July 28, 2025 UPDATE (2)
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 28.07.2025, 20:00
MEETING – The president of Romania, Nicuşor Dan, received the president of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Woo Won-shik, in Bucharest on Monday. The two officials highlighted the excellent dynamic of the bilateral dialogue, in the context of the adoption, last year, of the Joint Declaration on the Strengthening of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the Republic of Korea and the anniversary, in 2025, of 35 years of bilateral relations. Nicuşor Dan emphasized Bucharest’s interest in increasing South Korean investments in Romania, in defense, civil nuclear energy, through the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (southeast), renewable energy, infrastructure projects, such as the cooperation between the ports of Constanța and Busan, and the fields of IT&C and new technologies. In turn, the Korean official emphasized the investment interest of South Korean companies in Romania and reaffirmed his country’s support for Romania’s bid to join the OECD. The security effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the involvement of the DPRK in support of Russia, with global implications, was also on the agenda of talks.
MEASURES – The fiscal measures included in the second package to reduce Romania’s excessive budget deficit will be analyzed in the governing coalition in Bucharest, as well as at the executive level. The package, which aims to make state-owned companies or local administrations more efficient, could be adopted this week and assumed by the government in Parliament in the first half of August. In fact, as of August 1, the first package of austerity measures comes into force. President Nicuşor Dan promulgated, on Friday, the law for which the coalition government in Bucharest has assumed responsibility in Parliament. Among the measures are the increase in VAT and excise rates, health contributions for pensions higher than 3,000 lei (about 600 euros), the freezing of public sector pensions and salaries, and the limitation of bonuses and state employment. Unhappy with these measures, employees from many sectors have staged protests.
ANTHEM DAY – The Romanian Defense Ministry on Tuesday is organizing military ceremonies in Bucharest and garrisons across the country in celebration of the National Anthem Day. Anthem Day was proclaimed by law in 1998 and is celebrated every year on July 29. The current anthem is “Awaken Thee, Romanian!”, chosen after the collapse of the communist regime in December 1989. It is based on the patriotic poem “Un răsunet” (An Echo) by Andrei Mureşanu, published in 1848, on music by Anton Pann.
FLOODS – The number of deaths caused by Sunday’s floods in Suceava County (northeast) has risen to three, representatives of the Suceava Inspectorate for Emergency Situations announced on Monday. Violent thunderstorms hit several counties in Romania on Sunday, and the most affected were Neamţ (northeast) and Suceava. Houses and roads were flooded, and the strong wind knocked down dozens of trees. The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations mobilized additional resources to support firefighters in managing the situation generated by the floods in the affected counties. On the other hand, also on Sunday, amid excessive heat, several dry wildfires occurred in different areas of the country and affected hundreds of hectares of farmland.
SWIMMING – Romanian swimmer David Popovici, the defending Olympic champion, qualified to the final of the 200m freestyle event at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore, with the fourth time in Monday’s semifinals. Popovici, the holder of the best time in the heats (1.45.43), won the second semifinal with a time of 1.45.02. The final of the event will take place on Tuesday. David Popovici will also compete in the 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle events. On Sunday, Romania won its first medal at the World Championships in Singapore, with Constantin Popovici winning bronze in the high jump event, while Cătălin Preda finished in 5th place. It is the second world medal for Constantin Popovici, who won gold in 2023 in Fukuoka.
FENCING – Romania’s men’s sabre team won bronze on Monday at the World Fencing Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, after defeating Japan 45-41 in the bronze final. The fencers brought Romania its first medal at the World Championships in Tbilisi. Romania is represented by 12 athletes, 4 in the men’s competition and 8 in women’s events, at the World Senior Fencing Championships in Tbilisi, which takes place over July 22-30. (EE & VP)
