Latest News from Bulgaria
Bulgaria's ABV Willing to Cooperate with BSP in Local Elections
The leader of ABV and former Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov announced that his party is willing to lend support to parties of the left, including BSP at the forthcoming local elections in the autumn.
Bulgaria's RB Most Likely to Postpone Congress for Common Leader
The parties constituting the Reformist Bloc (RB), which is one of the junior partners in Bulgaria's coalition government, continue to be divided over their eventual merger into one formation and the election of a common leader.
Bulgaria's Investment Agency to Establish Regional Unit in Plovdiv
Regional units of the Bulgarian Investment Agency and the State Agency for Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will be established in Plovdiv.
This was announced by Bulgaria's Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski after a meeting with Mayor of Plovdiv Ivan Totev and mayors of other municipalities in the region on Friday, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.
Man Dies After Falling in Elevator Shaft in Sofia
Man died after falling from the 14th floor into an elevator shaft in Sofia's residential district Serdika on Friday evening.
The man fell in the shaft after opening the door of the elevator, while the lift was on the upper 15th floor, the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reports.
Oil and Gas Explorations at Vranino Halted, Await Court Ruling
At present no exploration works are being carried out at the Vranino field in northeastern Bulgaria, as the verdict of the Supreme Administrative Court (VAS) is awaited.
This was announced by the Minister of Environment and Water Ivelina Vasileva in a response to a question posed to her in Parliament on Friday, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.
Bulgaria to Follow Romanian Example in Fighting Corruption - Deputy PM
Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva announced that the country should follow Romania's example if it wants to tackle corruption successfully.
Kuneva said this after meeting Romania's Chief Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate Laura Kovesi and the President of the National Integrity Agency Horia Georgescu, private bTV station reports.
Bulgarian Court Denies Extradition of French Citizen on Abduction Charges
The regional court in the Bulgarian town of Haskovo refused to extradite to France Fritz-Joly Joachin on charges of abduction.
The court has to decide on the request for his extradition on the basis of two European Arrest Warrants (EAW) - one concerning an attempt of kidnapping his child and the other one on terrorism, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.
New Deadline for Completion of Struma Motorway's Lot 4 Announced
Lot 4 of Struma Motorway between the Bulgarian town of Sandanski and the border checkpoint Kulata should be completed until July 31 within the framework of the available budget.
This is foreseen by the annex to the construction contract signed between Bulgaria's Road Infrastructure Agency (API) and the Greek company Aktor on 23 December 2014, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.
Bulgaria to Be Split Into 9 Tourist Regions by End of January
Bulgaria's Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova announced on Friday that the division of the country into 9 tourist regions will take place until the end of January.
Angelkova said that the topic will be discussed in detail at the next meeting of the National Tourism Council which will take place next week, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.
New Car Sales in Bulgaria Grow 5.2% in 2014
New car sales in Bulgaria increased by 5.2% last year, just off the average growth of 5.7% for the European Union, official figures showed on Friday.
In 2014, new car registrations in the EU increased for the first time since 2007 after having been on the decline for six years in a row, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said in a statement.
Bulgaria's Govt to Restore Halted Trains
Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski has assured that no more trains will be dropped from the schedule of the state-owned Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ).
Moskovski told journalists Friday that the state-owned railway carrier would be given back the sum of BGN 40 M it had been deprived of through a subsidy cut.
Bulgaria's PM Reiterates Support for Macedonia's Bid to Join NATO, EU
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has reiterated Bulgaria's support for the Euro-Atlantic integration of Macedonia.
Responding to a question of former Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin, Borisov stressed that the policy of the Bulgarian government on Macedonia was consistent and had remained unchanged.
Kerry hugs Hollande, says shares France's pain
Secretary of State John Kerry clasped French President Francois Hollande in a warm embrace Jan. 16 and said the US shared France's pain after its deadliest attack in half a century.
In an unusual move, Hollande trotted down the steps of the Elysee Palace to greet Kerry, who hugged the French president in front of a phalanx of photographers.
Bulgaria's BH Air to Start Direct Flights to Chicago, New York in May
Bulgarian airline BH Air is expected to launch direct flights to New York and Chicago from the beginning of May 2015, Sofia Airport Executive Director Hristo Shterionov has said.
Another carrier, Swiss International, is expected to launch flights on the Sofia-Zurich route also in May, BTA news agency quoted Shterionov as saying.
Bulgarian Court to Rule on French Terror Suspect's Extradition on Friday
A Bulgarian court will consider on Friday a request to extradite a French citizen charged with having been linked to Kouachi brothers who killed 12 people at the Paris headquarters of Charlie Hebdo magazine last week.