Latvia

NATO's decision to open command-and-control centres in six of its eastern European members will "fuel the artificially created climate of confrontation" in relations with Russia, according to Moscow's ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko.

Turkey and the Netherlands will meet for a crucial rendezvous in the Central Anatolian province of Konya on Sept. 6 after both teams lost points late on Sept. 3 in their bid to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals in France. 

With fighter jets roaring overhead, NATO has inaugurated a military center in the Lithuanian capital amid growing regional concerns over Russia's military presence, sparked by the fighting in Ukraine.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said on Thursday that NATO would build all the capabilities needed to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Plevneliev made his remarks at the at the ceremony which marked the official opening of a NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) in Bulgaria's capital Sofia.

Preparation matches for European national basketball teams are over as they line up for the opening jump ball of the 2015 Eurobasket championships in just two days (September 5). It is the first time in history that the competition will be hosted in 4 European countries -Berlin, Germany; Montpellier, France; Riga, Latvia; and Zagreb, Croatia.

A coordination center set up by NATO as part of its recent eastern redeployment is due to open on Thursday morning in Bulgaria's capital Sofia.

President Rosen Plevneliev is to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside James Appathurai, NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy.

Bulgaria faces the bleakest demographic prospects on a global scale over the next 35 years, according to the 2015 World Population Prospects report of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

In the period 2015-2050, Bulgaria's population is expected to shrink by 27.9%.

Transparency International has criticized the poor criminal liability of legal entities in Turkey, in addition to political interference in foreign bribery investigations, in a report titled "Exporting Corruption" that was revealed Aug. 20. 

Bulgaria will host the decisive play-off against Hungary from the third round of Group II Europe/Africa of the Davis Cup in September.

The winner from the encounter will be promoted to Group I of the Davis Cup.

The matches will be played at the National tennis centre in Sofia and will take place between September 18 and 20.

A Trojan named Gozi/ISFB has added nine major banks in Bulgaria to its list of targets, a specialized website has said.