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. 118 states signed a resolution expressing their commitment to triple
their renewable energy capacity by 2030. Over 20 states, including Romania,
also called for the tripling of nuclear energy capabilities, also as a
countermeasure to global warming. 50 corporations accounting for 40% of total
global production of oil and gas pledged to decarbonize their extractive
operations and reduce their methane emissions to zero by 2050.
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 has 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.
HANDBALL – Romania won its
first match at the World Handball Championships, beating Chile 44-19 in
Herning, Denmark. In the same group, Denmark defeated Serbia 25-21. 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)