Dozens of migrants died in a shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa while trying to reach Europe

Forty-one migrants have died in a shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa, the BBC reports, citing four survivors. According to them, the boat had left Sfax in Tunisia last week and sank en route to Italy. It had been hit by a large wave and only 15 people were wearing life jackets, they said.

Start for Youth Programme: 259 investment projects worth over 41 million lei have been launched

From June 2022 to date, 259 investment projects worth a total of over 41 million lei have been launched under the government's "Start for Young People" programme, the government said in a press release. Thus, young people aged between 18 and 35 who want to start or develop a business can benefit from advisory support and non-reimbursable financing or credit with grant portion.

Apartment prices have risen by 15 percent, but real estate agents expect a further increase. What experts say

Since the beginning of the year, prices of new apartments have increased by 15 percent, and in the coming months they could increase by another 15 percent, real estate agents told Radio Moldova. According to them, the causes are the halt in new construction during the pandemic period and the high price of renting apartments following the influx of Ukrainian refugees. But economic experts say apartment prices could rise by only 5% by the end of the year.

"The Minister will be on the side of the domestic producer". The issue of transit and export of Ukrainian grain to Moldova addressed in Galati

The issue of transit and export of Ukrainian cereals to Moldova will be discussed on Friday 11 July by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the European Union at a meeting in Galati, Romania. The information was confirmed to Radio Moldova by the ministry's state secretary Vasile Sarban. He also said that the meeting would discuss the aid that Moldovan farmers could receive.

During the cold season, low-income families will benefit from several compensation programmes

Low-income families will benefit from several compensation programmes during the cold period of the year, including for electricity, Labour and Social Protection Minister Alexei Buzu told Rlive. According to the official, two new energy vulnerability categories have been requested to identify low-income families. Aid for the cold period of the year will be integrated into the compensation programme, the official said.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns that expanding the war to the Black Sea would be a "disaster"

The solution to the export of Ukrainian grain to the Black Sea "depends on the countries of the West who must keep their promises," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, Hotnews reports.

Israeli authorities will treat seriously the extradition request of former Moldovan MP Ilan Shor

The extradition of former fugitive MP Ilan Shor, sentenced to 15 years in prison in Moldova for fraud and money laundering, is a legal decision and will be treated by the Israeli authorities with "utmost seriousness and respect". The statement was made in Chisinau by Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, reports Moldpres.

Politico: Ukraine declares war on Russian ships in the Black Sea

Russian Black Sea ports and ships, including tankers carrying millions of barrels of oil to Europe, could justifiably be attacked by the Ukrainian military as part of efforts to weaken Moscow's war machine, a senior Kiev official warned Monday, as quoted by Politico.

A new attack on Moscow: Two combat drones have been shot down

Russia's air defences shot down two fighter drones heading towards Moscow, the Russian capital's mayor announced Wednesday morning, amid a rise in the number of such attacks targeting the Russian capital, AFP reports.

Italy forces banks to pay 40% tax on extra profits

The cabinet led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has approved a surprise tax on banks' "extra profits" this year, Bloomberg reports.The tax was included in a wider package of measures ranging from new taxi licences to investment abroad.

European traders store gas in Ukraine

European gas traders have begun storing natural gas in Ukraine to take advantage of lower prices and available capacity there, regardless of the risks from the ongoing war, three traders and company officials said, Reuters reports.

The activity of two border crossing points with Ukraine, suspended for security reasons

The border crossing points Otaci-Moghileov Podolsk and Unguri-Bronița have suspended their activity for security reasons, the Customs Service and the Border Police inform.