Defence Ministry

A Bulgarian parliament commission will hold a hearing of top Interior Ministry officials about last week's protests by members of police force on Tuesday.

A sitting of the Home Security and Public Order Commission  is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.(1300 GMT).

More US troops could "absolutely" be deployed to Syria if Washington identifies more "capable local forces" as partners in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in an interview aired on Nov. 8.

The protests of Bulgarian policemen over the planned cuts in their social benefits are continuing for the third consecutive day on Thursday.

Trade unions had informed the municipality that a protest flashmob will take place between 18.30 and 20 EET at the Eagles' Bridge in Sofia on Thursday, daily Dnevnik protest.

Bulgaria's Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev said on Wednesday that there is no need to trim the social benefits granted to the members of the military as the armed forces have already completed a reorganization programme aimed at saving costs.

Bulgaria's Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev has called an extraordinary meeting of the consultative Defence Council for Wednesday to discuss cuts in the remuneration packages of armed forces staff planned in the 2016 budget draft.

Bulgaria's Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova is to request a new update of the budget of the Ministry for 2015, seeking to cover additional expenses amounting to BGN 21 330 000.

The extra costs involve obligations to pay benefits to former employees due under the Interior Ministry Act and the Labor Code.

China hopes the United States can scale back activities that run the risk of misunderstandings, and respect China's core interests, the Defence Ministry on Oct.1 cited a senior Chinese naval commander as saying. 

Bulgaria will amend its legislation to allow military aircraft of other NATO member states to conduct policing of the country's air space jointly with the Bulgarian Air Force, the Defence Ministry has announced.

Afghan forces clashed with Taliban fighters in Kunduz on Sept. 29 as the government launched an operation to retake the centre of the northern city, the first provincial capital to fall to the insurgents since their movement was toppled 14 years ago.

Four ships under the command of Standing NATO Response Force Mine Countermeasure Group, SNMCMG-2, will visit the Montenegrin port of Bar on Friday, the Defence Ministry has announced.