March 8, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 08.03.2026, 20:00
Repatriation flights for Romanians in the Middle East
Authorities in Bucharest continue to organize evacuation operations for Romanians caught in conflict-affected areas of the Middle East. The Foreign Ministry announced the landing on Sunday of an aircraft carrying 183 Romanian citizens repatriated from Qatar. Over 1,500 Romanian citizens have safely returned to the country from states affected by the Middle East conflict through evacuation flights, assisted repatriation, or MAE-facilitated flights, the Foreign Ministry Affairs announced on Sunday evening.
Additionally, the Ministry estimates that approximately 1,000 other Romanian citizens have left the region via commercial flights operated by airlines from Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt, or through travel agency flights. In the region, there are still about 12,500 Romanian citizens under the attention of the consular service. Of these, approximately 2,500 are currently requesting consular assistance to return home. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced that further flights are in advanced operational preparation for the coming days, either through European cooperation or via assisted-repatriation charter flights for a fee.
Hostilities continue in the Middle East
The war in Iran continues, and messages from both sides indicate that, for the time being, neither side is willing to back down. The situation appears more complex in Tehran, which has conveyed contradictory messages suggesting the existence of multiple factions with differing visions.
Both American-Israeli bombings of Iran, with Tehran being among the targets, and Iranian attacks against targets across the Middle East have continued. Gulf countries reported a new wave of drone and missile attacks on Sunday. The Kuwaiti Army announced that a “series of hostile drones” targeted fuel depots at Kuwait International Airport, with debris from interceptions damaging civil infrastructure. The Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry also announced the interception of at least 21 drones. In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry attributed a fire at a facility in the port of Mina Salman to “Iranian aggression”, adding that emergency services are working to extinguish the blaze. In the United Arab Emirates, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said that air defenses are responding to a “missile threat”.
The war in the Middle East drives up fuel prices
Oil prices have climbed to their highest levels since 2023 amid the war in the Middle East. Both Brent crude from the North Sea and US crude have surpassed the $90 per barrel threshold following an unprecedented, accelerated increase.
The Qatari Energy Minister estimated that oil prices could reach $150 if the war does not end quickly. In Romania, the spike has primarily affected diesel prices. In the capital, a liter of standard diesel sells for a minimum of 8.60 Lei. Standard gas continues to sell at prices between 8.20 Lei and 8.31 Lei per liter. Half of the final pump price consists of state-collected taxes, excise duties and VAT. Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan says the government may decide on a possible reduction of these taxes to prevent prices from reaching 10 Lei per liter. Those most affected by the rising fuel costs are transporters and farmers, the Energy Minister added, noting that the state cannot intervene by directly capping tariffs as there are no legal provisions for such a decision.
Education trade unions announce boycott
Teachers in Romania will boycott the mock exams for the national and Baccalaureate exams, Marius Nistor, the leader of the “Spiru Haret” Federation of Education Unions, has announced. According to him, teachers are dissatisfied with the austerity measures adopted by the government and the lack of real dialogue with authorities.
Teachers voted massively against participating in these exams during a referendum, Nistor emphasized. If the mock exams are not held during the originally announced period, they will be rescheduled. On the other hand, the Education Ministry said it understands the teachers’ grievances and expressed confidence that everyone involved will act in the best interest of the students. The national mock exams are scheduled for March 16–18, while the Baccalaureate mock exams are scheduled for March 23–26.
Crime statistics
Crime went down 11% at national level in 2025 compared to the previous year, falling below the average of the last 10 years, Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu announced during the presentation of the Interior Ministry’s annual activity report. According to the Ministry, its institutions intensified efforts to combat organized crime in 2025, with an emphasis on combating drug trafficking. Consequently, several criminal groups were dismantled, and more than twice the amount of high-risk drugs were seized compared to 2024.
International Women’s Day
Women in numerous countries around the world are celebrated on March 8, in recognition of their contribution to the development of society. In Romania as well, International Women’s Day is observed through public events and symbolic gestures of appreciation. President Nicușor Dan has congratulated women on this day, thanking them for their contribution to family and community life. The holiday has its roots in the social movements of the early 20th century, when demands for political rights and better working conditions began to be formulated publicly and in an organized manner. The first documented celebration took place in the United States under the name “National Woman’s Day”, organized following an initiative by the American Socialist Party on February 28, 1909. (VP)
