25 March, 2016

Anti-terrorist operations continue in Belgium. Romanian prosecutors request new expert report as part of inquiries into Colectiv that killed 64 last autumn. Romania switches to Daylight Saving Time on Saturday night.

Newsroom, 25.03.2016, 12:00

The Belgian police have arrested seven persons in
connection with Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels, in which at least 31 people were
killed and 270 wounded, the BBC reports. The police are still looking for two
other persons believed to be directly involved in the attacks claimed by the
so-called Islamic State. The two were caught on surveillance cameras in the
company of the three suicide bombers responsible for the attacks. The latter,
who had Belgian nationality, were on a list of most wanted suspects in
connection with the Paris attacks last November, in which 130 people were
killed. In a bid to ensure Belgium of Washington’s support in the fight against
terrorism, US Secretary of State John Kerry today met senior officials in
Brussels. The US lost two citizens in the attacks.
Separately, the French police made one arrest on Thursday, thwarting a plot that was in an advanced stage, according to the French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who added that no link was established to either the Paris or the Brussels attacks. EU justice and interior ministers who held an emergency meeting in the wake of the Brussels attacks decided on Thursday to speed up a plan to tighten control on the Schengen borders and take measures to fight terrorism financing.

Romanian
prosecutors investigating the deadly fire at the Colectiv nightclub in
Bucharest last October have requested a new expert report to be ready by the 1st
of April. Investigators say the three reports submitted so far, from the
National Institute for Research and Development in Mine Safety and Protection
to Explosion, the Forensics Institute and the General Prosecutor’s Office,
contradict each other and generate confusion. The fire, which has claimed 64
lives so far, sparked large-scale street protests last autumn that led to the resignation
of prime minister Victor Ponta. The three owners of the club, who are currently
in house arrest, are facing charges of manslaughter.

Clocks change in Romania on Saturday night, when 3 am
becomes 4 am. The practice, known as Daylight Saving Time, is meant to use
sunlight as much as possible. In summer, clocks are turned forward by one hour.
When Romania switches to summer time, there will be a 3-hour difference between
Romania’s time and UTC. Sunday will thus be the shortest day of the year, with
only 23 hours. More than 100 different countries worldwide use Daylight Saving
Time. In Romania, it has been used since 1932.

Romania’s majority Orthodox
community, as well as its Greek-Catholic minority are today celebrating the
religious feast of the Annunciation. This is the celebration of the announcement
by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive the Son of God.
For Catholics, it’s Holy Friday today, the commemoration of Christ’s
crucifixion and death three days before his resurrection. This year,
Roman-Catholic and Protestant Christians celebrate Easter on Sunday, 27th
of March, while Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians celebrate it on the 1st
of May.

The 98th anniversary of Romania’s union with Bassarabia, an eastern province that had until then been under Tsarist occupation, is celebrated in Bucharest and across Romania. The Romanian Academy is holding a special event today, musicians from the Republic of Moldova are having concerts in Bucharest, and street events are held on Sunday in the centre of Bucharest to celebrate the union.

World no. 5
Simona Halep of Romania defeated the Russian player Daria Kasatkina to reach the third
round of the WTA Premier tournament in Miami, with 6 million euros in prize
money. Two other Romanian players are vying for a place in the third round:
Irina Begu, world no. 35, who faces Sabine Lisicki of Germany, world no. 37,
and Monica
Niculescu, world no. 33, who faces the Chinese player Shuai Peng, world no. 664. Both matches are held
today.

Romania face defending European champions Spain on Sunday in Cluj in a
friendly game ahead of the European Football Championship hosted by France this
summer. In another friendly on Wednesday, Romania defeated Lithuania 1-nil in
Giurgiu, also at home. Romania will face France in the opening game at the
European Championship on the 10th of June, in a group that also
includes Switzerland and Albania.

(Translated by: C. Mateescu)