Новости за 09.02.2024

As February 10 approaches, weather patterns across Bulgaria are set to shift, with clouds thickening from the west. Moderate to strong southwesterly winds will prevail, bringing warmth across the region. High temperatures are expected to range between 17°C and 22°C, with slightly cooler conditions around 17°C in Sofia....

Off the coast of Lesvos, the Bulgarian border ship "Balchik" has rescued 44 migrants, including 10 children, who were in distress. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed the successful rescue, which took place on Wednesday morning following a distress signal. Promptly responding to the call for help, the crew of the "Balchik" initiated a search and rescue operation, deploying two onboard boats to locate and retrieve the migrants....

Following deliberations, the BSP leadership unequivocally distanced itself from the actions of the councilors, thereby withdrawing political trust from them. The repercussions of this decision are significant: the councilors no longer represent BSP but solely themselves, assuming personal responsibility for their actions within the SMC. Moreover, corresponding party penalties are set to be imposed at the forthcoming meeting of the National Council. ...

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov revealed that Austria's attempts to return migrants to Bulgaria, in accordance with the Dublin Agreement, have encountered substantial difficulties, with the majority of the migrants being untraceable. Responding to inquiries from "Vazrazhdane" MP Stanislav Stoyanov regarding the number of migrants accepted back to Bulgaria, Prime Minister Denkov disclosed that only 113 migrants have been successfully returned from Austria to Bulgaria thus far under the Dublin Agreement. Читать дальше...

Plovdiv, Bulgaria - Traffic ground to a halt in Plovdiv as a convoy of 120 tractors and heavy equipment entered the city, disrupting normalcy and causing chaos on the roads. The protesting farmers, representing various sectors of agriculture, directed their convoy towards the State Fund "Agriculture" after opting not to block the Trakia highway as initially planned. The unexpected influx of vehicles altered the city's transportation schedule, forcing buses to reroute through detour paths....

The Burgas Airport will be closed for a month due to the need for repair work. This was announced by the company concessionaire of the airport. Starting from March 7th at 6:00 am, all flights will be suspended, and the airport will reopen on March 30th, 2024....

Kornelia Ninova, the Chairperson of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), has announced the party's decision to spearhead a collective action against mobile operators in response to the recent surge in their fees. This move follows discussions within the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), where concerns over rising costs were raised. During a press conference, Ninova highlighted the financial strain faced by many individuals who cannot afford legal representation or additional expenses amidst... Читать дальше...

Amid escalating tensions within Bulgaria's political landscape, Delyan Peevski, the chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) parliamentary group, has voiced his support for the concept of "2 in 1" elections, combining both parliamentary and European elections into a single event. However, Peevski emphasized that while this approach may benefit his party, it may not be in the best interest of the country as a whole. Peevski's remarks come amidst a heated exchange between political factions... Читать дальше...

The Bulgarian winner of the EU Juvenes Translatores Contest 2024 is Pamela Kalpakchieva from Hristo Botev High School in Karnobat. Pamela's translation won over the judges with its perfect style, and her teachers, parents, and friends say she fully deserves the award. They describe her as not only capable but also determined and persistent in everything she undertakes....

In a tense standoff that unfolded on a Swiss train, authorities have reported that a man armed with an ax and a knife held 15 passengers hostage for nearly four hours before being fatally shot by police. The incident occurred in the town of Essert-sous-Champvent on a train traveling between Baulmes and Yverdon-les-Bains in the Swiss canton of Vaud, near the French border. According to Reuters, citing BTA, Swiss police intervened after the hijacker, identified as a 32-year-old Iranian man who had applied for asylum... Читать дальше...

In a concerted effort to tackle the pervasive issue of disinformation and misleading content, Bulgarian Finance Minister Asen Vassilev, along with Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov, engaged in discussions with executives from META, the parent company of popular social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The meeting, held in Washington, centered on strategies to curb the spread of Russian propaganda, particularly in the lead-up to the European elections. During the discussions... Читать дальше...

Dutch universities will take measures to limit the influx of foreign students and improve proficiency in the Dutch language among both students and staff. Fourteen higher education institutions have agreed upon these steps. This was reported by the National News Agency of the Netherlands (ANP). ...

The political landscape in Bulgaria witnessed a significant upheaval as the pro-Russian party "Vazrazhdane" (Revival) took decisive action in response to a rift within its ranks. The party announced the expulsion of three deputies from its parliamentary group following their support for Tsvetomir Petrov in the election for the chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council. Party leader Kostadin Kostadinov addressed reporters at the parliament, revealing that MPs Ivo Ruschev, Alexander Arangelov, and Nikolay... Читать дальше...

The United States military recently executed a series of seven defensive strikes against Houthi rebel targets situated in Yemen. Utilizing an array of resources including unmanned surface vehicles and mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, the strikes were carried out as preemptive measures to counter potential threats posed by these weapons against both US Navy vessels and commercial ships operating within the region. This action was deemed necessary by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) after identifying... Читать дальше...

In a bold move, Boyko Borissov, the leader of GERB, issued a stern ultimatum, declaring that if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not remain within his party's control, there will be no further negotiations with their 'assembly' partner "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB)", no government rotation, and he even hinted at the possibility of early elections. Speaking to reporters at the parliament, Borissov made his stance crystal clear: "Mariya Gabriel - Prime Minister, the only... Читать дальше...

In a continued display of frustration over unresolved issues in the agricultural sector, farmers across Bulgaria are staging highway blockades today. From the Yambol region to Kardzhali, and from Blagoevgrad to Pleven, farmers are taking to the roads to demand action from the government. Starting in the Yambol region, farmers plan to block exits to the Trakia highway between 10 a....

During a recent press conference at the White House, US President Joe Biden committed a significant gaffe by mistakenly referring to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as "the president of Mexico," sparking confusion and amusement among observers. The incident occurred as Biden responded to a question about humanitarian aid to Gaza, erroneously attributing the decision-making authority to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador instead of President el-Sisi of Egypt. Biden's blunder comes amidst scrutiny over his memory lapses... Читать дальше...

In a strategic move, members of the Sofia Municipal Council (SMC) aligned with the GERB and BSP parties have secured leadership positions in key committees, shifting the balance of power within the council. The election of the chairman initially brought hope to the "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria-Spasi Sofia" (WCC-DB-SS) coalition, but subsequent developments have left them with minimal influence. Despite being the largest group with 23 councilors, the WCC-DB-SS coalition lost control over crucial standing committees to GERB... Читать дальше...

Overnight, approximately 30 rockets were launched from Lebanese territory into northern Israel, targeting areas such as Ein Zeitim and Dalton. The rocket attacks followed an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon, which wounded a Hezbollah commander. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the rocket barrage, while tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border escalated amid Israel's military response to Hamas attacks in Gaza last October. ...

A GDBOP (Main Directorate "Fighting Organized Crime") officer, Georgi Karakolev, has been placed under house arrest on charges of espionage. The decision was made by the Sofia City Court, citing the serious health condition of Karakolev's wife and the need for him to care for their three children. Despite the house arrest, the investigation into the espionage allegations continues, with evidence being collected both domestically and abroad. ...

Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov weighed in on the ongoing dispute between the leaderships of WCC-DB and GERB regarding the appointment of the next foreign minister after the rotational change. Denkov emphasized the importance of having a strong voice representing Bulgaria abroad, stating, "I do not want the post of a foreign minister as such, but I want the voice of WCC-DB to be strong enough so that it is heard abroad." ...