| | Bulgaria to Launch National Unit to Compensate Victims of Slow Justice |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 15:13:54 +0200 |
| | A central unit for compensations in cases of slow justice may become operational in mid-June, according to Bulgarian Justice Minister Diana Kovacheva.
Speaking in Parliament on Friday, she explained that the problem with providing compensation to the victims of slow court proceedings could be easily resolved with amendments to the Judiciary Act.
Kovacheva presented a project for the creation of a specialized body which will handle slow justice complaints and ensure fast remedies.
... |
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| | Far-Right Leader Furious Ahead of Bulgarian-Turkish PM Talks |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 15:07:31 +0200 |
| | Volen Siderov, leader of Bulgaria's far-right Ataka (Attack) party, has once again voiced his discontent with his country's diplomatic relations with Turkey.
Siderov has come up with a declaration demanding that Prime Minister Bouko Borisov explain why he is holding a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan will meet with Boyko Borisov and Qatari PM Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Varna on Friday.... |
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| | Bulgaria PM Makes U-Turn: Bonuses to Go to Sick Kids |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 14:49:29 +0200 |
| | The bonuses that heads of political cabinets and other officials returned in the aftermath of a huge scandal will be used for the treatment of sick kids, rather than the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Balkan Wars.
At the next meeting of the government Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will propose more than BGN 600 000 from the returned bonuses account to be transferred for treatment of sick children, the government's press center surprisingly announced on Friday.
No more details were immediately available.
... |
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| | Plovdiv-Bursa Flights to Be Launched Within 3 Months |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 14:18:30 +0200 |
| | Direct flights between Bulgaria's second largest city of Plovdiv and Turkey's Bursa will be launched withing three months, according to Doychin Angelov, Director of Plovdiv's airport.
Angelov has discussed the project with Bursa Mayor Recep Altepe and representatives of Turkish airline carriers during his visit to Turkey, Darik radio informs.
According to Angelov, the Bursa municipality owns an airline carrier, Bursa Airlines.... |
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| | Gazprom Is Still Calculating Discount for Bulgaria - Russian Media |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 14:15:53 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria managed to negotiate special terms for the supply of Russian gas regardless of its abrupt withdrawal from the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and the Belene NPP energy projects, Russian media outlets note.
Gazprom is expected to offer Bulgaria a discount of 11.1% on gas prices in 2012 and may also eliminate intermediary companies from the supply chain in exchange for the country's support for the South Stream gas pipeline project, Russian business daily Kommersant writes, commenting on the ongoing talks between Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Delyan Dobrev and Gazprom President Alexei Miller in Moscow.
... |
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| | Bulgarian National Goalie Involved in Chain Car Accident - Report |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 13:41:31 +0200 |
| | Nikolay Mihaylov, goalkeeper of Bulgaria's national football team, was involved in a heavy chain car accident that took place on his home country's Trakiya highway, according to a media report.
A 50-year-old man perished and five were injured in the chain car accident. Mihaylov was not not driving his vehicle and was not injured, the Bulgarian National Television says.
... |
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| | Facebook Set for Biggest Tech Flotation, Share Price USD 38 |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 13:10:42 +0200 |
| | After four months of paperwork, hype and speculation, Facebook announced it has priced its IPO at USD 38 a share.
At that price, Facebook's IPO will raise USD 16 B, making it the largest tech IPO in history.
It's the third largest U.... |
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| | Qatar to Invest in Bulgarian Sheep-Breeding, Bee-Keeping |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 12:57:53 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria and Qatar are to establish joint companies in the fields of sheep-breeding and bee-keeping, Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov announced on Friday.
Qatar is interested in importing lamb, as well as white and yellow cheese from Bulgaria, it was also made clear as officials from the two countries met in Sofia.
Naydenov and Qatar's Minister of Environment H.... |
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| | Bulgarian Top Drug Lord Flees to Italy - Report |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 12:24:49 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian drug boss Dimitar Zhelyazkov has found a safe refuge in Italy two months after he walked out of jail a free man, according to media reports.
Zhelyazkov, aka Mityo Ochite (i.e.... |
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| | Bulgarian Beauty Impresses Voters in Miss Universe Canada Competition |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 11:59:57 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian-born Vania Georgieva finished as first runner-up in the People's Choice Award, a special award handed out during the Presentation Show of the 2012 Miss Universe Canada competition.
The Presentation Show was held in Toronto, with the participation of the 62 beauties who were evaluated in the categories of swimsuits and evening gowns.
Georgieva is born in the Bulgarian town of Dupnitsa.... |
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| | Bulgaria for Citizens Co-Founder Denies Coalition Rumors |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 11:48:18 +0200 |
| | Former Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Daniel Valchev, has specified that the Bulgaria for Citizens movement, of which he is a co-founder, will be established as a political party by end-September.
In a Friday interview for the morning broadcast of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT), he explained that an initiative committee would be set up in two weeks' time.
"If all goes well, we shall congratulate ourselves on the new party at the beginning of the new political season," Valchev declared.
... |
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| | Bulgaria to Clash against Netherlands, Turkey without Petrovs |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 11:31:56 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria will go to the friendly games against the Netherlands and Turkey later this month without two of its top players - Martin Petrov and Stiliyan Petrov.
Bulgaria, who failed to qualify for the European Championship, will play against the Netherlands on May 26 in Amsterdam and against Turkey on May 29 in Salzburg.
Coach Lyuboslav Penev didn't spell out his arguments for dropping Martin Petrov when announcing the line-up of the team on Thursday.... |
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| | Bulgaria, Qatar Sign 8 Cooperation Agreements |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 11:28:54 +0200 |
| | A total of 8 cooperation agreements were signed between Bulgaria and Qatar during the first day of Qatari PM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani's visit to the Balkan country.
The two countries will cooperate in the fields of properties, mining, health care, health tourism, culture, investments and in several agriculture sectors.
Al-Thani announced that Qatar has deposited a total of USD 200 M in the Bulgarian National Bank as a sign of its serious investment intentions.
... |
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| | Kaiserslautern Fires Bundesliga's 1st Bulgarian Coach |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 10:57:50 +0200 |
| | Relegated Bundesliga club Kaiserslautern has sacked its coach, former Bulgarian international Krasimir Balakov, according to German media.
The decision was announced Thursday by the club's chairman Stefan Kuntz.
Franco Foda, who is currently the manager of Austrian side SK Sturm Graz, has been tipped to replace the Bulgarian coach.
... |
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| | Bulgaria Will Seek Intensified Cooperation with France – Deputy Foreign Minister |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 10:45:44 +0200 |
| | The political dialogue and the cooperation between France and Bulgaria need a new boost, both in the sphere of bilateral relations and in an EU context, according to Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Naydenov.
Speaking after a meeting with Simon Sutour, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the French Senate, he stressed that France was a very important strategic partner for Bulgaria and called for intensifying the cooperation between the two countries on key issues on the European agenda.
Naydenov's talks with Sutour, who is on an official two-day visit to Bulgaria, revolved around Bulgaria's main priorities, including the country's Schengen bid, the EU cohesion policy, the common agricultural policy, and Bulgaria's stance on the multi-annual financial framework of the EU.
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| | Shale Gas Moratorium Rewording Infuriates Bulgarian Environmentalists |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 10:08:51 +0200 |
| | A revision of the moratorium on oil and gas exploration through hydraulic fracturing introduced Thursday infuriated Bulgarian environmentalists.
The modification introduced Thursday by the ad-hoc parliamentary committee on shale gas removed a provision specifying that the pressure used in oil and gas drilling cannot exceed 20 atmospheres.
The change was requested by oil and gas companies who said that the ban was blocking exploration and production activities of conventional gas.
... |
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| | Bulgaria President Invites Google, HP, Cisco to Sofia Tech Park |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 09:26:05 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, who is on an official visit to the United States, has said that giants like Google, Hewlett Packard and Cisco will help Bulgaria develop the concept of Sofia Tech Park and the subsequent implementation of the project.
The announcement was made after Plevneliev's meetings in a NASA Research Center and in the laboratories of Google, HP and Cisco, according to reports of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA).
Plevneliev described the technological park in Sofia as a platform for entrepreneurship and innovations in the sphere of information and communications technologies.
... |
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| | Bulgarian Ex-Football Star Receives 3-Year Suspended Sentence |
| | Fri, 18 May 2012 08:27:13 +0200 |
| | The Stara Zagora District Court handed Thursday a three-year suspended sentence and five years' probation to Bulgarian football legend and former Mayor of Sliven Yordan Lechkov.
Lechkov was declared guilty of malfeasance in office conducted in February 2010 in his capacity of mayor of the southeastern Bulgarian city.
Lechkov was also banned from taking up managerial posts in the next three years.
... |
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| | Bulgaria Injured Ambassador in Yemen Comes to Sofia for Treatment |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 21:21:48 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria's Charge d'Affaires in Yemen, who was injured over the weekend in a kidnap attempt against him in Sana, has arrived in the capital Sofia for medical treatment.
Boris Borisov was hurt after masked gunmen opened fire at his vehicle in an attempt to kidnap him on Sunday.
"The attackers tried to pull me out of the car, pounded upon it with their rifle butts, fired in the air.... |
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| | Bulgaria Flooded Village Still Waiting for Rulers' Generous Donation |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 20:26:51 +0200 |
| | The ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, still has not transferred the one million levs that it promised to donate to a flood-buried village, a check has shown.
The funding was to be taken from the party's state subsidy and was destined to help the victims of the tragedy in the flooded southeastern village of Biser.
"This is our personal help to these people so that they can rebuild their homes.... |
| |
| | Disco Queen Donna Summer Dies at 63 |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 19:26:05 +0200 |
| | Legendary disco singer Donna Summer passed away Thursday after losing a long battle with cancer, according to a report from TMZ. She was 63.
The sad news still has not been confirmed by Summer's publicist.
... |
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| | IMF Suspends Contacts with Greece Until After New Vote |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 19:10:40 +0200 |
| | The International Monetary Fund will not return to Greece to review its loan program before Athens holds fresh elections on June 17, an IMF official said on Thursday.
"We take note that elections have been called and we look forward to being in contact with the new government when it has been formed," David Hawley, IMF deputy director of external affairs, said at a news briefing.
Greece faced anew the risk of default and exit from the euro zone after voters rejected austerity and the terms of the country's bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund, plunging the country in political instability.
... |
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| | Barroso: EU Wants Greece to Stay in Euro Area |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 18:36:48 +0200 |
| | The head of the European Commission said Europe wants Greece to remain part of the euro zone, but stressed there was "no way" of changing the terms of a 130-billion-euro bailout agreed.
"As far as Greece is concerned, I would like to reaffirm very clearly that we want Greece to stay in the euro area. And the European Union will do all it takes to ensure it," EC President Jose Manuel Barroso said in prepared remarks to the United Nations.
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| | No Safe Haven on the Euro Fringe |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 18:13:30 +0200 |
| | By Harvey Morris
International Herald Tribune
How many Danish krone to the Bulgarian lev? Give up? Well, for the benefit of any Danes who might be planning a trip to Bulgaria, it is a little over 3.... |
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| | Bulgaria Wins Concession as EU Agrees on Bank Capital Rules |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 17:35:57 +0200 |
| | European Union finance ministers have addressed Bulgarian concerns as they agreed on a plan to force banks to hold more capital to counter their risk-taking.
After Bulgaria voiced concerns that banks may be forced to hold more capital against the country's sovereign debt, the EU ministers decided that banks in the country will not be obliged to report as risky the assets they hold in euros and will not be required to have more capital in relation to them.
The government in Sofia has pressed for the concession as the country operates in a currency board regime, in which the lev is pegged to the euro and all Bulgarian currency in circulation is backed by foreign exchange reserves.
... |
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| | 333 Bulgarian Bagpipers Break Guinness Record |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 16:55:25 +0200 |
| | 333 Bulgarian bagpipers set a new Guinness Record on Wednesday evening in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture, NDK, in downtown Sofia.
The event was organized by the Art of Living International Foundation of Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
"It is an honor for me to visit the country of roses for a second time," Shankar told journalists in Sofia ahead of the concert.
... |
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| | Bulgarian King's Tobacco Makes High Quality Brands Cut |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 16:48:43 +0200 |
| | A Bulgarian manufacturer, King's Tobacco, is participating for the very first time in the duty free and travel retail expo of high quality brands and goods, TFWA, in Singapore.
The Bulgarian cigarette maker has received a rare for a local company high recognition since inclusion in the prestigious forum comes only on invitation from organizers.
Other brands, represented in Singapore, traditionally include Christian Dior, Versace, Swarovski, Furla and LaCoste.
... |
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| | From Dubai to Bulgaria and Back during Summer Holiday Months |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 16:39:22 +0200 |
| | Dubai Chronicle
Recently voted the cheapest European holiday destination in the United Kingdom, Bulgaria is also one of the safest and most beautiful countries on the European continent. Over 1500 years of history, rich cultural traditions and well-known hospitality always remain indisputable attractions for the millions of tourists who visit Bulgaria every summer.
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| | Smoke Forces Warsaw-Hurghada Emergency Touch Down in Sofia |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 16:25:07 +0200 |
| | A charter flight heading from Warsaw to Hurghada was forced to make an unplanned stop in Sofia airport on Thursday afternoon over suspicions of a fire aboard.
The plane was carrying 142 passengers aboard, all of whom have landed safely at Sofia airport, Bulgaria's transport ministry announced. They have been evacuated at Terminal 1.
... |
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| | Stoychev Makes U-turn, Returns as National Volleyball Coach |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 16:13:18 +0200 |
| | Radostin Stoychev, the sacked coach of Bulgaria's national male volleyball team, had agreed after all to lead the players at least until the Olympic qualifier in Sofia between June 8 and 10.
Stoychev, however, says that his one condition is the resignation of the Chairman of the country's Volleyball Federation, Dancho Lazarov.
The coach stresses he has changed his mind this over the insistence of Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, and for the players.
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| | Bulgaria to Seek Qatari Investments in New National Stadium |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 15:46:40 +0200 |
| | Commenting on the forthcoming meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, Prime Minister Borisov told journalists that he was hoping to attract investments into a national stadium and a car park.
Borisov explained that he would seek to persuade al-Thani to invest in a project for building a national stadium on the 4th kilometer intersection of the Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd in Sofia and a 4-storey car park.
Bulgaria's Prime Minister bragged that he would meet Thursday "probably the richest and the strongest Prime Minister in this part of the world.... |
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| | Bulgarian Railroad Workers to Stage Mass Rally in Sofia |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 15:35:39 +0200 |
| | Employees of Bulgaria's State Railways company, BDZ Holding, from all over the country will stage a mass protest rally on May 30.
The rally under the motto "No to the Ruin of Bulgaria's Railways," is going to be held in the capital Sofia, at 1 pm, in front of the building of the Ministry of Transport.
The railroad workers' union at the Confederation of Free and Independent Syndicates in Bulgaria, KNSB, has already started a petition in all Bulgarian regions in support of their demands.
... |
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| | Polish Charter Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Sofia |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 15:33:16 +0200 |
| | A charter flight, serviced by a Polish air carrier, has been forced to make an unplanned stop in Bulgaria's capital Sofia after a fire broke out aboard the plane.
No casualties were immediately reported.
It was not immediately clear how many people flew aboard the plane.
... |
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| | Bulgaria's Fiscal Reserve Climbs to BGN 4.9 B Apr 2012 |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 15:03:40 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria's fiscal reserve by April 30, 2012, amounted to BGN 4.9 B, according to flash estimates released Thursday by the press office of the Bulgarian Finance Ministry.
According to government data about the first half of 2011, published at the end of August 2011, as of June 30, 2011, Bulgaria's state fiscal reserve amounted to BGN 5.... |
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| | Bulgaria Introduces EUR 25-5,000 Fines for Smokers |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 14:49:18 +0200 |
| | People found smoking in public places will incur fines ranging BGN 50-10,000 after a full smoking ban was voted in Parliament Thursday.
The amendments were passed after a heated debate in plenary, during which the opposition claimed that the new regulation will have severe adverse effects for businesses.
The ban, which covers work places and facilities, restaurants, bars, bus stations, airports, etc.... |
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| | Bulgaria's Transport Minister: Phishing Accounts for 46% of Cyber Attacks |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 14:22:58 +0200 |
| | In 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, 46% of attacks on network infrastructure were phishing (e-mail fraud scam involving legitimate-looking messages used to lure users into disclosing private info), according to Ivaylo Moskovski, Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications.
Speaking Thursday at the opening of a national conference on crisis prevention and management, Moskovski made clear that the share of malware aimed at stealing confidential data was 17%, botnet attacks targeting connected computers to block the work of institutions were 3% and hacker attacks on e-mail servers were 7.7%.
... |
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| | Bulgaria on Highest Alert over Looming Floods |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 14:17:54 +0200 |
| | Codes red and orange have been issued over upcoming floods for the river of Maritsa in southern Bulgaria.
The code red is effective for Maritsa near the town of Harmanli and the code orange for areas near the towns of Parvomay and Svilengrad and the city of Plovdiv.
There is also a code yellow for the rivers of Sazliyka near the town of Galabovo and of Tundzha near the city of Yambol, also in southern Bulgaria.
... |
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| | Bulgarian Police Bust Illegal Diplomas Workshop |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 14:07:38 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian police in capital Sofia detained two young women Thursday over accusations that the two allegedly engaged in printing and distributing fake diplomas for education.
Both arrested women are aged 23, one of them being a college student with a record for theft, and the other a friend of hers.
The two are believed to have produced fake high schoold diplomas, as well as bachelor's and master's diplomas from 3 large Bulgarian university.
... |
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| | Busted Bulgarian Criminal Had Interpol Warrant |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 13:43:47 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian murky businessman Evelin Banev, aka Brando had an Interpol arrest warrant from Switzerland for cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
The information was reported Thursday by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, thus confirming earlier speculations in Bulgarian media.
Brando was arrested in the town of Sozopol near Burgas Wednesday.
... |
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| | Bulgarian Parliament Passes Full Smoking Ban |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 13:03:56 +0200 |
| | The Bulgarian Parliament adopted Thursday legislative amendments introducing a full ban on smoking in closed public spaces and areas.
The changes in the Law on Public Health mandate that smoking is fully banned in all work places, restaurants, bars, bus stations, airports, etc.
Airports however can be furnished with completely closed smoking chambers.
... |
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| | President to Seattle Expats: Bulgaria Is in Good Hands |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 13:02:19 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev, who is on his first official visit to the US as Head of State, has met with the Bulgarian community in Seattle.
About 40 expats attended the over-one-hour-long meeting where the discussion focused on issuing of ID papers and other documents, Bulgaria's need of IT specialists, and education.
"I am happy Bulgarians are successful people all over the world.... |
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| | Bulgaria Boasts 22.2% Women in Government |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 12:37:50 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria ranks among the countries with over 20% of women in the government, outpacing a number of other European countries like Poland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and Greece.
Bulgaria has four women in a 17-strong cabinet (22.22%) - Justice Minister Diana Kovacheva, Regional Development Minister Lilyana Pavlova, Environment Minister Nona Karazhova and Health Minister Desislava Atanasova, according to reports of private TV channel bTV.
... |
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| | Burly Bulgarian PM Shows Affection for Tender Wildflowers |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 12:35:11 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria's PM Boyko Borisov will personally participate in the re-planting of 2,605 wild snowflake flowers to make way for the construction of Maritsa Highway.
Thursday Borisov was on inspection of the road construction of Maritsa, which is set to connect Bulgaria's southern Trakiya Highway to the border with Turkey in the south-east.
The wild snowflakes, flowers of the genus Leucojum, are related to regular snowdrops, and albeit not protected species in Bulgaria, they are under a special regulatory regime for conservation.
... |
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| | Arrest of Notorious Bulgarian 'Amigossa' Criminal Confirmed |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 12:08:46 +0200 |
| | The Sofia Prosecutor's Office confirmed Thursday that notorious criminal Petar Petrov AKA The Amigo (Amigossa) is in the Sofia jail to serve his 3-year sentence.
The Interior Minister reported earlier Thursday that The Amigo had been arrested several days ago. The Prosecutor now informs, cited by the Bulgarian National Radio, Petrov has been behind bars since May 9.
... |
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| | France Wants Growth Measures before Ratifying Stability Pact |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 11:52:55 +0200 |
| | France will not ratify the current version of the EU Financial Stability Pact and will request the introduction of measures to boost growth, stated new French Economy Minister Pierre Moscovici.
"We stated very clearly that the Pact will not be ratified in its present version, and that we have to complete it with a section on growth," said Moscovici.
"We must reorient the European construction, but not at the price of turning our backs to budgeting responsibility," added France's Minister of Economy.
... |
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| | Nabucco Consortium Presents Downsized Pipeline Project |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 11:45:01 +0200 |
| | The Nabucco Consortium presented Wednesday a revised, smaller version of the gas pipeline project called Nabucco West to the consortium developing the Shah Deniz II gas field in Azerbaijan.
"We are convinced that we have submitted a competitive and comprehensive proposal to the Shah Deniz II Consortium, and that this proposal represents a win-win situation for our shareholders and for suppliers alike," Reinhard Mitschek, Managing Director of Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH, said in a statement.
The 1300-km pipeline Nabucco West is to carry Caspian gas from the Bulgarian-Turkish border to the Central European Gas Hub (CEGH) in Baumgarten and beyond.
... |
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| | Bulgaria in Desperate Attempt to Salvage Lead-Zinc Plant |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 11:35:55 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister, Delyan Dobrev, is discussing Thursday with bank creditors the future of the Kardzhali Lead and Zinc Complex (LZC; OTZK).
OTZK is the largest Bulgarian producer of non-ferrous metals in the southern city of Kardzhali, providing until recently livelihood of many in the city and the region.
OTZK has been out of operation in the past five months due to the plant's failure to meet environmental safety requirements.
... |
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| | Kostadinov Reelected Chair of Bulgarian Files Commission |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 10:48:28 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian Members of the Parliament reelected Thursday Evtim Kostadinov for a second term as Chairman of the Files Commission.
The MPs voted for Kostadinov by name. They also elected members of the Commission for the next five years, who were nominated by the parliamentary groups of political parties with representation in the Parliament.
... |
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| | Greek Leftist: Austerity Threatens Lives of Eurozone, Europeans |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 10:40:03 +0200 |
| | Alexis Tsipras, leader of Greek far-left coalition SYRIZA spoke out against what he views as a highly hazardous austerity policy entrenched in the entire European Union.
In particular Tsipras has accused German Chancellor Angel Merkel "playing poker with European people's lives" by insisting on austerity measures, writes the BBC.
SYRIZA made a spectacular showing at May 6 general elections in Greece, coming second with 52 seats in the 300-seat Hellenic Parliament.
... |
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| | Experts Launch Campaign to Rename Sofia Airport after John Atanasoff |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 09:52:51 +0200 |
| | An initiative committee has launched a campaign to name Bulgaria's largest international airport, the Sofia Airport, after the inventor of the computer John Atanasoff, an American of Bulgarian origin, announced Bulgarian PR expert Maxim Behar, who is one of the authors of the idea.
The Sofia International Airport is located in the Vrazhdebna (meaning "Hostile") quarter in the Bulgarian capital, and is technically known with the same name.
In an interview published by Novinite.... |
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| | Bulgarian President: I Always Go West, Others Went East |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 09:49:54 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has indirectly slammed predecessor Georgi Parvanov for the alleged habit of travelling east.
"My official state visits are west of Sofia. You can make this out.... |
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| | Bulgarian President Dreams Up Sofia Tech Park with US Investment |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 09:20:40 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has invited leading US IT companies to invest for building a technology park near Bulgarian capital Sofia.
Plevneliev is currently on an extended visit to the USA, set to feature not only a meeting with US counterpart Barack Obama and a participation in the NATO summit in Chicago, but also meetings with US businesses to lure investments to Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian President has already met in Seattle Microsoft founder Bill Gates, as well as representatives of Google and Cisco Systems.
... |
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| | 2 Controversial Bulgarian Businessmen Arrested |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 08:44:03 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian murky businessman Evelin Banev, aka Brando, has been arrested in the town of Sozopol near Burgas, confirmed the Bulgarian police.
Police anti-organized crime unit Stanimir Florov stated that police will later reveal what are the alleged activities that mandate Brando's arrest.
Bulgarian media report that Banev might have had a red Interpol arrest warrant against him, and that he is investigated for ringleading an organized crime group.
... |
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| | Bulgaria under Code Yellow over Persistent Rain |
| | Thu, 17 May 2012 08:22:54 +0200 |
| | Code yellow for potentially dangerous weather has been declared Thursday in central northern and southern Bulgaria due to expected new heavy rains.
Under the influence of a Mediterranean cyclone passing over the Balkans, rains that started Monday will be renewed, and at some places will be significant Thursday.
Code yellow has been declared in 9 of Bulgaria's regions, where the precipitation is expected to be heaviest.
... |
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| | Selena Gomez, Ethan Hawke on the Run in Mad Chase in Bulgaria's Sofia |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 20:17:52 +0200 |
| | Hollywood stars Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez were "chased" by US police cars in the Bulgarian capital Sofia in a breakneck action scene from their new movie, The Getaway.
The film chase took place the night of May 15-May 16 in Sofia's streets where Hawke and Gomez were followed in a Ford Mustang Shelby, Bulgarian press reported.
Selena Gomez and Ethan Hawke are in Bulgaria to shoot "The Getaway", a remake of the classic 1972 flick of the same name, which starred Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw.
... |
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| | Anti-Bailout Far-Left Party Takes Lead in Greece's Pre-Election Polls |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 20:05:11 +0200 |
| | Greece's radical leftist SYRIZA party is on the road of becoming the biggest group in the troubled country's next parliament, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday.
A VPRC survey polled Greeks over the May 10-14 period as party leaders struggled to cobble together a coalition following an inconclusive May 6 election. Leaders admitted failure on Tuesday, and Greece is set to return to the ballot on June 17, according to a party source.
... |
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| | Ukrainian PM: Only Court Can Set Tymoshenko Free |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 19:43:59 +0200 |
| | Jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, may only be released after consideration of her appeal but not at "the command of the [executive] authorities", Ukraine's current PM Mykola Azarov said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday Ukraine's civil and criminal high court delayed consideration of Tymoshenko's appeal until June 26, due to the absence of the former prime minister on medical grounds and the need to study "additional materials".
"The consideration of the appeal is the only possible solution in terms of the law," Azarov said at a conference in the European Parliament on Wednesday, as cited by RIA Novosti.
... |
| |
| | Death of a Right-Winger |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 19:33:52 +0200 |
| | The people from a small village are faced with an invasion of snakes and decide to get rid of them by bringing hedgehogs, who polish them off. The solution of the problem, however, turns into a problem itself and the people are forced to bring foxes to wipe out the hedgehogs.
The same scenario repeats until the whole village is wiped out by the waters of a dam whose gates are open by the villagers themselves in order to drown the latest batch of saviors - the hunters.
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| | Bulgarian NGO Breeds Extinct Saker Falcon |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 19:23:47 +0200 |
| | The Bulgarian NGO Zeleni Balkani ("Green Balkans") and its wildlife rescue center have been successful in breeding saker falcons, which are extinct in the wild in Bulgaria.
A young saker falcon has hatched in the Zeleni Balkani rescue center; its parents come from Slovakia, and were transported to Bulgaria earlier this year as part of a project entitled "Saker Falcon in Bulgaria – Research and Preservation", which aims at reintroducing the bird into the wild, the NGO explained.
The newly-hatched is the first saker falcon in Bulgaria in 15 years, and it was the only falcon to be hatched in an incubator out of several eggs.... |
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| | Erste CEO: Bulgaria in Our Long-Term Plans Only |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 19:10:03 +0200 |
| | Erste Group Bank AG, one of the four biggest lenders in the former communist part of Europe, keeps Bulgaria in its plans, but in the longer term, its chief executive has said.
"If we look into the long term, the market we have to move into urgently - and urgently means for me sometime in the next 25 years - is Poland," Chief Executive Andreas Treichl said in response to a question after a meeting of the shareholders on Tuesday.
"Afterwards we will probably relatively soon get into Bulgaria.... |
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| | Ex Bulgarian Revenue Head Soon to Exit Appeals Court |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 18:34:19 +0200 |
| | The trial against the former Director of the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NRA) Maria Murgina will be wrapped soon at the second instance court.
The pleadings of the parties are likely to begin at the court hearing on June 20, it emerged at Sofia's Court of Appeals on Wednesday.
The first instance court, Sofia City Court, sentenced at the beginning of last year Maria Murgina, to four years behind bars over abuse of power.
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| | Bulgaria's Razlog to Advertise Tourism Opportunities to Indian Tour Operators |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:53 +0200 |
| | The southwestern Bulgarian town of Razlog is eager to present the opportunities for cultural and historical tourism, mineral baths and SPA treatments to tourists from India.
On Sunday, Razlog will welcome representatives of Indian tour operators.
The visit will take place within the forum "Bulgaria as a tourist destination on the Indian market".
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| | Bulgaria, Gazprom Power Ahead with South Stream Gas Pipeline |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 17:42:39 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Delyan Dobrev and the head of Russian energy giant Gazprom Alexei Miller have concluded that the construction of the South Stream gas transit pipeline is progressing "as scheduled".
Dobrev and Miller met in Moscow Wednesday, with their talks focusing on the future of South Stream, in addition to the Russian natural gas supplies for Bulgaria, Gazprom said in a statement.
Bulgaria's Economy Minister and the CEO of Gazprom also noted the successful holding of a tender for picking a subcontractor for territorial planning, environmental impact assessment, and drafting the paperwork for the Bulgarian section of South Stream.
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| | Bulgaria Defeated in Court by Viva Ventures over Telco Deal |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 17:29:43 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria has lost a lawsuit against Viva Ventures, a subsidiary of London-based equity fund Advent International, which acquired a 65% stake in the state Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC), in a widely criticized deal in 2004.
The International Arbitration Court in Paris ruled that Viva Ventures has abided by its commitments to the telco workforce, as envisaged in the contract for its sale.
Bulgaria sought to be paid BGN 60 M in damages by Viva Ventures.
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| | Lukoil Bulgaria Snubs Attacks by Customs Agency Head |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 17:02:53 +0200 |
| | Fuel distributor Lukoil Bulgaria has risen against the accusations levied by Customs Agency head Vanyo Tanov that the company is exercising pressure on the prosecution in the trial against him.
"This is yet another attempt to of the Customs Agency Director to mend his personal image through attacks against the company which is the biggest contributor of excise revenues to the state coffers, thereby seeking a justification for his own unfounded public statements," Lukoil Bulgaria said in a press release Wednesday.
The fuel company defined Tanov's accusations as "absolutely unfounded and inadmissible for a European, rule of law country.... |
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| | Hollande-Inspired Bulgarian Nationalists Fail to Get Afghanistan Pullout |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 16:06:13 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian nationalist party "Ataka" has failed to bring about an immediate pullout of the 600 Bulgarian troops current serving in ISAF in Afghanistan.
Ataka MP Ventsislav Lakov made a motion Wednesday demanding the withdrawal of Bulgarian troops from Afghanistan, which was motivated, in his own words, by the fact that the new French President Francois Hollande declared himself in favor of pulling out the French troops.
"Things are changing.... |
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| | Bulgarian Parliament Sets Up 2nd Committee to Examine EX VP's Pardons |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 15:30:26 +0200 |
| | A second ad-hoc committee tasked with probing the activities of the former Bulgarian President and Vice President, Parvanov and Marin, was set up Wednesday in Parliament.
The new entity is called "Ad-Hoc Committee to Examine Facts and Circumstances Related to the Actions and Initiatives of Government Officials in the Executive Branch and of Citizens in Relation to Presidential Decrees Granting Pardons, Cancelling Uncollectible Debts and Granting, Restoring and Withdrawing Bulgarian Citizenship in the period January 2002 – January 2012".
The new committee will be chaired by Yuliana Koleva, MP from center-right ruling party GERB.
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| | Greece to Hold New Election on June 17 |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 15:19:01 +0200 |
| | Greece will hold fresh elections on 17 June and a judge has been appointed to head an interim government.
Council of State president Panagiotis Pikramenos will head the caretaker government until the election.
The election date was announced after party leaders met Greek President Karolos Papoulias on Wednesday.
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| | Russian Police Crack Down on Anti-Putin 'Occupy Moscow' Camp |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 15:15:04 +0200 |
| | Anti-Putin activists have vowed to continue their round-the-clock street protests after police broke up a downtown Moscow Occupy-type camp in a dawn raid on Wednesday.
"I'm expecting more people to join us later today," said protest leader Ilya Yashin, as some several dozen activists gathered in a square next to a landmark neo-classical Stalin-era tower a short walk from the U.S.... |
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| | Bulgaria's FDI Starts Crawling Up in Q1 2012 |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 14:58:21 +0200 |
| | Bulgaria has registered an increase in its foreign direct investment in January-March 2012 year-on-year, according to the latest data of the Bulgarian National Bank released Wednesday.
According to preliminary data, the Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria for January - March 2012 amounted to EUR 236.8 M (0.... |
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| | Bulgarian PM Moves to Reinstate Fired National Volleyball Team Coach |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 14:46:46 +0200 |
| | Radostin Stoychev has been offered to return as the Bulgarian national volleyball team coach at the demand of the country's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.
Stoychev was controversially dismissed Sunday, a day after the heavy favorites for the 2012 Olympic Games-European Qualification Tournament were defeated by Germany in the second semifinal.
The general public and several key national team players have criticized the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation for its decision to fire Stoychev, who learned about his own dismissal from the media.
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| | Household Spending Growth in Bulgaria Outpaces Income Growth in Q1, 2012 |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 14:25:51 +0200 |
| | Household spending in Bulgaria increased by nearly 15% in the first three months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, according to data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI).
Meanwhile, household incomes increased by 10.6% in Q1 2012, compared to Q1 2011.
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| | Socialist Leader: Bulgarians Pin Their Last Hopes on Us |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 14:19:56 +0200 |
| | Days before their crucial congress, Bulgaria's opposition Socialist party leader has addressed members and supporters, stressing the need to unite against ruling GERB.
"Before, during, and after the congress we must be united in out fight against the currently ruling party GERB, which is destroying Bulgaria," Sergey Stanishev said in his short address.
He stressed that people see the Socialist party as the only alternative to GERB and did not mention even once former President Georgi Parvanov, who is his main rival for the leadership post.
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| | Stoychev Snubs Bulgarian PM, Says He Won't Come Back as National Coach |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 14:04:03 +0200 |
| | Radostin Stoychev, the sacked coach of Bulgaria's national male volleyball team, has said that he would not come back to head the team, despite Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's demand to see him reinstated.
"The situation is currently unbearable and I will not come back to the national team," Stoychev declared on Wednesday, as cited by BGNES.
Stoychev was controversially dismissed Sunday, a day after the heavy favorites for the 2012 Olympic Games-European Qualification Tournament were defeated by Germany in the second semifinal.
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| | Bulgarian PM Wants Sacked National Volleyball Coach Hired Back |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 13:13:02 +0200 |
| | Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has demanded that national male volleyball team coach Radostin Stoychev be reinstated.
Stoychev was controversially dismissed Sunday, a day after the heavy favorites for the 2012 Olympic Games-European Qualification Tournament were defeated by Germany in the second semifinal.
Several thousand Bulgarian volleyball fans signed an online petition against the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, stating that stating that Stoychev's dismissal was humiliating and that the move would deal a serious blow to the team's efforts to qualify for the Olympic Games.
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| | India Complains about Defective Weapons Supplied by Bulgaria, Italy |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 12:47:55 +0200 |
| | Over 600 sophisticated weapons supplied under public procurement contracts with Bulgarian and Italian companies for India's paramilitary forces have proved faulty.
According to local authorities, as cited by The Times of India, in the period between 2010 and 2012, Bulgaria-based Arsenal AD supplied 67 500 AK-47 assault rifles, 49 of which proved defective in tests.
In the same period, Italian Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta supplied 17 000 MX4 Storm pistol-caliber carbines, 582 of which proved defective.
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| | Moscow Riot Police Dismantle Anti-Putin Camp |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 12:18:27 +0200 |
| | A camp set up by protesters opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin was dismantled by riot police in Moscow on Wednesday.
According to police authorities, 20 activists have been briefly detained.
A Moscow court had earlier obliged police to "take action to put a halt to disorder" at the camp, which was set up a week ago in the wake of protests against the May 7 inauguration of President Vladimir Putin for a third term, RIA Novosti has reminded.
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| | Sofia Airport Serviced over 290 000 Passengers in April 2012 |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 12:02:36 +0200 |
| | In April 2012, Sofia Airport serviced a total of 291 272 arrival and departure passengers, 3% more than in April 2011.
According to a media statement of Sofia Airport, the largest number of passengers, nearly 270 000, traveled on regular passenger flights to international destinations.
In April 2012, Bulgarian national carrier Bulgaria Air registered a year-on-year increase of 13%.
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| | Ex-Leader Suspects Plan to Destroy Bulgarian Right-Wing Party |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 11:37:46 +0200 |
| | A plan exists for the destruction of Bulgaria's right-wing Union of Democratic Forces party (UDF), according to the formation's former leader, Martin Dimitrov.
The plan involves UDF entering a coalition with two marginal parties, the National Movement for Stability and Prosperity and VMRO-NIE, Dimitrov reckons.
He believes that such coalition would be "of no principles.... |
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| | Alleged Assassination Target to Be Questioned in Bulgaria |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 10:54:05 +0200 |
| | The "businessman" whom the Bulgarian police authorities allegedly rescued from an assassination attempt is to be questioned on Wednesday, Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov has announced.
Tsvetanov told the bTV channel that he cannot disclose the name of the alleged assassination target due to the upcoming questioning. However, he revealed that he has been "registered for numerous frauds" and was "beaten up years ago.... |
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| | Bulgarian Right-Wing Leader Says He Won't Quit after Coalition Falls Apart |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 10:21:18 +0200 |
| | Ivan Kostov, leader of Bulgaria's right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party, has declared that he has no intention of quitting after his coalition partner decided to break up with him.
On Tuesday, the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) decided it would take part in the 2013 general elections on its own, thus practically ending its partnership with DSB within the so-called Blue Coalition.
The move prompted UDF leader and Blue Coalition co-chair Martin Dimitrov to resign, as he was against the move that was decided through voting.
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| | Bill Gates May Help 500 More Bulgarian Libraries |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 09:46:17 +0200 |
| | Some 500 more libraries may be included in the Global Libraries Bulgaria project, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev announced after meeting with Bill Gates in the US.
The program has already helped 960 libraries in 895 Bulgarian communities, 71% of them based in villages. The computers in many of these libraries are said to be used for EU fund project applications and job applications.
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| | Mladic War Crime Trial Kicks Off Wednesday |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 09:18:10 +0200 |
| | Alleged war criminal Ratko Mladic goes on trial in The Hague on Wednesday charged with masterminding atrocities in Bosnia.
Mladic stands accused of genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war and crimes against humanity during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia. He was arrested in Serbia on May 26 after 16 years spent hiding from the international justice.
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| | Bulgaria Awaits Decisive Vote on Full Smoking Ban |
| | Wed, 16 May 2012 08:45:52 +0200 |
| | A full smoking ban in closed public spaces is expected to be passed at second reading in the Bulgarian Parliament on Wednesday.
The ban is to come into force on June 1. Smoking will be abolished in bars, working places, school yards, playgrounds and outdoor school events.
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