COP28 – Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis on Saturday said on the
\nsidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai that Romania has one of
\nthe lowest carbon gas emissions per capita at EU level, and is firmly committed
\nto accelerating measures to curb the effects of climate change through a mix of
\nrenewable and nuclear energy. Romania seeks to reduce its carbon footprint by
\n80% by 2030 and then move swiftly to become climate neutral, the president
\nadded. World leaders attending the UN Climate Change Conference are expected to
\npromise to triple their renewable energy capacity, enhance nuclear energy
\ncapabilities and reduce methane emissions. At the start of the summit, the UN
\nSecretary General called for a global effort to renounce fossil fuels, while
\nthe host of the conference, the United Arab Emirates, called for closer
\ncooperation with oil companies. <\/p>\n
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VISIT – Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is paying an official visit
\nto the United States over December 3-6. He will be accompanied by a delegation
\ncomprising the ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs and the Economy. The visit
\nis designed to advance joint economic projects, boost American investment in
\nRomania and consolidate political and security cooperation with the USA. On Sunday,
\nMarcel Ciolacu is expected to meet representatives of Romanian communities in
\nWashington, Virginia and Maryland. On Monday, the Romanian Prime Minister will
\nmeet Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and State Secretary Antony Blinken.
\nMarcel Ciolacu will also discuss with Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary of
\nEnergy. The Prime Minister’s agenda also includes meetings with representatives
\nof Lockheed Martin and Google, Roland S. Lauder, the chairman of the World
\nJewish Congress and Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General. <\/p>\n
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WAR IN GAZA – Israeli
\nauthorities have notified the Romanian Foreign Ministry about the death of a
\nperson of Romanian and Israeli citizenship, held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. The
\nForeign Ministry have conveyed its condolences to the family, announcing that
\nanother 3 people with double citizenship are being held hostage in the Strip.
\nThe Ministry has called for the release of all hostages. Israel has resumed its
\nbombing of positions held by Hamas in Gaza, after a 7-day ceasefire that allowed
\nthe release of 100 people held hostage by Hamas in exchange for 180 Palestinian
\nprisoners. The Israeli army announced it has bombed over 200 terrorist targets.
\nIn turn, Gaza authorities say 200 people were killed and 600 were wounded in
\nair raids. Humanitarian aid was again blocked on the border, and shootings with
\nHezbollah were reported on Israel’s northern border. Israel and Hamas have
\naccused each other of violating the ceasefire, but according to Radio Romania’s
\ncorrespondent in the region, both sides continue to negotiate a new
\nhumanitarian ceasefire. <\/p>\n
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TRAIN – The first of a
\nseries of 37 electric trains built by Alstom is expected to arrive in Romania
\non Saturday, the Rail Reform Authority has announced. This is the first
\nelectric train bought in the last 40 years and the first new train after a
\nbreak of 20 years. The train will enter the testing phase on December 6, which
\ncomprises 10,000 km in the local circuit before being rendered operational. The
\n37 electric regional trains were bought with EU funds and will link Bucharest
\nto the main urban centers of Romania. <\/p>\n
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HANDBALL – Romania won its
\nfirst match at the World Handball Championships, beating Chile 44-19 in
\nHerning, Denmark. Romania will next play Serbia on December 3 and Denmark on
\nDecember 5. The top three teams in each group will
\nadvance to the so-called main group stage. Romania is the only team that has
\ntaken part in all 26 editions of the World Handball Championship, a competition
\nit won once in 1962. Romania played another two finals in 1973 and 2005, and
\ncame in third in 2015. Romania was ranked 13th at the previous
\nedition. (VP)<\/p>\n
\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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