The Romanian Navy on Thursday handed over the command of the Mine Countermeasures Black Sea Task Group (MCM BS TG) to the Turkish Navy during a military ceremony organised in the port of Umuryeri, Istanbul.According to the Romanian Defence Ministry, a biannual meeting of the MCM Black Sea Committee was also held, where a report on the activities carried out under the command of the Romanian Navy was presented.Between July and December 2025, the Romanian Navy participated in MCM BS TG with the Vice-Amiral Constantin Balescu (PM 274 )minelayer as the group's commanding ship, and the Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu (M 270) minesweeper. During this period, two activities of the MCM BS TG took place (July 10 - 24 and October 4 - 17), during which the vessels participated in the multinational exercises BREEZE and POSEIDON.The principle of rotational control was established under a memorandum of uunderstanding signed on January 11, 2024, in Istanbul. Thus, the command of the MCM Black Sea Group will be ensured for the next six months by the Turkish Navy, and in the second half of the year by the Bulgarian Navy, with the Romanian Navy retaking command in the first half of 2027.The main purpose of the task group is to maintain the safety of maritime traffic in the Black Sea, by carrying out surveillance, reconnaissance and neutralisation of sea mines, as well as carrying out related search and rescue operations at sea.The minesweeper, with a crew of EOD divers on board, left the military port of Constanta on January 6 to join the task group and to participate in the eighth activation of the group since its establishment, which takes place January 6-18.During the mission, the group will make stops in the ports of Umuryeri, in Turkey, Burgas in Bulgaria and Constanta in Romania, to restore combat capability.
World-renowned ballerina Maria Kochetkova will perform in Romania for the first time on March 5, 2026, as part of the Bucharest International Ballet Gala, an anniversary edition dedicated to sculptor Constantin Brâncuși. The event will be held at Sala Palatului and marks 150 years since the birth of Brâncuși, one of the most influential figures […]
Mihai Eminescu, Romania’s celebrated national poet, described actual places in many of his poems, and some can still be visited today. Verses written in iconic poems like Călin (file de poveste) describe places in Vânători Neamț Natural Park, part of the ecotourism destination Ținutul Zimbrului, according to a press release. Visitors can actually step through […]
American and Romanian experts in managerial excellence, competitiveness, and leadership announced the launch of the Romanian Performance Excellence Program 2026 on January 15. Inspired by the US Baldrige Program, the new initiative is aimed at professionalizing management and increasing the competitiveness of public and private organizations. The program is organized by the National Foundation of Young […]
The Yellow Tie/Cravata Galbenă, a biographical film inspired by the life of Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache, has been selected for the programme of the 41st edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film events in the United States. Directed by Serge Ioan Celebidachi, the film will have its US […]
Real estate developer Park Properties, led by Alexandru Mănăilă, has partnered with businessman George Peltecu to develop SunLake Snagov Signature Collection, a high-end residential project featuring lakeside villas and a private marina. The construction is set to begin this spring, the company said. The complex will be built on a 15,000 sqm plot of land, […]
Romanian president Nicușor Dan marked National Culture Day in a message on Thursday, January 15, announcing that the theater hall at the presidential Cotroceni Palace will be made available periodically, free of charge, for performances by independent troupes of young actors and by high school theater groups. In the accompanying message, the president emphasized the […]
