Bulgaria

Greek police on Friday obstructed farmers protesting hikes to tax and social security contribution payments from moving their tractors to block the Promachonas checkpoint on the country's border with Bulgaria.

After a five-set thriller which lasted 4 hours and 56 minutes, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov (15th) lost the Australian Open semi-final to Spaniard Rafael Nadal (9th) -6:3 5:7 7:6(5) 6:7(4) 6:4.

As of Friday, Bulgaria will be governed by a caretaker cabinet, announced President Radev during the official presentation of the composition and priorities of the cabinet appointed by him.

"This cabinet will govern in a complicated external political and international situation. The country needs security and stability," stated Radev.

The main problems faced by Bulgarians continue to be - low income (58%), corruption (46%), and household crime (41%), showed the regular three-month survey of Alpha Research agency, carried out with Nova TV.

The survey was conducted in the period January 14 - 22 and shows that the emigration of young Bulgarians abroad (35%) and violations of the law (27%) are next in the ranking.

If parliamentary elections were held today, GERB would win 32.6% of the votes of people who are determined to vote, while BSP will get 28.8%, showed the results of the latest survey of NOVA and Alpha Research agency, presented on Nova TV. No single party would have an independent majority and possible coalitions would be difficult to form.

The party of former Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov Yes, Bulgaria will take part independently in the upcoming snap elections, announced Ivanov on bTV.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party late on Thursday night.

Bulgaria's caretaker government officially steps into office on Friday, after the country's new President Ramen Radev signed a decree appointing it on Wednesday.

Led by law professor and former President of the National Assembly Ognyan Gerdjikov, it has four deputy-prime ministers and 15 ministers with a predominantly expert profile.

President Rumen Radev will present the structure and priorities of the caretaker government with PM Ognyan Gerdzhikov.

After the ceremony, former PM Boyko Borisov and Ognyan Gerdzhikov will hold talks.

The decision of the legendary Bulgarian-born artist Christo to pull out of a major artwork on Wednesday has been called by The New York Times "the most visible - and costly - protest of the new administration from within the art world".

Code Yellow has been declared for all of Bulgaria for January 27 due to low temperatures.

In the morning minimum temperatures will be between minus 16 and minus 11 degrees, dropping even further in some regions of the country.

Maximum temperatures will also remain negative.