Radio Bulgaria https://bnr.bg/en BNR Radio Bulgaria Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:08:23 +0200 en-en https://bnr.bg/img/logos/bnr.png Radio Bulgaria https://bnr.bg Schengen is the key word for 2024 for Bulgaria https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103795/schengen-is-the-key-word-for-2024-for-bulgaria 102103795

Schengen is the key word for 2024 for Bulgaria. With 37% of the votes, the Luxembourg village, which has become a symbol of borderless travel within the EU, topped the rankings in a survey conducted by the literacy and spelling platform "How to Spell". 

Dubai chocolate and cordon sanitaire rank second and third with 26% and 24% of the votes respectively. Among the top ten are Gundi, elections, disinformation, water shortage, Trump, New Beginning and Olympics. The winning word clearly signals the European orientation of Bulgarians, notes Dr. Pavlina Varbanova, creator of "How to Spell". Cordon sanitaire, on the other hand, reflects our society from within – the dividing lines and polarization, the inability to reach consensus on the development of our country, Pavlina Varbanova added.

]]> News Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:22:48 +0200 Bulgaria has the lowest defense spending compared to its neighbors https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103757/bulgaria-has-the-lowest-defense-spending-compared-to-its-neighbors 102103757 Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov

Bulgaria will continue to help Ukraine in line with the decision of the National Assembly, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told bTV. "We will continue to support Ukraine as we have done so far. What we have done is based on the decisions of the National Assembly of 2022 and 2023", Minister Zapryanov said further.

The shortage of soldiers has increased from 25% to 30%. The shortage of Land Forces officers is 34%, Atanas Zapryanov said. He emphasized that increasing military salaries will not burden the state budget, where 2.5% of the country's GDP is earmarked for defense. According to Minister Zaptryanov, Bulgaria spends the least on defense compared to its neighbors. In his words, Romania and Greece spend 3% of their GDP on defence, while Turkiye spends 4% of its GDP on defense. Even Serbia spends more, Minister Zapryanov said.


]]> News Mon, 20 Jan 2025 09:28:05 +0200 President Radev has been invited, but cannot attend Donald Trump's inauguration https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103728/president-radev-has-been-invited-but-cannot-attend-donald-trump-s-inauguration 102103728 Rumen Radev

There will be no representative of the Bulgarian presidential institution, but the talks at the highest political level will continue, President Rumen Radev told journalists, commenting on the upcoming inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. 

"I have an invitation, but I myself cannot attend this event. You know that the American side and the White House do not invite foreign guests to an inauguration. Such invitations come from senators, they come from various associations, but it is much more important for us to develop our relations with the United States, our strategic partner and ally, at all levels. I think that we will continue to work in this direction", the Bulgarian Head of State said.


]]> News Mon, 20 Jan 2025 08:33:49 +0200 Economic forum to examine Bulgaria's contemporary challenges and potential https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103582/economic-forum-to-examine-bulgaria-s-contemporary-challenges-and-potential 102103582

The capital of Bulgaria is hosting the Sofia Economic Forum today. The focus of the fifth edition of the forum is on strategic challenges and opportunities for Bulgaria and Southeast Europe. 

Among the main topics are Ursula von der Leyen's second commission, the new US administration, Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone, increasing Bulgaria's economic competitiveness, managing migration challenges, the role of foreign investment and others.

]]> News Mon, 20 Jan 2025 07:10:39 +0200 Festive procession on the feast of Saint Euthimius of Tarnovo https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103581/festive-procession-on-the-feast-of-saint-euthimius-of-tarnovo 102103581

For yet another year, the Holy Metropolitan of Sofia and the Sofia church of Sveti Sedmochislenitsi (Seven Apostles of Bulgaria) are organizing a procession in honor of St. Euthimius of Tarnovo, the last patriarch of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. 

Traditionally, the procession takes place from the beautiful capital's temple to the monument of St. Patriarch Euthimius, on the day of the saint's feast.

Patriarch Daniil
This year, on January 20 (Monday), the Divine Liturgy in Sveti Sedmochislenitsi and the subsequent procession will be led by His Holiness the Metropolitan of Sofia and the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil.

]]> News Mon, 20 Jan 2025 06:05:32 +0200 Cold weather on Monday with fog in the valleys, sunshine in the mountains https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103567/cold-weather-on-monday-with-fog-in-the-valleys-sunshine-in-the-mountains 102103567

It will be clear during the night in most of the country. In places in the valleys and plains - it will be foggy, in separate areas snowflakes will be deposited from the fog. 

Minimum temperatures will be between minus 6°C and minus 1°C, in Sofia - around minus 6°C. 

On Monday in most areas it will be mostly sunny, but in places in the valleys and plains it will remain foggy. After lunch, visibility will temporarily improve, but from the southwest the cloudiness, medium and high, will increase. The weather will be mostly quiet. Maximum temperatures will be between 6°C and 11°C, significantly lower in areas with permanent fog, in Sofia - around minus 1°C.

In the mountains it will be sunny. A weak to moderate southeast wind will blow. The maximum temperature at an altitude of 1,200 meters will be around 8°C, at 2,000 meters - around 2°C.

The Black Sea coast will be mostly sunny with light winds. Maximum temperatures will be between 8° and 10°. Sea water temperature is 8°-9°.

]]> News Sun, 19 Jan 2025 19:20:34 +0200 Radoslav Yankov ranks third in the parallel giant slalom of the World Snowboarding Cup in Bansko https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103652/radoslav-yankov-ranks-third-in-the-parallel-giant-slalom-of-the-world-snowboarding-cup-in-bansko 102103652 Radoslav Yankov

The only Bulgarian snowboarder with victories in the World Snowboarding Cup, Radoslav Yankov, finished in the third place, at the parallel giant slalom of the World Cup in Bansko. This happened after the Bulgarian team challenged Yankov's rival in the small final, Alexander Payer. Previously, he had been placed fourth, a paltry five hundredths of a place on the podium, in the parallel giant slalom.

Радослав Янков
This time, Yankov prevailed over Tervel Zamfirov in the round of 16, after yesterday being eliminated by him in the quarterfinals. 
The winner of the race became Dario Caviezel, who prevailed over the Italian Gabriel Messner in the grand final. Tervel Zamfirov, who was fourth on Saturday, ranked 13th today.

In the general standings for the World Snowboarding Cup, Yankov returned to second place with 316 points, after yesterday he briefly lost it to the winner in Bansko, Andreas Prommegger.

]]> Sport Sun, 19 Jan 2025 19:09:26 +0200 The first Bulgarian woman in world boxing Daisy Lang helps victims of the fires in Los Angeles https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103655/the-first-bulgarian-woman-in-world-boxing-daisy-lang-helps-victims-of-the-fires-in-lol-angeles 102103655 Daisy Lang (right)

The first Bulgarian woman in world boxing and three-time world champion Desi Kirova, known as Daisy Lang, refused to be evacuated from the fire that has been raging for days in Los Angeles, and with her husband by her side - Taylor, joined the battle with the fiery element.

"When necessary, I bring water and food to veterans through difficult areas. My jeep manages to get through these places," she said. Due to the fire, which has been raging since January 9, many residents of Los Angeles were evacuated from their homes.

"My successes in sports are not the titles that I have, but the fact that I have learned to be strong in difficult times and not to give up, wherever I am. Never give up!", shared Daisy Lang. She has not yet returned to her home, which borders the burned areas, but she is happy that it was saved.

In October 2025, Desi Kirova, who has lived in the United States for over 20 years, returned to her homeland to receive her first national recognition at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Bulgarian boxing.


]]> News Sun, 19 Jan 2025 18:45:19 +0200 The President expects the new government should uphold the national interest https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103654/the-president-expects-the-new-government-should-uphold-the-national-interest 102103654 President Rumen Radev at the Snowboarding World Cup in Bansko

"My relations with the new government depend on how it will uphold the national interest and how it will work so that Bulgarians have much better living conditions, and our country - conditions for development". This was stated to journalists in Bansko, commenting on the political situation in the country, President Rumen Radev, who attended the Snowboarding World Cup competitions.

"We will soon find out whether the new majority and opposition will truly deal with the pressing problems of society or will occupy us with themselves and their intimate relationships. If they choose the latter, the patience of Bulgarians may very quickly run out", the President pointed out. 

He nevertheless expressed hope that Bulgaria will finally be able to overcome the political and institutional crisis.

]]> News Sun, 19 Jan 2025 18:05:56 +0200 Controversy over the appointment of the head of the political cabinet of the Minister of the Interior https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103650/controversy-over-the-appointment-of-the-head-of-the-political-cabinet-of-the-minister-of-the-interior 102103650 Ivaylo Ivanov

Deputy Chairwoman of the GERB-SDS Parliamentary Group Denitsa Sacheva defended the decision of the new Minister of the Interior Daniel Mitov to appoint Ivaylo Ivanov as the head of his political cabinet. Ivanov was dismissed from the post of Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior in 2021 from the official cabinet of Stefan Yanev due to police violence during the protests against the government of Boyko Borisov in the summer of 2020. 

Former Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov from the PP described this appointment as "scandalous", in his opinion this should be corrected immediately. Ilhan Kyuchyuk, an MEP from the DPS, also expressed his opinion to the Bulgarian National Radio that the appointment was "very unpopular".

"I have always been amazed at how the "good forces" were willing to defend the rights of murderers and criminals in prisons, but they never had mercy on a person who had politically or professionally borne responsibility and paid a high personal price," Sacheva wrote on Facebook.

]]> News Sun, 19 Jan 2025 16:15:31 +0200 The biggest danger to the government will come from Ahmed Dogan, believe SDS party https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103534/the-biggest-danger-to-the-government-will-come-from-ahmed-dogan-believe-sds-party 102103534

The SDS (Union of Democratic Forces), GERB's coalition partner, has reservations not only towards the BSP, but also towards "Democracy, Rights and Freedoms" around Ahmed Dogan. According to the leader of the SDS and co-chairman of the GERB-SDS parliamentary group, Rumen Hristov, however, a compromise had to be made, since the country is in great need of a regular government, which will be successful even if it only brings Bulgaria into the eurozone. Hristov nevertheless stressed that the preferred coalition partner for the SDS is "Democratic Bulgaria". The biggest danger to the government will come from Ahmed Dogan, Hristov told BNT.

]]> News Sun, 19 Jan 2025 11:51:13 +0200 "Fuego Del Amor"- the first song of a Bulgarian artist with the name of Gipsy Kings https://bnr.bg/en/post/102101724/fuego-del-amor-the-first-song-of-a-bulgarian-artist-with-the-name-of-gipsy-kings 102101724

JOEF Gipsy Kings Family have recorded "Fuego Del Amor" - a song with Bulgarian singer Sandra Alexandrova. The story of the song actually started three years ago, when Sandra and her producer Artur Nadosyan visited Nice - there they met the Joef Gipsy Kings Family, dubbed "the kings of flamenco" - the descendants of the great family of the legendary Gipsy Kings. 

Sandra, who also gained popularity from her participation in "The Voice of Bulgaria", and Artur Nadosyan have been working together for 11 years. Arthur is the author of songs performed by star singers such as Lili Ivanova, Orlin Goranov, Yordanka Hristova, Silvia Katsarova and many others. Artur is a Bulgarian citizen originally from Armenia, where Joef's wife is from. The friendship that quickly developed also led to a guest appearance by the Gipsy Kings Family in Bulgaria, where they had the opportunity to perform improvised music with Sandra for the first time. 

The renowned musicians were so delighted by performing live with her that they decided to create a collaborative song. So Arthur wrote "Fuego Del Amor" - "The Fire of Love". This is the first song of a Bulgarian artist with the great family of Gypsy Kings!

The original idea was to have the text only in Spanish, but Sandra and Arthur insisted on having it in Bulgarian as well - so that the Bulgarian language could be heard outside Bulgaria. So Sandra added native speech to Joef's text. This is also very pleasing to the Gipsy Kings Family and now she and Arthur are preparing a complete project - an album, the first song of which is "Fuego Del Amor". 

Three more collaborative songs are currently in the works. And at the promotional concert Joef Gypsy Kings Family will also perform several famous Bulgarian songs in flamenco style. 

While these plans are coming to life, we are offering you to listen to "Fuego Del Amor" - "The Fire of Love"!



Photo: Youtube/Artur Nadosyan
English publication: Rositsa Petkova
]]> Music Sun, 19 Jan 2025 10:45:46 +0200 Green ticket for public transport in Sofia on Sunday, Monday due to high air pollution https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103516/sofia-municipality-announces-green-ticket-for-public-transport-on-sunday-monday-due-to-high-air-pollution 102103516

A green ticket worth 1 lev for a whole day of travel on Sofia's public transport and free parking in the metro's buffer parking lots is being introduced for today and Monday (January 19 and 20), the Sofia Municipality announced.

The measure is due to the forecast of the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology for expected fogs in the morning hours in the valleys, which accumulate atmospheric pollutants in the low ground layers.

The green ticket can be purchased by validating a bank card in the vehicle, from the driver of the vehicle or from a Metropolitan cash desk.passage points.



]]> News Sun, 19 Jan 2025 10:28:03 +0200 Extremely heavy truck traffic at the Kapitan Andreevo and Lesovo border checkpoints https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103502/extremely-heavy-truck-traffic-at-the-kapitan-andreevo-and-lesovo-border-checkpoints 102103502

On the Bulgarian border with Turkey, traffic is extremely heavy at the Kapitan Andreevo and Lesovo border checkpoints at the exit for trucks, the Border Police reported as of 6:00 this morning.

Temporarily, the passage through the Malko Tarnovo border checkpoint will be carried out on one route due to reconstruction of the checkpoint.

Due to the increased interest in traveling along the Rudozem - Xanthi route between Bulgaria and Greece, the Border Police informs that construction activities are underway on the road on the Greek side. The Greek authorities have placed signs indicating that the terrain is a construction site and that outsiders are not allowed to enter the site. 

Only cars and vans up to 3.5 tons are allowed to pass through the border crossings in the Makaza, Zlatograd and Ivaylovgrad regions.

On the border with Romania, since January 8 this year, major repairs to the Bulgarian section of the Danube Bridge near Ruse have resumed, which is why a temporary traffic organization is in effect, with traffic operating in one lane.

On the borders with Serbia and the Republic of North Macedonia, traffic is normal at all border checkpoints.

]]> News Sun, 19 Jan 2025 09:49:12 +0200 Ancient ritual "Bathing" to be recreated in Kula https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103429/ancient-ritual-bathing-to-be-recreated-in-kula 102103429

On the night of 19-20 January - the celebration of Yordanovden (Epiphany) and Ivanovden (St. John's Day) in the Julian calendar - the northwestern town of Kula will host the traditional "Kapachi" ("Bathing") ritual. This is a unique event, with a history spanning more than a century.

"In the past there were 'sedyankas' - traditional Bulgarian social gatherings where young people gathered to work, talk, laugh and sing together, usually in the evening," Tsarevna Tsankova, secretary of the local Community Centre "Prosveta 1882", told BNR Radio Vidin. 

"One day a group of boys decided to have a fun, improvised masquerade. They blackened their faces with charcoal from the hearth. And that is how the Kapachi tradition began. They chose a boy to play the 'bride'. He dressed like a girl and carried a copper bucket of water and a bunch of basil. The others were the bathers". She continues: "Later they painted their faces with burnt corks."

The festivities begin an hour before midnight with a presentation of the custom in the main square, accompanied by music, a blazing fire and the aroma of mulled wine to set the mood.

When the clock strikes midnight, the "bathers" begin their rounds. The "bride" will bathe those named Yordan, Jordanka, Ivan, Ivanka and all the newlyweds from the previous year.

This memorable event is organised by the Community Centre "Prosveta 1882" and the Municipality of Kula.

]]> Life Sun, 19 Jan 2025 08:15:56 +0200 Yablanovo and Filaretovo honour victims of communist assimilation campaign https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103421 102103421

The villages of Yablanovo and Filaretovo will today hold a memorial ceremony for the victims of the forced renaming of Bulgarian Turks during the so-called "revival process" a campaign of forced assimilation under communism, in which people of Turkish origin were ordered to change their names to Bulgarian.

On 17, 18 and 19 January 1985, riots broke out in Yablanovo, with local people blocking the roads to the village. The riots were put down after the intervention of armoured troops from the Third Bulgarian Army. Eight people died, including a baby, hundreds were beaten and arrested, and 517 residents were sent to the Belene concentration camp.
Four decades after the crimes against the Bulgarian Turks, there have been no convictions.

]]> News Sun, 19 Jan 2025 07:40:30 +0200 Ruse museum draws growing crowds with rock churches and Bulgaria's largest freshwater aquarium https://bnr.bg/en/post/102102687 102102687 The Ivanovo Rock Churches.

Interest in the exhibitions and events at the Regional History Museum in Ruse on the Danube is growing. In the last 12 months, it had 95 966 visitors, which is 5 209 more people than in 2023, which is more than in the pre-pandemic years, the institution reported on its official Facebook page.

Tourists showed the greatest interest in the Ivanovo Rock Churches. The cultural and historical landmark under the auspices of UNESCO was visited by more than 28 thousand people, which is 30% of the total number of visitors to the sites of the Ruse Museum.

Another popular place for tourists in the city is the Natural History "Ecomuseum with Aquarium", which is unique in Bulgaria because of the largest freshwater aquarium - 65 tons, representing typical inhabitants of the Danube.

In 2024, the Regional History Museum in Ruse was awarded the prize "The Best Slavic Museum for 2024" at the Tenth "Zhiva" Award Ceremony of the International Forum of Slavic Cultures. The Ruse Museum received the award in competition with 21 museums from 14 countries.

]]> Life Sun, 19 Jan 2025 07:35:48 +0200 Sunny Sunday for most of the country https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103395/sunny-sunday-for-most-of-the-country 102103395 Winter sunny spells in Varna.

Sunny skies will continue over most of the country on Sunday. It will be foggy in the valleys and some of the plains, but there will be a temporary improvement in visibility and a break in the clouds in the afternoon. The weather will be almost calm. Minimum temperatures will be between -5°C and 0°C, in some basins -8°C to -10°C, in Sofia -6°C, and maximum temperatures - between 5°C and 10°C, much lower in areas with persistent fog, in Sofia - 0°C.

In the mountains it will be sunny. There will be light winds from the northwest, southeast on the ridges. The maximum temperature at 1,200 m will be around 9°C, at 2,000 m - around 4°C.

Along the Black Sea coast it will be mostly sunny with light winds. Maximum temperatures will be between 8° and 10°C, and 8-9°C at sea level. The sea swell will be 1-2.

The Balkans will remain sunny. In the plains there will be fog or low clouds. It will be 12°C in Istanbul, 10°C in Bucharest, 16°C in Athens and 3°C in Belgrade.

]]> News Sat, 18 Jan 2025 19:05:56 +0200 Tervel Zamfirov secures fourth place in Bansko World Cup https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103388 102103388 Tervel Zamfirov

Nineteen-year-old Tervel Zamfirov achieved his highest ever World Cup finish in alpine snowboarding with a career-best fourth place in the parallel giant slalom in Bansko.

Fellow Bulgarian Radoslav Yankov was stopped in the quarter-finals by none other than Tervel Zamfirov, ultimately finishing fifth in the final standings. The duel between the two provided the most emotional moment of the competition, witnessed by the packed stands at the foot of the Alberto Tomba run.
In the semi-finals, Zamfirov was narrowly defeated by three-time World Champion Andreas Prommegger, with the Austrian beating Zamfirov by just 0.13 seconds. In the battle for third place, Zamfirov lost out to Italy's Gabriel Messner, the winner of the qualifying race.

]]> Sport Sat, 18 Jan 2025 15:13:20 +0200 Protesters block road where girl died in accident with loose horses https://bnr.bg/en/post/102103386/protesters-block-road-where-girl-died-in-accident-with-loose-horses 102103386

Another protest over the death of 18-year-old Andrea has blocked the road to Kyustendil near the village of Yabalkovo. The girl was killed 20 days ago in a car accident with loose horses.

The protest organisers vowed not to reopen the road until representatives of the institutions they had invited for talks - such as the Road Infrastructure Agency, the Regional Road Management Office, the Food Safety Agency, the Prosecutor's Office and the regional governor - arrived on the scene. But only the mayor of Kyustendil, Ognyan Atanasov, turned up.

Around a hundred demonstrators insisted that responsibility be taken and that quick action be carried out to improve the situation on the road. Some of them said they would take their protest to the Gyueshevo border crossing if necessary.

By January 15, the results of the inspections by the responsible institutions were to be announced, along with the planned measures to ensure safety. Last year alone, there were six accidents on this stretch of road.

]]> News Sat, 18 Jan 2025 15:06:01 +0200