September 18, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 18.09.2025, 13:55
INFLATION – The inflation rate is expected to drop in Romania by December next year to almost 3.5%, but only provided the measures to curb budget overspending are fully implemented, Central Bank chief economist Valentin Lazea says. Attending a business forum, the Central Bank representative warned that a new inflationary shock could follow in April next year, when the liberalization of gas prices is expected to occur, the impact of which will probably be approximately 0.6%. Attending the same event, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said that the fiscal measures adopted this year are necessary for Romania to exit the excessive deficit procedure imposed by the European Commission and then have a greater say in Brussels.
ARMY – Romania’s Defense Minister Ionuț Moșteanu announced that a new legal framework is being elaborated to increase and rejuvenate the Romanian Army reserve. Young people aged 18-35 will be able to volunteer as paid soldiers for four months. At present, the average age of reservists is approximately 47 years because military service is no longer mandatory since 2007, Ionuț Moșteanu said. An INSCOP survey published on Wednesday shows that nearly three quarters of Romanians said, at the start of this month, that they agree with the voluntary military service. However, it is a decrease of over 5% compared to July.
MEDEVAC – A C-130 Hercules military aircraft of the Romanian Air Forces carried out a medical evacuation mission, yesterday, September 17. 10 pediatric patients and 28 relatives, Palestinian nationals, were evacuated from Israel. The airlift mission was carried out following a request made by the European Emergency Response Coordination Center, through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, in the context of the deteriorating security climate in Gaza. The medical team that accompanied the evacuated people during the flight to Bucharest was made up of Romanian medical personnel.
COAL MINES – Romania is currently negotiating with the European Commission to obtain a postponement of the deadline for the closure of coal mines and power plants, scheduled for the end of 2025, the line minister, Bogdan Ivan, announced in a post on social media. The Romanian official explained that unless such a decision is obtained, Romanians will pay even higher electricity bills, given that they already pay almost the highest price for this product in Europe. In addition, according to Bogdan Ivan, thousands of people risk losing their jobs. This is the result of the failure to implement projects to build gas-fired power plants that should replace coal-fired ones, Minister Ivan explained.
ANTIFA – US President Donald Trump yesterday announced that the so-called ‘Antifa’ movement, a generic term for far-left groups that claim to be anti-fascist, is henceforth designated a “terrorist” organization, a week after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In an announcement on Truth Social, the president also strongly recommended that those who finance “Antifa” be subject to a thorough investigation, in accordance with the strictest legal norms and practices. Earlier this week, the White House had announced plans to crack down on what it has termed “domestic left-wing terrorism”, in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Aged 31, Kirk had been exposing his nationalist, Christian and traditional family ideas on social media and in university meetings.
ENESCU FESTIVAL – The Orchestre National de France is expected to perform tonight in Bucharest, conducted by Cristian Măcelaru, the artistic director of the “George Enescu” International Festival and Competition. Set up in 1934, the Orchestre National de France has become a symbol of French culture globally due to its international tours. As a result of its active presence in France and its captivating educational programs, it has managed to strengthen its ties with the national audience. On September 1, 2020, Grammy Award-winning Cristian Măcelaru took over as music director of the prestigious French orchestra. Over August 24 – September 21, the 27th edition of the International “George Enescu” Festival takes place in Bucharest and other cities in Romania. (VP)
