October 25, 2026
A roundup of domestic and world news
Newsroom, 25.10.2026, 13:55
Army Day – On Sunday, the Armed Forces Day, Romania’s President, Nicușor Dan, joined the military personnel at the ‘Lieutenant Gheorghe Mociorniță’ 86th Air Base in Borcea, Călărași County (southeastern Romania). “The Armed Forces are a symbolic institution for Romania, and it is no coincidence that they are the institution in which Romanians place the greatest trust. In a world marked by uncertainty, the military continues to embody values that society so desperately needs: seriousness, discipline, and a sense of duty fulfilled,” the President stated. “My message to the Romanian people is one of confidence in our ability to build a stable, solid nation, one firmly anchored in the values of the greater European family, where we can live in safety, protected by our strategic partnership with the United States and our membership in NATO,” emphasized Nicușor Dan. During a ceremony held in Bucharest, the Prime Minister Luca Niculescu remarked that we live in a world where peace can no longer be taken for granted; he noted that cyber threats, hybrid attacks, and disinformation campaigns are putting us to the test, while Romania’s position on the Black Sea demands constant vigilance. Defense Minister Ștefan Radu Oprea stated that his priorities include developing capabilities to detect and counter drone threats, as well as operationalizing a security hub for the Black Sea region. The Romanian Armed Forces Day is observed through a series of military and religious ceremonies.
Vaccination – An emergency immunization campaign for sheep and goats began on Sunday in two counties in southeastern Romania, Constanța and Tulcea, one day earlier than originally scheduled. This follows the arrival in the country of the final batches of vaccines from the European Union’s strategic stocks, as announced by the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA). According to the Authority, every hour gained is significant, as it means more livestock protected and brings the country one step closer to resuming the export of live animals to third countries. ANSVSA notes that, while vaccination has started in these two counties, temporary restrictions on the movement of sheep and goats remain in effect throughout Romania to prevent the spread of disease. On October 20, the European Commission announced that Romania would receive 1.1 million vaccine doses against sheep and goat pox and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). On June 18, the European Commission decided to extend the ban on the export of sheep and goats from Romania to third countries until December 31, 2026, while also maintaining existing restrictions on shipments to EU member states.
Winter time – Romania switched to winter time overnight from Saturday to Sunday. Clocks were set back by one hour, making Sunday the longest day of the year, at 25 hours. The practice of changing the time was introduced in Europe during the last century as a way to save energy. In 2019, the European Parliament voted to abolish this measure, but no final decision has been reached to date. Doctors warn that the time change can affect the body, impacting sleep in particular for a period of time, as well as mood, stress levels, and the ability to concentrate.
Energy – The new Energy Minister, Dumitru Chisăliţă, has set out to take the necessary measures in the energy sector for the upcoming cold season, to protect vulnerable consumers, and to find concrete solutions to combat energy poverty. He has stated on Facebook that he will prioritize a highly practical approach to energy, with decisions based on data and constant dialogue with energy sector experts, trade unions, and representatives of civil society organizations. “We need to increase energy production capacities, accelerate investments, and develop a balanced energy mix, supported by diversified storage solutions,” the Minister conveyed.
Protests – Large-scale demonstrations took place on Saturday in Paris and other major French cities. According to the Interior Ministry, over 400,000 people took to the streets, while organizers reported a figure twice as high. Although the demonstrations in Paris and several other cities were generally peaceful, they were hijacked in the evening by violent groups who attacked police officers and attempted to incite disorder toward the end of the protests. The police intervened with tear gas and water cannons, successfully dispersing the unruly groups. The Interior Minister announced that more than 1,300 people had been detained, though he emphasized that the incidents were far less severe than those that occurred a week earlier. A new nationwide mobilization is already planned for next Saturday, October 31, while labor unions are preparing for a day of strikes and protests on November 5. Italy also experienced a tense weekend, with clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in Turin, Bologna, and Rome. Across the country, more than 370 people were detained during protests against the rising cost of living and housing.
Election – Serbia heads to the polls on Sunday for snap elections called by populist leader Aleksandar Vučić, who has been in power for a decade, Reuters reports. According to the agency, a broad student-led protest movement is seeking to oust him, posing the most significant challenge to his regime. The election follows nearly two years of student-led demonstrations against corruption and deepening authoritarianism. The movement was sparked by the death of 16 people in the collapse of a railway station roof in the city of Novi Sad in 2024. Vučić has resigned from his position as president, as he was serving his second term, in order to run once again for the office of prime minister. Meanwhile, Bulgaria is holding a presidential election, with the campaign dominated by the country’s relationship with Russia and security in the Black Sea. Polls suggest the frontrunner is the incumbent president Iliana Iotova, who advocates for dialogue with Moscow and opposes providing military aid to Ukraine, a stance that comes amid Russian drone attacks on commercial vessels off the Bulgarian coast in the Black Sea. Her main challenger is the former interim Prime Minister Andrei Ghiurov, who is backed by the pro-Western opposition; an economist by profession, Ghiurov appears to have narrowed the gap with the incumbent president in recent polls. (LS)
