News archive of April 2017

Humanity has been fascinated by Mars since long before we stepped foot on the Moon. Our planetary neighbor has been the subject of innumerable works of sci-fi and inspired countless dreams of adventure and exploration. Now, after decades of determination, research, and scientific breakthroughs, we’re finally ready to do it: humans are going to Mars. Really.

Turkey on Saturday blocked all access inside the country to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, an Internet monitoring group said, but it was not clear why the ban had been imposed.

North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on April 29 in apparent defiance of a concerted US push for tougher international sanctions to curb Pyongyang's nuclear weapons ambitions.

'' I am going to insist on a stronger EU commitment to the Republic of Macedonia'', said Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, quoted by a BGNES reporter from the air base in Graf Ignatievo where the president attended yesterday a demo flight of an F-35 US aircraft.

The Deputy President of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), Radmila Šekerinska, said she sees a “political plan” behind Thursday’s clashes inside FYROM’s parliament and blamed the “system” of former prime minister Nikola Gruevski and the political decisions of FYROM President Gjorge Ivanov for the escalation of political tensions in the country.

A total of 14 outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) militants were killed on April 29 in separate air operations in Turkey's southeastern Adıyaman province and northern Iraq, the Turkish military said.
 
In a written statement, the Turkish Armed Forces said an hour long air operation on Iraq's Sinat-Haftanin region starting at 8.31 a.m. had killed six militants. 

Kubrat Pulev defended his intercontinental heavyweight title of the World Boxing Association after his victory over American Kevin Johnson, reports BGNES, quoted by BNR.

In the main match of the Final Countdown Gala at Arena Armeec, Sofia, late on Friday, Pulev prevailed over his rival Johnson with full unanimity of referees.

Turkey's new presidential system will end weak coalition governments and strengthen checks and balances, İbrahim Kalın, presidential spokesperson, has said. 

Kalın wrote an article for U.K. newspaper the Guardian which said Turkey's short-lived coalition governments of the past had crippled its economy, weakened national institutions and paved the way for coups. 

Turkey and the United States can join forces to turn Raqqa into a "graveyard" for the Islamic State Iraq and The Levant (ISIL), the Turkish President said on April 29, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Police is checking a suspicious luggage at Varna Airport. This was reported by FOCUS Agency by the Ministry of Interior and Interior Ministry - Varna.

The signal was submitted shortly before 09.30. Measures have also been taken and, in the vicinity of luggage, the area is secured. On-site teams were sent to handle the case.