October 7, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 07.10.2025, 20:00

NOBEL – The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to the British John Clarke, the French Michel Devoret and the American John Martinis for their contribution to the field of quantum mechanics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said their discoveries demonstrated how the bizarre properties of the quantum world can be translated into practical, human-scale applications. The three scientists’ work has paved the way for the development of a new generation of technologies based on quantum mechanics – from cryptography and quantum computers to high-precision sensors.

CEI – Romania will take over the chairmanship of the Central European Initiative (CEI) on January 1, 2026 – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest announced in a statement. According to the rotation principle, which regulates the order of the organization’s presidencies, Romania will succeed Serbia and will hold this position until December 31, 2026. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the move reconfirms “the priority interest given by Romania to regional cooperation, good neighborly relations and the European accession process of candidate states, both those in the Eastern neighborhood, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, and partners in the Western Balkans.” During its mandate, Romania aims to contribute, as a priority, to accelerating the European integration process of the candidates, to boosting regional cooperation, with an emphasis on connectivity, to intensifying political dialogue between participants and economic cooperation. The CEI is a regional cooperation format that brings together nine EU member states – Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary – and 7 states aspiring to admission to the Union – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine. Romania previously held the CEI presidency, in 2009.

LAW – The Senate in Bucharest adopted on Monday, with 123 votes in favor and 6 abstentions, the Digital Age Law, which introduces, for the first time in Romania, the concept of “digital maturity” at the age of 16, establishing a clear framework for minors’ access to online platforms. Thus, children will be able to create accounts on platforms only with the consent of their parents, and providers will be obliged to apply age filters and prohibitions for personalized advertising addressed to minors. The normative act will go to the Chamber of Deputies for the final vote.

PILGRIMAGE – Preparations continue at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași (northeastern Romania) for the pilgrimage to celebrate the Feast of Saint Parascheva, held from October 8 to 15. Orthodox Christians in Romania celebrate Saint Parascheva, the spiritual protector of Moldova, on October 14. The Saint became the protector of the eastern region of the country in 1641, when her relics were brought to Iași, after being taken to Bulgaria, Serbia and Constantinople. Every year, on the feast of Saint Parascheva, impressive crowds of pilgrims go to Iași, the city becoming the largest pilgrimage center in Romania and the fifth in Europe. This year, pilgrims will also be able to worship the relics of Saint Gregory Palamas, which will be brought from Thessaloniki, Greece.

AUTO – This year’s edition of the Bucharest Auto Show opened its doors on Tuesday. Until October 12, the event brings concept models, national premieres and novelties of the 2025-2026 season to the public, as well as special offers from major car manufacturers. According to the organizers, visitors will discover new trends in automotive technology, intelligent transportation solutions, as well as an area with historic, unique or very rare cars, presented by the Vintage Car Club. The price of a ticket for a visit to the Bucharest Auto Show is 80 lei (the equivalent of about 16 euros).

FOOTBALL – The Romanian national football team is preparing for this week’s matches in Bucharest against the Republic of Moldova and Austria. Coach Mircea Lucescu has called up 14 players registered with clubs abroad and 14 who play in the domestic championship, the so-called Super League. On Thursday, Romania plays a friendly match with neighboring Republic of Moldova, and on Sunday they meet Austria, in Group H of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Bosnia-Herzegovina ranks first in the group, with 12 points (5 games), followed by Austria, 12 points (4 games), Romania, 7 points (5 games), Cyprus, 4 points (5 games), San Marino, 0 points (5 games). The winners of the 12 preliminary groups from Europe will qualify directly for the World Cup hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada, while the second-placed teams, together with the four best group winners from the Nations League, will be drawn by lot and will play two play-offs (semi-finals and finals) to determine the last four qualified European teams. Romania last participated in a final world tournament in 1998, in France. (EE)