November 4, 2025
A roundup of local and international news.
Newsroom, 04.11.2025, 13:55
MESSAGE – President Nicuşor Dan sent his condolences to the family of the Romanian who died in Italy, after the partial collapse, on Monday, of a 13th-century tower in central Rome, where he worked. “My thoughts also go to all the Romanians who work far from home, with dedication and sacrifice,” the head of state wrote on platform X. He appreciated the effort of the Italian teams who tried, for over 11 hours, to save the man’s life. Extracted alive from under the rubble, he died in hospital as a result of a cardiac arrest. The consular team and the Romanian Embassy in Rome, present at the scene, also thanked the Italian rescuers for the determination with which they tried to extract the worker, after another Romanian, also caught in the collapse of the building, was successfully evacuated and is out of danger. The Rome prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for negligence and culpable homicide. The tower was undergoing renovation works.
EXPORTS – Romania maintains its position as the largest European exporter of cereals in the first quarter of the 2025/2026 marketing year and reports financial records in the zootechnical sector, with total sales to markets outside the EU of almost half a billion euros in the first ten months of 2025, for live animals, the Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu has announced. According to the latest data published by the European Commission, Romania exported sheep worth 210 million euros, cattle – 150 million euros and poultry worth 100 million euros. Agriculture is the country’s greatest wealth, Florin Barbu wrote on his Facebook page.
SECURITY – Russian forces carried out two attacks Monday night on Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Danube, near Romania. Following signals detected by Romanian surveillance systems, two F-16 aircraft and two German Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft were sent, in accordance with air police procedures, to investigate and ensure the security of national airspace. The mission commanders had approval to annihilate air targets if they entered Romanian airspace and endangered the security of Romanian citizens. However, no unauthorized intrusions were detected and no remains of aerial vehicles were identified on national territory. The Ministry of Defense in Bucharest strongly condemns the attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, actions that represent a serious violation of international law and a threat to regional security. Romania remains in permanent contact with NATO allies and the European Union and maintains a high level of vigilance and reaction, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense.
DEFENSE – Romania is beginning to emerge as a potential player in the defense industry in southeastern Europe through the partnership with the Rheinmetall company, said Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. He participated, on Monday, in the signing ceremony of the shareholders’ agreement for the establishment and operation of Rheinmetall-Victoria, between Pirochim Victoria SA (center) and Rheinmetall, together with the company’s CEO, Armin Papperger. The future powder factory in Victoria means an investment of half a billion euros, approximately 700 new jobs, but, above all, the advantage of producing powders in Romania, the Prime Minister emphasized. At the same time, he welcomed Rheinmetall’s willingness to renegotiate the association contract with the Romanian side.
ENVIRONMENT – European Union environment ministers are meeting in Brussels today to try to overcome differences over greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, just days before the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil. The ministers aim to reach a common position on EU climate change legislation, as the European Commission has proposed reducing emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990. The EU would aim to become climate neutral by 2050, meaning it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible and absorb the surplus through various methods. (EE)