ARCHIVE - 15 February 2013

» Back to calendar

Business

Woman Arrested for Threats against Bulgarian PM
Anti-Trust Watchdog Clears Acquisition of Bulgaria's Kaolin by Germany's Quartzwerke
Ex Bulgarian Energy Minister: Liberalization Will Reduce Opacity, Not Power Bills
Central Cooperative Bank Acquires Minority Share in Bulgarian Utility CEZ
Chair of Bulgaria's Energy Watchdog Hints at Power Rate Reduction

Politics

Bulgarian Interior Minister Backs Expulsion of Hamas Delegation
Bulgaria FM: Hamas Visitors Weren't Banned from EU
Hamas Condemns Bulgaria over Expulsion of Its Lawmakers
Israel Pressured Bulgaria to Kick out Hamas Delegation - Report
Security Agency: Hamas Visit Was Threat for Bulgaria
Bulgaria Min: Burgas Bombers Ran Hezbollah Units in Canada, Australia
Ministry Spokesman Rejects Softening of Dutch Stance on Schengen Expansion
EU: UK Won't Curb Bulgarian, Romanian Immigration
EU Foreign Affairs Council Not Likely to Blacklist Hezbollah
Bulgaria to Receive EU Funds of over EUR 15 B in 2013-2020 - PM
UK Urges EU to Tighten Measures against Hezbollah
Bulgarian Ruling Party Would Lose Elections - Polls

Society

2 Bulgarian Women Found Dead in Italy's Florence
Researchers Call for Abolition of EC Progress Reports on Bulgaria, Romania
Bulgarian Church to Name 3 Patriarch Candidates
Meteorite Fall in Russia Injures over 500
Meteorite Fall Stuns Central Russia
Beloved Bulgarian Actor Todor Kolev Dies at 73

Sports

Dimitrov Battles Past Baghdatis to Reach Semifinal in Rotterdam

Crime

Dutch Man Caught Smuggling Gold Bars at Bulgarian Border Crossing
Bulgarian Court OKs Fraudster's Deportation to USA
Anti-Mafia Court Rules BGN 50 000 Bail for Bulgaria's Sugar VAT Fraud Boss
Bulgarian Prosecutor Mysteriously Arrested
Bulgarian Drug Lord Sentenced to 7.5 Years behind Bars

World

Russian Orthodox Cleric Deems Devastating Meteorite 'God's Sign'
Fule Cancels Macedonia Visit over Political Stalemate
Russian Nationalist Claims Meteorite Was 'US Weapons Test'
Patriot Missiles in Turkey No Threat for Syria, NATO Tells Russia
North Korea Drives Space Program Forward - Report
UK Horsemeat Probe Results in 3 Arrests
US Republicans Block Hagel for Defense Secretary

Business

Woman Arrested for Threats against Bulgarian PM

A 28-year-old woman with psychiatric problems has been detained in the town of Omurtag in Northeastern Bulgaria for making phone threats against Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Business | February 15, 2013, Friday // 15:50

Anti-Trust Watchdog Clears Acquisition of Bulgaria's Kaolin by Germany's Quartzwerke

Bulgaria's Commission on Protection of Competition (KZK) has cleared the acquisition of mining company Kaolin by German Quartzwerke.

Business | February 15, 2013, Friday // 14:03

Ex Bulgarian Energy Minister: Liberalization Will Reduce Opacity, Not Power Bills

Asked to comment on the growing discontent of Bulgarians over high power bills, former Economy and Energy Minister Traycho Traykov has reminded that the country has low electricity tariffs compared to the EU average.

Business » Energy | February 15, 2013, Friday // 16:52

Central Cooperative Bank Acquires Minority Share in Bulgarian Utility CEZ

Central Cooperative Bank, which is connected with controversial Varna-based security and business group TIM, has acquired a minority share of 9.

Business » Energy | February 15, 2013, Friday // 14:57

Chair of Bulgaria's Energy Watchdog Hints at Power Rate Reduction

Yuliana Ivanova, newly appointed Chair of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), has suggested that electricity prices could drop.

Business » Energy | February 15, 2013, Friday // 11:45

Politics

Bulgarian Interior Minister Backs Expulsion of Hamas Delegation

Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov has defended the expulsion of a four-member Hamas delegation from the country earlier on Friday.

Politics » Diplomacy | February 15, 2013, Friday // 16:02

Bulgaria FM: Hamas Visitors Weren't Banned from EU

The Hamas representatives that visited Bulgaria were not on any list with persons banned from entering the EU, stated Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolay Mladenov.

Politics » Diplomacy | February 15, 2013, Friday // 14:39

Hamas Condemns Bulgaria over Expulsion of Its Lawmakers

The Hamas government in in the Gaza Strip has condemned Bulgaria's expulsion of a party delegation visiting the country.

Politics » Diplomacy | February 15, 2013, Friday // 14:32

Israel Pressured Bulgaria to Kick out Hamas Delegation - Report

The Hamas delegation that had arrived in Bulgaria Wednesday has left the country Friday under controversial circumstances.

Politics » Diplomacy | February 15, 2013, Friday // 11:38

Security Agency: Hamas Visit Was Threat for Bulgaria

Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security has issued a statement confirming that it has expelled representatives of Hamas who visited Bulgaria.

Politics » Defense | February 15, 2013, Friday // 14:08

Bulgaria Min: Burgas Bombers Ran Hezbollah Units in Canada, Australia

Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov has yet again reiterated his belief that two of the attackers of the July 2012 bombing in Bulgaria are part of Hezbollah.

Politics » Defense | February 15, 2013, Friday // 08:40

Ministry Spokesman Rejects Softening of Dutch Stance on Schengen Expansion

A spokesman for the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice has rejected an alleged softening of stance towards Bulgaria's accession to Schengen.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 15, 2013, Friday // 15:09

EU: UK Won't Curb Bulgarian, Romanian Immigration

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has assured Bulgaria and Romania that the UK will not keep its labor market restrictions for their citizens after December 31, 2013.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 15, 2013, Friday // 13:47

EU Foreign Affairs Council Not Likely to Blacklist Hezbollah

The Bulgarian report suggesting that Hezbollah may have been responsible for last year's Burgas bus bombing will be discussed at the next meeting of EU's Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 15, 2013, Friday // 13:12

Bulgaria to Receive EU Funds of over EUR 15 B in 2013-2020 - PM

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has boasted that Bulgaria will receive over EUR 15.4 billion in EU funds in the period 2013-2020 despite the reduction in the total EU budget.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 15, 2013, Friday // 13:06

UK Urges EU to Tighten Measures against Hezbollah

British Foreign Secretary William Hague called on the European Union to ensure that organizations like Hezbollah can't carry out attacks without consequences.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 15, 2013, Friday // 12:31

Bulgarian Ruling Party Would Lose Elections - Polls

For the first time since assuming power in 2009, Bulgarian ruling center-right GERB party has dropped second in opinion polls.

Politics » Domestic | February 15, 2013, Friday // 10:33

Society

2 Bulgarian Women Found Dead in Italy's Florence

Two Bulgarian musicians – a woman and her daughter – have been found dead in an apartment in downtown Florence, Italy.

Society | February 15, 2013, Friday // 20:00

Researchers Call for Abolition of EC Progress Reports on Bulgaria, Romania

The cooperation and verification mechanism (CVM) of the European Commission aimed at assisting the fight against corruption and organized crime in Bulgaria and Romania is inefficient, according to a group of researchers from the Sofia University "St.

Society | February 15, 2013, Friday // 18:11

Bulgarian Church to Name 3 Patriarch Candidates

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church will name Friday and Saturday the three candidates for the position of patriarch.

Society | February 15, 2013, Friday // 09:37

Meteorite Fall in Russia Injures over 500

Over 510 people have sought medical assistance after a meteorite fell on Russia's central Chelyabinsk Oblast Friday morning.

Society » Environment | February 15, 2013, Friday // 11:17

Meteorite Fall Stuns Central Russia

Residents of the Chelyabinsk Oblast in central Russia have witnessed Friday morning a massive fall of meteorite fragments.

Society » Environment | February 15, 2013, Friday // 09:00

Beloved Bulgarian Actor Todor Kolev Dies at 73

One of the most beloved Bulgarian actors, comedians, and talk show hosts, Todor Kolev, passed away at the age of 73.

Society » Obituaries | February 15, 2013, Friday // 17:11

Sports

Dimitrov Battles Past Baghdatis to Reach Semifinal in Rotterdam

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov came from a set down to beat his doubles partner Marcos Baghdatis 6-7 (4), 7-6 (0), 6-3 and book a place in the semifinals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Friday.

Sports | February 15, 2013, Friday // 17:45

Crime

Dutch Man Caught Smuggling Gold Bars at Bulgarian Border Crossing

A Dutch man has been detained by Bulgarian Customs officers at the Bulgarian-Serbian border crossing Kalotina trying to smuggle two gold bars.

Crime | February 15, 2013, Friday // 20:09

Bulgarian Court OKs Fraudster's Deportation to USA

The Varna Appellate Court has allowed the deportation of Galin Filev, an alleged Bulgarian fraudster wanted in the USA.

Crime | February 15, 2013, Friday // 19:17

Anti-Mafia Court Rules BGN 50 000 Bail for Bulgaria's Sugar VAT Fraud Boss

A bail of BGN 50 000 (some EUR 25 500) has been determined by Bulgaria's special anti-mafia court for the release of Stayko Staykov who is believed to be in charge of a large-scale sugar trade VAT draining ring.

Crime | February 15, 2013, Friday // 14:45

Bulgarian Prosecutor Mysteriously Arrested

A prosecutor from major Bulgarian city of Burgas has been detained, according to media reports Friday.

Crime | February 15, 2013, Friday // 12:32

Bulgarian Drug Lord Sentenced to 7.5 Years behind Bars

The Sofia City Court sentenced notorious Bulgarian drug lord Evelin Banev aka Brendo to 7.5 years in prison on Friday.

Crime | February 15, 2013, Friday // 11:28

World

Russian Orthodox Cleric Deems Devastating Meteorite 'God's Sign'

The meteorite which injured hundreds of people in Russia's Chelyabinsk Region on Friday was "the Lord's message to humanity," according to Metropolitan of Chelyabinsk and Zlatoust Feofan

World | February 15, 2013, Friday // 18:01

Fule Cancels Macedonia Visit over Political Stalemate

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule has canceled a planned trip to Skopje next week over the country's political wranglings.

World | February 15, 2013, Friday // 17:10

Russian Nationalist Claims Meteorite Was 'US Weapons Test'

Russian nationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky, claimed Friday that meteorite fragments had not rained down on Russia in the morning, but that the light flashes and tremors in several of the country's regions resulted from US weapons tests.

World | February 15, 2013, Friday // 15:13

Patriot Missiles in Turkey No Threat for Syria, NATO Tells Russia

NATO representatives have assured Russia the deployment of Patriot missile systems in Turkey is not preparation for an offensive operation against Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov announced on Friday.

World | February 15, 2013, Friday // 15:06

North Korea Drives Space Program Forward - Report

Increased activitiy in one of North Korea's space launch pads suggests future tests with larger rockets, according to a US analyst institute.

World | February 15, 2013, Friday // 13:29

UK Horsemeat Probe Results in 3 Arrests

British police have nabbed three men on suspicion of fraud at two meat plants inspected earlier this week by the country's Food Standards Agency.

World | February 15, 2013, Friday // 11:49

US Republicans Block Hagel for Defense Secretary

Republicans in the US Senate have blocked Chuck Hagel's candidacy for the position of a Defense Secretary.

World | February 15, 2013, Friday // 08:18
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria