Britain is set to hold a national election on July 4, which polls suggest will conclude 14 years of Conservative-led governance, a period marked by significant political upheaval. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the election date this evening after months of speculation. The timing is earlier than anticipated within the party and represents a risky move given the Conservatives' current low popularity....
A powerful storm accompanied by hail and rainfall wreaked havoc in several Sofia districts, including "Druzhba" 1 and 2, "Mladost" 3, and "Slatina," as well as in various villages around Sofia. According to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, hailstones as large as hazelnuts pounded the affected areas, with reports indicating a hailstone measuring 8 mm in diameter in the "Mladost" district. The rainfall recorded reached approximately 41 liters per square meter....
May 24th holds profound significance for Bulgaria as it commemorates the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment, and Culture. This revered holiday pays tribute to the invaluable contributions of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the holy brothers who devised the Cyrillic alphabet, laying the foundation for Slavic literacy and culture. Their visionary efforts in Bulgaria during the 9th century not only facilitated the spread of Christianity but also fostered a cultural renaissance that continues to shape Bulgaria's identity today. Читать дальше...
Real estate agents have reported a surge in property purchases by foreigners in Bulgaria's resorts and major cities like Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas. While resorts like Bansko and Sunny Beach have seen the most transactions by foreigners, Bulgarians remain the primary buyers across all mountain and seaside destinations. In urban areas, foreign buyers are primarily interested in high-end apartments priced above 200,000 euros, whereas in resorts, they tend to opt for one- and two-bedroom apartments... Читать дальше...
Starting from January 1, 2025, Bulgaria aims to raise its minimum wage to at least BGN 1,080 (EUR 552), a significant increase from the current BGN 933 (EUR 477). This announcement was made by Luboslav Kostov, Chief Economist of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (CITUB), during a forum organized by trade unions to discuss the new European directive on minimum wages, as reported by BNR. The decision to increase the minimum wage comes as a result of changes in the Labor Code... Читать дальше...
The Varna District Prosecutor's Office has filed requests to dissolve the Bulgarian National Movement "Shipka" and the Bulgarian Military Union "Vasil Levski" based on the Law on Legal Entities. These organizations, managed by three men identified only by their initials, D.S....
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has once again cautioned Skopje about the potential risk of international isolation due to its failure to fully implement the Prespa Agreement. In an interview with "Open" TV, Mitsotakis reiterated that North Macedonia’s path to European integration hinges on the complete adherence to the Prespa Agreement. He emphasized that the political leadership in North Macedonia must take the provisions of the international agreement seriously to avoid moving towards international isolation. Читать дальше...
The National Statistical Institute (NSI) data reveals that the anticipated average life expectancy for Bulgaria's populace, projected for the period spanning 2021 to 2023, stands at 73.5 years. This marks a notable uptick of 1....
The United States has accused Russia of deploying a space weapon into orbit last week, alleging that the Kosmos 2576 satellite launched by Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome is capable of targeting other satellites, similar to those operated by the US government. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder stated that the satellite poses a potential threat to US interests, as reported by the BBC. Launched on May 16, the Kosmos 2576 satellite orbits in close proximity to a US government satellite, according... Читать дальше...
Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev revealed that the modernization of the Vitosha lifts is estimated to require between 100 and 150 million euros, as he informed the publication "24 Chasa". However, the municipality currently lacks the necessary funds for this project. Terziev outlined potential avenues for financing, including the possibility of securing a loan or applying for an EU grant through an operational program. ...
A total of 26 individuals were apprehended during a law enforcement operation in Sofia's "Hristo Botev" district, targeting various criminal activities including vote buying. The operation, which commenced early in the morning, has resulted in arrests related to vote buying as well as other offenses. Chief commissioner Lubomir Nikolov, Director of the Capital Directorate of Interior, disclosed that thus far, seven individuals have been detained in connection with vote buying, with pre-trial proceedings... Читать дальше...
The Netherlands has announced a prohibition on its citizens adopting children from abroad, as stated by Minister of Legal Protection Franc Weerwind, as reported by Reuters. Weerwind further noted that ongoing interstate adoption procedures will remain at a standstill for the foreseeable future. Over the past fifty years, Dutch families have adopted approximately 40,000 children from 80 different countries....
New year-round measurements conducted by the eco-association "Za Zemiata" (For the Earth) reveal that nitrogen dioxide pollution levels in Sofia remain consistently high, surpassing the official values reported by government agencies. The data also indicates a notable increase in concentrations compared to the previous year, highlighting the ongoing severity of the issue. Remarkably, the Environment Executive Agency's (EEA) automatic measurement system fails to capture the extent of the problem... Читать дальше...
Early in the morning, tens of thousands of Iranians gathered in the heart of Tehran to bid farewell to their late President Ebrahim Raisi, as reported by state television, cited by AFP. Raisi lost his life on Sunday in a helicopter crash amid adverse weather conditions in a mountainous region. The mourners congregated in the vicinity of Tehran University, where a memorial service is anticipated to be led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic....
In the latest sociological study conducted by the "Trend" agency and commissioned by "24 Chasa" media, insights into the potential outcome of Bulgaria's National Assembly elections have emerged. The survey, conducted between May 11 and 18, 2024, involved direct semi-standardized face-to-face interviews with 1003 individuals aged 18 and above. According to the findings, if elections were held today, the GERB party would secure a significant lead, commanding over 10% more of the voters than the second-place... Читать дальше...
Los Angeles police have announced an investigation into the death of actor Matthew Perry, famously known for his role as Chandler in the TV series Friends, according to the BBC. Perry, aged 54, passed away in October due to the "acute effects" of ketamine, as stated by medical officials at the time. The investigation will examine how Perry obtained the painkiller that was found in his system. ...
An ammunition truck that crashed on the "Struma highway" was passing through Bulgaria, as announced by chief commissioner Lubomir Nikolov, director of the Metropolitan Directorate of Internal Affairs. Nikolov explained that the truck encountered trouble at the Bankya roundabout when two of its tires burst, likely causing it to hit the guardrail. This incident damaged part of the tank and briefly ignited a fire in the tractor. ...
The United Nations has halted food distribution in Rafah due to a severe shortage of supplies and insecurity in the area, as reported by Voice of America (VOA). Amid escalating hunger and a critical food shortage in Gaza, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric announced on Tuesday that distribution centers operated by the World Food Program and UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees, are currently inaccessible because of ongoing military operations in Rafah. The UN stated that over 1 million people are experiencing high levels of hunger. Читать дальше...
Today, most of the country will experience sunny weather, though Western and Central Bulgaria will see unstable air masses. Cumulus and cumulus-rain clouds will begin to develop before noon, leading to scattered showers and thunderstorms by the end of the day and into Thursday night. Significant rainfall is expected, particularly in mountainous regions....
