October 14, 2025
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 14.10.2025, 13:55
MEETING – Germany is Romania’s top trade partner and number one investor, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said today, after meeting with her German counterpart, Johann David Wadephul, during the latter’s visit to Bucharest. “We have over €18 billion invested in many leading areas. Practically, together, we create and support well-paid jobs, competitive businesses, which create value not only for our countries, but for the entire EU market”, the Romanian official pointed out. According to Oana Țoiu, the German minister’s visit marks 145 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Also, the bilateral treaty on friendly cooperation and partnership in Europe was signed over three decades ago. Talks were also aimed at boosting cooperation in the field of tourism, where there is an increase in demand on both sides. On the other hand, Minister Țoiu thanked Germany for the support it provided regarding Romania’s OECD accession.
PRESIDENCY – Corruption must become a concern of the Romanian Intelligence Service, through fully constitutional mechanisms, very well defined from a legal point of view, the president of Romania, Nicușor Dan, said on Tuesday. Previously, he announced that the country’s National Defense Strategy is almost ready and will include “’two major changes’” for Romania. According to him, the document will be discussed in the Supreme Defense Council before being submitted to Parliament. Major changes target hybrid warfare – cyber-attacks, systematic disinformation procedures, Russia’s influence in social media, as well as “tackling” corruption, a phenomenon that affects society.
FEAST DAY – Orthodox Christians in Romania today celebrate the feast day of Saint Paraskeva. Over 150,000 believers have so far visited her reliquary at the Orthodox Cathedral in Iași (northeast), which is also home to the relics of Saint Gregory Palamas, brought over from Thessaloniki, Greece. A nun who died at the age of 27 in the 11th century, Saint Paraskeva became the protector of Moldova in 1641, when her relics were brought to Iași by Prince Vasile Lupu.
EXERCISE – NATO is currently conducting its annual nuclear deterrence exercise – Steadfast Noon, involving approximately 2,000 military personnel and over 70 aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The two-week exercise in the North Sea involves military bases in the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Denmark. Germany is contributing three Tornado aircraft equipped to carry American nuclear warheads and four Eurofighter aircraft. According to NATO’s website, the exercise is a routine one, long in the making, and is part of broader efforts to maintain operational readiness and ensure transparency regarding its nuclear posture. “Steadfast Noon” is not linked to any current world event and does not use live weapons, NATO notes, in the context in which Russia continues to threaten to use nuclear weapons, amid recent political failures and the lack of significant progress on reaching a peace settlement in Ukraine.
TRUMP – US President Donald Trump confirmed he will receive his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday at the White House, as part of the Ukrainian leader’s third visit to Washington since Trump’s return to power. Zelenskyy made the announcement on Monday during a press conference in Kyiv, held alongside the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas. President Zelenskyy also said he will also meet with representatives of military companies and members of the US Congress. The main topic will be air defense, but he will also have meetings with companies in the energy sector, Zelenskyy said. In recent days, Ukraine has been the target of new waves of Russian bombing of its energy infrastructure, which threatens to deprive many Ukrainians of electricity and heat in the cold season.
NADIA – Romania’s Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, met on Monday with Nadia Comăneci, a legend of national and world sports, as well as with Mihai Covaliu, president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, to discuss preparations for the celebrating the Romanian gymnast in 2026 as part of the “Year of Nadia Comăneci” and for the gala dedicated to the great gymnast, which will take place on May 29 next year. They also discussed the organization of gymnastics competitions, sports and educational events, and the launch of a documentary devoted to Nadia, a Government press release reads. 2026 was designated the “Year of Nadia Comăneci” to celebrate the performance of the Romanian athlete, several-time Olympic, world and European medalist, the first to obtain a perfect score (10) in the history of gymnastics, in the parallel bars competition at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
TENNIS – On Tuesday, Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian advanced to the round of 16 of the WTA 250 tournament in Osaka (Japan), offering 275,000 USD in total prizes, after defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy in straight sets. In the second round, Cristian will face either Katie Volynets (USA) or Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Spain). Also on Wednesday, Cristian will compete in the women’s doubles, in the first round, alongside Olga Danilovic of Serbia. The two will take on Nao Hibino (Japan) and Katarzyna Piter (Poland). Gabriela Ruse and Ashlyn Krueger (USA) will also compete in the doubles, against the pair made up of Ana Blinkova of Russia and Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy. In the singles, Sorana Cîrstea qualified to the round of 16, where she will meet Katie Boulter of Great Britain. (VP)
