June 26, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of the latest local and world news
Newsroom, 26.06.2025, 20:57
MEETING Romania’s president Nicusor Dan is participating in the European leaders summit in Brussels where he is expected to have separate talks with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the budget deficit and stage of the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience. Dan met the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, on Thursday, whom he ensured of Romania’s commitment to cooperating with EU institutions and member states for a stronger and more competitive Union. At the aforementioned summit, Dan wants that two of the main themes important for Bucharest, namely support for the Republic of Moldova and the development of the Black Sea strategy, are not only in the discussions of the European leaders, but also in the joint final statement. The European leaders have convened for talks on defence, support for Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. Also high on the agenda are the 5% of the GDP for defence, agreed upon at the Prague Summit, the European defence industry as well as the accession of Ukraine to the bloc, as Hungary, and sometimes Slovakia, are blocking the opening of the negotiating chapters. As for the Republic of Moldova, Chisinau is hoping to open the first negotiation chapter at the EU-Moldova summit on July 4th in Chisinau.
LAW Romanian policemen and soldiers, including retired servicemen, will no longer be able to get involved in military and security activities for private companies in conflict areas, a draft emergency ordinance, drawn up by the Interior Ministry, says. Under the same law, the aforementioned servicemen will not be able to offer recruitment, training or consultancy services for these companies with the exception of those entrusted by the Romanian state. The document stipulates the introduction in the Penal Code of a new crime, the participation in activities banned for servicemen, which will be punishable with prison sentences between 2 and 7 years and the cancellation of some rights. Under the aforementioned draft, currently under public debates, policemen and servicemen can be kept into activity until the age of 65 if the health and performance requests are met.
SPORTS The Romanian Olympic Champion, David Popovici, won gold in the 200 free-style race of the European Under-23 Swimming Championships in Samorin, Slovakia. The 20 year old Romanian won the finals in one minute, 43 seconds and 64 hundredths and walked away with a medal, which he said before the competition that he was missing. In Samorin, the Romanian will be competing in another three events, the 50 meter freestyle race, tomorrow, 100 meter and the mixed 4 by 100 meter free style relay races on Saturday. The competition in Slovakia is a good training opportunity for the Romanian before the World Championship in Singapore over July 27th and August 3rd.
HEAT Romania’s capital Bucharest and 12 other counties in southern and western Romania are under a Code Orange alert for heat and severe thermal discomfort. In these areas, the heat wave intensifies with maximum temperatures shooting up to 38 – 40 degrees Celsius, and lows between 20 and 24 degrees C, characteristic of a tropical night. Also in force today is a Code Yellow alert for heat and high thermal discomfort in the northwest, partially in the center, south and east, where maximum temperatures will be between 35 and 37 degrees C, and minimums between 17 and 20 degrees Celsius. The heat wave will persist on Friday in most of the country. In Bucharest, there will be thermal discomfort and a maximum temperature of 38 degrees C.
FLAG The National Flag Day was celebrated on Thursday in Bucharest, through a ceremony taking place in the area of the National Military Circle. Similar ceremonies took place in garrisons across the country. On the occasion of National Flag Day, the soldiers from the Invictus Romania team marked the event by climbing the Omul Peak in the Bucegi massif (south). This initiative culminated with the soldiers, Invictus volunteers and civilians unfurling a national flag, measuring approximately 100 meters, which symbolizes national unity. The National Flag Day is celebrated every year on June 26.
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