Новости за 21.05.2024

In about a month, Bulgaria will finalize its approach to organizing military training for civilians, as the deadline for creating the Strategic Defense Review ends in late June. Meanwhile, several European countries are already offering such training. A summary of media reports since the start of the year shows a trend: many NATO countries are initiating dialogues on civilian military training....

Commenting on the crash involving Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blamed the US for undermining flight safety due to its sanctions. Iranian media published photos of the crashed American Bell 212 helicopter, which was transporting President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and six others. Although Iran had purchased many Bell helicopters before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the specific origin of the crashed helicopter remains unclear. ...

GERB unveiled its management program, with party leader Boyko Borisov expressing readiness to negotiate with any party that acknowledges GERB's agenda after the June 9 elections. During the event, Borissov emphasized that the political crisis should be resolved with a comprehensive management mandate and a prominent political leader heading the cabinet. Raya Nazaryan, the deputy chairperson of the GERB parliamentary group, described Borissov as the "brightest political figure," implying his candidacy... Читать дальше...

A tragic incident occurred aboard a Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 traveling from London to Singapore, resulting in one fatality and at least 20 injuries due to severe turbulence. Departing from London Heathrow around 22:00 local time, the Boeing 777 encountered strong air currents upon entering Singapore's airspace, leading to intense turbulence. Consequently, the flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok to address the situation. ...

The Central Election Commission (CEC) provided a briefing on the preparation and organization of the 2-1 elections scheduled for June 9. "Until Saturday, May 25, voters who have a registered current address in another populated place in the country and want to vote in the elections on June 9 at this current address can submit an application to the municipal administration. Until May 25, the deadline for submitting applications for voting with a mobile box, which allows citizens to be served by a mobile CEC," stated Rositsa Mateva... Читать дальше...

A comprehensive guide for Bulgarian investors looking to enter Dubai's lucrative off-plan property market, including benefits, the buying process, best areas, and essential considerations.   The futuristic skyline, opulent lifestyle, and vibrant business landscape of Dubai captivate astute investors from around the globe....

During a session of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), it was decided that in the upcoming 2-in-1 elections on June 9, ballots will be distributed across four separate ballot boxes, a novelty in the electoral process in Bulgaria. The procedural guidelines governing the operations of local election commissions across the country for the combined elections will vary depending on whether the voting takes place solely with paper ballots or includes the use of electronic devices, as reported by BNR. Читать дальше...

Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) is planning to introduce video surveillance on its trains, according to a written response from Transport Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov to a parliamentary inquiry. Gvozdeikov specified that a successful trial of video surveillance has already been initiated in the locomotives. An assessment is currently underway to determine the effectiveness of this initiative, and if deemed successful, it is likely to be extended to passenger wagons as well. ...

Bulgaria’s prospects for joining the euro in 2025 have been bolstered by a cooling annual inflation rate, which dropped to the eurozone average of 2.4% in April, marking its first dip below 3% since the summer of 2021, according to statements from the country's finance ministry to Euractiv Bulgaria. The ministry affirmed a strong political commitment from Sofia to align with Eurozone standards, indicating a possibility of meeting the price stability criterion before the end of 2024....

Scarlett Johansson has expressed her concerns about the voice used in OpenAI's ChatGPT, accusing CEO Sam Altman of creating a voice that closely resembles hers without her consent, as reported by the Financial Times. Expressing shock and frustration, Johansson stated that she was taken aback when she heard the demo, finding the similarity between the AI voice and her own voice unsettling. She revealed that Altman had approached her last September, seeking her involvement in voicing the ChatGPT chatbot....

At the Cannes Film Festival, a biographical movie featuring Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova, titled "The Intern," made its debut, as reported by BTA. Directed by Iranian-born filmmaker Ali Abbasi, the film garnered an eight-minute standing ovation following its premiere screening at the festival palace, with Abbasi commenting that it's time for political films to return. Considered one of the most highly anticipated events of the festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the film's premiere... Читать дальше...

For the past 12 years, Turkey has deliberately refrained from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticizing the event for promoting what he perceives as "gender neutralization" and posing a threat to traditional family values, as reported by the Associated Press. During a speech following a cabinet meeting, Erdogan condemned the Eurovision contestants as "Trojan horses of social corruption" and asserted his government's prerogative to abstain from the pan-European pop contest since 2012. Читать дальше...

A recent revelation of a clandestine recording involving key figures of the "We Continue the Change" party has sparked turmoil amid the ongoing election campaign in Bulgaria. The audio, released on the "Afera" website last night, was subsequently confirmed to be authentic by the political party. Despite its poor quality, the voices of party co-chairmen Kiril Petkov and Asen Vassilev, former prime minister Nikolai Denkov, and Petkov's aide Lena Borislavova can be discerned. ...

United States lawmakers are considering imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to US House Speaker Mike Johnson. He stated that Congress is exploring various options, including sanctions, to penalize the ICC and ensure accountability for its leadership if they proceed with the warrant. Johnson emphasized the need for global condemnation of the ICC's decision, asserting that it lacks authority over Israel or the United States. Читать дальше...

Canadian actress of Bulgarian origin, Nina Dobrev, revealed on Instagram that she was involved in a serious accident with an electric moped. She shared photos depicting the incident, captioned "How it started and how it's going," showing her on the moped initially and later lying in the hospital with her leg in a splint, wearing a neck collar, and hooked up to medical equipment. "I'm OK, but I have a long recovery ahead of me," she noted. ...

US President Joe Biden stated on Monday that the situation in Gaza is not genocide and reaffirmed his support for Israel during a White House event for Jewish American Heritage Month, as reported by The Hill. Speaking to guests in the Rose Garden, Biden dismissed allegations of genocide against Israel, criticized the International Criminal Court's request for a warrant against Israeli leaders for war crimes, and pledged continued support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas. Biden acknowledged the trauma from the October 7 Hamas attacks... Читать дальше...

Bulgarians honor Saints Constantine and Helena, who are venerated as the Equals of the Apostles. Like the Apostles, they dedicated themselves to spreading the teachings of Christ. Saint Constantine, the founder and first emperor of the Byzantine Empire in the 4th century, made Christianity the official religion in Byzantium....