Latest News from Bulgaria
Serbia Appeals Court Rejects Bulgaria's Request to Extradite Tsvetan Vasilev
Belgrade Court of Appeal has rejected Bulgaria's request to extradite Tsvetan Vasilev, majority owner of collapsed Corporate Commercial Bank, or KTB, Sofia-based BNR radio station reported on Wednesday.
The decision returns the case to the lower court, BNR quoted a spokeswoman for Belgrade Court of Appeal as saying.
Deputy Chair of Sofia City Court Resigns
Chairman of Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassation (VKS) Lozan Panov announced that one of the deputy chairs of Sofia City Court (SGS) - judge Ivo Dachev resigned on Wednesday.
Although both Panov and Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov have demanded the immediate resignation of SGS's management en bloc, this has not happened to date, Darik radio reports.
Georgi Kostov Appointed as New Interior Ministry Chief Secretary
Georgi Kostov has been appointed as new Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, the President's press office announced on Wednesday.
President Rosen Plevneliev has signed a decree accepting the resignation of Svetlozar Lazarov and appointing Kostov to the top post, the press office said in a statement.
Bulgaria's Govt Proposes Georgi Kostov as New Interior Ministry Chief Secretary
Bulgaria's government has nominated Georgi Kostov as new Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry following the resignation of Svetlozar Lazarov.
The cabinet has proposed to President Rosen Plevneliev to accept Lazarov's resignation and appoint Kostov to the post.
Kostov currently is serving as Deputy Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry.
Rescuers Save Man Hit by Avalanche in Bulgaria's Pirin Mountain
A man hit by an avalanche in Bulgaria's Pirin Mountain on Wednesday has been retrieved alive from under the snow piles.
Vasil Cholakov, 37, a Bulgarian national living in Sofia, has suffered a chest trauma and has been sent to a medical centre in the town of Bansko, according to the head of the Bulgarian Red Cross Hristo Grigorov, who was on the site.
First Round of Indian Wells to Start with Bulgarian Encounter
The first round of the Indian Wells tournament will pit against each other Bulgaria's best female tennis player Tsvetana Pironkova and her fellow national Sesil Karatancheva.
This will be the third official encounter between Pironkova and Karatancheva, so far both of them having exchanged a victory against each other, daily Dnevnik reports.
Bulgarian President to Pay Two-Day Official Visit to Serbia
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev will pay an official visit to Serbia on Thursday and Friday at the invitation of his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic.
The visit reflects the focus of Plevneliev's foreign policy programme on regional cooperation, better connectivity between the countries of the region and their EuroAtlantic perspective, Focus news agency reports.
European Parliament Revokes Immunity of Bulgaria ex-PM Stanishev
The European Parliament has moved to lift the immunity of Sergey Stanishev, a former Bulgarian PM and current leader of the Party of European Socialists (PES).
Stanishev earlier reported that he had requested the European Parliament to take the step in a fast-track procedure.
The former PM is facing charges at home, but could not be indicted due to his immunity as a lawmaker.
Bulgarian Waste Sorting is Being Compromised by Vandalism Acts
Over the course of the first several months of 2015, more than BGN 12, 000 had to be invested in the restoration or substitution of waste sorting containers across Bulgaria.
The announcement was made by Georgi Slavchev - a representative of one of the companies appointed to administer the process within the Sofia municipality, as reported by the Bulgarian National Radio.
European countries should build onshore parts for Turkish Stream, says Russian Energy Minister
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said now European countries should be building onshore links for the Turkish Stream on their own at an exclusive interview with Reuters.
"Now counties should be building (onshore links) on their own. The routes could be different - they may come to Italy if they want. This is not our business anymore," he said.
UEFA to Fine Bulgaria's Levski Sofia with EUR 200 000
UEFA will fine Bulgaria's Levski Sofia with EUR 200 000, as part of the sanction imposed on the football club in 2014 for breaching the rules on financial fair play.
Although the monitoring of Levski expired in February after UEFA had overseen the club's accounting for a period of nine months, the fine will not be revoked, daily Dnevnik reports.
Bulgaria Nationalists Urge Debate on Bringing Back Death Penalty
The nationalist coalition Patriotic Front (PF) will insist on a social debate on whether the capital punishment should be reintroduced, its co-leader Valeri Simeonov has said.
PF, which back the current Bulgarian government, has stressed the need for the country to overcome a looming "ethnic crisis" and tackle hundreds of cases of "robberies and beatings" on pensioners.
Bulgaria Ex Caretaker IntMin 'Nominated Head of Military Intelligence'
Yordan Bakalov, a former interim Interior Minister, is Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's proposal to take over the Defense Information Service, media sources say.
German Foreign Minister Calls Rosen Plevneliev 'Romanian President'
''Towards the end of my visit to Bulgaria, I was also received by the Romanian President Rosen Plevneliev,'' stated the Facebook profile of the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Several hours later the mistake was corrected after a number of angry comments posted in response, including those of Bulgarians, BGglas daily reported.
Weather Conditions in Bulgaria Remain Harsh
The regions of Smolyan and Kardzhali, as well as the municipalities of Ivaylovgrad Laki, Batak, Sarnitsa, Velingrad, Haskovo and Galabovo remain in a state of emergency over the heavy rains and snowstorms in Bulgaria.
Close to 538 locations across the country had no electricity, as announced by the Interior Ministry's Press Office.