Bulgarian education system receives excellent assessment for its work during pandemic

According to the report of the European Committee on Education, the Bulgarian education system coped best with distance learning during the coronavirus pandemic. This was stated in an interview with the BNT by Yanka Takeva, chairwoman of the Bulgarian Teachers' Union and representing Bulgaria in the committee.

Bulgarians schools, unlike others, employed e-learning on a large scale - even in primary education from 1st to 4th grade, she stressed.

Citizens go on "sitting" protest in Sofia's centre against the country's government

Proponents of the "Izpravi se.BG" civic platform from more than 20 towns and cities in Bulgaria have gathered in front of the building of the Council of Ministers in Sofia for a "sitting" protest. The protest was organized in co-operation with the mothers of children with disabilities from the public initiative called “The System is Killing Us”. Bulgaria's Former Ombudsman and current chairperson of "Izpravi ce.BG" Maya Manolova announced her ambitions to enter politics at the next elections.

The protesters stated that the protest was held against the governance of the third cabinet of PM Boyko Borissov and specifically against the lack of a clear road map for dealing with unemployment, bankruptcies of small and medium-sized companies and the uncontrollable rise in electricity, heating and water prices.

The protesters are sitting on chairs order to ensure the obligatory physical distance.

2,408 total cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria, 808 patients recovered

For the last 24 hours, 1605 samples were tested with PCR tests for Covid-19. The newly registered cases are 36, 11 of them are in hospitals.  The total number of registered cases of coronavirus in Bulgaria is 2,408. Of these, 10.5% are cases of infection of medical staff.

There are currently 258 patients with a confirmed coronavirus infection in hospital, 29 are in intensive care. The total number of Covid-19 deaths is 126 - 83 men and 43 women.

Bulgaria Air to resume flights from Sofia to Varna twice daily on May 25

The Bulgarian national airline has announced that as of May 25 it will start operating two flights a day from Sofia to Varna (morning and evening), and from June 11 three daily flights are planned (morning, afternoon and evening). The airline clarifies that they continue to operate to most of their direct destinations. The only destinations to which flights have been suspended are those with temporary restrictions imposed by local authorities.

Wearing a safety mask during the flight is mandatory for all passengers on board Bulgaria Air, the company announced.

Serbia reopens border with Bulgaria

As of today, Serbia has resumed border checks on its border with Bulgaria at the Strezimirovtsi and Oltomantsi checkpoints. As of yesterday, May 22, all restrictions for those wishing to enter the territory of Serbia across the border with Bulgaria at the Kalotina, Vrashka Chuka and Bregovo border checkpoints have been lifted.

Bulgarian authorities to grant 80 million euro to large businesses

Bulgaria's state authorities have announced a new business grant scheme aimed at larger companies. The minimum amount of grants will be BGN 30,000 (EUR 15,000) and the maximum - BGN 100,000. (EUR 51 thousand). The amount will be 1% of the company's annual turnover for 2019, Capital newspaper reports.

A total of BGN 156 million (EUR 80 million) have been set aside under the measure. The funds have been provided from the budget of the operational programme Innovation and Competitiveness.

The aid is targeted at companies that have not benefited from another form of state support to retain their staff amidst the Covid-19 crisis.

Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece consider offering joint tourist packages

Turkey is keen on increasing its tourist flow through joint tourist packages with Bulgaria and Greece when the land and sea borders fully reopen. This was announced by Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy at a meeting with businessmen in Izmir. Air transport between the countries may be resumed in June after the signing of bilateral protocols.

This was discussed in telephone conversations between the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism and his counterparts from the Balkan countries, the BNR correspondent in Istanbul Marian Karagiozov reported.

Muslims in Bulgaria's Eastern Rhodopes celebrate Ramadan Bayram observing social distancing

Thousands of Muslims in the Eastern Rhodopes welcome their holiday Ramadan Bayram on May 23, 24 and 25 with increased security measures and social distancing. For the first time, because of Covid-19 epidemic, Bulgarian settlers from the Turkish ethnic group in Turkey did not return home to celebrate the holiday.

Ramadan Bayram began today with the Arife, the traditional kneading of "mekitsi" and visiting the graves of loved ones. On Sunday, the actual holiday, prayers will be held outdoors in the courtyards of the mosques.

2,000 graduating students gather in Sofia to mark end of school education

About 2,000 high-school graduates gathered in the early afternoon in the area of ​​the National History Museum in Sofia, located at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. Earlier, some of the young people had gathered around St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the centre of the capital, but were asked by the police to leave the area.

Due to the anti-epidemic measures, proms have been banned in Bulgaria. Yet for many young people in the country the completion of secondary education is a long-awaited moment, which is widely celebrated.

Bulgarian traditional crafts back to life in the open air in village of Oreshak

Known as one of the centres of Bulgarian artistic crafts, the village of Oreshak close to Troyan, Northern Bulgaria, opened today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. an exhibition-bazaar entitled Troyan Masters. The event took place in the park of the National Exhibition of Arts and Crafts in the village. Local craftsmen in pottery and woodcarving presented their skills.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova

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