August 8, 2026
A roundup of domestic and world news
Newsroom, 08.08.2026, 13:55
Rating – Moody’s rating agency has maintained Romania’s rating at ‘Baa3’ with a negative outlook. The agency’s experts praise the fiscal discipline imposed by the government in Bucharest and estimate that the deficit will fall this year to 5.8% of GDP, a better-than-expected performance. However, Moody’s analysts warn that the coming months will be critical. Political fragmentation could hinder and delay major reforms, such as the unified pay law or the adoption of next year’s budget. Romania also remains vulnerable to geopolitical risks due to its proximity to the war in Ukraine. The acting Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare maintains that the measures taken by the government have yielded tangible results. The accelerated pace of deficit reduction and integration into the European institutional framework are bolstering investor confidence, he said. The minister also said that the priority is to continue fiscal consolidation in order to protect the country’s credit rating. Nazare also emphasized that there is an urgent need for political consensus to avoid deadlocks. At present, all three major credit rating agencies (S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s, and Fitch) have a “negative” outlook on Romania’s sovereign rating, which places the country one step away from a “junk” rating (not recommended for investment).
Drought – Due to the prolonged drought, 133 localities in 14 counties across Romania are currently facing restrictions on their water supply through centralized systems. Most are located in Neamţ County (northeast), with 39 localities, and Bihor County (west), with 30, according to data published by the Romanian Waters National Administration. In addition, 92 localities that rely on wells and springs for their water supply are affected, with the majority, 55, located in Botoşani County (northeast).
Football – The owner of the Romanian football team CFR Cluj (northwest), Ioan Varga, announced that he is firing Portuguese coach Antonio Folha following Thursday’s humiliating 0-5 home loss to Tromsø IL of Norway in the Conference League. Founded in 1907 during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the team now known as CFR, a multiple champion of Romania, suffered the most crushing European defeat in its history on home soil. The second leg will be played on August 13 in Tromsø. The winner of this two-leg series will face English club Brighton & Hove Albion, which finished eighth in the Premier League last season, in the Conference League playoffs. Also on Thursday, Romanian champion Universitatea Craiova drew 1-1 in the away match against Finnish side KuPS Kuopio in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Europa League. The decisive leg will take place in Craiova, also on August 13. If they advance past KuPS Kuopio, Universitatea will face the loser of the match between Ararat-Armenia and NK Celje (2-1 in the first leg) from the third qualifying round of the Champions League in the Europa League playoffs. If eliminated, Craiova will play in the Conference League playoffs against the loser of the match between Shamrock Rovers FC and KF Egnatia (3-1 in the first leg).
Bears – The law that doubles the number of bears that can be shot in Romania is returning to parliament. President Nicuşor Dan refused to sign the bill into law and sent it back to lawmakers for reconsideration, even though the Constitutional Court had ruled it valid in June. The head of state believes that the law does not ensure a true balance between protecting people and conserving the species. The bill, initiated by the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), sets a fixed quota of 859 brown bears to be culled for the years 2026 and 2027. The president points out that a quota valid for one year cannot be automatically carried over to the next. He calls for prioritizing the hunting of aggressive bears that enter villages and towns, the introduction of a real-time monitoring system for culling, and much clearer rules for protecting female bears with cubs.
Japan – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest advises Romanian citizens who are in, transiting through, or planning to travel to Japan that, through August 12, a weather warning is in effect for the Okinawa Archipelago and the Ryukyu Islands, warning of strong gusts of wind and heavy rainfall caused by Typhoon Dolphin. As a result, airlines have canceled flights in the areas affected by the typhoon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that Romanian citizens show caution and follow the instructions of local authorities. Romanian citizens can request consular assistance by calling the Romanian Embassy in Japan; calls will be redirected to the Contact and Support Center for Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and answered by call center operators on a 24/7 basis. Additionally, Romanian citizens facing a difficult, special, or urgent situation may also use the diplomatic mission’s emergency phone number.
Weather – Romanian meteorologists have issued new warnings for heat waves, atmospheric instability, strong winds, storms, and heavy downpours, valid for Saturday across most of the country. According to the National Meteorological Administration (ANM), a Yellow Code Alert is in effect, indicating a persistent heat wave, extreme heat, and high thermal discomfort in the southern half of the country. The heat index (ITU) will reach and exceed the critical threshold of 80 units. Maximum temperatures will range from 34 to 37 degrees Celsius, the ANM stated. A Code Yellow Alert for atmospheric instability, strong winds, storms, and heavy downpours is also in effect in the central and southwestern regions. Over short periods (1–3 hours), rainfall will total 15–20 l/m², and particularly in mountainous areas, in limited regions, 30–50 l/m². (LS)
