Romania Media

Here are some of the photos and video clips I took off of my television set which are gripping the country during this especially harsh and freakish winter.

By Radar Staff

Her waist is just 20 inches but the model with the real-life hourglass figure, Loana Spangenberg, insists she lives on a diet of chips, pizzas and kebabs.

The 30-year-old tips the scales at a miniscule 84 lbs. but claims her diet is consistent with a woman twice her size.

"No one seems to believe it, but every day I eat three big meals and I snack on chocolate and crisps all the time," the Romanian-born model told the UK's Sun newspaper. "I just have a small stomach. It's a bit like having a natural gastric band - if I eat too much, I feel sick."

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With a 20 inch waist and 32 inch hips, Loana's hourglass figure -- which she says she's had since a teen - causes a lot of controversy.

"When I was 13 my waist was around 15 inches," she said. "Someone could put their hands around it, their fingers would touch and they would still have extra room.

"In Romania it is better to be overweight, because that means you are from a wealthy family. So while my friends were going out an dating, I was sitting at home with Mars bars wishing I could fatten up."

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However in 2006, after meeting her German husband, she realized she could utilize her figure, as he encouraged her to become a model.

"I would still like to gain weight so I don't look so shocking," she said. "And now that I live in Germany I can't get enough pizza or kebabs."

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After nearly two weeks of anti-government protests, Romania's President took to national television to defend his government's tough austerity policies in the face of growing discontent.

The Romanian authorities must re-open an investigation into CIA secret detention centres on its territory, Amnesty International said today after new evidence of secret prisons was revealed by a German newspaper.

Süddeutsche Zeitung today published compelling fresh evidence that the CIA rendered and tortured “suspects of terrorism” in European states including Romania in the years following the 11 September terror attacks.

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Actress Hayley Atwell has a thing for captains. Deadline is reporting the actress has signed on for “The Return of Captain Nemo,” a 3D sequel to “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” Atwell will play the heroine Sara. British television actor David Morrissey also signed on for a part in the film. He plays Sara’s uncle and chief advisor to President Ulysses S. Grant. The plot revolves around freeing Captain Nemo from prison and discovering why sea monsters are sinking ships in the Atlantic. This sequel is an independent film with a budget of only $10 million. Yes, you read it correctly--$10 million. It will be entirely onstage using green screen and CGI. “We would have to double our production costs if we shot this in the [United] States,” said producer Amy Krell. The production will be directed by Pearry Teo. It will begin shooting on January 16th in Romania.Source: Deadline

Romania's "once hated communist dictator" Nicolae Ceausescu could become the country's image to attract tourists, according to Al Jazeera television, which filmed a feature about Romania.

This summer we started to hear rumblings that Universal was prepping a new Wolfman movie [1], and that this might essentially be a reboot of the character, and one that acts like the recent The Wolfman, starring Benicio Del Toro, didn't happen. Those reports were partially correct. Roger Corman veteran Louis Morneau (Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead; The Hitcher II: I’ve Been Waiting; Bats), tipped as the director for this project [2] a few months back, started production today on a film called, for now, Untitled Werewolf Thriller. Stephen Rea, Steven Bauer, Ed Quinn, Nia Peeples, Guy Wilson, Adam Croasdell and Rachel DiPillo are in the cast. But this won't be a theatrical release; this one is a Blu-ray and DVD-only affair that will arrive in time for Halloween 2012. Here's a big chunk o' press release to give you many of the details: There’s no safe place to hide as the all-new supernatural Untitled Werewolf Thriller begins principal photography in and around Bucharest, Romania. Universal celebrates its storied history of creatures and horror with an exhilarating original adventure that embraces the popular cultural resurgence of the age-old werewolf myth. Breathtaking action and nail-biting suspense collide as an army of bounty hunters descend on a tiny hamlet in search of the most terrifying monster they have ever fought. The latest entry in the hugely successful DVD Originals™ line from Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production entity of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Untitled Werewolf Thriller will be released on Blu-ray™, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand in time for Halloween 2012. “Universal introduced the movie-going public to the ‘creature feature’ more than a half century ago,” said Glenn Ross, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Universal 1440 Entertainment. “Today, audiences are once again enthralled by supernatural creatures in books, on television and in movies. Audiences young and old will enjoy this completely new take on a timeless story that is an essential part of Universal’s legacy.” Here's the story synopsis: A monstrous creature terrorizes a 19th Century European village by moonlight and a young man struggles to protect his loved ones from an unspeakable scourge in Untitled Werewolf Thriller, Universal Studios' all-new addition to its time-honored legacy of supernatural thrillers. During his studies with the local doctor (Stephen Rea), Daniel (Guy Wilson) witnesses the horrific consequences of werewolf attacks. Watching as the beast's fearsome reputation draws bounty hunters, thrill seekers and charlatans to the tiny town, Daniel dreams of destroying the ruthless predator. So when a mysterious stranger (Ed Quinn) and his team of skilled werewolf hunters (Stephen Bauer, Adam Croasdell) arrive to pursue the monster, he offers to join them, despite his mother's (Nia Peeples) protests. But it soon becomes clear that this creature is stronger, smarter and more dangerous than anything they have faced before. As casualties mount and villagers see their neighbors transformed into ravening monsters, the townsfolk take up arms against each other to find the true identity of the werewolf. Amid the hysteria, Daniel begins to suspect he's closer to his target than he ever dreamed. [1] http://www.slashfilm.com/rumor-the-wolfman-heading-reboot/ [2] http://www.slashfilm.com/bmovie-filmmaker-louis-morneau-direct-universals-werewolf/

Mr Methane is kicking up a diplomatic stink after a spoof clip of him performing the Romanian national anthem by breaking wind appeared on television.

[1] Today's TV Bits travels all over the place, from the fantastical land of Westeros and the vampire-riddled town of Bon Temps, Louisiana to the very real locales of Romania and New York City. After the jump: Game of Thrones finds its Ygritte, and announces an April 2012 return True Blood makes a fountain in Romania run blood red Lee Daniels signs on to develop an NYC-based LGBT series for Showtime Season 1 of HBO's Game of Thrones ended with some seriously mind-blowing cliffhangers, so naturally fans (or at least, fans who haven't gotten around to reading George R.R. Martin's books) have been impatient to find out just what's become of their favorite characters. While we still don't have an exact start date, the network announced today that the show would be returning for its second season sometime in April 2012 -- six long months from now. On a happier note, the series also announced today that Downton Abbey actress Rose Leslie had won the part of Ygritte, a strong-willed wildling who crosses paths with Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) when he ventures beyond the Wall. Leslie is one of a slew of newcomers who'll appear in the show's second season; click here [2] for a rundown on some of the actors who've recently been cast. (Some spoilers for Seasons 1 and 2 at the link.) [Zap2It [3], Entertainment Weekly [4]] In other HBO news, one of the marketing teams behind True Blood have turned a Romanian city fountain blood red to promote the vampire series -- check out the gory-looking pics below. [gallery columns="2" orderby="title" exclude="113746"] Really, the color is more reminiscent of Hawaiian Punch than actual blood. But of course, the important thing is that it's bound to draw attention. The striking ads appear to be for the show's fourth season, which apparently kicked off last week in Romania, but finished last month in the U.S. [Copyranter [5]] Precious director Lee Daniels is joining forces with Temple Grandin writer W. Merritt Johnson for a new Showtime drama about "the disenfranchised multicultural transgender youth" of New York City's underground LGBT ball subculture, as seen in Jennie Livingston's classic documentary Paris is Burning. The scene revolves around fraternity-like "houses" or "families," who compete for trophies and prizes in balls (as in ballroom, not as in sports) where they demonstrate their skills in dance, costuming, and other categories. The untitled series will mark Daniels' second foray into television, after his recently announced adaptation [6] of Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls. [Deadline [7]] [1] http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/Game-of-Thrones1.jpg [2] http://www.slashfilm.com/game-thrones-season-2-teaser-reveals/ [3] http://tvovermind.zap2it.com/cable/hbo/game-of-thrones/game-thrones-season-2-slated-april-2012-premiere [4] http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/10/10/game-of-thrones-rose-leslie/ [5] http://copyranter.blogspot.com/2011/10/city-fountain-runs-blood-red-to-promote.html [6] http://www.slashfilm.com/precious-director-lee-daniels-adapting-valley-dolls-nbc/ [7] http://www.deadline.com/2011/10/showtime-developing-drama-series-about-little-known-lgbt-subculture-with-merritt-johnson-lee-daniels/

Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is considering joining a U.S.-led global nuclear compensation treaty in a bid to fend off excessive overseas damage claims related to nuclear accidents, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday, without citing sources.

The U.S., Morocco, Romania and Argentina have agreed to the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, but the treaty needs at least five countries in order to go into effect.

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Romania's president has launched a stinging attack on the country's former ruler, King Michael, accusing him of being responsible for the Holocaust in Romania, and calling him "a Russian lackey." In an interview on the B1 television channel late Wednesday, Traian Basescu said as Michael was head of state during the pro-fascist regime of dictator ...

BUCHAREST, Romania - Romania's president has accused the country's former ruler, King Michael, of being responsible for the Holocaust in Romania, calling him "a Russian lackey." In an interview on B1 television channel late Wednesday, Traian Basescu said as former head of state Michael should be considered responsible for the death of some 280,000 ...

BUCHAREST, Romania - Romania's president has accused the country's former ruler, King Michael, of being responsible for the Holocaust in Romania, calling him "a Russian lackey." In an interview on B1 television channel late Wednesday, Traian Basescu said as former head of state Michael should be considered responsible for the death of some 280,000 ...

Romania's president has accused the country's former ruler, King Michael, of being responsible for the Holocaust in Romania, calling him "a Russian lackey." In an interview on B1 television channel late Wednesday, Traian Basescu said as former head of state Michael should be considered responsible for the death of some 280,000 Jews and 11,000 ...

BUCHAREST, Romania - Barely a month after their fairy-tale wedding, a new film depicting the budding romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton is being rushed out for television viewers.

BUCHAREST, Romania -- Barely a month after their fairy-tale wedding, a new film depicting the budding romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton is being rushed out for television viewers.

Barely a month after their fairy-tale wedding, a new film depicting the budding romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton is being rushed out for television viewers.

Barely a month after their fairy-tale wedding, a new film depicting the budding romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton is being rushed out for television viewers.

Barely a month after their fairy-tale wedding, a new film depicting the budding romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton is being rushed out for television viewers.

AP - Barely a month after their fairy-tale wedding, a new film depicting the budding romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton is being rushed out for television viewers.

AP - Barely a month after their fairy-tale wedding, a new film depicting the budding romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton is being rushed out for television viewers.

In happier times, Sau San Wu loved getting her picture in the newspaper, posing with a cellphone at her ear and a coy smile on her face in ads for her former Richmond Hill real estate business.

Edmond Talmacean poses for a portrait during an interview with the Associated Press in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, April 18, 2011.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.

Severin's rise up the political ladder was meteoric. His descent looks like being just as rapid, now a British newspaper has accused him of accepting bribes.

Leaked diplomatic cables published in a Romanian newspaper show U.S. officials believed the Romanian government would struggle to cope with an accident at a nuclear plant.