Новости за 18.10.2024

The weather forecast for Saturday indicates mostly sunny conditions, although morning fog may linger in low-lying areas and near rivers, according to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. Winds will be light to moderate from the east, with a strong northerly breeze expected in Eastern Bulgaria. Morning temperatures are expected to dip to minus 2°C in most regions, reaching up to 6°C in Western Bulgaria and also minus 2°C in Sofia....

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has expressed strong optimism that Romania will join the Schengen Area, including land borders, by the end of this year. This announcement comes after several previous challenges in the country’s quest for full integration into the Schengen framework. The Schengen Area enables passport-free travel among member countries, greatly facilitating movement for both citizens and visitors....

Sofia is set to undergo significant infrastructural changes this year and in 2025, leading to the closure of several key boulevards. Andrey Zografski from the WCC-DB-SS group indicated that the city must significantly increase repair efforts to address its outdated infrastructure. The most notable renovations will occur on "Alexander Stamboliyski" Boulevard and "Maria Luiza" Boulevard, with work slated to begin next year, as announced by municipal councilor Boris Bonev....

A Eurostat survey reveals that Greeks face significant challenges in affording housing, with over 26% struggling or unable to meet the high rental costs. Greece is ranked last in Europe for the wage-to-rent ratio. The difficulties are intensified by low wages, ongoing economic hardships, and the rising cost of essentials and housing....

Health technology startup Nutrameg, which operates seven different apps for weight management, expects to achieve a turnover this year. The company's future plans are even more ambitious. The goal is to create a unified system where doctors can register patients with diagnoses for which diet is the primary treatment, such as type 2 diabetes, colitis, gastritis, high blood pressure, and arthritis....

By 2:00 p.m., the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs had received 259 reports of vote-buying, with nine of those reported within the last hour....

Ivelin Mihailov, leader of the right-wing "Greatness" (Velichie) party, criticized the current political system in Bulgaria, describing it as totalitarian and oligopolistic, where a select few control the power and act without accountability. Speaking to BNT, he attributed Bulgaria's decline to this concentration of power and expressed his party's refusal to collaborate with GERB, DPS, or "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) under any circumstances. Mihailov highlighted what he... Читать дальше...

The first signs of cold weather this autumn have been confirmed, with the meteorologist on duty at the weather station on Mount Rozhen reporting significant drops in temperature. Chepelare recorded the lowest temperature at minus 4 degrees Celsius, while Rozhen experienced a slightly warmer minus 1 degree. The meteorologist mentioned that temperatures in other locations were around the freezing mark this morning....

An explosion occurred this morning at a military factory in the Serbian town of Čacak, injuring four individuals, as reported by the Belgrade publication Blitc, cited by BTA. One of the injured is in serious condition and has been hospitalized. The explosion took place in a pyrotechnics workshop at the Sloboda plant....

A recent journalistic investigation has ranked the Bulgarian mafia among the top 10 organized crime syndicates operating in Greece, reports BNR. According to Greek media reports, Bulgarian and Romanian criminal organizations frequently collaborate, focusing on various illicit activities, including telephone fraud, theft related to transportation, and criminal protection services. The Turkish mafia is noted for its brutality, particularly in drug trafficking and engaging in violent confrontations... Читать дальше...

The Hydrographic Office of the Bulgarian Naval Forces has welcomed the arrival of two Teledyne Gavia autonomous underwater vehicles (UUVs). This acquisition is part of a program initiated by the US Department of Defense aimed at enhancing the defense capabilities of allied nations, following a contract established with the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense. These underwater vehicles are specifically designed for hydrographic research in coastal areas, capable of operating at depths of up to 1,000 meters....

Six individuals lost their lives, and 25 others sustained injuries when a bus overturned this morning on the Ankara-bound highway in Aksaray province, Turkey. The injured passengers were promptly taken to a hospital for first aid. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the accident. ...

North Macedonia's Transport Minister, Aleksandar Nikoloski, has indicated that the current Corridor 8 railway project "will certainly not be worked on," and the potential for a new project remains uncertain. In a statement to Telma TV, he emphasized that discussions with Bulgaria commenced recently in Brussels, and a follow-up meeting is scheduled for October 31. Nikoloski expressed the need for a joint and feasible project with Bulgaria, noting that the current pricing for the railway line from... Читать дальше...

Following confirmation of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the orchestrator of the October 7 attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the people of Gaza, stating that the conflict could end as soon as tomorrow if Hamas agrees to disarm and release the hostages. Netanyahu shared a video on X, saying, "Yahya Sinwar is dead. He was killed in Rafah by the brave soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces....

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the Commission plans to introduce new legislative measures aimed at facilitating the return of illegal migrants. Migration was a key issue during the European leaders' meeting that concluded last night. She noted that currently, only 20% of those not eligible to stay in the EU are being returned to their countries of origin. ...

An advisor to Bulgaria's Minister of the Interior, Nikolay Nikolov, announced that the BG-Alert notification system test was successful, with 98% of users receiving the alert. However, he noted that some users did not receive the message due to the need for specific phone settings during the test. Such settings would not be necessary in an actual emergency scenario. ...