Radio România Internațional

Tag: Nobel Prize in Medicine

  • October 2, 2023

    October 2, 2023

    UNIVERSITY
    YEAR – The Francophonie House was opened
    today in the campus of the Polytechnics University of Bucharest, in a ceremony
    attended by president Klaus Iohannis opening the new academic year. The House
    is the second of its kind after the one in Paris. The building was erected in
    record time and will house 300 students and researchers involved in different
    scholarly projects. In 2023 Romania celebrates 30 years since it joined the
    International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). In the opening of the new
    academic year, Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu told students that observance
    of the law and respect for fellow citizens underlie just and prosperous
    societies. In turn, Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr attended the opening of the
    academic year at the Military Academy. Education Minister Ligia Deca and Health
    Minister Alexandru Rafila attended the opening ceremony at the Carol Davila
    University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest.




    STOCK
    EXCHANGE – The
    Bucharest Stock Exchange had an output of 22% in the first 9 months of the
    year, according to the Romanian Stock Market index (BET), rating 20 of the most
    traded companies in Romania. Factoring in the stock options provided by these
    companies, the stock market also recoded earnings of nearly 30%. A third of
    this growth was reported in September, when the two indexes reached an all-time
    high, growing by 9% and 10% respectively. The top three most traded companies
    last week were Hidroelectrica, OMV Petrom and Transilvania Bank.




    FLU – The anti-flu vaccination campaign kicks off this
    week, with a few changes compared to previous years. Certain categories of the
    population will continue to benefit from fully-subsidized vaccines, based on
    prescriptions provided by family physicians. People aged 65, children under 6,
    institutionalized people, pregnant women, chronically ill patients and medical
    staff will benefit from free-of-charge vaccination in medical practices. Right
    now, the anti-flu shots can also be administered in certain drug stores.
    Medical experts warn the flu virus could cause trouble this year amidst a
    resurge of COVID-19 cases.




    PNRR – Romania received the second installment of European
    funds as part of its national recovery and resilience plan (PNRR), worth 2.7
    bln EUR. Romania has so far fulfilled 49 of the 51 milestones linked to the second
    installment. Two milestones regarding investments in energy have not been fully
    implemented, yet Brussels believes Romania has taken measures to remedy the
    situation. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said the government must be efficient
    and transparent in administering these funds earmarked for a number of key
    reforms addressing green and digital transition. At the same time, Bucharest is
    focusing on implementing milestones and targets pertaining to the third
    installment, the Prime Minister added. So far Romania was disbursed 10 of the
    total of 29 bln EUR as grants and loans under PNRR.




    FOREIGN AFFAIRS – Foreign Minister
    Luminița Odobescu is today attending the informal meeting of EU Foreign
    Ministers hosted by Kyiv, Ukraine. In a post on social media, the Romanian
    official wrote she will convey Romania’s firm support for Ukraine and its
    people. Together we support the values of democracy, peace and freedom, the
    Foreign Minister added. Also on social media, the EU High Representative for
    Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said We are convening
    in a historic meeting of the EU foreign ministers here in Ukraine, candidate
    country and future member of the EU. We are here to express our solidarity and
    support to the Ukrainian people, Borrell said in his statement. Ukraine’s
    Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, hailed the first meeting of his European peers
    in Kyiv, held within what he described as the future borders of the European
    Union.




    ILLEGAL
    WASTE – Two transports of illegal waste from
    Italy were identified on Sunday on the premises of a company in Bihor County,
    prosecutors have announced in the wake of searches conducted in a number of
    counties in Western Romania. The authorities targeted the headquarters and
    operating halls of companies that illegally imported waste. Prosecutors have
    identified 57 such transports totaling some 1,500 tons of illegal waste. Other
    such transports were halted at the border.




    UNEMPLOYMENT – The unemployment rate stood at 5.4% in August, down
    by 0.1% compared to the previous month, the National Statistics Institute
    reports. Unemployment in men is 1% higher compared to women. Youth unemployment
    remains high, standing at some 22%. People aged 25-74 accounted for 78% of the
    total number of unemployed.




    NOBEL – The 2023 Nobel Prize in
    Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for
    their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the
    development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, the Royal Swedish
    Academy of Science announced earlier today.




    RUGBY – South Africa defeated Tonga 49-18 in a Pool B
    fixture on Sunday and is very close to securing qualifications to the
    quarterfinals of the World Rugby Cup hosted by France. South Africa leads the
    Pool tables with 15 points, followed by Ireland with 14 points, Scotland with
    10 points, Tonga and Romania with zero points. Romania conceded bitter defeats
    to Ireland, South Africa and Scotland. Romania’s last match at the World Cup is
    against Tonga on October 8. (VP)



  • October 5, 2020

    October 5, 2020

    COVID-19 IN ROMANIA – 1,591 new cases of COVID-19 and
    45 new fatalities have been reported nationwide in the last 24 hours, the Group
    for Strategic Communication has announced today. The total number of infections
    stands at 137,491, while the death toll stands at 5,048. 108,526 patients have
    recovered. There are currently 592 people in intensive care. 6,702 Romanians living
    abroad have tested positive for SARS CoV-2, while 126 have died. Most of these
    cases have been reported in Germany, Italy and Spain. The negative evolution of
    the COVID-19 pandemic in recent days does not require the reintroduction of the
    state of emergency, authorities say, insisting however on the importance of
    basic health safety measures, such as the wearing of face masks, observing
    physical distance and rigorous hand hygiene. The head of the Department for
    Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, warned that harsher restrictions might be
    introduced in those areas where the infection rate has gone up significantly.


    COVID-19 IN THE WORLD – The global number of infections has
    exceeded 35 million while over 1 million people have died to the virus, the
    latest worldometers.info update reads. The United States continues to be the
    most affect country. New evidence has surfaced pointing to the existence of a
    new wave of infections in Europe, where record high numbers were reported in an
    increasing number of countries in the last few days. The Czech Republic and
    Slovakia have reintroduced the state of emergency starting today. For the first
    time the United Kingdom reported over 10,000 cases in a single day. A third of
    the UK is under new regulations banning social interaction between people from
    different homes. Over 50 universities in this country have been declared
    hotbeds of infection. Poland too has confirmed over 100,000 cases since the
    start of the pandemic, reporting over 2,000 infections in the last 24 hours. In
    Russia there are over 10,000 cases reported in the last day, the highest report
    in the last 5 months. France too is reporting concerning figures. A health
    alert has been declared in Paris and another 3 neighboring districts.




    PRIME MINISTER – On Monday Prime Minister Ludovic Orban asked
    he be tested against COVID-19, after one of the people he came in contact with
    on a TV shooting set last week tested positive for the virus, the Government
    has announced. According to the source, the Prime Minister has suspended all
    his meetings pending the release of the medical certificate.




    ELECTION – The investigation of fraud allegations in the
    local election and the elimination of taxes for three years in the hospitality
    industry rank high on Parliament’s agenda this week. Another topic under debate
    is the proposed postponement of the legislative election for March 14, 2021.
    The set date for the legislative election is December 6. Unaffiliated MP Adrian
    Dohotaru, who filed the said proposal, claims the legislative election should
    be postponed due to the alarming increase in the number of SARS-CoV-2
    infections in Romania and the rising pressure on the health care system.




    NOBEL PRIZE IN MEDICINE-
    The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020 has been awarded jointly to
    researchers Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice for the
    discovery of Hepatitis C virus. The recipients of the Nobel Prize for
    physics, chemistry, literature and peace will also be announced this week. The
    winner of the Nobel Prize for Economy will be made public on October 12. With
    the latter’s exception, the other Nobel Prizes were created by the Swedish
    industrialist Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), the inventor of the dynamite. In 2020,
    each Nobel Prize will be accompanied by a $1.1 million check, which is more
    than in previous years. In 2019 the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to
    American researchers William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza and to British researcher
    Peter Ratcliffe for their study on how cells sense and adapt to oxygen
    availability. The Nobel Awards organizers have announced that, due to the
    COVID-19 pandemic, the prize recipients will most likely receive their awards
    in their home countries, without having to attend the awards ceremony in Stockholm.




    TENNIS -
    Romania is no longer represented in this year’s Roland Garros competition. On
    Sunday, Horia Tecau of Romania and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands lost to
    Mate Pavic of Croatia and Bruno Soares of Brazil in the round of 16 in the
    men’s doubles. Also on Sunday, the number 1 seed in the women’s singles, Simona
    Halep, was also ousted by Polish player Iga Swiatek.




    (translated
    by V. Palcu)

  • October 7, 2019

    October 7, 2019

    JHA – Romania’s
    Justice Minister, Ana Birchall, is attending the Justice and Home Affairs
    Council meeting held under the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU. For
    two days, the meeting will focus on EU measures against corruption, combating
    cross-border crime by means of Eurojust, electronic issues and the creation of
    the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. EU officials will also discuss the
    EU’s accession to the European Court of Human Rights, combating hate speech
    online, the protection of personal data as well as the relation between
    democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights. Minister Birchall will meet with
    counterparts from Member States on the sidelines of the event.




    CHECKS -
    Transport Minister Razvan Cuc announced additional checks and safety measures
    will be implemented in traffic considering last week was marked by numerous
    accidents, the most serious of which killed 10 people and injured 7. The driver
    of a truck collided with a minibus on the oncoming lane, preliminary data
    indicating the possibility he might have fallen asleep while driving. A mixed
    task force made of representatives of the Police and the State Inspectorate for
    Traffic Control will examine tachographs to inspect rest hours for professional
    drivers.




    CYBER THREATS -
    Over half of European citizens say they aren’t sufficiently informed regarding cyber
    threats, 70% of enterprises stating they hold minimum knowledge regarding such
    risks while 80% of European enterprises having faced at least one
    cyber-security incident. The statement was made earlier today by Communications
    Minister Alexandru Popescu in Bucharest. The Romanian official said the
    authorities continue to invest significant resources in increasing the level of
    knowledge, training and pre-emptive capacity, as well as response capabilities
    in case of cyber-attacks. Minister Popescu went on to say that Romania has
    enhanced its cyber diplomacy by signing a memorandum of understanding this year
    with Israel, Poland and the United States regarding the cyber security of
    hardware and software infrastructure, of telecom networks and systems, including
    5G.




    NOBEL – The 2019
    Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine on Monday was jointly awarded to William
    Kaelin Jr., Sir Peter Ratcliffe and Gregg Semenza for their pioneering research
    into how human cells respond to changing oxygen levels. The Nobel Prize in
    Physiology and Medicine is the first in the series of Nobel prizes awarded at
    this time of the year. Last year, the Nobel Prize went on to American
    researcher James P. Allison and Japanese scholar Tasuku Honjo for their
    achievements regarding the treatment of cancer.




    FOOTBALL -
    Romania’s national football team met in Bucharest to train for the matches to
    be played against the Faeroe Islands on October 12 and against Norway at home,
    on October 15, in the 2020 European Championship preliminaries. Spain is currently
    top of the tables with 18 points, followed by Sweden with 11 points, Romania
    with 10 points, Norway with 9 points, Malta with 3 points and the Faeroe
    Islands with zero points. The top two teams in each group will advance to the
    Championship. The draw for the 2020 European Championship will be held in
    Bucharest on November 30. Bucharest will host four matches, three in the group
    phase and one in the round of 16. Romania’s under-21 team is also playing
    Ukraine on Thursday at home, and Northern Ireland next Monday, also at home, as
    part of the 2021 European Championship preliminaries. We recall that this year
    Romania’s under-21 team reached the semi-finals of the European Championship
    hosted by Italy and San Marino.






    HANDBALL -
    Romania’s vice-champions in handball, CSM Bucharest on Sunday defeated Team
    Esbjerg of Denmark 24-22 away from home in its first match counting towards
    Champions League Group B. In the other group fixture, Rostov Don of Russia
    defeated MKS Perla Lublin of Poland, 31-21. In the next round CSM will play
    Rostov Don while MKS Perla Lublin will take on Team Esbjerg. On Friday,
    Romania’s champions SCM Ramnicu Valcea grabbed its first win, 34-27 against
    Germany’s SG BBM Bietigheim in Group C. In the next round SCM will play Brest
    Bretagne Handball of France. Romania, France and Hungary each have two teams in
    the Champions League group phase.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)