November 30, 2025

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 30.11.2025, 13:55

SAINT ANDREW – Orthodox believers are today celebrating Saint Andrew the Apostle, the spiritual protector of Romania. According to tradition, Saint Andrew is the only apostle who arrived on the current territory of Romania, in Dobrogea, where he founded the first Christian communities. Therefore, he is seen as the apostle of the ancient Romanians and the spiritual protector of the country. He died as a martyr in the city of Patras in Greece, crucified on an X-shaped cross. Since 2001, Saint Andrew’s Day has been a national church holiday. Saint Andrew is also the protector of the National Cathedral, which has been reopened today for the celebration of the Holy Liturgy.

NATIONAL DAY – Romania celebrates its National day on December 1st. Over 2,900 soldiers and specialists from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the National Penitentiary Administration, with 220 pieces of technical equipment, will participate in the military parade organized at the Triumphal Arch in Bucharest, on this occasion. According to the Defense Ministry, 240 foreign soldiers will also march in the parade, within detachments from France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the USA, as well as soldiers from allied countries contributing to NATO structures on Romanian territory. On December 1, the National Flag will be hoisted in all military institutions in the country, will be raised on board maritime and river vessels, and an exhibition of military equipment will be opened in the area of the Triumphal Arch in Bucharest. The military personnel in theaters of operations and on foreign missions will participate in ceremonies organized on the occasion of Romania’s National Day. December 1, 1918 marks the establishment of the Romanian unitary national state. At the end of WW1, all the provinces inhabited mainly by Romanians that had been, until that moment, under the authority of the Austro-Hungarian and Tsarist empires – Transylvania, Banat, Bukovina and Bessarabia – became part of the Kingdom of Romania.

SECURITY – Approximately 24,000 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are patrolling the streets every day during the mini-holiday occasioned by Romania’s National Day. They are working to prevent illegal acts, maintain traffic flow in heavily trafficked areas and intervene quickly in emergency situations. Law enforcement actions are focused especially on tourist resorts, recreational areas and places where large crowds are expected. Over 400 public events are scheduled nationwide, with the largest taking place in Bucharest and Alba Iulia.

HANDBALL – The Romanian women’s handball team scored its second victory, 31-27, against Japan, in Group A of the World Championship in the Netherlands and Germany, on Saturday evening in Rotterdam. In the first match, the national team defeated Croatia. Also on Saturday, Denmark, the favourite of the group, won against Croatia. Denmark and Romania each have 4 points and are already qualified for the main groups. They will face each other on Monday in a direct match for the top spot in Group A. The top 3 teams in each group advance to the next phase. Romania has participated in all editions of the Women’s Handball World Championship, winning gold medals in 1962, silver in 1973 and 2005, and bronze in 2015.

PARTY – The main opposition party in Romania, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (populist, ultranationalist, self-proclaimed sovereignist) is organizing its National Congress today in Alba Iulia (center). The party’s president, George Simion, is the only candidate for a new mandate as party leader. According to a press release, the meeting was convened in the city of the Great Union on December 1, 1918, as that is the place where AUR set out on its journey and where, symbolically, the history of Romanian unity is written every time. Last week, AUR designated its 14 vice-presidents and the new president of the National Leadership Council through online voting. (EE)