July 12, 2026
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 12.07.2026, 13:55
IRAN On Saturday night, the US launched a new wave of strikes in response to Iranian forces hitting a vessel that was passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran responded by launching missiles and drones against several targets in the Middle East and announced the waterway is closed until further notice. This has been the third day of hostilities in the Gulf in spite of an existing ceasefire. Iran wants to control traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and channel it through its territorial waters, whereas the US says ships must navigate freely through the area, which before the conflict, was used by 20% of the crude shipment worldwide. An interim ceasefire signed in mid-June, which has been extended for 60 days, provides for traffic resumption in the area. The 60 days should have been used for the negotiation of an ampler agreement but no headway has been made so far in the key interest points, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unblocking the frozen Iranian assets and the statute of the Strait, which Iran claims in order to be able to levy taxes on the transiting vessels. US President Donald Trump has recently announced the failed agreement, but sources in Washington say that technical talks are still going on.
VISIT On Monday and Tuesday, Romania’s president Nicusor Dan will be attending the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine and ceremonies dedicated to the National Day of the French Republic in Paris. The visit takes place at the invitation of his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, the presidential administration in Bucharest announced on Saturday. According to a communiqué released by AGERPRES, Dan’s participation in the ceremonies in Paris confirms the consistency of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and France as well as the privileged relationship between the two countries and peoples. The year 2026 marks the centennial of the Romanian-French Friendship Treaty, a symbol of solidarity and the common commitment to supporting the European security. The theme of this year’s military parade on Champs Elysees is ‘The Strategic Awakening of Europe’ and Romania will be represented by 22 servicemen. The visit’s agenda also includes President Dan’s participation in the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine, a format launched in 2025 and coordinated by France and Great Britain, which has brought together 35 countries, which have shown their commitment to supporting Ukraine through solid guarantees of security. In his address, Dan is expected to highlight the direct link between the security of Ukraine and that of Europe, with emphasis on the NATO’s Eastern Flank and the EU, the presidential administration has announced.
TALKS Romania’s President Nicusor Dan is to resume talks on Monday with party leaders of the former ruling coalition PSD-PNL-USR-UDMR on forging a new government. President Dan says he won’t nominate a Prime Minister who cannot obtain the necessary support in Parliament adding the two proposals advanced do not stand chances to get majority; the two are Siegfried Muresan, proposed by the PNL, USR, UDMR and Sorin Grindeanu, proposed by the PSD. On May 5, the minority PNL-USR-UDMR government, headed by the Liberal Ilie Bolojan was sacked through a non-confidence vote by the former ruling partners PSD and by the AUR of the ultranationalist, populist opposition. PNL and USR have later decided they will not join a cabinet, which also includes the PSD. President Dan’s two previous nominations for the position of Prime Minister, a presidential adviser and a renegade Liberal – failed to break the political deadlock. The PNL and USR are blaming the present political deadlock on the Social-Democrats. In another move, the PNL president, Ilie Bolojan, has come up with the alternative of a truce Executive. PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu say the Social Democrats are open to dialogue but the first step would be for the Liberals to eliminate the interdiction of an alliance with the PSD. UDMR President, Kelemen Hunor, says the Social-Democrats and the Liberals must stop trading accusations and start looking for solutions to the present political deadlock and rebuild the coalition.
FOOTBALL Argentina’s national football squad qualified for the semifinals of the World Cup hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico after a 3-1 win against Switzerland on Saturday. In the semifinals on July 15, Argentina will be up against England, which qualified after a 2-1 extra-time win against Norway. In the other semifinals game on July 14, France will be taking on the European champions, Spain. Romania didn’t qualify for the present World Cup edition. Our footballers’ last participation in a World Cup was in France in 1998.
(bill)
