August 28, 2026
A roundup of domestic and world news
Newsroom, 28.08.2026, 13:55
Moldova – While in Chișinău on Thursday to participate in the events organized to mark Independence Day in the neighboring Republic of Moldova (a former Soviet republic with a majority Romanian-speaking population), President Nicuşor Dan assured that Romania, a member of the European Union and NATO, continues to support the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, both on their path toward Europe and in the face of threats from Russia. In Chișinău, the head of state also held a one-on-one meeting with pro-Western President Maia Sandu and participated in the trilateral meeting between the Republic of Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. We recall that the Republic of Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August 27, 1991, and Romania was the first country to officially recognize the new state on the same day.
Fire – A commercial vessel flying the flag of the Dominican Republic caught fire in the Black Sea, within Romania’s exclusive economic zone. There were 12 crew members on board, one of whom suffered a serious injury to a hand. All were rescued following the intervention of the border police from the Coast Guard. The rescue operations were difficult because the sea was rough, with waves over two meters high. President Nicuşor Dan praised the Coast Guard’s response and announced that the incident would be investigated. He also noted that the ship was struck and appears to have sunk, but it is not yet known by whom.
Football – Romania’s football champion, Universitatea Craiova (south), suffered a dramatic 1-0 loss to Ararat-Armenia Yerevan on Thursday evening in an away match in the second leg of the Europa League playoffs and was eliminated from the competition. In the first game, played in Romania, the score was 1-1. Universitatea will compete in the main phase of the Conference League for the second year in a row, and on Friday will learn its opponents following the draw in Monte Carlo. Craiova is Romania’s last remaining team in the current edition of European football competitions. The other three, Universitatea and CFR from Cluj (northwest) and FCSB from Bucharest, were eliminated in the preliminary rounds.
Negotiations – Romanian President Nicuşor Dan has announced that on September 1, he will resume negotiations to form a new government and believes that, this time, a majority will be found to form a stable government. The head of state said he will convene the political parties for further consultations. He explained that he did not make any nominations in July and August because the successive failure of proposals for prime minister would have damaged Romania’s economic image. The president has ruled out the possibility of a technocratic cabinet this time, specifying that the future government will consist primarily of political ministers. According to sources, party leaders are already discussing a compromise formula: an independent prime minister at the head of a government controlled by a PSD majority, supported in Parliament by the UDMR as well. On May 5, the minority PNL-USR-UDMR cabinet, led by Liberal Ilie Bolojan, was dismissed by Parliament through a motion of no confidence. After MEP Eugen Tomac, who had initially been nominated as a candidate for prime minister, resigned, dissident Liberal Adrian Veştea was nominated for the position, but he failed to secure the necessary votes for confirmation.
BIAS – Today marks the start of the 16thedition of the Bucharest International Air Show (BIAS). The first day is reserved for official training flights, while the major air shows, drone show, fireworks display, and concert are scheduled for Saturday. Admission is free to the public. This year’s edition is dedicated to Romanian aviation pioneer Traian Vuia, marking the 120thanniversary of his historic self-propelled flight. The Romanian Air Force will kick off the series of major demonstrations with aerobatics, tactical maneuvers, and formation flights. One of the main attractions of this year’s event is the return of the Frecce Tricolori, the official aerobatics team of the Italian Air Force. The team will perform in Bucharest for the first time in 14 years, featuring nine MB-339 aircraft and a program centered on synchronized flight.
Book launch – Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is coming to Bucharest next week to present her memoir, “Freedom: Memories 1954–2021.” Readers can meet her at two public events: on Tuesday, September 1, at a book signing, and at the Romanian Athenaeum, where she will engage in a conversation with journalist and diplomat Emil Hurezeanu, who is very familiar with the German-speaking world. The book “Freedom: Memories 1954–2021” was launched internationally in 2024 in over 30 countries. Romania is among the few countries where the former German chancellor chose to personally attend the book launch, alongside Germany, the United States, Hungary, and Greece. In the pages of the book, Merkel recalls her childhood and youth spent in the so-called German Democratic Republic, a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the beginnings of her political career, while also offering insight into the decisions she made during her 16 years leading the German government and her meetings with international leaders. Angela Merkel served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021, becoming the first woman to hold that office.
Oslo – King Harald V of Norway, until now the oldest monarch in Europe, died on Friday at the age of 89, the Royal Palace announced, as reported by international media. The king suffered from hemolytic anemia, a blood disorder characterized by the abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells. The direct heir to the throne, 53-year-old Prince Haakon, who had been serving as regent, automatically becomes king. After ascending to the throne in 1991 upon the death of his father, King Olav, Harald embodied an open and tolerant Norway. For several years, he struggled with numerous health issues, but he always refused to abdicate, arguing that he had taken a lifetime oath before Parliament. The death of the king, whose role was primarily ceremonial, comes amid several scandals involving his family in recent months. (LS)
