Six charged after 18 migrants found dead in truck in Bulgaria
Sofia, Bulgaria Reuters Bulgarian prosecutors have charged six people with human trafficking after 18 Afghan migrants were found dead inside a truck dumped on an dirt road near the capital Sofia on Friday. Prosecutors said the truck was abandoned near the village of Lokorsko after the driver and his companion found that many of the […]
Bulgaria faces snap polls as Socialists abandon plans to form government
Sofia, Bulgaria Reuters Bulgaria is facing new general election in the spring, the country’s fifth in two years, after the Socialists on Friday gave up on plans to form a working government. The Socialists, who had the third and final chance to form a cabinet following an inconclusive election on 2nd October, said they had […]
Bulgarians, Greeks celebrate Epiphany with traditional rituals
Sofia, Bulgaria/Athens, Greece AP Thousands of young men are plunging into rivers and lakes across Bulgaria to retrieve crucifixes, in an old ritual marking the feast of Epiphany. By tradition, a crucifix is cast into the waters of a lake or river, and it is believed that the person who retrieves it will be freed […]
Christmas comes early and bittersweet for Eastern Europe’s Ukrainian refugees
Prague, Czech Republic/Warsaw, Poland Reuters Many of the millions of Ukrainian refugees in central and eastern Europe plan to mark Christmas early this year in solidarity with their hosts, learning carols in new languages to generate holiday cheer despite fears for relatives back home. Ukrainians generally celebrate Christmas on 7th January in common with Russians, […]
Weary Bulgarians fear more political turmoil after latest election
Davidkovo, Bulgaria Reuters Bulgarians bracing for their fourth election in less than two years face a winter of want amid soaring inflation driven by the war in Ukraine, making many yearn for good government and stability after years of political turmoil. At stake is the next government’s ability to tackle rocketing energy costs and secure gas […]
Pollution killing nine million people a year, Africa hardest hit – study
Reuters Worsening outdoor air pollution and toxic lead poisoning have kept global deaths from environmental contamination at an estimated nine million per year since 2015 – countering modest progress made in tackling pollution elsewhere, a team of scientists reported Tuesday. Air pollution from industry processes along with urbanisation drove a seven per cent increase in […]
Snapshot: The Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria
See ALEKSANDRA A’s image…
Orthodox observe Christmas amid virus concerns
Moscow, Russia AP Orthodox Christians in Russia, Serbia and other countries began Christmas observances Thursday amid restrictions aimed at dampening the spread of the coronavirus, but few worshippers appeared concerned as they streamed into churches. The majority of Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas on 7th January, with midnight services especially popular. The churches in Romania, Bulgaria, […]
Christian world marks Epiphany with series of celebrations
Vatican CityAP Christians around the world on Thursday marked Epiphany, known as Three Kings Day for Catholics and the Baptism of Christ for the Orthodox, with a series of celebrations. Pope Francis used a Mass at St Peter’s Basilica to decry consumerism, parades were held in Spain the night before, and Orthodox believers watched swimmers […]
Flaming bus crash in Bulgaria kills 45 Macedonian tourists
Sofia, BulgariaReuters At least 45 people, including 12 children, died as a bus carrying mostly North Macedonian tourists crashed in flames on a highway in western Bulgaria on Tuesday, officials said. Seven people who leapt from the burning bus were rushed to hospital in Sofia and were in stable conditions, hospital staff said. Bulgaria’s interior […]