June 2, 2026 UPDATE
The latest news from RRI
Newsroom, 02.06.2026, 20:00
Corruption – The Chief of the Defense Staff, General Gheorghiţă Vlad, has been placed under criminal investigation by the National Anticorruption Directorate, the military department, in a case in which he is accused of complicity to usurpation of office. Prosecutors say the head of the Romanian Army used his influence to secure the increase in number of non-paying student places at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, so that 20 candidates no longer had to pay tuition fees, three of whom were to join the defense ministry after graduation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense in Bucharest said that the National Anticorruption Directorate is carrying out specific checks as part of an ongoing investigation. General Gheorghiţă Vlad cannot make additional comments in order not to influence the ongoing procedures, but the institution is fully cooperating with the competent authorities, the defence ministry said.
UN – More than 56 countries, mainly members of the European Union and NATO, denounced Russia’s “unacceptable” behavior at the United Nations on Monday after a drone crashed into a building in Galaţi, southern Romania, last week. At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council requested by Romania, acting foreign minister Oana Ţoiu said, in the context of the Galaţi incident, that Romania has a ‘shared responsibility to draw a line and not allow it to be moved’. She said that since the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Russian drones have repeatedly entered the airspace of Romania and of other partners in Central and Eastern Europe and are a direct consequence of Russia’s escalation tactics. On Sunday, President Nicuşor Dan announced that the drone that crashed in Galaţi was a Geran-2 type, of Russian origin.
Protest - In Romania, court clerks and prosecutors will partially suspend their work between June 2 and 5, between 8:00 and 12:00 am, in protest against the provisions of the new salary bill. The National Union of the Dicasterial Judicial Registry announced that it will cut its public opening hours and within certain periods will cease its activity entirely, with only urgent cases provided for by law to be resolved. The protest action was decided after an extraordinary general meeting of union members, amid dissatisfaction with the way the salary bill treats auxiliary personnel in the judicial system. Other public sector unions are also dissatisfied with the unitary salary law. Consultations between the government and unions continue.
SAFE – The German defense giant Rheinmetall announced on Tuesday that it had signed contracts with the Romanian Army worth 5.7 billion Euros, it is “the largest package of international contracts in recent history,” according to a press release. Awarded on Friday as part of the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, these contracts cover ‘the manufacture of combat vehicles, air defense systems, ammunition and ammunition components, as well as military ships,’ the Düsseldorf-based group said.
Attacks – At least 21 people were killed and 100 injured after several Russian drones and missiles struck Ukrainian cities on Tuesday morning, including the capital Kyiv and Dnipro in the southeast, Reuters reports. Photos showing massive explosions and plumes of smoke rising above tall buildings in Kyiv circulated on social media. Last week, the Kremlin warned that it was preparing “systematic strikes” on targets in Kyiv in response to a drone attack on a dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region that left 21 people dead. Ukraine has denied the attack.
Cars – New car registrations in Romania rose by 7% in May 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, while in the 100% electric segment, the increase was 88%, reaching 797 units—according to preliminary data published Tuesday by the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers (APIA). According to data compiled by the General Directorate for Driver’s Licenses and Vehicle Registration (DGPCI), electric car registrations in May 2026 rose by 32% compared to May 2025. In the ranking of new car registrations, the top positions are held, in order, by: Dacia, with 2,132 units; Toyota, with 1,139; Skoda, with 910; and Volkswagen, with 811 units. APIA notes that the total car market is down 10% in the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
Bookfest – From Wednesday through Sunday, Casa Radio Publishing is participating in the 19th edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair, held in Bucharest. The publishing house of the Romanian Public Radio will be present with over 150 titles, audiobooks, and CDs, brought together in collections dedicated to great local writers and leading performers of Romanian classical music, whose works and performances are preserved in the institution’s sound archive. Casa Radio Publishing thus caters both to its loyal audience, well-versed in cultural heritage, and to those interested in discovering the voices of the nation’s cultural memory.
Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea (ranked 18th in the world) failed to qualify for the semifinals of the Roland Garros tournament. The Romanian was defeated in two sets, 6-0, 6-3, by Russian Mirra Andreeva, ranked 8th in the WTA ranking, in the quarterfinals of the second Grand Slam tournament of the year. At 36 years old and, according to her own announcement, in her final season on the professional circuit, Sorana reached the highest ranking in her career in 2026 and matched her best performance at a Grand Slam tournament, the quarterfinals, also on the Parisian clay, in 2009. Andreeva now leads Cîrstea 2-0 in head-to-head matches on the WTA Tour, following her victory in April at the WTA 500 tournament in Linz, Austria.
Migration – MEPs and European states reached an agreement on Monday evening to tighten the bloc’s migration policy, with the possibility of creating centers abroad where illegal migrants could be sent. The centers can function either as a final destination or as a transit point to the country of origin. Another novelty is the European Return Order, a single document recognized by all member states. Thus, a person rejected in a European country could have the same status throughout the EU. People illegally in the Union will be required to leave the country in question and cooperate with the authorities, and failure to comply with this can lead to sanctions, which can go as far as detention. For people considered a security risk, member states will be able to impose entry bans longer than 10 years or even indefinitely. The new regulation complements the European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum, which is due to be implemented from 12 June. (LS)
