March 5, 2026

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 05.03.2026, 13:55

IRAN – Several massive explosions have rocked Tehran and other Iranian cities as the United States and Israel launch their sixth day of strikes on the country. More than 100 cities and towns have been targeted by Israel and the United States, which continue to strike military bases, missile sites, and Iranian military and political leaders. Iranian state media says more than 1,000 people have been killed in airstrikes on Iran since the conflict began. Despite a Pentagon report on Wednesday that Iran’s ballistic missile and drone launches have significantly decreased since the start of the war, Tehran has today launched what it called its nineteenth wave of attacks. Iranian drones also targeted the passenger terminal of the airport in Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan, near the border with Iran, injuring at least two people. The Israeli military said its defense systems were operational after detecting a new wave of missiles launched from Iran. At the same time, new Israeli bombings took place in Lebanon, and troops advanced into several border towns in the south of the country in a ground operation against the pro-Iranian group Hezbollah. Tehran announced that it had targeted with missiles the headquarters of Kurdish forces in the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq, which hosts American troops. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia said it had shot down cruise missiles near a city in the country’s center. Explosions were also heard in Doha, the capital of Qatar, as well as in Manama, in Bahrain. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said his American counterpart Pete Hegseth assured him of Washington’s firm support for the military campaign that the US and Israel launched on Saturday against Iran.

REPATRIATION – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) in Bucharest announces that 490 Romanian citizens who announced their presence in countries affected by the new war in the Middle East and requested consular assistance have returned to the country. Of these, 318 returned from Israel on assisted repatriation flights, via charter flights hired by travel agencies and benefited from consular assistance from representatives of the Romanian Embassy in Egypt. Four Romanian citizens returned to the country from Jordan, via an evacuation flight organized by the Slovak authorities. Another group of 174 people, including 172 Romanian citizens and two citizens of the neighboring Republic of Moldova, returned to the country from Israel, also via Egypt, with an air flight operated by a private company. The Crisis Cell of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Romania in the region, is in touch with Romanian citizens affected by the conflict in the Middle East, as well as with the authorities of the states in the region and will continue to provide consular assistance and protection, prioritizing the safety of Romanian citizens, depending on the evolution of the security situation.

VISIT – The President of Romania, Nicuşor Dan, is paying a visit to Warsaw today, at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Karol Nawrocki, the Presidential Administration in Bucharest has announced. The advancement of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and Poland, as well as better cooperation at European and allied level are the defining coordinates of this visit. The priorities on the bilateral agenda and the major projects within the Strategic Partnership will be discussed, with an emphasis on the development of economic exchanges and investments. European security will be a main topic of discussion, in the context of the risks generated by the aggression of the Russian Federation on Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East. The talks will focus on the collaboration between Romania and Poland to maintain European and allied solidarity, with the main objective of strengthening the deterrence posture on NATO’s Eastern Flank. Earlier this week, the head of diplomacy in Bucharest, Oana Țoiu, was also in Warsaw.

BUDGET – The draft of Romania’s state budget has been finalized, all chapters were closed in Wednesday’s meeting of the four-party government coalition (PSD-PNL-USR-UDMR), and next week the document will be sent to Parliament for debate and vote, the Liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has announced. In an interview with a private television station, he rejected the idea of a blockage or contradictory discussions at the coalition meeting. Asked about the statement sent by PSD representatives, criticizing him, the Prime Minister said that it is in complete contradiction with what happened at the meeting and with reality. Regarding the Social Democrats’ claims that the Solidarity Program is underfinanced, Bolojan explained that accessing the European Social Fund to supplement the financial resources needed to offer support to disadvantaged categories is considered. PSD also criticizes the drastic cut in investments for the development of local communities.

EUROVISION – Pop vocalist Alexandra Căpitănescu will represent Romania at the 2026 edition of the Eurovision, with her song ‘Choke Me’, having been chosen following the national selection held on Wednesday evening in the public television studios in Bucharest. Under the slogan ‘United by Music’, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in Vienna, Austria, with the semi-finals scheduled for May 12 and 14 and the final on May 16. Romania will enter the contest in the second semi-final. Romania’s best performances at this contest were third place twice (Luminiţa Anghel & Sistem – in Kyiv, 2005; Paula Seling and Ovi – Oslo, 2010) and fourth place once (Mihai Trăistariu – Athens, 2006).

TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian defeated Indonesian Janice Tjen 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the first round of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Indian Wells (California, United States), with total prizes of over 9.4 million dollars. Cristian will face Australian Maya Joint in the second round. Romanian Sorana Cîrstea defeated German Tatjana Maria 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the first round, and her next opponent will be Russian Diana Şnaider. In another first-round match, Romanian Gabriela Ruse was defeated by Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-2. The three Romanians will also play doubles at Indian Wells, with Sorana Cîrstea set to pair with Swiss Belinda Bencic, Jaqueline Cristian to partner Danish Clara Tauson, while Gabriela Ruse will team up with Briton Emma Răducanu. (EE)