Courtroom Shock: Romania’s Bucharest Court of Appeal ordered former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu and businessman Ionel Rusen into 30-day pretrial detention in a fraud case tied to a €1.1m “security deposit” for a loan that never materialized. Government & Diplomacy: Moldova PM Vasile Tofan told AGERPRES he expects Romania to back Chisinau’s EU integration and said Moldova will respect Bucharest’s parliamentary vote on the designated PM, while also stressing the “brotherly” relationship regardless of who leads Romania. EU Politics: Romania’s cabinet push is moving fast: parliamentary committees finished hearings for Siegfried Mureșan’s nominees, with a decisive floor vote on the government programme and lineup set for Wednesday as PSD and AUR vow to vote against. Security & Defence: The EU approved five common defence projects Romania joins, including drone/anti-drone cooperation (DECODER) and integrated air and maritime protection. Regional Connectivity: Bulgaria, Greece and Romania signed a transport action plan in Brussels, prioritizing rail links and Danube crossings as “connectivity” is framed as both economic and security policy. NATO Pressure: Multiple reports highlight rising drone incursions and counter-drone purchases across NATO’s eastern flank, as allies harden defenses. Culture: The Astra Film Festival unveiled its 2026 selection in Sibiu (Oct 17–25), with 70 documentaries and 200+ events.