August 5, 2026
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 05.08.2026, 13:55
WEATHER Romania has been struck by a new heatwave, which is going to affect the country until Saturday, causing thermal discomfort, tropical nights and atmospheric instability. According to meteorologists, the heatwave will reach its peak on Wednesday and Thursday but will retreat to the country’s southern regions after Friday. A code red alert for extremely hot temperatures, thermal discomfort and tropical nights, has been issued for the country’s western and north-western counties. The Temperature-Humidity Index, THI is exceeding the critical threshold of 80 units, while the highs of the day will soar to 41 degrees in some areas. Thunderstorms are expected in the Southern Carpathians at night. Bucharest has reported a noon reading of 33 degrees Celsius.
RATING Romania’s Finance Ministry is waiting for the Moody’s rating on Friday. Last week, Fitch Ratings affirmed Romania’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) at ‘BBB-‘ with a negative outlook, only one notch above the junk category that is not recommended for investment. The agency’s decision was motivated by the deterioration of the public finances, caused by higher budget deficits, which are gradually diminishing though, and by the increase in the ratio between the government’s debt and the GDP. Also according to Fitch, although fiscal consolidation measures have improved short-term fiscal prospects, there are significant mid-term risks caused by the political uncertainty in Bucharest. Acting Finance Minister, Alexandru Nazare, says the goal is the return to stable outlooks through the consolidation of fiscal and political credibility. In a social network post, he says that political stability, budgetary discipline and a credible fiscal plan for 2027 are essential. After Moody’s rating on Friday, Standard & Poor’s is going to present their report on Romania on October 2.
ENERGY The Romanian authorities are continuing their interventions on the Danube in order to channel part of its waters towards the nuclear power plant in Cernavoda, in the south-east of the country. The measures include the controlled immersion of four barges in an attempt to raise the water level and maintain the plant’s only functioning reactor operational. The first implemented measures had a positive impact as the water level rose but the situation is still difficult, says Ana Maria Agiu, spokeswoman for the Romanian Waters National Administration. According to her, the water level is expected to go under the all-time low of 14 hundred cubic meters per second. A state of energy alert has been declared in Romania for the entire month of August. The country’s acting Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, met energy providers on Tuesday.
LAWS Romania’s President Nicusor Dan on Tuesday promulgated a series of laws on meeting the PNRR goals and the ratification of the SAFE agreement. According to him, in this way Romania’s access to major European funds for modernization and investment is guaranteed. Furthermore, the rating agencies’ trust in Romania is being kept, and that bolsters the foreign investors’ trust in this country. The president underlines that the money from the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience means better services and an increased standard of living as well as reforms for a more effective functioning of the state. The most important measures include the unblocking of European funds for bonuses to the teaching staff and personnel in the country’s public education. At the same time, employees in the fiscal and customs administration will benefit from a mechanism of rewarding performance. The Head of the Romanian state also promulgated the new code of town planning and constructions.
TENNIS Romanian tennis player, Gabriela Ruse conceded defeat to the Austrian challenger of Russian extraction, Anastasia Potapova, 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto, with total prizes of 7.4 million dollars. Ruse 28, who is ranking 77th in the WTA standings, was rewarded with a check of 28 thousand dollars and 35 WTA points. 14th seeded Sorana Cirstea of Romania, is still on the main draw and will be taking on Maya Joint of Australia in the second round. Cirstea will be playing in the double competition together with Mirra Andreeva of Russia.
(bill)
