September 21, 2025 UPDATE
The latest news from RRI
Newsroom, 21.09.2025, 20:10
Deficit – The Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan will be in Brussels on Monday to discuss with several European commissioners, including the one for economy and the one for defense, about the credits taken by Romania and the budget deficit. Recently, the head of the executive said that Romania has a deficit of about 30 billion Euros, and the interests that Bucharest must pay this year amount to 11 billion Euros. In this difficult context, the government had to quickly take measures to reduce expenses, especially since there is a risk of suspending European funds, if by October 15 the budget deficit is not corrected as requested by European officials. Romania must have fiscal discipline, so that money is not wasted and conditions are created for the development and support of the economy, Ilie Bolojan also declared.
Bucharest Days – The 566th anniversary of the first documentary attestation of Bucharest was marked for two days with numerous events, such as guided tours in the center of the capital, an international rally with over 100 cars, driven by Romanian and international celebrities and business leaders, thematic exhibitions, free rides on the “Bucharest City” buses or iMapp, the festival of multimedia projections on buildings in Constitution Square. A central point of the attractions was Calea Victoriei – Victory Road, which became pedestrian again this weekend, on the occasion of the “Open Streets” event, which included dozens of artistic and community events, while a spectacular parade on this boulevard recreated the atmosphere of the Bucharest of yore: horses, period costumes, artists and historical figures. A photography exhibition that captured the atmosphere of the capital during the interwar period was organized at the Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph), and the Brancovenești Palaces at the Bucharest Gates prepared historical-military reconstructions and ceremonies to pay tribute to the heroes.
Enescu Festival – The 27th edition of the George Enescu International Festival came to a close in Romania on Sunday, with a performance by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, based in the Netherlands. World-renowned classical musicians such as pianist Martha Argerich, violinists Anne-Sophie Mutter and Renaud Capucon are among the approximately 4,000 artists who performed at this year’s festival. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London and the Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome are among the orchestras present at the festival, under the baton of artists such as Klaus Makela, Daniel Harding and Vasili Petrenko. Over the course of four weeks, almost 100 concerts and performances have been scheduled. The audience was able to listen to interpretations of George Enescu’s works, from the famous Romanian Rhapsodies to Symphonies, Orchestral Suites, rare chamber works and the monumental opera “Oedipus”, presented in a production signed by the visionary director Stefano Poda, as well as works signed by important composers such as Dmitri Shostakovich, Pierre Boulez and Maurice Ravel. This year, the festival also marked the 70th anniversary of the great composer’s passing, paying tribute to his artistic legacy and profound impact on universal classical music. Since the first edition, Radio Romania has been alongside the Enescu Festival as a co-producer.
UN – The Estonian Foreign Ministry has announced that an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council will be held on Monday, at his request, following the incursion of three Russian fighter jets into the Estonian airspace, AFP reports. Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland and remained there for about 12 minutes, Estonia and NATO warned on Friday. Italy, which leads the NATO-led air policing mission in the Baltic countries, as well as Sweden and Finland, scrambled planes to intercept the Russian aircraft. According to the Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, this violation is “part of a broader pattern of behavior of Russia, designed to test the resolve of Europe and NATO.” Ten days ago, about 20 Russian drones entered the Polish airspace, and shortly after that, a Russian combat drone remained in the Romanian airspace for an hour.
Palestine – A day before the UN General Assembly opens in New York on Monday, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain is officially recognizing a Palestinian state and reviving hopes for a two-state solution. Similar announcements were made earlier in the day by Australia and Canada. In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, Keir Starmer said, Britain is acting to keep the possibility of peace alive. The British official said that the recognition was not a reward for Hamas, as Israel has claimed, but that Britain’s call for a two-state solution means that Hamas can have no future. Keir Starmer also said that the intolerable destruction in the Gaza Strip must stop. Other Western countries have also announced their intention to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly. In fact, this state is already recognized by almost 150 of the 193 UN member states. Among them are 10 EU member states, including Romania, which, like other ex-communist countries, recognized Palestine before joining the Union. (LS)
