Plovdiv

Transport Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov declared the readiness of Bulgaria's inaugural medical helicopter during a recent interview on Nova TV. Gvozdeikov shared that the helicopter, designed to meet the highest standards for emergency care, is set to be transported from Italy to Bulgaria next week, with assurance from Italian manufacturers that it will arrive by the end of January.

The National Assembly made significant strides on Thursday, greenlighting key spending allocations from the 2024 State Budget Bill during the second reading:

Alarming levels of air pollution are plaguing several key cities across Bulgaria, exceeding established safety thresholds by more than double, as revealed by both the official European air quality index and the Bulgarian civil platform, airbg.info. Responding to the precarious air quality in Sofia, the municipal authorities urgently advocate for increased reliance on public transportation.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit as Bulgaria's cities gear up for a dazzling array of Christmas markets. From Sofia to Plovdiv to Ruse, these bustling markets promise delightful treats, heartwarming activities, and festive shopping opportunities for everyone.

In a startling incident in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, a child, estimated to be 5-6 years old, was spotted steering a public transport bus. The alarming event occurred on line number 10, with witnesses describing a risky journey through the bustling "Trakia" district. The child, sitting on the driver's lap, reportedly handled the wheel for about ten minutes before disembarking at the next stop.

As the polls opened for the election day, initial data on voter turnout in various Bulgarian cities has started to emerge. These figures provide an early glimpse into civic engagement and participation in the ongoing elections. According to exit poll data from the Gallup agency, reported by NOVA, here are the voter turnout percentages in several key cities as of 09:00:

In which cities and towns in Bulgaria will there be a runoff, this is revealed by the data from the Central Election Commission this morning. The data is still inconclusive. The percentages of protocols processed by city are different. As of 1 p.m., they are 100% in all regional cities except Sofia, Plovdiv and Shumen.

Blagoevgrad

Today, Bulgarians will vote in local government elections. The vote is for municipal councilors, mayors of municipalities, town halls and regions in the three largest cities - Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv. The formed sections are over 12,300.

On the occasion of the 138th anniversary of the Unification of Bulgaria, President Rumen Radev called on Bulgarians to defend national unity so that future generations do not have to lead battles for justice, statehood and dignity, the press center of the head of state reported.

Dr. Igor Prokhorov is from Kharkiv and has nearly 40 years of experience in the field of pediatric surgery. He has been living in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

Today, he works as a caregiver because of the long and expensive procedure for acquiring rights to practice his profession in Bulgaria.