VISIT President Klaus Iohannis today concludes his 3-day visit to
\nKenya, in an African tour that is taking him next to Tanzania. In Nairobi, the
\nRomanian official will visit an all-girls school to inaugurate a donation by
\nRomania under its development assistance programme. In fact, consolidating
\nRomania’s profile as a provider of education and training to African countries
\nis one of the goals of the African tour undertaken by president Iohannis. On
\nWednesday, in Kenya, Mr. Iohannis had talks with his Kenyan counterpart William
\nRuto, on which occasion four agreements were signed in the fields of environmental
\nprotection and climate change, scientific cooperation, food safety and
\ndiplomatic training. The tour, which also includes the Republic of Cabo Verde and
\nSenegal, is the first political and diplomatic initiative at this level in the
\npast 30 years, and aims to re-launch Romania’s relations with the countries on
\nthe African continent. <\/p>\n
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PROTEST Around 2,000 people gathered this morning in
\nfront of the government’s headquarters in Bucharest, in a national protest
\nagainst the public pension system and the recent law on tax-related measures. The
\nrally organised by the Meridian National Trade Union Confederation, brought
\ntogether representatives of various public sector staff, from local police to
\ncivil servants or forestry and agriculture workers around the country. The main
\nsource of discontent is the bill on public pensions, passed by the Cabinet on November
\n9, which according to trade unionists writes off some retirement rights currently
\nenjoyed by several personnel categories. On Wednesday employees of Romanian
\npublic pensions agencies, healthcare agencies and employment agencies temporarily
\nsuspended work and took to the streets. Healthcare Ministry staff and
\npharmacists are also disgruntled and demand solutions from the government. <\/p>\n
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ECONOMY
\nRomania will conclude the year with a 2.2% economic growth rate, as against 4.6%
\nin 2022, the European Commission’s autumn forecast indicates. Growth estimates
\nhave been lowered for the entire European bloc. In Romania, the causes include an
\ninflation rate above the EU average, low foreign demand and limited financing
\noptions. The GDP growth rate is expected to reach 3.1% in 2024 and 3.4% in 2025,
\nwhich the 2023 public deficit is put at 6.3% of GDP, instead of the 5.7%
\nestimated by the Romanian government. Romania is already subject to an
\nexcessive deficit procedure and it must narrow the gap between public spending
\nand revenues, so as not to lose EU funding.<\/p>\n
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CONFERENCE European and Asian media professionals are taking part in
\nthe Media and Culture Days conference, organised by Radio Romania at the Carol
\nI Central University Library in Bucharest. The conference focuses on the key
\nrole played by public mass media in promoting high-quality cultural content and
\nin supporting diversity and inclusion, with special emphasis on local and
\nregional communities. At the reception held on Wednesday night at Elisabeta
\nPalace, H.R.H. Prince Radu emphasised the historical ties between the Royal
\nFamily and Radio Romania, two institutions in which Romanians still have
\nconsiderable confidence.<\/p>\n
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\n
\nISRAEL The UN Security Council has adopted a
\nresolution calling for humanitarian pauses in Gaza, AFP reports. The
\nresolution, drawn up by Malta and endorsed with 12 members voting in favour,
\nnone against and three abstentions (Russia, United Kingdom, United States) also
\ncalls for urgent and extended humanitarian corridors in Gaza for a
\nsufficient number of days to allow aid for the civilians there, as well as for
\nthe immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and
\nother groups, especially children. Both Israel and the Palestinian side
\ncriticised the resolution. The observer for Palestine, Riyad Mansour, said the
\nUN should have called for ceasefire instead of only pauses, while the Israeli
\nAmbassador Gilad Erdan condemned the resolution as meaningless. On site, Israeli
\nfighter jets hit the home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza, the Israeli
\narmy announced today. Haniyeh’s house was used as terrorist infrastructure and
\noften served as a meeting point for Hamas’ senior leaders to direct terror
\nattacks against Israeli civilians and IDF (Israel Defence Forces)
\nsoldiers, the Israeli military said. (AMP)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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