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03. 02. 10. - 13:00

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03. 02. 10. - 13:00

Topless sledging nipped in bud

Kathryn Quinn

Stuffy Town Hall officials have vowed to nip a saucy sledge race in the bud - because all the contestants are topless.

The first topless tournament is due to take place in Oberwiesenthal, Germany, next month.

But local councillors are trying to ban the event because they think it would take the town's reputation downhill.

Mayor Mirko Ernst said: "No one has anything against the traditional annual sledging events. But the vast majority of residents oppose the topless sledging idea. The good reputation of our town would suffer."

But organiser Jochen Noeske claimed: "I want our tournament to be a mega festival of boobs. I hope they don't ban us but if they do we'll take the competition over the border to the Czech Republic where they are not so stuffy."

Almost half of Romanians live in poverty
Almost half of the Romanians (8.89 millions) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to Eurostat data published today (Weds).

Police carry man off the snow and save his life
A man who had collapsed in freezing weather near a river, in Stoina, Gorj, southern Romania, was saved after policemen carried him for several kilometres.

New government with same eight former ministers proposed
The Romanian parliament will vote on the new government team, proposed by designated Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, tomorrow (Thurs).

Forty-one dead in freezing weather
Another three persons have died due to low temperatures in the last 24 hours, the Romanian Health Ministry said today (Weds).

EC report on Justice is positive, minister says
Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu currently acting prime minister until the new government is voted in by the parliament, said today (Weds) that the European Commission's interim report on progress in justice is, overall, "positive".

Pink Martini concerts in Bucharest
American orchestra Pink Martini will give a concert in Bucharest on 26 May at the Palace Hall, part of the promotional tour for their latest album "A Retrospective", local organisers Events said today (Weds).

Romania's industrial output up
Romania's industrial output increased by 15.6 per cent in 2011, the National Statistics Institute (INS) said today (Weds).

Father tried for abusing four-year-old girl
A Romanian father was sent to trial for abusing his stepdaughter, aged only 4, prosecutors said today (Weds).

Pitch in best condition for Steaua-Twente match, authorities say
The pitch for the Europa League match Steaua Bucuresti - Twente Enschede will be in optimal condition, the Bucharest town hall promises, after criticism of the National Arena turf.

More Romanian tourists travel to Austria
The number of Romanian tourists to Austria rose last year, after two years of a decline, Austria's National Tourism Office in Romania announced today (Weds).