News archive of November 2018

The trend of increase in Bulgaria's life expectancy continues, according to the 2017 report for the implementation of the updated National Strategy for the Demographic Development of Bulgaria (2012-2030), the government press office said, reports Focus News Agency. 

Today Bulgaria celebrates the Day of National Enlighteners, a feast for all pupils, teachers, students, academics, scholars, community centre workers, scientists and journalists. The day was first celebrated in Plovdiv in 1909. On this day the Orthodox Church pays tribute to the patron of the Bulgarian people, St. Ivan Rilski.

Today there will be low clouds or fog along the river valleys, in the lowlands and in Eastern Bulgaria. In the afternoon, the visibility will improve for some time and the clouds will break. Over Western and Central Bulgaria, there will be considerable high cloudiness during most of the day. Light to moderate wind from east-northeast.

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece said there is no need to change the relations between Church and state in the country, adding that the 1975 Constitution clearly defines their roles.

The United States is concerned over Turkish shelling of PKK/YPG positions in Syria, an official said Oct. 31.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoğlu will pay an official visit to Qatar on Nov. 1.

Several prominent opposition party officials and MPs resigned from their VMRO DPMNE party positions in the past few days, accusing the leadership of isolating the party and taking an anti-Western course which they do not want to follow.

The most recent to resign, on Wednesday, was the head of the party's youth union, Luka Krzaloski. 

The Novi Sad-based SHARE Foundation NGO warned that the Serbian authorities are pushing through the country's first Law on Critical Infrastructure without a period of public discussion or a clear definition of what exactly is meant by critical infrastructure. 

A Turkish official has told the Washington Post that slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi's body was destroyed in acid on the grounds of the Saudi Consulate or at the nearby residence of the Saudi consul general.

President Klaus Iohannis will welcome on Thursday at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, who is paying an official visit to Romania.