a poor, dysfunctional family in the country ... [via YahooNews] More >>