The death toll in the wake of heavy rain and torrential flooding in Romania has been raised to 12, authorities said.

Romania’s prime minister says he will raise the country’s sales tax to 24% but will not touch income tax in an effort to keep a multibillion-pound loan from the International Monetary Fund on track.

Dozens of Romanians tried to storm the presidential palace today in a protest over austerity measures.

The Romanian government narrowly survived a no-confidence vote today after the opposition failed to muster the votes needed to topple it over unpopular cuts in wages, pensions and benefits.

Thousands of angry Romanians protested today outside the parliament against salary and pension cuts as the legislature started debating a no-confidence motion in the government.