Prime Minister Dacian Cioloş inquired the case of infants suffering from haemolytic-uremic syndrome
Prime Minister Dacian Cioloş called on Health Ministry to take action regarding poor communication between Pitesti Hospital and Argeş County Public Health Directorate in the case of several infants suffering from haemolytic-uremic syndrome. The PM noticed the absence of an epidemiologist in the hospital whom he visited today alongside Health Minister Patriciu Achimaş-Cadariu. The minister acknowledged there is a crisis of specialists in this sector but appreciated that Argeş County Public Health Directorate did their duty. Seven infants coming from Arges County, diagnosed with the haemolytic-uremic syndrome, are now hospitalised at the Marie Curie Hospital in Bucharest in critical, but stable condition.
New public debate on the draft bill regarding cybersecurity
Ministry of Communications held a new public debate on the draft bill regarding cybersecurity today. No solid conclusions have emerged during this second meeting between relevant institutions (Ministry of Communications, The Romanian Intelligence Service – SRI, Cybersecurity Incident Response Center – CERT-RO, Special Telecommunications Service – STS ) and NGOs. Civil society organizations continue to denounce a lack of transparency in the normative act and several inconsistencies with the European Directive in this field and the Romanian Constitution. On the other hand, the relevant minister, Marius Bostan, declared yesterday during a public radio programme that regulations concerning cybersecurity target mostly legal persons and do not breach citizens’ right to privacy in any way.
Minister Marius Bostan: There have been interpretations claiming that the bill would invade citizens’ lives. There is no such thing. Freedom and privacy are not going to be interfered with by any organization or state authority unless there is a judicial warrant allowing this. So, based on a warrant, similar to all other cases, investigations could be made and data could be gathered.
Timisoara Court of Appeal rejects US extradition claim for hacker known as „Guccifer”
Timisoara Court of Appeal has rejected today an extradition claim formulated by US authorities for Lazăr Marcel Lehel, a hacker that violated electronic correspondence of several American public figures, among which the former US Secretary of State Colin Powell. Marcel Lazăr Lehel, known as „Guccifer” or „Little Smoke” became famous after hacking email accounts of several Romanian public figures, including the Romanian Intelligence Chief George Maior. The hacker was sentenced in June 2014 by Bucharest Municipal Court to 7 years in prison and is currently serving his sentence in Arad Penitentiary (southwestern Romania).
World-renowned sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi celebrated on February 19, a working holiday in Romania
Constantin Brâncuşi Day is celebrated today on the 140th anniversary of the world-renowned Romanian sculptor by a series of events organized countrywide and abroad: shows, exhibits, conferences and debates. In 2015, the Romanian Parliament declared February 19 „The Brâncuşi Day”, a working holiday in Romania. Brâncuşi (February 19, 1876 – March 16, 1957) was a Romanian sculptor, painter and photographer who made his career in France. Considered a pioneer of modernism, one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century, Brâncuşi is called the „patriarch of modern sculpture”. His work was inspired by non-European cultures as a source of primitive exoticism, as did Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, André Derain and others. But other influences emerge from Romanian folk art. He died on March 16, 1957, aged 81 and was buried in the Cimetière du Montparnasse in Paris. This cemetery also displays statues that Brâncuşi carved for deceased artists.
Sibiu salami officially registered in the EU as traditional Romanian product
The „Sibiu” salami, a deli made with pork’s meat, pork’s fat, salt and condiments has been officially recognized by the European Commission as a traditional Romanian product. The name was registered in the Register for protected geographical indications and denominations of origin and EC’s decision was published in the Official Journal of the European Union, Radio Romania reports. Sibiu salami has been produced in Romania for more than a century now and it was initially called „winter salami”.
Our country has a single other product with protected geographical indication, the „Topoloveni” plum jam. Ministry of Agriculture further plans to register two other products: the „Ibăneşti” cheese and the kürtőskalács, a famous Szekler-origin cake.
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