Romania

Bucharest Stock Exchange has begun the trading year confirming the mood of 2025, that closed with its best performance since 2009; the main BET index reached a historic 24.439 points, marking +46% since January with a +55% return dividends included

Two cases of leprosy, the first in Romania since 1981, have been confirmed and two suspected cases more are under investigation according to local press; all four individuals are women from Indonesia employed as masseuses at a spa salon in Cluj-Napoca

Water supply has been restored in Prahova County's all 13 towns and communes that had been left without drinking water for over a week due to problems at the Paltinu Dam; however, water may only be used for hygiene purposes until tests are completed

The griffon vulture Gyps fulvus, extinct in Romania for over 70 years, will be reintroduced in a project carried out by ONG Conservation Carpathia Foundation; it is part of wider efforts to restore biodiversity in the Făgăraș Mountains

State seaport company Administratia Porturilor Maritime would be close to buying Moldova's largest port, Giurgiulesti, from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, according to Romania's Minister of Transport

A powerful explosion at a residential building rocked the Rahova neighborhood in southern Bucharest, leaving 3 dead and at least 17 injured; the building is now at risk of total collapse, according to the authorities

In mountain towns bear encounters and attacks are increasing; officials argue on how to manage the rising bear population, and conservationists question whether easier shooting would solve the problem; around 4.000 bears are estimated to live in Romania

New austerity measures deemed as 'necessary' for a fiscal reform and designed to lower Romania 7,5 billion euro public deficit target civil servants, magistrates, corporates, businesses, bureaucracy and corruption

National Cyber Security Directorate has issued a warning about a new online scam that fraudulently uses the image of president Nicușor Dan in so-called “quick investment” schemes

Via Transilvanica, the long-distance trail that crosses Romania, will apply to be the first accredited long-distance route in the country after government issued the methodological norms regulating the hiking trails of national interest

The Black Sea 200 Regatta 2025, Romania’s first non-stop offshore regatta with a 200 nautical mile route, will start tomorrow with expected end before 27 July; at its first edition, the event brings together more than 10 boats from Romania and Bulgaria

VAT has been risen from 19 to 21% on most goods (11% on food, medicines, books, public utilities, district heating, water and sewage services), excise duties on fuel and alcohol brought up 10%, public-sector wage freezed to curb a surging budget deficit