NICOLAE DUMITRACHE

A child walks by a poster of Nicusor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest and presidential candidate in the upcoming May elections in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Romania’s presidential election redo is a high-stakes test of its democracy following annulled vote
Romania is gearing up to hold a presidential election redo next month, a high-stakes test for the European Union member’s democracy after last year’s annulled vote triggered the country’s deepest political crisis since 1989.
 
A crew member of a French Navy Atlantique-2 submarine hunter naval airplane observes the sea during a NATO military exercise and sea mines detection mission above the Black Sea, after taking off from the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, near the Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Nicolae Dumitrache)
Romania leads NATO naval drills as Europe scrambles to boost defense spending
NATO members carried out large-scale naval drills in the Black Sea region, in one of the largest Romania-led exercises of the year, as European allies grapple with questions over the long-term reliability of security guarantees from the United States under President Donald Trump.
 
Servicemen run during the Steadfast Dart 2025 exercise, involving some 10,000 troops in three different countries from nine nations, representing the largest NATO operation planned this year, at a training range in Smardan, eastern Romania, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A worried NATO holds large-scale combat drills as the US stance on Europe shifts under Trump
NATO members are continuing their largest combat exercises of 2025 amid concern within the 32-nation alliance over its most powerful member, the United States.
 
A woman walks by graffiti done in 2016 by Moldovan artists celebrating 25 years since the country declared its independence from the Soviet Union, in Chisinau, Moldova, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Moldova’s diaspora tipped the scales in a pivotal election. Critics question the vote’s validity
Moldovans living abroad voted in record numbers in a presidential runoff that secured victory for pro-Western President Maia Sandu, in a pivotal race that pitted her against a Russia-friendly opponent amid ongoing claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation.
 
Andrew Tate, center, and his brother Tristan, left, walk outside the Court of Appeals building, after a hearing, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Romanian prosecutors lose appeal to jail Andrew Tate. He will remain under house arrest
A court in Romania’s capital has rejected an appeal by prosecutors to jail divisive internet influencer Andrew Tate. He will remain under house arrest amid a second human trafficking investigation against him that allegedly involves minors.
 
A dog sits near sports cars parked in the yard of Andrew Tate's residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Romanian authorities tow vehicles from Andrew Tate’s home after new human trafficking allegations
Romanian authorities have towed away luxury vehicles from the home of the divisive social media personality Andrew Tate. The seizure on Saturday came days after he was placed under house arrest following new human trafficking allegations.
 
Andrew Tate gestures outside the Bucharest Tribunal after being placed under house arrest, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. A court in Romania's capital on Thursday placed the divisive internet influencer Andrew Tate under house arrest for 30 days, as prosecutors investigate a sprawling new case that involves allegations of human trafficking of minors and sex with a minor. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)
Andrew Tate placed under house arrest as new human trafficking allegations emerge involving minors
A court in Romania’s capital has placed the divisive internet influencer Andrew Tate under house arrest for 30 days. Prosecutors are investigating in a sprawling new case that involves allegations of human trafficking of minors and sex with a minor.
 
Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu poses with the bronze medal for her women's artistic gymnastics individual floor performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, after receiving it during a ceremony at the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. American gymnast Jordan Chiles called an arbitration panel's decision that dropped her out of the bronze medal position in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics "unjust" and a "significant blow" in a message posted on social media Thursday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu presented Olympic bronze medal first awarded to American Jordan Chiles
Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu has received the Olympic bronze medal that was first awarded to U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles but later revoked over a scoring controversy.
 
From left: Chairman of the Foreign Committee of the Hungarian Parliament Zsolt Nemeth, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and President of the Hungarian National Council of Transylvania Laszlo Tokes attend the 33th Balvanyos Summer University and Students' Camp in Baile Tusnad, Transylvania, Romania, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Nandor Veres/MTI via AP)/MTI via AP)
Hungary’s nationalist leader warns of EU’s demise and backs Trump in anti-Western speech
Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says the European Union is sliding toward oblivion in a rambling anti-Western speech in which he warned of a new, Asia-oriented “world order.”
 
FILE - Andrew Tate smiles while waiting along with his brother Tristan, left, for a hearing inside the Court of Appeals building in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. A court in Romania's capital on Friday, July 5, 2024 ruled that the online influencer Andrew Tate can leave Romanian territory providing he remains within the European Union, as he awaits trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
Court says social media influencer Andrew Tate can leave Romania but remain in EU as he awaits trial
A court in Romania’s capital has ruled that social media influencer Andrew Tate can leave Romania but must remain within the European Union as he awaits trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
 
Andrew Tate, left, and his brother Tristan, right, wait inside the Court of Appeals building in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Andrew Tate loses appeal to relax judicial restrictions as he awaits human trafficking, rape trial
Andrew Tate, the divisive social media influencer who is awaiting trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, lost an appeal on Thursday to relax geographical restrictions that prevent him from traveling outside the Eastern European c
 
Andrew Tate, right, and his brother Tristan laugh as they leave the Bucharest Tribunal in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A court in Romania's capital ruled on April 26, that a trial could start but did not set a date for the trial to begin in the case of influencer Andrew Tate, who is charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Romanian court extends judicial measures against online influencer awaiting human trafficking trial
A court in Romania’s capital has extended geographical restrictions against online influencer Andrew Tate. He’s awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
 
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses the EPP Congress in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, March 7, 2024. The 2024 EPP Congress takes place in the Romanian capital, with Germany's Ursula von der Leyen seeking a second term as head of the European Union's powerful Commission in a move that could make her the most significant politician representing the bloc's 450 million citizens in over a generation. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
EU’s largest party endorses Ursula von der Leyen’s bid for a second term as EU Commission chief
 
Vote prediction for Sinn Fein puts Irish politics in turmoil
Ireland is facing political turmoil after exit pols from a weekend parliamentary election suggested that the left-wing Sinn Fein finished in a virtual dead heat with the two parties that have governed since the country won independence almost a century ago.
 
Romania’s Social Democrat govt loses no-confidence vote
Romania’s Social Democratic government has lost a vote of no-confidence in Parliament. Lawmakers voted 238-4 on Thursday against Prime Minister Viorica Dancila’s government.
 
Romania’s Merry Cemetery offers visitors dark humor
Romania’s Merry Cemetery located in a village in the northwest is a collection of more than 1,000 Orthodox crosses decorated with colorful epitaphs and childlike drawings.