June 28, 2026
A roundup of domestic and world news
Newsroom, 28.06.2026, 13:55
Weather – In Romania, the first code red alert for heat wave of this summer has come into effect, covering much of the northern half of the country and forecasting extreme high temperatures that could reach 39–40 degrees Celsius. Orange and yellow code alerts for heat wave are in effect across the rest of Romania. On Monday, the red code alert area will expand and, by July 1, will cover nearly the entire country, except for a few counties in the southeast. Today, highs will range between 31 and 40 degrees Celsius. A heat wave is also expected in Bucharest today, where meteorologists forecast a high of 36 degrees Celsius. For Bucharest, the extreme heat wave will remain intense until Wednesday morning, with highs expected to reach 39 degrees, according to the National Meteorological Administration (ANM).
Politics – After two failed nominations, President Nicuşor Dan called on the pro-European parties to resume dialogue and find a solution by Tuesday so that the Romanian Parliament can appoint a fully-fledged executive during the final meeting of this legislative session. Meanwhile, the PSD and PNL continue to accuse each other of blocking negotiations and claim they are not afraid of early elections, an option that cannot be ruled out if negotiations to form a government remain deadlocked. The Social Democrats would support either a single-party PSD government, led by their leader, Sorin Grindeanu, or one formed by members of the former coalition (PSD, PNL, USR, and UDMR), but without the Liberal leader, Prime Minister-designate Ilie Bolojan. The Liberals, however, do not want to give the Social Democrats a blank check and have their own formula for a minority government, PNL, USR, and UDMR, with Liberal MEP Siegfrid Mureşan as prime minister. The party leading in the polls and the second-largest in Parliament, the nationalist and extremist Alliance for the Union of Romanians, refuses to support a government it does not lead and continues to favor early elections.
Theater – It is the last day of the Sibiu International Theater Festival (in central Romania), one of the largest and most important theater festivals in the world, which, for this edition, has scheduled nearly 850 events featuring 5,000 artists from 83 countries. This year’s theme – SOUL – emphasizes that, above all technology, the soul prevails, whether it be that of the artist or the audience member. Starting Saturday, eight new names will have a star on Sibiu’s Walk of Fame. Among these personalities are actress Fanny Ardant, conductor Cristian Măcelaru, and actress Ofelia Popii.
Caracas – The death toll from the two earthquakes that have recently struck Venezuela has exceeded 1,400; another 3,200 people were injured, and 3,100 were left homeless in the wake of the disaster, according to a preliminary tally released by Venezuela’s state television. The country’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced on Saturday evening that 24 countries have sent aid and several thousand rescue workers to participate in search-and-rescue operations. The EU has already mobilized 5 million Euros in emergency assistance for communities affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela, said Kaya Kallas, Vice President of the European Commission, who also noted that the European Copernicus satellite system is supporting emergency response teams and that the Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated. At the same time, U.S. Southern Command, which coordinates U.S. military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, stated that it is “mobilizing available and assigned U.S. forces” in the region to support relief operations. The United States is also sending elite rescue teams, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid to Venezuela. The State Department had previously announced that the U.S. would provide 150 million dollars in aid.
Pogrom – The pogrom of June 1941 remains a deep scar in our history and national consciousness, a devastating consequence of anti-Semitism, intolerance, and hatred directed against our fellow human beings, said Romanian President Nicuşor Dan in a message delivered at the commemoration of the Iaşi Pogrom. The event took place at the Jewish Cemetery in Iași (northeast), and was attended by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. In his message, President Dan stated that this commemoration pays tribute to the victims, the survivors, and all those who had the courage to stand up to evil and save human lives in times of moral darkness. And their memory compels us to remain vigilant and to defend, day by day, the values of humanity, dignity, and peaceful coexistence. The Romanian head of state will receive his Israeli counterpart on Monday, on the occasion of the latter’s official visit to Romania at Bucharest’s invitation. On the agenda for the discussions is, among other things, the deepening of bilateral relations in all areas of common interest. Also on Monday, the President of Israel will address the Parliament in Bucharest, which is convening in a joint session. (LS)
