Several Romanian ministries and the World Bank are undertaking a Functional Review of their activity to identify actions that would improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of public services in the country, the World Bank has announced

An exhibition of Romanian orthodox paintings created by local painter Calin Vadan will be on display starting September 2nd in Lisbon, at the National Archeology Museum, according to the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR).

Insurance company Ardaf posted a volume of gross subscribed premiums of EUR 33.2 million (RON 141.1 million) in the first half of the year, which was down 13.5 percent on the same period of last year. However, the company managed to post a profit of EUR 2.1 million (RON 9 million).

Two men in Tulcea county, southeastern Romania, have been diagnosed with viral meningitis and are suspected of contracting the West Nile virus, according to Mediafax newswire. The tow patients, of 18 and 43, most likely got the virus through mosquito bites when they went fishing.

The Romanian feature film “If I Want To Whistle, I Whistle” by Romanian director Florin Serban is Romania’s proposal for the 2011 Academy Awards in the best foreign language film section. (trailer below)

Family Frost, a vending vans retail company which had entered the local market in 2008, announced its exit from Romania due to lower than expected sales, according to Romanian newspaper Ziarul Financiar, quoting company representatives.

The Romanian technical consumer goods market has slowed down its decrease in the second quarter of the year, with sales only 15 percent lower compared to the same period of last year, found a monitoring by GfK. However, the value of this market segment was slightly lower compared to the first quarter and the negative tendency could continue, if we take into account the VAT increase from July 1st.

Romanian Railways (CFR) Calatori employees will enter a period of 60 days of technical unemployment, a period during which they will receive 75 percent of their basic salary, the company has announced. The measure will be applied to all of CFR Calatori's employees, 15,000 people, including management, who will take turns in staying at home for 60 days until the end of the year.

The Romanian Ministry of Public Finances will organize a bid for discounted treasury certificates on Monday, with an estimated value of RON 800 million (around EUR 188 million). The ministry is planning to organize bids and raise as much as RON 4.6 billion (around EUR 1 billion) in August, through seven treasury and bonds issuances.

Car traffic has been closed down on Pipera street, between Calea Floreasca and Barbu Vacarescu St, as works have started on the Pipera – Barbu Vacarescu passage. The traffic shutdown, which started on August 12, will be enforced until October 10.

The Polish film which has won the Anonimul Film Festival trophy, 'Zero', by Pawel Borowski, will be screened at the Romanian Peasant's Museum between August 17 and 22 in Bucharest. The festival's retrospective will include all the films which were awarded during the festival.

Drug producer Terapia Ranbaxy grew its sales by 21 percent in the first half of the year in Romania, to USD 48 million, according to the company's most recent financial report. The company was helped by the restructuring process and by rationalization, which counterbalanced the negative market conditions, according to the company.