August 15, 2025 UPDATE
A roundup of local and international news.
Cristina Mateescu, 15.08.2025, 18:25
Navy Day. Navy Day is a day of national unity and, as long as we stand together around our national values, we will be stronger, said Romanian president Nicuşor Dan in a statement on Romanian Navy Day. “Our sailors take the Romanian flag across the seas and oceans of the world, and that is why we are today celebrating the extraordinary people who have dedicated themselves to this career, while honouring the symbols of our nation”, the president also said. He added that in the current security environment, the Black Sea region has a strategic importance, something recognised both in NATO and the European Union and something that can contribute to the security and prosperity of Romanian citizens. The Romanian Naval Forces are celebrating the 123rd edition of Navy Day in a series of events held in Constanţa, Mangalia, Brăila, Tulcea, Galaţi and Bucharest promoting the values and traditions of the Romanian naval military. The Black Sea port of Constanţa is hosting a parade involving 3,500 Romanian and foreign military and 28 vessels and an air show. Taking part in the parade are 28 vessels belonging to the Naval Forces, the Coast Guard, the Romanian Agency for Saving Human Lives at Sea, and the Turkish and Bulgarian partners deployed in Constanţa, as well as 20 planes of the Romanian Navy, the Romanian Air Force and of German and American partners.
Feast day. Romania’s majority Orthodox Christians, as well as its Catholic community, are today celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the oldest feast day dedicated to the Virgin. According to Christian belief, Mary was assumed into heaven when she died. After the Holy Trinity, she is the most celebrated figure in Christianity. Most Romanian monasteries are dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a feast day that is also considered to be the celebration of pilgrimages.
Police. Almost 9,000 police forces are deployed across the country to ensure law and order over the three-day public holiday around the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Romanian Police says security measures will be in place in busy areas and around religious establishments. The traffic police will be working to ensure the flow of traffic and discourage behaviour conducive to road accidents. Special attention is paid to tourist areas, in particular at the seaside and in the mountains. The traffic police is supported by the General Aviation Inspectorate, to ensure better air traffic surveillance.
Taxes. The finance ministry in Bucharest has published new tax and duty proposals to be included in the second package of measures to cut the budget deficit. The health contribution will be increased for the self-employed, and home owners earning an income from short-term rentals will be obliged to use cash registers and issue tax receipts. Another proposed measure is to increase tax on stock market earnings, namely income obtained from the transfer of securities and other operations involving financial instruments. The tax rates, of 1 and 3% respectively, will go up to 2 and 4 percent. These provisions add to those unveiled a few days ago by finance minister Alexandru Nazare on the taxation of multinational companies in the area where they export their profits. There is also the introduction of a fixed tax of 25 lei (about 5 euros) for each parcel under 150 euros that comes from the non-EU area, such as China or Turkey. (CM)
