August 6, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 06.08.2025, 13:55
FUNERAL The funeral procession with the coffin of the first president of post-communist Romania, Ion Iliescu, arrived at the Cotroceni presidential palace this morning. The coffin was laid on a catafalque where it is to remain until Thursday. High officials are expected to write in the condolences book while citizens can pay their last homage in the afternoon. A day of national mourning will be observed in Romania on Thursday. Under all legal regulations, flags will be flown at half-mast by all the central public and local authorities as well as at the head offices of political parties, trade and employers unions, education and culture institutions, at Romania’s diplomatic missions, in airports, rail and bus stations, and also by the Romanian ships. Radio and TV stations as well as culture institutions are to adjust their broadcasts and activities accordingly. Ion Iliescu passed away on Tuesday at the age of 95 due to lung cancer.
MEASURES Representatives of the pro-European ruling coalition in Bucharest, made up of PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR are still assessing the second package of measures aimed at curbing Romania’s budget deficit. The reform of the local administration by cutting staff expenses and improving tax collection or investment are only a couple of the measures discussed both at the level of the Executive and the ruling coalition. The package would also include a reform of the state institutions, proposals for combating tax evasion and improving the activity of the state’s fiscal authority. The Executive is also focusing on ways of improving access to European funds. Concurrently, talks on completing the bill on raising the retiring age for the magistrates and reducing their pension quantum are to continue.
ATTACK Moscow launched a new attack against the Odessa region on Tuesday night. The Romanians living in Braila, Tulcea and Galati in eastern Romania have published images with huge blazes in the Ukrainian town of Orlovca across the Danube. Romania’s radar installations had detected air targets in the Ukrainian air space close to Tulcea, and the population was cautioned through RO-Alert messages against falling objects from above. During the 90 minute air alert two F-16 planes took off in a surveillance mission over the national air space, but no unauthorized entrances were detected. The Romanian Foreign Ministry firmly condemns Russia’s unjustified and aggressive activities, carried out in blatant defiance of international law, which are jeopardizing the regional security. Moscow’s allegedly targeted a gas pipeline Ukraine is presently using to supply gas to population and industry after cutting off ties with the Russian gas giant Gazprom.
FOOTBALL Romania’s football champions FCSB is tonight taking at home on FC Drita of Kosovo in the first round of the third preliminary leg of Europa League. In the same competition, Romania’s vice-champions, CFR Cluj, are playing also at home against Portuguese side Sporting Braga. Another Romanian side Universitatea Craiova, also on their own turf are taking on Slovakian eleven Spartak Trnava in the third preliminary round of the Conference league. The decisive qualifying matches take place next week when all the Romanian sides are going to play abroad.
(bill)
