Oct 29, 2026, 03:30 AM UTC

Romania’s Ministry of Environment has finalized draft guidelines for the upcoming Casa Verde Baterii program, scheduled to launch in October with a budget of up to 500 million lei. Moving away from the previous first-come, first-served allocation model, the updated framework will assess applicants using a scoring system based on individual financial contributions and proposed storage capacity.

The initiative has drawn mixed reactions. While some beneficiaries report substantial savings on utility bills, prosumer representatives strongly criticized draft provisions that exclude homeowners who already possess battery storage, calling the rules "e de neînțeles" ("incomprehensible"). Additionally, applicants continue to report administrative delays, excessive bureaucracy, and installation quotes significantly exceeding standard market rates.

Sources: Adevărul, Economedia, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Montenegro's Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling against businessman Duško Knežević and his co-defendants, according to an official statement from the judicial authority. Knežević, who was extradited to Montenegro earlier this year to face financial crime allegations, continues to maintain his innocence.

Following the appellate court's decision, Knežević’s defense attorney stated that compelling reasons exist to conduct a thorough review of all cases prosecuted under former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić. The defense team emphasized that an independent audit of Katnić's past indictments is required to guarantee judicial fairness, citing ongoing concerns regarding previous prosecutorial decisions. Knežević remains a central figure in several prominent ongoing legal matters across the country.

Sources: Dan

Israel's parliamentary elections concluded with record voter turnout, including among Arab citizens, leaving the political outcome highly uncertain. With over 88 percent of votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud remains the single largest party. However, exit polls and initial results indicate the opposition coalition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party could potentially secure more combined seats than Netanyahu's right-wing bloc.

The final composition of the governing coalition remains unclear, as parties representing Israel's Arab minority could hold the balance of power between the competing factions. The vote, held under heightened security following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks and subsequent conflicts, serves as a crucial political test for Netanyahu after nearly three decades dominating the national political landscape.

Sources: Adevărul, HotNews, Moldova1, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă.

India is increasingly establishing itself as a prominent actor in the global defense export market, navigating complex international security dynamics and geopolitical shifts. Bloomberg journalists hosted a Q&A session examining how New Delhi is expanding its military manufacturing capabilities and increasing arms sales abroad. The discussion highlighted the strategic balancing act required as India seeks to reduce reliance on traditional suppliers like Russia while building defense partnerships across the West and the Global South. Analysts noted that rising geopolitical tensions have created both opportunities and risks for Indian defense contractors aiming to secure international contracts and bolster domestic production capabilities.

Sources: Bloomberg.

Hungarian authorities have extended the pre-trial detention of former National Development Minister Miklós Seszták until January 30 amid an ongoing corruption investigation. The decision comes after law enforcement officers searched Seszták's residence and discovered a vacant safe, where investigators had expected to find approximately 24.5 million euros, or 9 billion Hungarian forints.

According to judicial proceedings reported by Hungarian media, the court suspects that the missing funds may have been relocated prior to the execution of the search warrant. Judges cited the risk of flight, potential tampering with evidence, and possible influence on witnesses as key reasons for keeping the former official in custody.

Sources: Danas.