Новости за 30.04.2025

In recent years, Bulgarian educational institutions have witnessed a growing presence of Russian cultural initiatives, raising concerns about potential propaganda targeting young students. BNT reported a notable example which occurred in 2021 when Bulgarian students, dressed in Russian military uniforms, performed Soviet-era songs and recited Russian poetry to commemorate the anniversary of the Great Patriotic War. This event, captured on video and shared by the satirical Facebook page "Капутин,"... Читать дальше...

A deviation in the operation of a system on the F-16 Block 70 fighter has been identified during the aircraft acceptance process, according to the Bulgarian Air Force Commander, Major General Nikolay Rusev. He clarified that the issue was discovered after the aircraft landed in Bulgaria, though it remains uncertain whether the deviation occurred during the flight or after its arrival. Rusev emphasized that the detection of a system deviation does not mean the aircraft is defective. ...

The weather across Bulgaria on May 1 will begin with sunshine in the morning, followed by an increase in cloud cover during the afternoon. Short, localized thundershowers are expected in northern parts of the country and over the mountainous regions, with the heaviest rainfall likely in Central Northern Bulgaria. Winds will be moderate from the northeast, becoming stronger in areas such as the Rhodopes and the eastern parts of the Upper Thracian Lowland....

Israel has turned to Bulgaria for assistance in battling the rapidly advancing wildfires in areas near Jerusalem, according to a report by BGNES. The fires, which have been spreading quickly due to high temperatures and strong winds, have prompted the Israeli government to declare a national emergency. Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to deploy troops to assist firefighters in containing the blaze....

Friedrich Merz is poised to become Germany's next chancellor following the approval of a coalition agreement between his CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The German Bundestag is expected to elect Merz as chancellor on May 6, marking a significant political shift after the collapse of the previous government. The SPD held a vote among its members on the coalition deal, which passed with 84....

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has called on the government to allocate the necessary funds to ensure the F-16 fighter jets remain operational. He emphasized that the country had already paid a high price for the aircraft and faced a long wait for delivery, describing maintenance as difficult and costly. Radev attributed the decision to purchase the F-16s to former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in 2019 and criticized attempts to shift the blame for ongoing challenges onto military leadership....

A 12-year-old boy from Lukovit has been hospitalized with two broken arms and head injuries after reportedly being assaulted and thrown from a bridge. The child was allegedly attacked by a 46-year-old local man after he and other children rang the man’s doorbell as a prank and took some "janki" — small firecrackers or noisemakers. The incident took place on Sunday and triggered strong public reaction. ...

Miroslav Belyashki, the director of the Plovdiv Customs Office, was arrested earlier today for allegedly facilitating a new smuggling route for cigarettes. Sources from the local administration confirmed the detention, with Belyashki reportedly connected to Nikola Nikolov, also known as "Pascal", the notorious cigarette smuggling figure who has been evading justice in Serbia for several months. While no official statements have been released regarding the operation, reports indicate that early this morning... Читать дальше...

Bulgaria is set to become the first European country to operate an AP1000 reactor, according to Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov, speaking at a symposium hosted by Westinghouse in Sofia. He confirmed that the country has already secured an approved site and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project, and is currently working on financing options and coordination with the European Commission. Minister Stankov also revealed that he recently had a conversation with U....

The Sofia Police has launched a targeted operation against drivers of electric scooters and electric motorbikes who engage in reckless behavior in the city's central areas, BNR reports. As part of the operation, authorities identified two underage individuals - aged 15 and 16 - who were riding electric vehicles without presenting the necessary documentation. The minors were part of a group observed operating electric vehicles in busy central locations, including areas with tram traffic. ...

The recent service disruptions in the networks of mobile operators A1 and Vivacom have been deemed significant in their impact, with potential sanctions looming for both companies. Ivan Dimitrov, Chairman of the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC), explained in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio that although the causes were different, both incidents were considered serious. In one case, the outage was linked to a planned software update, while the other involved a technical failure... Читать дальше...

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has issued a firm ultimatum, giving ministries and agencies 10 days to ensure the BG-Alert system is fully operational. “Ten days, colleagues—after that, there is no forgiveness,” Zhelyazkov said during the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, as reported by BGNES. He criticized the repeated failure of public systems to function in critical moments, despite being developed with taxpayer money....

Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev warned that Sofia's sewer system should be cleared of rats, as they serve as a reservoir for ticks that can spread diseases. Speaking on Nova TV, he emphasized the need for deratization efforts in the capital’s drainage infrastructure, suggesting that otherwise, authorities might have to rely on floods to flush the rodents out. ...

At least five people have died as a result of a large-scale power outage that affected the Iberian Peninsula on Monday, according to reports from international media. Millions of residents across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France were left without electricity, and authorities are still working to determine the cause of the disruption. On Tuesday, officials confirmed several fatalities potentially linked to the blackout....

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 29, reaffirming the United States as a key strategic partner and NATO ally....

The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) joined the United States in a coordinated airstrike on a Houthi military facility in Yemen, aimed at curbing the group's capacity to launch attacks on international maritime routes. The strike, conducted on April 29, 2025, targeted a site used to produce drones employed by the Houthis in assaults on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the mission was consistent with longstanding British policy and... Читать дальше...

Grigor Dimitrov advanced to the round of 16 at the Madrid Masters after securing a straight-sets win over Britain’s Jacob Fearnley, defeating him 6:4, 7:6(3). The Bulgarian, currently the only representative of his country at the elite tennis level, clinched the victory after winning the second set tiebreak. The match had been interrupted at 6:4, 5:4 in Dimitrov’s favor due to a major power outage that impacted parts of Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Germany, Belgium, and southern France....

The Constitutional Court of Bulgaria has repealed legislative changes made two years ago that permitted the installation of photovoltaic (solar) systems on arable agricultural land. The decision comes after a challenge filed by President Rumen Radev, who argued that the relaxed regulations posed a threat to the preservation of agricultural land. Under the previous legal framework, converting farmland for solar energy projects required a rigorous process, including approval from the Agricultural... Читать дальше...

President Rumen Radev has urged North Macedonia to stop blaming Bulgaria for delays in its path toward EU membership. Speaking in Warsaw during the Three Seas Initiative summit, he stated that such claims are false and mask internal issues in Skopje. Radev stressed that Bulgaria continues to support transport connectivity with North Macedonia and is not an obstacle to its European integration....