November 5 (SeeNews) - Following are some of the main stories in the online versions of Romanian media on Thursday morning. SeeNews has not verified these reports and cannot vouch for their accuracy.
MEDIAFAX
- Romanian outgoing prime minister Emil Boc's meeting with officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), aimed at discussing the country’s 2010 budget draft, was postponed to Thursday from Wednesday, sources said. Adopting the 2010 budget with a budget gap target of 5.9% of GDP is among the conditions Romania must meet in order to receive the third tranche of an IMF loan.
- The number of AH1/N1 flu cases in Romania reached 707 by November 4, as 35 cases were confirmed on Wednesday alone, the country's Health Ministry said.
- Romania has met almost all targets set for September under its 13 billion euro standby arrangement with the IMF, with maybe one exception, the head of the IMF mission to Romania, Jeffrey Franks, said without elaborating.
ZIARUL FINANCIAR
- Around 14,500 employees in Romania could lose their jobs from November to March, news agency Mediafax reported quoting data from the country's employment agency ANOFM.
- The number of Romanian companies declared insolvent in the first nine months this year rose by 26% to some 13,000, data from the National Trade Register Office showed.
- Romanian drug maker LaborMed Pharma plans to send half of its employees on forced leave in December as part of its restructuring plan, the company's business development director Adrian Stroilescu said.
- The Romanian unit of German building materials maker HeidelbergCement, Carpatcement Holding, sees it sales falling 20% this year to 235 million euro after sales volume decreased by an annual 16% in January-September, the company said.
BUSINESS STANDARD
- Romanian steel plant ArcelorMittal Galati has sent on forced leave 250 employees from November 3, vice president of the company's trade union Enache Cristea said.
- The IMF will be flexible regarding the means Romania uses to reduce its budget deficit, but will not allow a 2010 budget shortfall higher than the 5.9% of GDP target, head of the IMF mission to Romania Jeffrey Franks said.
($=0.6747 euro)