Sofia

Sofia's Lunar Festival of Lights is back, illuminating the city with more than 20 captivating light installations across its most iconic landmarks. From May 9 to 12, 2024, the organizers promise a dazzling experience, with a 4.5 km pedestrian route and a fresh addition to the festival's lineup - South Park 2.

Sofia, the vibrant capital of Bulgaria, is experiencing a surge in its economic landscape, surpassing the average European standard of living, according to senior researcher Peter Ganev from the Institute for Market Economics.

In connection with the replacement of a shut-off valve on "Beli Dunav" street, district "Nadezhda-3" from Sofia Water warns that today (April 16) it is necessary to stop the water supply from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the area of the districts:

• "Nadezhda-1"
• "Nadezhda-3"
• "Vrabnitsa-1"

In a significant move towards bolstering security in the Black Sea region, the Turkish Parliament has ratified a memorandum paving the way for the establishment of a Mine Countermeasures Naval Group. This development was underscored by Bulgaria's Caretaker Defence Minister, Atanas Zapryanov, during the Black Sea security conference held in Sofia.

The pop-folk singer Debora Ivanova has found herself in the midst of controversy after reportedly causing a car accident in Sofia. According to reports from bTV and Nova TV, the incident occurred on Cherni Vrah Blvd., where Ivanova's vehicle collided with another car.

During the night, there will be scattered clouds, predominantly significant over Eastern Bulgaria, with no precipitation expected. Conditions will remain relatively calm, with minimum temperatures ranging between 6° and 11°, while in Sofia, temperatures will hover around 6°.

As Sofia marks 145 years since its declaration as the capital of Bulgaria, the capital municipality is abuzz with celebrations commemorating this historic milestone.

Overnight, Bulgaria can expect mostly clear skies across the country, with a variable southerly wind ranging from weak to moderate, occasionally strengthening to strong in Eastern Bulgaria and on the northern slopes of the mountains. Minimum temperatures will vary widely, ranging from 6-7°C in some valleys to a balmy 19°C in parts of the Western Pre-Balkans.

Airports in Sofia and Bucharest on Sunday removed passport check points for those departing to or arriving from most European Union member states as Bulgaria and Romania partially joined the Schengen open-travel zone.

As the month draws to a close, residents of Sofia are gearing up for the end of the heating season, with "Toplofikatsia" - Sofia announcing the phased shutdown of heating services starting March 31. The decision comes in response to the sudden warming of weather conditions and the anticipation of high average daytime temperatures in the Bulgarian capital.