Ebola Vaccine Trial Proves 100% Effective In Guinea
A vaccine against Ebola has been shown to be 100% successful in trials conducted during the outbreak in Guinea and is likely to bring the west African epidemic to an end, experts say.
The results of the trials involving 4,000 people are remarkable because of the unprecedented speed with which the development of the vaccine and the testing were carried out.
Scientists, doctors, donors and drug companies collaborated to race the vaccine through a process that usually takes more than a decade in just 12 months. (Romania Libera)
Bucharest, Already Among Most Expensive Cities By Public Transportation
Romania’s capital Bucharest already is among the most expensive cities by public transportation, in proportion to salaries, according to a Eurostat study.
A new increase in transportation fares would bring Bucharest at the same level as Barcelona, without considering the quality of the public transportation services.
A Eurostat ranking of 11 cities places Bucharest third regarding the share of public transportation in the average wage. Bucharest citizens pay 7.8% of their salaries for public transportation.
Of the 11 cities analyzed by Eurostat, only Barcelona and London outrank Bucharest regarding the share of public transportation in the average wage, while Napoli and Vienna are at the opposite pole, reporting below 2%. (Puterea)
EC Opens Investigations Into Measures In Favor Of Cluj, Targu Mures Airports And Wizz Air
The European Commission has opened two investigations to examine if measures in favor of two publicly-owned airports in Romania, Cluj-Napoca International Airport and Targu Mures Transilvania Airport and airlines operating there, notably Wizz Air, are in line with EU State aid rules.
“The investigations concern in particular marketing fees paid to Wizz Air by Cluj-Napoca International Airport and low airport charges offered by Târgu Mureș Transilvania Airport to airlines operating there,” EC said in a statement.
Furthermore, the Commission will also investigate subsidies by local authorities to the airports themselves. The opening of proceedings gives interested parties an opportunity to submit comments on the measures under assessment without prejudging the outcome of the investigation. (Puterea)
Several Macroeconomic Indicators Grow Significantly, Just Like In Pre-Crisis Period
Several macroeconomic indicators are growing significantly, just like in the years before the economic crisis, but analysts say this is not necessarily a good sign.
During the 2005-2006 period, the economy saw an unprecedented growth, on the backdrop of accelerated consumption and lending, and during 2007-2008, its engines – industry, constructions and the real estate market – exceeded the market’s natural absorption potential.
Economists say, however, that the overheating of the economy is not good. The overheating of an economy occurs when its productive capacity is unable to keep pace with growing aggregate demand. It is generally characterised by an above-trend rate of economic growth, where growth is occurring at an unsustainable rate. (Adevarul)
People’s Party Dan Diaconescu And National Union For Romania’s Progress Merge
The People’s Party Dan Diaconescu (PPDD), the party set up by former media tycoon Dan Diaconescu, was officially absorbed by the National Union for Romania’s Progress (UNPR) led by deputy premier Gabriel Oprea.
The merger event took place on Sunday, August 2.
Oprea said his political party had 358,000 members before the merger and, in the last two months, over 70,000 Romanians enrolled in the party.
He also said UNPR must stay in power and become “Romania’s third largest party.” (Adevarul)