COP28 – Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Saturday said on the
sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai that Romania has one of
the lowest carbon gas emissions per capita at EU level, and is firmly committed
to accelerating measures to curb the effects of climate change through a mix of
renewable and nuclear energy. Romania seeks to reduce its carbon footprint by
80% by 2030 and then move swiftly to become climate neutral, the president
added. World leaders attending the UN Climate Change Conference are expected to
promise to triple their renewable energy capacity, enhance nuclear energy
capabilities and reduce methane emissions. At the start of the summit, the UN
Secretary General called for a global effort to renounce fossil fuels, while
the host of the conference, the United Arab Emirates, called for closer
cooperation with oil companies.
VISIT – Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is paying an official visit
to the United States over December 3-6. He will be accompanied by a delegation
comprising the ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs and the Economy. The visit
is designed to advance joint economic projects, boost American investment in
Romania and consolidate political and security cooperation with the USA. On Sunday,
Marcel Ciolacu is expected to meet representatives of Romanian communities in
Washington, Virginia and Maryland. On Monday, the Romanian Prime Minister will
meet Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and State Secretary Antony Blinken.
Marcel Ciolacu will also discuss with Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary of
Energy. The Prime Minister’s agenda also includes meetings with representatives
of Lockheed Martin and Google, Roland S. Lauder, the chairman of the World
Jewish Congress and Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General.
WAR IN GAZA – Israeli
authorities have notified the Romanian Foreign Ministry about the death of a
person of Romanian and Israeli citizenship, held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. The
Foreign Ministry have conveyed its condolences to the family, announcing that
another 3 people with double citizenship are being held hostage in the Strip.
The Ministry has called for the release of all hostages. Israel has resumed its
bombing of positions held by Hamas in Gaza, after a 7-day ceasefire that allowed
the release of 100 people held hostage by Hamas in exchange for 180 Palestinian
prisoners. The Israeli army announced it has bombed over 200 terrorist targets.
In turn, Gaza authorities say 200 people were killed and 600 were wounded in
air raids. Humanitarian aid was again blocked on the border, and shootings with
Hezbollah were reported on Israel’s northern border. Israel and Hamas have
accused each other of violating the ceasefire, but according to Radio Romania’s
correspondent in the region, both sides continue to negotiate a new
humanitarian ceasefire.
TRAIN – The first of a
series of 37 electric trains built by Alstom is expected to arrive in Romania
on Saturday, the Rail Reform Authority has announced. This is the first
electric train bought in the last 40 years and the first new train after a
break of 20 years. The train will enter the testing phase on December 6, which
comprises 10,000 km in the local circuit before being rendered operational. The
37 electric regional trains were bought with EU funds and will link Bucharest
to the main urban centers of Romania.
HANDBALL – Romania won its
first match at the World Handball Championships, beating Chile 44-19 in
Herning, Denmark. Romania will next play Serbia on December 3 and Denmark on
December 5. The top three teams in each group will
advance to the so-called main group stage. Romania is the only team that has
taken part in all 26 editions of the World Handball Championship, a competition
it won once in 1962. Romania played another two finals in 1973 and 2005, and
came in third in 2015. Romania was ranked 13th at the previous
edition. (VP)