European Wage Growth Slows at End of 2023: Bulgaria Outpaces EU Average
Data released by Eurostat reveals a notable deceleration in wage growth across the European Union (EU) and the eurozone during the final quarter of 2023
HOT: » Assessing the Legacy of Bulgaria's "Denkov" Cabinet: Achievements, Failures, and What Comes Next
There’s been a “dramatic deterioration” of press freedom since the pandemic tore across the world, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in its annual report published Tuesday.
in this year's ranking Bulgaria is 112th from a total of 180 countries included in the index, the Paris-based NGO announced on its website.
Bulgaria has fallen one spot down since last year, when it was 111th.
In terms of media freedom it remains the last among the countries of the European Union, according to Reporters Without Borders. This country's worst ranking was 113th in 2016, and its best was 34th in 2002. It now ranks last among the EU Member States. The second worst performing country in the EU is Hungary which, at 92nd, is 10 places ahead of Bulgaria. In the Balkans, only Turkey (153rd) is ranked below Bulgaria, while Serbia (93rd), North Macedonia (90th), Greece (70th) and Romania (48th) are positioned better in the regional ranking.
The deterioration in Bulgaria's score is attributed, among other things, to increased attacks against journalists and arbitrary
arrests.
Europe and the Americas continue to be the continents where the media freedom situation is most favourable. The Americas, however, came first in increasing incidents of regional clampdowns on mass media (by 2.5 percent).
The group’s new World Press Freedom Index, which evaluated the press situations in 180 countries, painted a stark picture and concluded that 73 percent of the world’s nations have serious issues with media freedoms.
It said many countries have used the coronavirus pandemic, which erupted in China in late 2019, “as grounds to block journalists’ access to information, sources and reporting in the field".
This is particularly the case in Asia, the Mideast and Europe, the media group said.
“Journalism is the best vaccine against disinformation,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire wrote in a statement.
“Unfortunately, its production and distribution are too often blocked by political, economic, technological and, sometimes, even cultural factors.”
Issues have also arisen from a drop in public trust in journalism itself. The group said 59 percent of people polled in 28 countries claimed that journalists “deliberately try to mislead the public by reporting information they know to be false".
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
The European Parliament has taken a significant step forward in reshaping driving regulations across the EU by adopting new rules at their first reading
The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church convened on Tuesday to address the vacancy left by the passing of Patriarch Neophyte, who served as the spiritual leader of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia
A devastating incident unfolded in the Bulgarian town of Kazanlak as a fourth-grade student tragically lost his life in the schoolyard
As night descends, expect an increase and thickening of clouds across Bulgaria, with light rainfall anticipated in certain areas of Western Bulgaria
Angel Marin, who served as vice president of Bulgaria from 2002 to 2012, passed away today at the age of 82, according to an announcement made by his son, Simeon Marin
An alarming incident unfolded at one of Sofia's bustling intersections as an ambulance overturned, leaving chaos in its wake
Norwegian Inspiration: Bulgaria's Move Towards Environmentally Friendly Prisons
Nexo Is Suing Bulgaria For Over $3 Billion