Latest News from Bulgaria
Grigor Dimitrov Qualifies for Australian Open's 3rd Round
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria achieved on Thursday a surprisingly difficult victory against South Korea's Hyeong Chung in the second round of Australian Open.
Dimitrov will face Richard Gasquet in the next round.
Russian tourists to flock back to Turkey, early bookings show
Half of Russia's holidaymakers have chosen Turkey as their top travel destination in 2017, a report released by the Association of Tour Operators in Russia (ATOR) stated, citing estimates from the country's tour operators and agencies, as reported by state-run Anadolu Agency on Jan. 18.
Bulgaria, Serbia to Ink Gas Interconnector MoU
Bulgaria and Serbia's Energy Ministers are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of a gas link between the two countries, Bulgarian officials say.
Fresh Snow Catches Bulgaria Off-Guard
New heavy snowfall has disrupted traffic across Bulgaria, with the country's north-west and south most severely affected.
In Varna region, third- and fourth-class roads remain closed for a second day.
As many as 142 snow plows are operating in Sofia on Thursday morning, but their work is hampered by the constant snowfall, according to news website Dnevnik.bg.
Greece Halts Trucks from Bulgaria over Bad Weather
Greece has halted trucks entering via two border crossings from going on in direction to several key cities over severe weather conditions.
The restriction is in force as of 10:00 local time (EET) on Thursday for Ilinden-Exochi and Kulata-Promachonas border crossing points, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry says.
Bulgaria's EU, NATO Choice Should Not Be Questioned - President-Elect
Bulgaria has the potential for a more enhanced political presence in Southeast Europe, Bulgaria's President-elect Rumen Radev has said.
In a highly critical speech after his swearing-in ceremony in the Parliament, Radev has vowed to be "the President of all Bulgarians, regardless of their party affiliation, religion and ethnicity" and to oppose "attempts at polarizing our society."
Code Yellow in Most of Bulgaria over Snow, Road Ice
A warning has been issued by Bulgaria's weather service for Thursday.
Ruse, Targovishte, Razgrad, Silistra, Dobrich, Shumen, Varna, Burgas, Sliven, Yambol, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Smolyan, Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik and Plovdiv are the regions affected.
Along the Black Sea coast, heavy winds are expected at a speed of 12-17 m/s with gusts of up to 18-20 m/s.
Bulgaria's Presidential Transition: Rumen Radev's First Few Days (Part 2)
Rumen Radev's first task after moving into the Presidency will be to kick off consultations with political parties represented in Bulgaria's Parliament starting March 23.
According to daily 24 Chasa, the lineup of his interim government will be announced by January 28.
Farmers gearing up for road blockades over tax plans
Members of unions representing farmers in central Greece met on Wednesday to discuss plans for a fresh round of road blockades in protest at the government's taxation plans for their sector.
The aim of the meetings, sources said, was for farmers to prepare road blockades such as those set up this time last year at key road junctions.
World Bank: Entire Bulgarian Generation Needed To Reach EU Standards
Bulgaria has to continue to improve collectability of taxes and take measures for reducing the size of the grey economy, recommended the European Commission.
The World Bank warned that, at this rate of labour productivity, an entire generation will be needed in order to reach the average levels of income and living standards in the EU.
KEVR To Launch Inspections of Energy Distribution Ventures
Bulgaria's Energy Ministry and the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR) will start emergency inspections of the three electricity distribution ventures due to the record-high consumption of electricity in the last two months.
The purpose is to guarantee that the bills of household consumers for December and January are real.
Belgium's CALL: Bulgaria Does Not Offer Migrants Good Conditions
Conditions for the admission of migrants in Bulgaria are not satisfactory, ruled in three separate instances a judge with the Council for Alien Law Litigation (CALL) in Belgium, reported BTA.
Bulgaria's Handover of Gulenist to Turkey 'Unlawful' - Amnesty
The move to expel Gülen supporter Abdullah Buyuk to Turkey "bears all the hallmarks of an unlawful rendition to risk of torture", human rights organization Amnesty International says in a report.
In one of the sections dedicated to Bulgaria, AI recalls the story of Buyuk, who was handed over to Turkey in August of last year.
Bulgaria's Vice President Hints at Her Appointment to Interim Govt
"I will have a new workplace" in the short term, Bulgarian Vice President Margarita Popova has said at her farewell press conference with President Rosen Plevneliev.
Popova's comment comes in response to a journalist's question whether she received an invitation to the caretaker cabinet due to be appointed by President-elect Rumen Radev.
Bulgaria May Lose EU Presidency If It Stirs Divisions, President Warns
Outgoing Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has argued Bulgaria may be stripped of its Council of the European Union presidency if it works toward division within the EU.
In his farewell press conference alongside Vice President Margarita Popova, he has said such a move is one of the "big risks" facing the country in the months to come, a step that would be "a shame" on Bulgaria.