Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s caretaker prime minister says priority is rule of law

Bulgaria's new caretaker prime minister said on Wednesday his government's priority would be upholding the rule of law in the European Union's poorest member state. President Rumen Radev appointed Stefan Yanev, a former defence…

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President’s defence secretary to be Bulgaria caretaker PM – sources

Bulgaria's president will appoint his security and defence secretary as caretaker prime minister to lead government until a snap election is held in July, two sources familiar with the process…

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UPDATED: Bulgaria to hold early election on July 11

Bulgaria will hold a snap parliamentary election on July 11, after a third and final attempt to form a government following April 4 polls that led to a fragmented parliament…

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Bulgaria faces fresh elections as Socialists refuse to form a government

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria will head to the polls in July after the Socialists on Saturday became the third political party to refuse to lead a government following last month's…

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Bulgaria reports bird flu outbreak at industrial farm

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarian veterinary authorities will cull 40,000 laying hens in the southern village of Trilistnik after a bird flu outbreak was confirmed at an industrial farm there, the…

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Bulgaria to ease entry rules to lure back tourists

Bulgaria, eager to encourage holiday-makers to its Black Sea resorts, will ease rules for entry to the Balkan country from May 1, its outgoing health minister Kostadin Angelov announced. “From…

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Bulgaria reports fifth bird flu outbreak at industrial farm

Bulgarian veterinary authorities will cull 40,000 laying hens in the southeastern village of Krivo Pole after a bird flu outbreak was confirmed at an industrial farm there, the fifth since…

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Bulgaria’s GERB party fails to form a government, new polls loom

Bulgaria's largest political party gave up its efforts to form a government on Friday, following a limited victory in this month's parliamentary election, boosting the spectre of a snap poll…

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Russia expels two Bulgarian diplomats in spy row

Russia declared two Bulgarian diplomats ‘persona non grata’ on Tuesday and ordered them to leave the country in response to Sofia’s expulsion of two Russian diplomats last month for suspected…

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UPDATED: Bulgaria’s PM Borissov says he will not lead new government

Bulgaria's long-serving Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Wednesday he would not be a candidate to lead the next government after his centre-right GERB party won most seats but fell…

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UPDATED: Bulgarian PM’s party winning election partial official results show but protest parties surge

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov will have difficulty holding onto power, after a surge of votes in an election on Sunday for anti-establishment and anti-corruption parties that want him out.…

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Bulgaria’s GERB party of PM Borissov wins national vote, tough talks ahead – UPDATED

Bulgaria's long-serving Prime Minister Boyko Borissov won a national election on Sunday, exit polls showed, and he is now likely to face complex coalition talks to secure another four-year mandate…

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Bulgarians elect new parliament amid COVID fears, anger over graft

Bulgarians vote in a parliamentary election on Sunday that will decide whether long-serving Prime Minister Boyko Borissov wins a fresh four-year mandate despite persistent concerns about graft in the European…

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Bulgaria’s ruling GERB extends lead ahead of Sunday’s vote, COVID could hit turnout

Bulgaria's ruling centre-right GERB party has extended its lead over the opposition Socialists ahead of Sunday's parliamentary election but is set to fall short of a majority as smaller parties…

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Bulgaria reports record-high 4,851 daily COVID-19 cases

Bulgaria reported 4,851 new cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours, its highest daily tally on record, government health data showed on Wednesday. In total, the Balkan country of…

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Bulgaria COVID-19 hospitalisations jump to record high

The number of coronavirus patients in Bulgarian hospitals has risen to 8,545, the highest level since the start of the pandemic last March, official health data showed. A surge in…

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Bulgaria’s ruling GERB keeps pre-election lead over Socialists

Bulgaria's ruling centre-right GERB party leads the opposition Socialists two weeks before an election but is on course to fall far short of a parliamentary majority, an opinion poll published…

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UPDATED: Bulgaria announces nationwide restrictions as COVID infections rise

Bulgaria will close schools, restaurants and shopping malls until the end of March as it battles a surge in COVID-19 infections that have stretched its hospitals, the health minister said…

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Legal proceedings may delay 5G rollout in Bulgaria

Bulgaria's telecoms operator said it would hold a meeting on Monday to seek ways to boost the commercial rollout of 5G wireless networks after telecoms operator Vivacom contested in court…

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Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia and Latvia seek EU discussion on vaccine distribution

VIENNA (CDE/Reuters) - The leaders of Austria, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia and Latvia have written to the European Union calling for a discussion on COVID-19 vaccine distribution within…

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UPDATED: Bulgaria suspends rollout of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

Bulgaria on Friday temporary halted inoculations with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine until the European medicine regulator produces a written statement dispelling all doubts about the vaccine's safety. "Until all doubts…

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Bulgaria reports highest new Covid cases in three months

Bulgaria reported 3,502 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, its highest daily tally in three months, while the number of deaths increased to 132, government data showed. The Balkan country, which…

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Photo Story: Celebration of Shrovetide in Bulgaria

A child spins a fireball near a bonfire during the celebration of Shrovetide in the village Goren Lozen near Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sunday night. Shrovetide is the last day Orthodox…

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Air France flight made emergency landing in Bulgaria over disruptive passenger

SOFIA (Reuters) - An Air France flight en route from Paris to New Delhi made an emergency landing at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria on Friday at about 5 p.m. (1500…

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EU Cohesion policy: over €63 million for improved drinking water and wastewater services in Burgas district, east Bulgaria

The European Commission has approved an investment of more than €63 million from the Cohesion Fund to provide better access to drinking water and improved sewerage for the people living in the…

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Bulgaria accuses AstraZeneca of taking country’s vaccine ‘hope’ away

Bulgaria’s health minister has accused AstraZeneca of failing to stick to its delivery schedule of COVID-19 vaccines to the country and demanded the immediate shipment of at least 52,800 doses…

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Bulgaria to open restaurants from March, nightclubs from April

Bulgaria will reopen restaurants from March and lift a ban on nightclubs from April, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Wednesday, betting on a vaccination programme and a solid number…

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Coronavirus cases in Eastern Europe surpass 10 million

The number of COVID-19 cases in eastern Europe surpassed 10 million on Friday, according to Reuters tally, as countries across the region aim to increase vaccine procurements from multiple suppliers…

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Bulgaria to cull over 160,000 ducks after bird flu outbreak

SOFIA, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will cull more than 160,000 ducks after an outbreak of bird flu on two duck farms, veterinary officials said on Saturday. The outbreak occurred…

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Europol investigation leads to arrests for forging money and documents in Bulgaria

Six persons were arrested after Europol supported the Bulgarian authorities in taking down an organised crime group involved in currency and document counterfeiting. During the operation, the Bulgarian authorities dismantled…

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Bulgaria to ease some COVID-19 rules, restaurants closed for now

Bulgaria will ease some coronavirus restrictions from February 4 though restaurants will remain closed for now due to concerns about the new coronavirus variant, officials said on Saturday. The move…

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Bulgaria nuclear reactor shut after automatic defences activate

The Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria has shut down one of its two 1,000 megawatt units after a protection system was activated at its Unit 5 following a routine…

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Photo Story: Icy river dip for Epiphany celebrations in Bulgaria

Men jump into the icy water of a lake to recover a wooden cross during celebrations of Epiphany Day in Sofia, Bulgaria, 06 January 2021. The swimmers competed to find…

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Russia expels Bulgarian diplomat in tit-for-tat move

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday declared a Bulgarian diplomat persona non grata in a tit-for-tat move after the expulsion of a Russian diplomat by Sofia. Bulgarian authorities earlier this month…

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Bulgaria expects COVID-19 vaccinations to start December 27

Bulgaria plans to start vaccinations against COVID-19 on Dec. 27 in three of its main cities, chief health inspector Angel Kunchev said. Along with other European Union members, Bulgaria has…

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Bulgaria expects COVID-19 vaccinations to start Dec. 27

SOFIA, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Bulgaria plans to start vaccinations against COVID-19 on Dec. 27 in three of its main cities, chief health inspector Angel Kunchev said on Sunday. Along…

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Photo Story: Bulgarians prepare to celebrate St. Nicholas

People look at fresh fish for sale at an open-air fish market in Sofia, Bulgaria. Bulgaria celebrates on 06 December Saint Nicholas, patron of fishermen, sailors and bankers. Traditional fish-based…

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Bulgaria prepares for COVID-19 vaccines as death rates spike

Bulgaria announced plans to vaccinate people against the coronavirus free of charge once it has procured vaccine doses, and said it would start with doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists. Under…

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Bulgarian doctors exhausted as COVID deaths hit record

With coronavirus death rates surging to record levels in Bulgaria, doctors and nurses in a health service already weakened by decades of emigration to the West say they are exhausted.…

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Bulgaria blocks EU accession talks with North Macedonia

Bulgaria has refused to approve the European Union's negotiation framework for North Macedonia, effectively blocking the official start of accession talks with its smaller Balkan neighbour, its foreign minister said…

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Bulgaria to block EU accession talks with North Macedonia

Bulgaria plans to voice its opposition on Tuesday to starting European Union accession talks with neighbouring North Macedonia as the two countries have yet to settle disputes over history and…

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Bulgaria says North Macedonia must address historical issues or face delay on EU path

Bulgaria has threatened to block North Macedonia’s path towards European Union membership and said it should recognise that both its national identity and language have Bulgarian roots, its foreign minister…

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Bulgaria shuts high schools, nightclubs as COVID cases surge

Bulgaria is closing nightclubs and discos and students from high schools and universities will study online for two weeks as of Oct. 29 as it grapples to contain a surge…

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Bulgaria to allow schools to teach online as COVID cases surge

Bulgarian schools will be allowed to switch to online studies, the education ministry said on Monday, as the Balkan country struggles to contain a new surge in coronavirus infections. Bulgaria,…

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Bulgarian PM tests positive for coronavirus

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Sunday he had a "general malaise" after testing positive for coronavirus and would stay at home for now for any treatment, as recommended…

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Maltese Editors’ Perspectives

Times of Malta looks at controversy surrounding a European Parliament resolution on Bulgaria. It says MEP Roberta Metsola cannot vehemently defend the rule of law at home but not in…

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Bulgaria makes masks obligatory in public as new COVID-19 cases surge

Bulgaria will make wearing protective masks obligatory in all outdoor spaces from Thursday, as coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours hit a new record, its health minister announced. Kostadin…

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Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria continue increasing

Bulgaria reported 785 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, setting a daily record for a fourth time in a week as infections keep rising, official data showed. The Balkan country now…

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Coronavirus cases in Bulgaria have hit new daily high record

Bulgaria has reported 516 new coronavirus cases of coronavirus - the third day in a row it has beaten its own record since the start of the pandemic in March,…

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Bulgaria and Slovakia recalling ambassadors from Belarus

Bulgaria and Slovakia are recalling their ambassadors to Belarus for consultations in solidarity with Lithuania and Poland, their foreign ministers announced after meeting Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Bratislava.…

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EU parliament chastises Bulgaria for rule of law deficiencies

The European Parliament on Thursday chastised Bulgaria for flaws in respecting the rule of law, combating endemic corruption and supporting media freedom, underlining the legislature’s line on defending the bloc’s…

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Bulgaria reports national one-day case record

Bulgaria reported a daily record of 437 coronavirus cases on Thursday, as the country grapples with a rising number of infections, data from the national information platform on the disease…

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Bulgaria registers record high of COVID-19 cases

Bulgaria registered a record high 436 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, data from the national information platform on the disease showed on Wednesday.A total of 22,306 COVID-19 cases…

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Russia warns Bulgaria of retaliatory measures after expulsion of diplomatic officials

Moscow on Thursday expressed regret at Bulgaria's decision to declare two Russian diplomats 'persona non grata' and promised details on retaliatory measures at a later date, the foreign ministry said…

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Bulgaria asks EU to stop ‘fake’ Macedonian identity

A long-simmering historical dispute between two Balkan neighbors is about to enter the corridors of Brussels again as North Macedonia expects an official start to the EU accession negotiation process…

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Jourova faces criticism on muted response to Bulgaria’s rule of law failings

EU Values and Transparency Commissioner Věra Jourová on Thursday had to defend herself against robust criticism from MEPs who pressed Brussels to account for its muted response to Bulgaria’s rule of…

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ECB to supervise five Bulgarian, eight Croatian banks

The European Central Bank will take direct supervision of five banks in Bulgaria and eight in Croatia, countries that have both applied to join the euro zone, it said in…

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