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File photo by EPA/BGNES
The US government has begun a partial shutdown after the Republican-led House of Representatives refused to approve a budget for next year.
A midnight deadline passed without agreement despite a last-gasp appeal by President Barack Obama.
More than 700,000 US government workers face unpaid leave with no guarantee of back pay once the deadlock is over.
Critical functions like air traffic control and military operations will continue. Social Security benefits will be paid. National parks and most federal offices will close.
Republicans insisted on delaying President Obama's health care reforms as a condition for passing the budget.
President Barack Obama issued a statement early Tuesday to military members and Department of Defense employees about the outcome of the shutdown.
"Those of you in uniform will remain on your normal duty status," the president said, as cited by CNN.
"Congress has passed, and I am signing into law, legislation to make sure you get your paychecks on time. And we'll continue working to address any impact this shutdown has on you and your families."
"To all our DOD civilians—I know the days ahead could mean more uncertainty, including possible furloughs," the president added. "And I know this comes on top of the furloughs that many of you already endured this summer. You and your families deserve better than the dysfunction we're seeing in Congress. ... That's why I'll keep working to get Congress to reopen our government and get you back to work as soon as possible."
Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova discussed the recently adopted 2025 national budget, emphasizing that it was a step toward stabilizing Bulgaria's public finances
Bulgaria's Parliament has approved the creation of a state-owned chain of grocery stores in post offices across the country, based on a proposal by Delyan Peevski
After an extensive session in the Bulgarian National Assembly, MPs approved the state budget for 2025 following a lengthy debate and multiple votes
At a press conference in Parliament on "The Truth About the Recovery and Resilience Plan," Asen Vassilev, co-chair of "We Continue the Change" (WCC), criticized the proposed state budget
Bulgaria's Parliament has passed the State Budget Bill for 2025 at its first reading
At the end of February, Bulgaria’s budget recorded a deficit of 1 billion leva (500 million euros)
Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev has been invited to speak before the European Parliament in Brussels on April 22
During the "EU Meets the Balkans" forum in Sofia, North Macedonia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Zoran Dimitrovski addressed ongoing concerns surrounding his country's EU accession process
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that the era of a unified West is over, stating that only Europe remains as a bastion of the values traditionally associated with the Western alliance
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos emphasized that the expansion of the European Union remains one of the top priorities of the current European Commission
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed his intention to attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9
The Russian government has initiated its most extensive conscription campaign in over a decade, summoning 160,000 young men for military service
Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update
Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase
