Nov 1, 2026, 07:00 AM UTC

Romania's Ministry of Environment will launch the Casa Verde Baterii program in October with a budget between 400 and 500 million lei. Moving away from the previous first-come, first-served model, the initiative will evaluate applicants using a scoring system based on co-financing contributions and storage capacity.

The program aims to lower household energy costs and feed surplus electricity to the grid. However, draft rules excluding existing battery owners faced pushback from prosumers, who labeled the measure "e de neînțeles" ("incomprehensible"). Meanwhile, applicants reported administrative delays, excessive bureaucracy, and installer prices significantly above market rates, even as local reports highlighted successful household green energy installations under state subsidies.

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

A former official at the Chisinau Municipal Council, Iurie Savițchi, has been sentenced after confessing to receiving a 600,000 Moldovan lei bribe to favor a contractor in public procurement. Savițchi, who previously headed the technical supervision service within the capital's housing directorate, secured a reduced penalty by entering a plea agreement.

The case coincides with an investigation by Ziarul de Gardă examining financial crime enforcement in Moldova. Analyzing judgments at the Chisinau Court over six years, the outlet reported that only one contested tax evasion case—where the defendant pleaded not guilty—resulted in a criminal conviction. The findings highlight persistent structural challenges in prosecuting financial offenses and enforcing tax laws within the country's judicial system.

Sources: Newsmaker, Ziarul de Gardă.

An international media investigation led by Forbidden Stories, including reporting by The Guardian, revealed that the United States government deported at least 25,447 migrants to 28 third countries under non-transparent agreements. The reporting indicates that roughly 20,000 individuals were transferred to Mexico, while over 5,000 were sent to countries where they had no prior connections, including asylum seekers with recognized fears of persecution.

In response to the findings, more than ten United Nations human rights experts urged Washington to immediately suspend third-country deportations, citing risks of torture, abuse, and persecution. Concurrently, advocacy organization Human Rights First reported that the U.S. administration is preparing flights to deport hundreds of Afghan detainees to Pakistan for eventual return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Those targeted include relatives of individuals who previously assisted American forces.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Index, Klix, Vijesti

Rescue efforts following the high-speed train collision near Urda, Spain, continue as authorities process 70 missing persons reports, with the official death toll remaining at 69.

Political tension has mounted following the disaster. Protesters gathered outside the Ministry of Transport demanding the resignation of Transport Minister Óscar Puente, leading to police charges. Puente dismissed calls to step down, maintaining that the network is safe and describing the crash as "implausible." However, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledged that public confidence in the system is broken, noting that two high-speed accidents within a year is unacceptable.

Controversy has deepened following reports that controllers had warned the ministry in May about safety risks linked to staff fatigue in control centers.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia, Marca.

Montenegro's Court of Appeal has confirmed a verdict against businessman Duško Knežević and several co-defendants, upholding an earlier judicial decision in a high-profile financial crime case. Knežević, who was extradited to Montenegro earlier this year, continues to deny all charges.

Following the appellate ruling, Knežević's legal counsel renewed demands for a comprehensive review of all indictments brought under former Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić. The defense contends that an independent audit of Katnić's past cases is required to guarantee judicial fairness and address potential improprieties in prior prosecutorial decisions. Knežević remains a central figure in several prominent legal proceedings across the country.

Sources: Dan