The judge, on trial for bribery in Iran and known as a notorious jailer of journalists, plunged six stories in what is being called an apparent suicide.

Stymied by borders closed by coronavirus restrictions, German farmers decided to fly thousands of seasonal workers into their fields.

Legions of seasonal workers from Eastern Europe who harvest crops from Spain to Sweden can’t get in, forcing a rapid rethink of how to secure food at Europe’s farms.

Weeks after more than 14,000 sheep died in the Black Sea near Romania, 180 lucky ones have been rescued by animal welfare groups, which pledged to protect them from slaughter.

Successive governments have failed to address the risks posed by aging buildings and shoddy construction, leaving millions vulnerable.

On Friday, officials ended a search-and-rescue operation off the coast of Romania. Crews are preparing to remove thousands of carcasses from the vessel.

A rescue operation was underway to save the animals in the Black Sea.

President Klaus Iohannis claimed victory as his challenger, Viorica Dancila, conceded.

Eva Pervolovici movingly juxtaposes the tragic history of women held in a Romanian communist jail with the beautiful wetlands area that the site is today

A Romanian millennial based in Paris, film-maker Eva Pervolovici felt disconnected from the communist past of her home country until the arrival of an unexpected parcel ignited her curiosity. Lena, a family friend, sent Pervolovici a beautiful piece of hand-stitched tapestry: a colourful artwork that opened a portal to a bleak and tragic history. Under the Ceaușescu regime, Lena was held at the notorious Văcăreşti prison in Bucharest, charged with anticommunist activities – the same vague accusations that forced numerous other women into incarceration.

Featuring intimate interviews with former inmates, this poignant documentary honours these brave souls who endured unimaginable hardship and pain. Many of the women gave birth during their imprisonment, and were forced to part with their children.

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Prosecutors in Bucharest charge pair with rape, human trafficking and forming criminal gang to exploit women

Andrew Tate, a social media personality known for expressing misogynistic views online, appeared at a court in Romania, where prosecutors have charged him with rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to exploit women.

Tate and his brother, Tristan, who is also charged with the offences, arrived at court in the capital Bucharest on Wednesday, flanked by six bodyguards.

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Brothers are accused of human trafficking, rape and forming criminal gang to sexually exploit womenThe controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are to face trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.The Tate brothers are accused of recruiting seven female alleged victims through fake claims of marriage and love in what prosecutors have called the “loverboy method”.A Hublot with a blue beltA Hublot Classic Fusion with a black beltA green Patek PhilippeA silver Patek PhilippeA Patek Philippe with a black beltA silver CartierA silver Audemars PiguetA rose gold Audemars PiguetA rose gold Audemars Piguet with stonesA Ulysse Nardin with a blue beltA silver Rolex with an authenticity certificateA yellow gold Rolex with stonesA Breitling with an inscription on the backAn Akribos with a grey belt and stones16.10 bitcoins worth $294,101 from an account allegedly owned by Tristan Tate on the platform www.binance.com4.97 bitcoins worth $90,744 from an account allegedly belonging to someone linked to Tristan on the same platform0.00320067 bitcoins worth $58.44 from an account allegedly owned by Andrew Tate on the same platform Continue ...

Prosecutors say social media influencer being investigated for more serious crime of ‘human trafficking in continued form’

Romanian prosecutors say they have changed a human trafficking charge against the social media influencer Andrew Tate to a more serious one.

Tate, his brother Tristan and two other suspects were now being investigated for human trafficking in continued form, according to prosecutors, who said it was a more serious crime than separate counts of trafficking.

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UN’s Africa group ‘not prepared to participate’ with Dragos Viorel Tigau after alleged comment in Kenya

The Africa group within the United Nations said it would never work again with the Romanian ambassador to Kenya in certain forums after he allegedly compared them to a monkey while attending a meeting in Nairobi.

The group also demanded an unconditional and public apology to the people of Africa.

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The solution is not more fields but better, more compact, cruelty-free and pollution-free factoriesNo issue is more important, and none so shrouded in myth and wishful thinking. The way we feed ourselves is the key determinant of whether we survive this century, as no other sector is as damaging . Yet we can scarcely begin to discuss it objectively, thanks to the power of comforting illusions.Food has the extraordinary property of turning even the most progressive people into reactionaries. People who might accept any number of social and political changes can respond with fury if you propose our diets should shift. Stranger still, there’s a gulf between ultraconservative beliefs about how we should eat and the behaviour of people who hold such beliefs. I have heard people cite a rule formulated by the food writer Michael Pollan – “Don’t eat anything your great-great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognise as food” – while eating a diet (Thai one day, Mexican the next, Mediterranean the day after) whose range of ingredients no one’s great-great-great-grandmother would recognise, and living much the better for it. Continue ...

Advice comes despite charity’s warning that social media figure is fuelling shocking growth of misogyny in schools

Teachers are being advised by the government not to discuss social media influencer Andrew Tate, the “king of toxic masculinity”, with pupils – despite schools reporting a rising tide of misogyny and sexual harassment from boys as young as nine.

One small charity, Diversify, based in Rotherham, which runs school workshops about inclusion, receives about 25 calls a week from primary and secondary schools across England who want help dealing with sexual harassment and “shocking misogynistic incidents”. Many cite the influence of Tate, who is under house arrest in Romania for suspected human trafficking and organised crime. Tate’s TikTok videos tell boys that a woman belongs to her boyfriend; girls who don’t stay at home are “hoes”; and rape victims must “bear responsibility” for their attacks.

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Social media influencer posts video about release from police custody in Romania after court ruling

Andrew Tate has posted a video saying he has “absolute clarity of thought” after he was moved from police custody to house arrest.

The social media influencer was released into house arrest on Friday after a Romanian court overturned a request by prosecutors for him to be detained until late April.

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China is actively seeking students from countries along its Belt and Road Initiative, including the Balkans, but experts say such countries must do more to build their own China expertise if they are to make the most of Beijing’s global outreach.

Distrust of Romania’s government is so high that the country risks being excluded from key decision while running the EU Council presidency in the first part of 2019, experts warn.

Moves to lure foreign investors with citizenship offers may bring in some extra cash – but risk further tarnishing Moldova’s already damaged credibility, experts say. 

As Europe grows more critical of Israel’s policies towards Palestinians, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is busy wooing new allies in the Balkans and Eastern Europe in order to divide the EU.

Brussels says it suspects Moldova does not want to punish those behind an audacious $1 billion bank heist. Experts say that, for the ruling party, politics come first.

After disagreements with the EU, Moldova’s ruling Democratic Party has adopted a more populist-nationalist stance ahead of elections in February – and could even resort to a post-poll alliance with pro-Russian forces.

The deadlock over how to tax companies exploiting Romania’s Black Sea gas reserves is making investors nervous – and putting this hugely important energy project at risk.

Having done nothing to implement its new defence strategy, Moldova seems bent on turning a blind eye to growing threats to its security.

Experts say moves by the tax authority to oblige newlyweds to declare all their wedding suppliers may sound ridiculous – but form part of a justifiable clampdown on tax evasion and money laundering.

The Social Democrat-led government’s sudden push to legalize civil partnerships is putting the party’s alliance with the country’s powerful Church in jeopardy.

The Romanian Orthodox Church has lost some of its credibility by supporting the failed referendum against gay marriage – but even now, its power should not be underestimated.

The discovery of five unlicensed cigarette factories in a single month undercuts claims by the Bulgarian government that it is winning the war on contraband tobacco, experts say.

EU patience with Moldova is wearing thin four years after it signed an association deal designed to spur political and economic reform. 

Mobilizing the country against gay rights in a ‘family referendum’ has come as a very welcome diversion for an embattled political class facing accusations of corruption.

Romania's ruling Social Democrats removed several critics of strongman Liviu Dragnea from the party and from government posts on Monday. 

A Dutch writer who thought she had found a missing Picasso in Romania has now said she was the victim of a hoax.

Romanian police say raids have uncovered a scam under which crime gangs sold fake addresses in EU-member Romania to thousands of Moldovans.

Distrust of Romania’s government is so high that the country risks being excluded from key decision while running the EU Council presidency in the first part of 2019, experts warn.

While Bulgaria's government expresses pleasure over the latest annual progress report on its anti-corruption and judicial reforms, critics accuse Brussels of letting the government off far too easily.

Romania's government on Wednesday said it was considering whether to sue the European Commission over what it called a highly unjust report on the country's justice affairs – which the PM said had 'outraged' her.

The European Parliament and European Commission criticised Romania's backtracking on corruption and the rule of law, less than two months before the country takes over the EU Council presidency.

Bulgaria is the latest EU-member state to clarify that it will be not back the UN pact on migration, due to be signed next month in Marrakech, claiming it puts the national interest at risk.  

Romania's EU Affairs minister and coordinator of the EU Council presidency preparations resigned after a cabinet meeting, the country's government confirmed on Saturday. 

A Romanian investigative project has accused the ruling party of intimidation, after the state data protection agency threatened it with a large fine, for using personal data in articles.

Moves to lure foreign investors with citizenship offers may bring in some extra cash – but risk further tarnishing Moldova’s already damaged credibility, experts say. 

The Senate of Romania's parliament is set to decide on Speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu's immunity after anti-graft prosecutors filed a request to investigate him for bribery.

As Europe grows more critical of Israel’s policies towards Palestinians, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is busy wooing new allies in the Balkans and Eastern Europe in order to divide the EU.

Brussels says it suspects Moldova does not want to punish those behind an audacious $1 billion bank heist. Experts say that, for the ruling party, politics come first.

Controversial legislative changes in Bulgaria aimed at forcing media to reveal all their sources of funding have been criticised amid concerns that they could herald pressure on donors.

The growing demand for Romanian passports is likely to further complicate already troubled Romania-Ukraine relations, experts say, as Kiev does not allow double citizenship.

At a meeting with Moldova's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon, who was seeking his backing before elections, Vladimir Putin overestimated the amount of Moldovan exports to Russia.

Patriarch Kirill gave Moldova's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon an honour for his support for his country's Orthodox Church, which remains loyal to Moscow.

Over 2,000 people marched through the Romanian capital on Tuesday night to commemorate the third anniversary of a fire that killed 64 and wounded 147 at a rock concert in Bucharest in 2015.

After the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople agreed to recognise the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s independence from Moscow, Russia is seeking to strengthen ties with canonically subordinate allies.