January 10, 2026
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 10.01.2026, 13:55
Frost. The Romanian energy system is prepared to cope with the low temperatures forecast for the next few days, energy minister Bogdan Ivan said. He explained that despite an increase in natural gas consumption by 20% nationwide at the beginning of next week, the fact that the electricity storage facilities are 70% full, which is well above the European average, is a safety net. This was possible due to the storage process, which began in the summer, when prices were lower, but also to the fact that Romania has its own electricity production. A 5-day alert for cold, with mixed precipitation, black ice, snow and wind gusts was issued on Saturday morning. Temperatures of up to minus 10 degrees Celsius were forecast for Saturday in the northeast and part of the centre of the country, areas where yellow code alert for extremely low temperatures is in place. The alert extends to the west, northwest, north, the entire centre, east and the mountains area from Saturday evening. The lows will be between minus 15 and minus 6 degrees Celsius, and the highs between minus 10 and minus 2 degrees Celsius, with cold snaps during the day.
Iran. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalls that a level 8/9 warning is in force for the entire territory of Iran and is advising Romanian citizens to avoid any form of travel to Iran, in the context of the anti-government demonstrations there and the high risk of escalation. The ministry is advising Romanian citizens already in Iran to avoid demonstrations and crowded places and assess the need to stay in the country. The European Union, the United Nations and other international organisations and institutions have criticised the regime in Tehran for the violent way in which it has reacted to the street protests that were mostly driven by economic problems. Although the regime has blocked access to the internet, satellite images of people shot and killed have emerged from Iran. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has described the demonstrators as mercenaries who want to please US President Donald Trump.
Agreement. Romanian president Nicuşor Dan said in a statement that based on the Mercosur agreement, Romanian products will be exempt from customs duties for Latin America. Defence minister Radu Miruţă, from the Save Romania Union, in the government coalition, believes the agreement is advantageous for Romania. In contrast, Social Democratic Party, also in government, as well as the opposition parliamentary group the Alliance for the Union of Romanians have criticised Romania’s vote in favour of the trade agreement. On Friday, European Union states gave their final approval, by qualified majority, to the Mercosur trade agreement with the South-American bloc. Poland, France, Austria, Ireland and Hungary were opposed to the agreement, while Belgium abstained. European farmers also contest the agreement, as they see their sector threatened by the market entry of South American agricultural products, which benefit from a cost advantage and do not comply with the environmental standards imposed in the EU. Negotiations on a trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia, have been held since 1999.
Flu. Eight people diagnosed with the flu died in Romania last week, bringing the total number of deaths this season to 11 so far. The National Institute of Public Health has reported almost 11,000 cases of flu out of a total of over 61,000 cases of respiratory infection, but says there has also been underreporting due to the winter holidays. Flu cases have been recorded across the country, most of them in Bucharest.
Luge. Raluca Strămăturaru and Mihaela-Carmen Manolescu on Friday ranked second in the women’s doubles at the Nations Cup Luge in Winterberg (Germany). In a month’ time, the two will compete in the women’s doubles and relay at the Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. For Raluca Strămăturaru, this will be her fifth Winter Games. With her 7th place ranking in PyeongChang in 2018, she is highest-placed Romanian athlete at the Winter Games since 1992 in Albertville. (CM)
