UNIVERSITY
\nYEAR – The Francophonie House was opened
\ntoday in the campus of the Polytechnics University of Bucharest, in a ceremony
\nattended by president Klaus Iohannis opening the new academic year. The House
\nis the second of its kind after the one in Paris. The building was erected in
\nrecord time and will house 300 students and researchers involved in different
\nscholarly projects. In 2023 Romania celebrates 30 years since it joined the
\nInternational Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). In the opening of the new
\nacademic year, Interior Minister C\u0103t\u0103lin Predoiu told students that observance
\nof the law and respect for fellow citizens underlie just and prosperous
\nsocieties. In turn, Defense Minister Angel T\u00eelv\u0103r attended the opening of the
\nacademic year at the Military Academy. Education Minister Ligia Deca and Health
\nMinister Alexandru Rafila attended the opening ceremony at the Carol Davila
\nUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest. <\/p>\n
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STOCK
\nEXCHANGE – The
\nBucharest Stock Exchange had an output of 22% in the first 9 months of the
\nyear, according to the Romanian Stock Market index (BET), rating 20 of the most
\ntraded companies in Romania. Factoring in the stock options provided by these
\ncompanies, the stock market also recoded earnings of nearly 30%. A third of
\nthis growth was reported in September, when the two indexes reached an all-time
\nhigh, growing by 9% and 10% respectively. The top three most traded companies
\nlast week were Hidroelectrica, OMV Petrom and Transilvania Bank. <\/p>\n
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FLU – The anti-flu vaccination campaign kicks off this
\nweek, with a few changes compared to previous years. Certain categories of the
\npopulation will continue to benefit from fully-subsidized vaccines, based on
\nprescriptions provided by family physicians. People aged 65, children under 6,
\ninstitutionalized people, pregnant women, chronically ill patients and medical
\nstaff will benefit from free-of-charge vaccination in medical practices. Right
\nnow, the anti-flu shots can also be administered in certain drug stores.
\nMedical experts warn the flu virus could cause trouble this year amidst a
\nresurge of COVID-19 cases. <\/p>\n
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PNRR – Romania received the second installment of European
\nfunds as part of its national recovery and resilience plan (PNRR), worth 2.7
\nbln EUR. Romania has so far fulfilled 49 of the 51 milestones linked to the second
\ninstallment. Two milestones regarding investments in energy have not been fully
\nimplemented, yet Brussels believes Romania has taken measures to remedy the
\nsituation. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said the government must be efficient
\nand transparent in administering these funds earmarked for a number of key
\nreforms addressing green and digital transition. At the same time, Bucharest is
\nfocusing on implementing milestones and targets pertaining to the third
\ninstallment, the Prime Minister added. So far Romania was disbursed 10 of the
\ntotal of 29 bln EUR as grants and loans under PNRR. <\/p>\n
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS – Foreign Minister
\nLumini\u021ba Odobescu is today attending the informal meeting of EU Foreign
\nMinisters hosted by Kyiv, Ukraine. In a post on social media, the Romanian
\nofficial wrote she will convey Romania’s firm support for Ukraine and its
\npeople. Together we support the values of democracy, peace and freedom, the
\nForeign Minister added. Also on social media, the EU High Representative for
\nForeign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said We are convening
\nin a historic meeting of the EU foreign ministers here in Ukraine, candidate
\ncountry and future member of the EU. We are here to express our solidarity and
\nsupport to the Ukrainian people, Borrell said in his statement. Ukraine’s
\nForeign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, hailed the first meeting of his European peers
\nin Kyiv, held within what he described as the future borders of the European
\nUnion. <\/p>\n
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ILLEGAL
\nWASTE – Two transports of illegal waste from
\nItaly were identified on Sunday on the premises of a company in Bihor County,
\nprosecutors have announced in the wake of searches conducted in a number of
\ncounties in Western Romania. The authorities targeted the headquarters and
\noperating halls of companies that illegally imported waste. Prosecutors have
\nidentified 57 such transports totaling some 1,500 tons of illegal waste. Other
\nsuch transports were halted at the border. <\/p>\n
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UNEMPLOYMENT – The unemployment rate stood at 5.4% in August, down
\nby 0.1% compared to the previous month, the National Statistics Institute
\nreports. Unemployment in men is 1% higher compared to women. Youth unemployment
\nremains high, standing at some 22%. People aged 25-74 accounted for 78% of the
\ntotal number of unemployed. <\/p>\n
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NOBEL – The 2023 Nobel Prize in
\nPhysiology or Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karik\u00f3 and Drew Weissman for
\ntheir discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the
\ndevelopment of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, the Royal Swedish
\nAcademy of Science announced earlier today. <\/p>\n
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RUGBY – South Africa defeated Tonga 49-18 in a Pool B
\nfixture on Sunday and is very close to securing qualifications to the
\nquarterfinals of the World Rugby Cup hosted by France. South Africa leads the
\nPool tables with 15 points, followed by Ireland with 14 points, Scotland with
\n10 points, Tonga and Romania with zero points. Romania conceded bitter defeats
\nto Ireland, South Africa and Scotland. Romania’s last match at the World Cup is
\nagainst Tonga on October 8. (VP)<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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