Новости за 19.05.2025

Sofia’s surface public transport will operate as usual on Tuesday. This was confirmed by Georgi Panayotov, chairman of the "Podkrepa" trade union in the Sofia Electric Transport, quoted by BGNES. Despite the decision to resume services, Panayotov stated that the union will persist in its demand for higher wages for workers in the sector. ...

Friday night at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia was unlike any other. Instead of a concert, Hall 1 hosted political speeches marked by calls for "uprising" and protests against Bulgaria's adoption of the euro. The gathering, organized by the pro-Russian "Revival" party and other euro opponents, was officially billed as a public discussion on "How to Save the Lev," but it was dominated by anti-European rhetoric and demands for government resignation. ...

On May 20, much of Bulgaria will experience mostly sunny weather, with cumulus clouds building up during the afternoon. Some areas might see rain showers. Winds will blow moderately to strongly from the west to northwest....

Bulgaria continues to hold the highest mortality rate in Europe, according to the Institute for Population and Human Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPHR - BAS). While the average mortality rate across Europe in 2023 stood at 10.8%, Bulgaria recorded a significantly higher rate of 15....

Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev sharply criticized the government's response to the ongoing public transport crisis in the capital, labeling the situation a "circus show." After Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced that 15 million leva would be allocated from the central budget to address the transport issue, Terziev questioned the sustainability of this approach, emphasizing that the funds merely offer a temporary solution without considering long-term implications. During a media briefing, Terziev... Читать дальше...

The Bulgarian capital welcomed senior representatives of the Australian Business in Europe (ABIE) network for a two-day high-level programme dedicated to strengthening economic, trade, and diplomatic relations between Australia and Europe. The programme began on Friday, 16 May, with an official Welcome Reception Cocktail hosted by the Bulgarian Australian Business Council (BABC) at Re Club Sofia. The event brought together an influential group of ABIE Heads, Australian diplomats, Bulgarian government officials... Читать дальше...

President Rumen Radev met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito today at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, marking a significant moment in Bulgaria-Japan relations. During the 30-minute meeting, Radev emphasized the importance of the upcoming strategic partnership agreement between the two nations, set to be signed with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba tomorrow. The agreement is expected to foster deeper cooperation in high technologies, information systems, artificial intelligence, and new manufacturing... Читать дальше...

According to the European Commission's Spring 2025 Economic Forecast, Bulgaria’s economy is projected to grow at a slower pace, with GDP expected to rise by 2% in 2025, down from 2.8% in 2024. By 2026, a slight increase to 2....

Sofia Municipality is implementing a transportation plan for high school graduates and exam supervisors (quæstors) during the state matriculation exams on May 21 and 23, 2025, in light of the ongoing interruption of ground public transport. The initiative aims to ensure students reach their exam locations without disruptions. Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating that the municipal team is committed to making sure the young people are calm, prepared, and punctual for the exams... Читать дальше...

The Bulgarian government has secured funding to meet the demands of Sofia's transport workers, effectively ending the strike that has disrupted public transport in the Bulgarian capital, although official confirmation is still pending. This was announced during an urgent briefing by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, GERB party leader Boyko Borissov, and Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova. The government will provide 15 million leva in addition to the subsidy for Sofia's public transport, BNR reported. Читать дальше...

The Sofia Municipality is considering suspending subsidies for public transport during the days of the blockade, while seeking ways to compensate passengers who are unable to use the service. This was announced by Mayor Vasil Terziev following a three-hour meeting with representatives of the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions (CITUB). Despite the lengthy discussions, the two sides failed to reach an agreement....

In the first quarter of 2025, the average quarterly expenditure per person in Bulgarian households reached 2,861 leva, marking a 13.3% rise compared to the same period last year. Food and non-alcoholic beverages made up the largest share of spending, accounting for 30% of total expenses, which translates to around 860 leva per person....

Sofia remains without ground public transport following a meeting between union representatives and the mayor of the capital, Vasil Terziev. Despite hours of discussion, no agreement was reached, and the blockades continue, announced Todor Kapitanov, vice president of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB). Kapitanov stated that the meeting lasted for three hours but did not qualify as negotiations, as no new proposals were presented by the Sofia Municipality....

Economist Georgi Stoev has launched a personal awareness campaign on social media to address concerns about the euro introduction in Bulgaria. In a BNR interview, He explained that many people worry about whether they will become poorer on January 1, 2026. The main focus of their questions is on two fronts: the security of the exchange rate and whether prices could be unfairly converted - for example, if cheese costing 19....

The Greek island of Euboea continues to experience a series of earthquakes, with the latest tremor registering 4.6 on the Richter scale. This recent quake was notably felt even in Athens, underscoring the ongoing seismic activity in the region. ...

The center-right AD-PSD/CDS coalition emerged victorious in Sunday’s legislative elections in Portugal, securing 86 parliamentary seats. Meanwhile, both the Socialist Party (PS) and the far-right Chega party tied with 58 seats each after all national votes were tallied. The AD coalition’s total includes three MPs elected in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, where the coalition also includes the monarchist PPM, which garnered approximately 37,000 votes, representing 0....

Israel announced it will permit a "basic amount" of food into Gaza, aiming to prevent a starvation crisis after maintaining a 10-week blockade. The decision, made following recommendations from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), aligns with the need to support Israel’s renewed military campaign against Hamas. The announcement came shortly after the IDF declared the start of "extensive ground operations" across Gaza....

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, according to a statement released by his personal office on Sunday. The announcement came after Biden, 82, experienced worsening urinary symptoms and underwent a medical examination that revealed a prostate nodule. The diagnosis was confirmed last Friday, with a Gleason score of 9, indicating a highly aggressive cancer classified as Grade Group 5. ...

In the latest ATP and WTA rankings, Bulgaria’s top tennis players experienced contrasting fortunes. Grigor Dimitrov dropped one spot to 16th in the men's rankings. The 34-year-old from Haskovo, who was scheduled to compete in the ATP 250 event in Geneva, has withdrawn and will next be seen in action at Roland Garros, where he is expected to be seeded. ...

Poland’s presidential race is heading to a runoff on June 1st, as liberal candidate Rafal Trzaskowski and conservative Karol Nawrocki emerged as the top contenders in the first round of voting. Trzaskowski, currently serving as the mayor of Warsaw and a prominent ally of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, secured 31.2% of the vote....

Nicusor Dan has been declared the winner of Romania's presidential election, securing 53.6% of the vote in the runoff against nationalist George Simion, who received 46.4%....

Former Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev expressed concerns that there are intentions to keep Bulgaria on the periphery of the European project, making it more susceptible to foreign geopolitical influences. Speaking to the Bulgarian National Radio, Plevneliev referenced the period when Bulgaria began its European path, noting that the country was then bankrupt, with salaries as low as and a GDP six times lower than it is today. He emphasized that the lack of strong supervision, regulations, and... Читать дальше...