October 31, 2025

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsroom, 31.10.2025, 13:55

ROBOFEST – The campus of the Bucharest Polytechnic University Campus is hosting, as of today until Sunday, the 14th edition of ROBOFEST, an event that brings together hundreds of teams of young engineers from over 30 countries. Robochallenge, a competition that has become an international benchmark for robotics enthusiasts, brings to Bucharest almost 1,200 robots from all over the world. There will be 20 spectacular events, from sumo wrestling between autonomous robots to speed races and demonstrations with humanoid robots. ROBOFEST 2025 also includes an exhibition area, where tech companies present their innovations, as well as educational activities for the general public.

DEFENSE – The Romanian Defense Minister, Ionuţ Moşteanu, had a meeting with the French Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans, Catherine Vautrin, in Sibiu (central Romania) on Thursday. The program also included a visit to the military deployed at the “Getica”, National Joint Training Center in Cincu. The two officials analyzed the security situation in the Black Sea region, France’s contribution to strengthening NATO’s position on the eastern flank and bilateral cooperation in support of collective defense. Minister Moşteanu emphasized the essential role of France, as the framework nation of the Allied Battle Group in Romania. He said that the presence of French military personnel, alongside those from Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain, is a solid guarantee of allied solidarity and a strong signal of France’s commitment to the security of the Black Sea region. In turn, Catherine Vautrin sent a firm message regarding bilateral cooperation, confirming the strength of France’s commitment to European security and to mark a new step in the defense partnership between France and Romania.

COLECTIV – The victims of the fire at the Colectiv Club in Bucharest, ten years ago, were commemorated on Thursday in the capital and other cities across the country. In Bucharest, a march took place between University Square and the site of the tragedy that killed 65 people and sent 140 people to hospitals. Participants demanded justice for those who died and complained about the problems that the Romanian healthcare system still faces. “Romania will be able to treat major burns in modern centers, built with care and dignity,” Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete wrote in a message on a social network, specifying that three burn centers are under construction, and the one in Timişoara (west) will be completed this year. President Nicuşor Dan laid a wreath at the monument erected in memory of the victims on the premises of the former club, and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan conveyed his full compassion to the families of the victims.

RADIO ROMANIA – The National Radio Orchestra will present this evening, at the Radio Hall, the traditional anniversary concert on the occasion of the 97th anniversary of the first public radio broadcast. The program includes works by Richard Strauss and Brahms. The event will also bring to the attention of the public the piece “Music for Radio”, by Filip Lazar, a composer less known in the country, but highly appreciated in France. Radio Romania’s first broadcast took place on November 1, 1928. At that time, the radio program was opened by Professor Dragomir Hurmuzescu, as head of the Board of Directors of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation.

GOVERNMENT – The Romanian government is holding an extraordinary meeting today. Also discussed, among others, will be investments in the Romanian defense industry, a document that also takes into account the SAFE program, a financial instrument of the European Union, established this year, with the aim of supporting member states in the development and acquisition of defense equipment through long-term loans at low costs. The European Commission has announced a provisional allocation of almost 17 billion euros for Romania, one of the largest amounts in this program. Bucharest has requested loans for the defense industry and for road infrastructure. (EE)