Tonight, the weather is expected to be mostly clear with a gentle westerly breeze. Minimum temperatures will range from 4°C to 9°C, while in Sofia, temperatures will be around 5°C. Tomorrow, the forecast indicates mostly sunny conditions....
WCC-DB leaders have announced the onset of what they deem as the most nefarious pre-election campaign in Bulgaria, with Kiril Petkov taking the lead by accusing the resigned Interior Minister, Kalin Stoyanov, of deceiving deputies during his hearing regarding Martin Bojanov, "The Notary". "Mr. Stoyanov has only two bosses....
Zhivko Kotsev, the Chief Secretary of Bulgaria's Ministry of Internal Affairs, has clarified the reasons behind his decision to step down from his position. In a statement posted on the department's website, Kotsev cited his belief that he had dedicated sufficient energy and effort to serving society as a driving factor in his departure. In his statement, Kotsev emphasized his commitment to the rule of law and the maintenance of order, principles he considers essential for every law enforcement... Читать дальше...
As Bulgaria gears up for early parliamentary elections (6th in the last 3 years), the Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced its readiness for a unique scenario: holding both parliamentary and European Parliament (EP) elections either simultaneously or with a one-week gap. Following discussions with President Rumen Radev, June 9 and June 23 have emerged as the most likely dates for these crucial electoral events. CEC Chairwoman Kamelia Neikova emphasized the logistical challenges of scheduling... Читать дальше...
The head of Bulgaria's "Customs" agency, Petya Bankova, faces charges of participating in an organized criminal group (OCG), according to her lawyer Adelina Natina. Natina revealed the charges after leaving the Fifth Police Department in Sofia. Bankova, along with three other individuals, is accused of involvement in the OCG....
Austria finds itself embroiled in a burgeoning espionage scandal with connections to Bulgaria, as suspicions of Russian espionage within the Federal Office for Internal Security continue to mount. Investigative reports suggest that six Bulgarians apprehended in Great Britain were linked to a network surrounding Jan Marsalek, a figure currently evading authorities in Moscow and allegedly pivotal in recruiting spies. Among their targets was investigative journalist Christo Grozev, known for his work with the investigative website Bellingcat. Читать дальше...
In preparation for the upcoming summer season, authorities in Sunny Beach have unveiled a state-of-the-art video surveillance system comprising nearly 100 cameras, with four equipped for facial and license plate recognition. With hopes of curbing crime rates during the peak tourist season, both police and the Municipality of Nessebar are optimistic about the system's potential impact. The sophisticated surveillance setup not only enables targeted searches for specific vehicles but also eliminates... Читать дальше...
A transformative project is underway in Burgas, Bulgaria, as plans for a city railway to link the Central Railway Station with Burgas Airport are on track for completion by the end of 2024. Maria Genova, the General Director of the National Railway Infrastructure Company, announced the timeline during a recent update on the project's progress. The proposed railway line, spanning approximately 11 kilometers, promises to significantly enhance transportation connectivity in Burgas....
In Bulgaria, the search for skilled professionals continues to be a pressing concern, with machine operators, tailors, and cooks emerging as the most sought-after professionals with vocational qualifications. Meanwhile, nurses, doctors, and teachers remain in high demand among those with higher education or legal qualifications, reflecting ongoing challenges within crucial sectors of the economy. As the first three months of the year draw to a close, a clearer picture of the labor market's dynamics... Читать дальше...
In line with constitutional protocol, President Rumen Radev will convene with Dimitar Glavchev, the candidate for acting Prime Minister, tomorrow, April 5th, at 9:30 a.m. at "Dondukov" 2....
Even in a year marked by the absence of major crises or disasters, Bulgarians have continued their tradition of charitable giving, as evidenced by a comprehensive survey conducted by the "Alfa Research" agency on behalf of the Bulgarian Donor Forum (BDF). Teodora Bakardzhieva, the executive director of the BDF, noted a marginal decrease in the number of donors, albeit not unexpected, during an interview with BNR-Radio Sofia. However, the overarching trends observed in the past 2-3 years remained intact... Читать дальше...
Bulgaria experienced a remarkable surge in winter tourism from December 1, 2023, to March 25, 2024, with a total of 1.8 million tourist check-ins recorded across the country. Among these, Bulgarian tourists dominated the scene, comprising 1....
In a startling revelation, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced today that authorities have apprehended two individuals suspected of the heinous murder of two-year-old Danka Ilic from the town of Bor in Eastern Serbia. Belgrade's Beta Agency reported Vucic's statement, relayed by BTA, detailing the arrest of the suspects. During an emergency government meeting, President Vucic shared the distressing news, stating, "We have bad news for the child....
In a recent online interaction on Facebook, former Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov expressed apprehensions regarding the fairness of upcoming elections in Bulgaria. Denkov emphasized the critical importance of maintaining neutrality within the caretaker government to ensure fair electoral processes over the next two months. He underscored the significance of knowing the appointing authority of ministers and their accountability in carrying out their duties. ...
Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, stated that if Kiril Petkov and Delyan Peevski opt to form a government, his party would serve as a strong opposition, as he would not form a government solely with DPS. The leader of GERB made these remarks on the sidelines of parliament, addressing questions regarding recent political developments. Regarding the resignation of Zhivko Kotsev, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Borisov expressed uncertainty about the reasons behind it, affirming his past support for Kotsev. Читать дальше...
In an affirmation of Bulgaria's commitment to NATO, Mariya Gabriel, the resigned Deputy Prime Minister, highlighted the nation's unwavering support for the alliance during its 75th anniversary. Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Gabriel emphasized the important role of NATO membership in bolstering Bulgaria's strength, independence, and security. Gabriel's remarks came as she participated in a meeting of foreign ministers from the alliance, underscoring Bulgaria's active engagement within NATO's... Читать дальше...
Rumors surrounding the State Agency for National Security (SANS) allegedly covering up drug trafficking channels have resurfaced, with former Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov addressing the speculations on Facebook. Denkov's remarks come amidst heightened scrutiny following the detention of former SANS employee, Petya Bankova, who currently serves as director of the Customs Agency. Denkov, while unable to substantiate the rumors, emphasized the significant drug seizures made by the Customs Agency under... Читать дальше...
A recent report by the non-profit think tank InfluenceMap has unveiled startling insights into the world's carbon dioxide emissions landscape. According to the Carbon Majors report released on Thursday, a mere 57 fossil fuel and cement producers have been accountable for a staggering 80% of global CO2 emissions from 2016 to 2022. This group of entities comprises a mix of nation-states, state-owned corporations, and investor-owned companies....
In a late-night session, the Bulgarian parliament voted to establish several temporary committees of inquiry. These committees aim to delve into critical issues surrounding the construction of the TurkStream gas pipeline, the derogation for petroleum product exports from "Lukoil" Burgas, potential corrupt practices within the National Customs Agency, and the possible role of Finance Minister Asen Vasilev in them. The first committee, proposed by "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" (WWC-DB)... Читать дальше...
The intense earthquake that rattled Taiwan early Wednesday, led to equipment damage at the semiconductor giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Despite the initial impact, most machinery at the chipmaker resumed normal operations within the day. TSMC, a crucial supplier of chips to tech giants like Apple and Nvidia, reported that over 70% of its appliances and machinery had been restored within 10 hours following the earthquake, as per reports from the Financial Times and Fortune... Читать дальше...
A Bulgarian woman, Irina Dilkinska, has been handed a four-year prison sentence for her involvement in a large-scale fraud scheme orchestrated by the cryptocurrency company OneCoin. Damien Williams, a prosecutor in the New York court, announced the verdict. Operating since 2014 with its headquarters in Sofia, OneCoin lured victims into investing over 4 billion USD through a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme propagated via a global multi-level marketing network....
The Bulgarian Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that Chief Commissioner Zhivko Kotsev, who serves as the Secretary General of the ministry, has submitted his resignation. The 52-year-old Kotsev was appointed to this post on September 8 last year at the proposal of the Council of Ministers. He was the director of the regional directorate of the Ministry of the Interior-Sofia. ...
Nurgyul Salimova, the burgeoning Bulgarian chess sensation, steps onto the grand stage of the 2024 Candidates Tournament in Toronto with a flurry of anticipation surrounding her. The competition begins on April 3rd with an official ceremony, and the matches kick off on the 4th. In the recently released FIDE rankings for April, Nurgyul Salimova, the 20-year-old Bulgarian chess prodigy, made significant strides by gaining six ELO points....
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) issued a stark warning regarding the looming threat of a large-scale bird flu pandemic, underscoring the potential consequences if the virus were to transition to humans and establish human-to-human transmission. The agency's cautionary statement comes in the wake of alarming reports from Texas, where the H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected in an individual with contact history with infected dairy cows. While human immunity to the virus remains absent, EFSA's... Читать дальше...
In a significant move that reverberates across the tech industry, Amazon has disclosed plans for substantial layoffs within its cloud services division. The e-commerce giant confirmed the news, shedding light on the sweeping workforce reductions affecting various sectors including brick-and-mortar stores, technology, sales, and marketing departments. Reports from CNBC and BTA underscore the magnitude of the downsizing initiative. ...
