Radio Bulgaria https://bnr.bg/en BNR Radio Bulgaria Mon, 22 Jul 2024 13:00:18 +0300 en-en https://bnr.bg/img/logos/bnr.png Radio Bulgaria https://bnr.bg PP-DB returns the second mandate immediately after it was handed over https://bnr.bg/en/post/102023178/pp-db-returns-the-second-mandate-immediately-after-it-was-handed-over 102023178

President Rumen Radev handed over the second exploratory mandate to form a government to the second largest parliamentary group in the 50th National Assembly - "We Continue the Change" - "Democratic Bulgaria" coalition (PP-DB). 

At the handing over of the mandate, Kiril Petkov, Nikolay Denkov, Bozhidar Bojanov, Lyudmila Ilieva, Atanas Atanasov and Nadezhda Yordanova attended. However, they returned the mandate unfulfilled after they did not find support from the other political forces represented in parliament. 


Speaking to the president, Nikolay Denkov of the PP said despite the impossibility of forming a government with the second mandate, the PP-DB will not change its approach and will maintain its priorities of creating a welcoming environment for businesses and investors so as to increase incomes, reduce inequality, and have funds for better education and healthcare. 

"We expect to get stronger public support so that at the next opportunity we can raise these issues again and they will be at the centre of the discussions in parliament," Denkov added. 

In his words, the fight against corruption is not an end in itself, but the main means to achieve success in this direction.

]]> News Mon, 22 Jul 2024 12:14:33 +0300 Fish in the Black Sea also suffer from the extreme heat https://bnr.bg/en/post/102023110/and-the-fish-in-the-black-sea-suffer-from-the-extreme-heat 102023110

The unbearable heat wave that has hit the Balkans in recent weeks, causing scorching fires in Bulgaria as well, is threatening living organisms in the Black Sea. Ecologists are warning that the record high temperatures are not only disastrous for humans and plants, but also for some marine life. 

Over the last 8-9 years, there has been a trend in Bulgaria of shifting seasons and longer summers. The heatwaves start as early as the end of May and reach their peak in early July, both in the ambient air and in the sea water. 
These factors have serious and sometimes disastrous consequences for the fish in the Black Sea, says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Violin Raykov from the Institute of Oceanology in an interview with BNR-Varna. In his words, organisms in the coastal zone are particularly threatened, especially in shallower areas. 

"The most favoured are organisms that move quickly. If somewhere the temperature is very high, fish, mammals, those that in the Black Sea are larger and faster-moving, manage to save themselves from this effect by migrating further inside the sea where the temperature is lower and favourable for their existence," says Dr. Violin Raykov.


Fishermen complain that every morning they enter the sea but come out of the water "empty-handed". This has been the case since the end of June. Mostly jack mackerel and gobius are missing. When asked by a reporter of BNR-Burgas how fishing is going at the moment, Kiril Zheglev from the fishermen's association "Mena" in Nessebar answered like this:

"At the moment it is almost zero due to the fact that the water is too warm. The gobius is a bottom fish, it likes the rocky sea bottom and when there is warm water, there is no oxygen, the fish becomes lazy, hides under the rocks and waits for better conditions to survive. Those fish that are warmer survive. Minimal numbers of barbel are currently being observed. The jack mackerel are generally withdrawing at this time, we expect it back in the fall." 


The marine inhabitants are bailing out of the heat in every way possible. But they don't migrate north, they just head down to the cooler depths of the Black Sea, which don't get as hot from the sun, in anticipation of better times.

"In organisms of less mobility, the stress is greater, because as the temperature rises, the oxygen in the water decreases and leads to an overdevelopment of phytoplankton," says Dr. Violin Raikov. "When "blooming" during the day, microalgae produce oxygen, but in the evening they consume it. This produces the effect of hypoxia - a sharp reduction in oxygen. As a consequence, the attached and less mobile organisms die."

Varna Lake
During the months of July and August, fish in the coastal areas and in Varna lake have their bellies turned, and in most cases they are either drained of energy or dead. Alongside the unusually high sea water temperatures, fisherman Kiril Zheglev also reported another worrying trend: 

Blue crabs
"In recent years we have seen invasive species for our region - blue crabs are getting caught. Fish not native to our region are appearing in the Black Sea. There are all sorts, there are an awful lot of white crabs, there are black crabs.... When I was a kid there were hardly any crabs and it was an event to catch one. Now it's not like that anymore. In Italy they make soups out of them, broths. In Bulgaria nobody considers them as a raw material, but maybe one day we will use them here too," says the fisherman.

Read also:

Compiled by Veneta Nikolova based on interviews by Petya Mihova from BNR-Burgas 


Photos: BGNES, BNR, Radio Varna
]]> Life Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:55:13 +0300 Bulgaria sends 46 athletes to the Paris Olympics https://bnr.bg/en/post/102023143/bulgaria-sends-46-athletes-to-paris-olympics 102023143

A total of 46 athletes are included in the Bulgarian delegation to the Olympic Games in Paris, which start on July 26, the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) reported. 

The flag bearers are boxer Stanimira Petrova and swimmer Lyubomir Epitropov. 

In addition to the athletes, 40 coaches and 13 medical team members are travelling to Paris. BOC Secretary General Belcho Goranov is the deputy head of the delegation, and the president of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation Lyubo Ganev is the Olympic attaché.

Bulgaria will be represented in 16 sport disciplines in Paris, with the largest number of athletes in rhythmic gymnastics - the sgroup and individual contestant with seven people, followed by athletics, boxing and wrestling - five people each, swimming - four, badminton and weightlifting - three each, rowing, judo, gymnastics and shooting - two each and canoe-kayak, modern pentathlon, tennis, fencing and taekwondo - one each.

]]> Sport Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:42:47 +0300 Caretaker government signs contract for East-West energy corridor feasibility study https://bnr.bg/en/post/102023133/caretaker-government-signs-contract-for-east-west-energy-corridor-feasibility-study 102023133

A contract between the US Trade and Development Agency and the Electric Power System Operator for the feasibility study for the East-West Energy Corridor was signed at the Council of Ministers. 

The funding, amounting to USD 1.2 million, is under a grant. Acting Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov pointed out that this is another successful stage in the fruitful cooperation and development of the relationship between Bulgaria and the US, which is achieving an increase in energy security, not only for Bulgaria, but for the entire region in real time. 

For his part, the caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev noted that "for Bulgaria this cooperation is key in the energy sphere and "will also help the implementation of the green transformation".

]]> News Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:26:43 +0300 Nearly 100 hectares of forest land near Petrich is subject to private interests https://bnr.bg/en/post/102023127/nearly-100-hectares-of-forest-land-near-petrich-is-subject-to-private-interests 102023127

Residents of the village of Kavrakirovo, near Petrich, came out in protest because of a proposal submitted to the municipal council of the municipality of Petrich, which affects nearly 100 ha of forest land. According to the protesters, it is about the construction of a photovoltaic park, which will lead to deforestation, drought in summer and flooding in autumn. 

Speaking to BNT, the villagers noted that the woodland includes over 50 ha of pine plantations, as well as a cork oak forest, which is protected by the Red Book of Endangered Species.

Residents' concerns are that as the vegetation is cleared, temperatures in the village of Kavrakirovo near Petrich which pass 40 degrees in the summer months, will rise even more, and this will lead to waterlessness and drought, the biggest concerns for people here. 

Moreover, if the forest is cut down, the rains will literally flood the village, the people of Kavrakirovo point out. 

After an enquiry by the BNT team, representatives of the Petrich municipality have said that this is private land and the proposal submitted to the municipal council for a vote is not for the construction of a photovoltaic park.

]]> News Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:21:40 +0300 Bulgaria's Ministry of Defence keeps about 440 personnel on standby to fight fires https://bnr.bg/en/post/102023064/bulgaria-s-ministry-of-defence-keeps-about-440-personnel-on-standby-to-fight-fires 102023064

A total of 60 officers from the Bezmer and Kabile units are on the ground with equipment for firefighting, Bulgaria's Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told bTV. About 440 personnel, in 15 formations in southern Bulgaria and seven formations in northern Bulgaria, are on standby. 

The wildfires between Bulgaria and Greece are being monitored with caution and the unit in Blagoevgrad is ready to be activated at the request of Fire Safety and Civil Protection General Directorate. 

In Zapryanov's words, the Ministry of Defence has responded to all calls for servicemen to join the firefighting and liquidation of its consequences. 

If necessary, two more helicopters can be equipped for firefighting in the short term.

]]> News Mon, 22 Jul 2024 09:36:20 +0300 Firefighting efforts in Strandzha Mountain continue for seventh day in a row Partial state of emergency declared in seven villages remains in effect https://bnr.bg/en/post/102023035/firefighting-efforts-in-strandzha-mountain-continue-for-seventh-day-in-a-row 102023035

For the seventh day now the efforts to put down wildfires in the area of the border municipality of Bolyarovo, near the border with Turkey, continues. There is no danger to settlements, but the outbreaks between the villages of Voden and Golyam Dervent remain active. 
"There are currently three outbreaks between the villages of Voden and Krainovo. One of them is in the locality "The Three Spouts" near the village of Golyam Dervent," Nikolay Kostadinov, the regional governor of Yambol, told BNT. 
Yesterday, two Spanish planes and helicopters were involved in extinguishing the fire, and today military and firefighters will be on the ground working to contain the outbreak. According to Kostadinov, the fire has spread to about 7,300 hectares of land. 

At the moment, temperatures are not high, there is no wind, there is no danger to populated areas, but the situation is dynamic and it is not known how it will develop during the day.

In the villages of Voden and Krajnovo, the placement of containers for people who lost their homes and belongings in the fire will continue. They are expected to be furnished today with beds, kitchen utensils and household utensils. 

The partial state of emergency declared in seven villages remains in effect.

]]> News Mon, 22 Jul 2024 09:00:13 +0300 Theodore Ushev to receive the Guttuso Prize at the Animaphix Festival in Sicily https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022911/theodore-ushev-awarded-with-the-gutuso-prize-at-the-animaphix-festival-in-sicily 102022911 Theodore Ushev

The 10th edition of the Animaphix festival for animated films in Sicily, Italy, dedicates a special retrospective to the Bulgarian artist Teodore Ushev, who today will be honored with the Guttuso Award for 2024, reports BTA. 
Ushev will be honored for his overall career and for his contribution to the development of the painted moving image. With his constant search for new forms of expression and curiosity about every aspect of the world, the Bulgarian-Canadian animator and film director has established himself as one of the leading figures of 21st century animation cinema, the festival's website notes.

The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of his work and the innovations that have marked his career, including nearly every film he has made in a quarter century, from Tower Bawher (2005) to Drux Flux (2008) and Gloria Victoria (2012) to the Oscar-nominated animated short Blind Vaysha and The Physics of Sorrow which was shortlisted for an Academy Award in the same category and is considered one of the highlights of Ushev's career.

Bulgarian-born Theodore Ushev currently lives in Montreal, Canada. His creative biography includes more than 15 films, which have brought him more than 200 international awards.

]]> Culture Mon, 22 Jul 2024 06:25:14 +0300 Bulgarian President to hand second mandate to form government https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022906/bulgarian-president-to-hand-second-mandate-to-form-government 102022906 Rumen Radev

At 11.00 a.m. today, President Rumen Radev will hand over a mandate to form a government to the candidate for prime minister, nominated by the second largest parliamentary group in the 50th National Assembly - that of "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (PP-DB).

The PP-DB has already announced that it will immediately return it unfulfilled. They took this decision after it became clear that they could not join forces with other parliamentary groups to form a majority in parliament. 

The third mandate is handed to a parliamentary force of the president's choice.

The parliamentary forces are of the opinion that a government with a third mandate is very difficult to implement and that Bulgaria is once again heading towards elections.

]]> News Mon, 22 Jul 2024 05:15:18 +0300 Second medal for Radina Velichkova at the European Athletics Championships https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022968/second-medal-for-radina-velichkova-from-the-european-athletics-championships-in-banska-bystritsa 102022968 Radina Velichkova

After becoming European champion in the 100m for girls under 18, Bulgaria's Radina Velichkova won a second medal at the European championships in Banska Bystrica (Slovakia). She took the bronze in the long jump after achieving 6.16 metres.
At the moment the Bulgarian track and field athletes have 4 medals from the competition - Radina Velichkova's two medals (gold in the 100m and bronze in the long jump), Dimo Andreev's silver in the hammer throw and Hristian Kasabov's bronze in the 110m hurdles.


]]> Sport Sun, 21 Jul 2024 20:15:04 +0300 High temperatures and precipitation expected on Monday https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022920/high-temperatures-and-precipitation-expected-on-monday 102022920

Clouds will temporarily break by midnight. Sunny weather will prevail across most of the country on Monday before midday. Around and after noon, clouds will develop again. 
There will be brief showers of rain accompanied by thunder in places, more intense in southern Bulgaria, where there will also be conditions for hail. There will be less precipitation in western areas. 

Maximum temperatures will be between 31° and 36°C, in Sofia - around 32°C.

Before noon, sunny weather will prevail in the mountains. Around and in the afternoon, clouds will develop and there will be short showers and thunderstorms, more intense in the Rhodopes and Strandzha Mountain, where there will be conditions for hail. The maximum temperature at 1,200 meters will be about 25°C, at 2,000 meters - about 20°C.

Along the Black Sea coast cumulus and cumulus-rain clouds will also develop. Later in the afternoon and evening it will rain and thunder in places. Maximum temperatures will be 28°-31°C. The sea water temperature is 28°-29°C. 

]]> News Sun, 21 Jul 2024 18:15:53 +0300 Interior Minister and Prime Minister thank Turkish firefighters Two Spanish firefighting aircraft and four helicopters are involved in the firefighting https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022930/interior-minister-and-prime-minister-thank-turkish-firefighters 102022930

Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov and Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev today visited the heavily fire-affected village of Voden and expressed their gratitude to the Turkish firefighters who took part in fighting the wildfires in Yambol region. They, together with their Bulgarian colleagues, servicemen, forestry officers, volunteers, gendarmes and border police fought the fire for four days.
Turkish firefighters responded within hours of the request sent to Turkey for help. 

"These difficult moments have shown once again that we are good neighbours and friends. We are grateful for your help and commitment." With these words Minister Kalin Stoyanov addressed the Turkish firefighters.

Currently, two Spanish firefighting aircraft and four helicopters are involved in the fight against the fire near the village of Voden. The delivery of containers to accommodate those left homeless because of the fire that destroyed 35 houses started today in the villages of Voden and Krajnovo. 

The Prime Minister said mobile operators have already improved communications in Voden.
]]> News Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:33:47 +0300 Bulgarian writer Lyubomir Nikolov has passed away at 74 https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022916/bulgarian-writer-lyubomir-nikolov-narvi-has-passed-away-at-74 102022916 Lyubomir Nikolov

Bulgarian prominent writer of fiction, author of game books and translator of Tolkien, Lyubomir Nikolov, has passed away at the age of 74 on July 20,  his relatives announced on social networks.

Lyubomir Nikolov aka Narvi is the award-winning author of the novels "The Mole", "A Worm Under the Autumn Wind" and "The Grey Road".

Lyubomir Nikolov was born on January 10, 1950 in Kazanlak. He studied mechanical engineering in Tula, Russia. In 1977, he graduated in journalism from the University of Sofia "Kliment Ohridski". He worked in the Bulgarian National Television, the periodical press, and later as a freelance translator.

For his translation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy into Bulgaria, he was awarded the Prize of the Bulgarian Translators' Union. He has also translated authors of the stature of Stephen King, Khaled Hosseini, Robert Shackley and John Grisham, among others.

In an interview with Free Europe in January 2023, Lyubomir Nikolov said of himself that he is "a bit like Tolkien" - he does not believe he knows the world well, so he writes fiction.

]]> Culture Sun, 21 Jul 2024 15:48:43 +0300 Yasna Voices choir performs Bulgarian music in New York https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022905/yasna-voices-choir-performs-bulgarian-music-in-new-york 102022905 Yasna Voices Choir

The first Bulgarian women's ensemble in New York, Yasna Voices, is part of the program of the La Casita Festival at Lincoln Center in New York. The last day of the festival, featuring Yasna Voices, begins at 4.30pm and the event is free to attend. 

"Thank you Claudia Norman for inviting me, and for embracing our vision to deliver some of the music off stage. We hope the audience will be intrigued by the immediacy of the unamplified voices, the raw resonance of the ancient songs, and get a glimpse how the music lived traditionally in the villages", Vlada Tomova wrote on Facebook.

The choir was founded in 2002 by Vlada Tomova, a vocalist, songwriter and organizer of master classes in Bulgarian folk singing. In addition to Bulgarian music, the choir also performs Eastern European music. 

]]> Music Sun, 21 Jul 2024 15:26:59 +0300 "Christmas in July" brings together Bulgarians in Adelaide https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022860/christmas-in-july-brings-together-bulgarians-in-adelaide 102022860

A festive lunch under the motto "Christmas in July" has been organized today bythe Bulgarian Educational and Friendly Society in Adelaide, Australia. This was reported by BTA, referring to a Facebook post of the board of trustees of the Bulgarian association. 
"Join us on the last Sunday of July for a cosy and festive lunch, which we will organise in Christmas style," the organisers said.

The management and the board of trustees of the society organise monthly lunches dedicated to different holidays, significant dates or selected themes, thus giving the Bulgarian community in Adelaide an opportunity to socialise and bond.


The Bulgarian Cultural and Educational Society in Adelaide was established in 1949, along with the second wave of emigrants from Bulgaria to Australia. 

Today, the Society has built the Orthodox Church of St. Petka and operates the Bulgarian School of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian Women's Society, a library and a dance group performing Bulgarian folklore. 


Photos: Facebook/The Bulgarian Educational & Friendly Society Adelaide
]]> Life Sun, 21 Jul 2024 12:45:10 +0300 Fire rages in Greece near the border with Bulgaria https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022859/fire-rages-in-greece-near-the-border-with-bulgaria 102022859

A fire has started in Greece a kilometre and a half from the Bulgarian border and is slowly moving towards it. The fire is located in an extremely inaccessible area. On the Greek side, two helicopters and one aircraft are extinguishing the fire.

Employees of the state forest farms from the village of Katuntsi and the town of Gotse Delchev in Bulgaria's Blagoevgrad region have been in the Slavyanka mountains, in the border area on Bulgarian territory, since early this morning to make clearings and clear the places where there are flammable plants.

The concern is because of the wind, which is fueling the fire.

]]> News Sun, 21 Jul 2024 12:41:40 +0300 Nikola Tsolov wins first victory in Formula 3 feature race https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022845/nikola-tsolov-wins-first-victory-in-formula-3-feature-race 102022845

Nikola Tsolov, 17, has claimed his third Formula 3 victory and his first in a F3 feature race after triumphing in the long race at the Hungaroring racetrack in Hungary.

The Bulgarian racing driver has so far had two sprint successes in Monaco and Austria, but he has now added a much more valuable main race triumph to his tally.

Only Arvid Lindblad (Great Britain) has more wins than Tsolov since the start of the season with four, two each in the sprints and main events.
]]> Sport Sun, 21 Jul 2024 12:07:57 +0300 Cuman settlement discovered near fortress of Ryahovets in Gorna Oryahovitsa https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022835/archaeologists-discover-settlement-of-the-cumans-near-fortress-of-ryahovets-in-gorna-oryahovitsa 102022835

Archaeologists from the Historical Museum in the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa have discovered a settlement of the Cumans this summer during the excavations of a medieval necropolis east of the Thracian fortress of Rykhovets near the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa, reports BNR correspondent Zdravka Maslyankova. 

The archaeological site was found accidentally in 2021 during the works for the reclamation of a municipal waste dump in the town. 

Nearly 70 archaeological structures have been uncovered. Among them are dwellings, hearths and pits dating back to the 13th century. Fifteen graves were also recorded, indicating some departure from Christian burial rites. 


According to the archaeologist prof. Hitko Vachev, scientific consultant of the archaeological team, it is a Cuman settlement. 

"The Cumans were an ally of all Bulgarian kings. Several Cuman princesses were Bulgarian queens. We have rich sources in this regard, but until now we have not had the material traces of where the Cumans were settled," he explained. Among the interesting finds are several cult pits with horse skulls laid inside, as well as one with a whole horse skeleton, coins from the first half of the 13th century, bone objects, copper bracelets, and a large furnace. 


Children volunteers and their parents took part in cleaning the latest finds.

The archaeological team hopes to be able to join a project to carry out a full survey of the site.

]]> History and religion Sun, 21 Jul 2024 11:40:14 +0300 Effots to put down wildfires near village of Voden continue A state of emergency remains in force in seven villages in the border municipality of Bolyarovo https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022824/effots-to-put-down-wildfires-near-village-of-voden-continue 102022824

A state of emergency remains in force in seven villages in the border municipality of Bolyarovo. The fight against the fire at the village of Voden continues. 
According to information from this morning, the fire has developed in a deciduous forest of about 70,000 acres, the Ministry of Interior reported. There is no danger to settlements. Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov are arriving in Voden today. 

Four helicopters and two planes are expected to join the firefighting efforts today.

The director of the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Population Protection, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov, has told BNT that the number of fires is decreasing thanks to lower temperatures and rainfall. Yesterday they were 150, and a few days ago twice as many - 350.

The state authorities have promised to compensate families affected by the fires. 

Harmanli, 18 July 2024
Organic farmers and livestock breeders from across the country are uniting to help a man whose farm burned down near Harmanli. On Thursday, a fire that broke out near the town scorched cottages, an industrial building and Ivan Yanakov's farm with 200 sheep. 

On Monday, the Association of Organic Producers will announce a fundraising bank account in favour of the farmer. His colleagues are also ready to donate breeding animals to help him rebuild his farm.


]]> News Sun, 21 Jul 2024 11:03:03 +0300 Dimo Andreev takes European silver in hammer throw in Slovakia This is the third medal for the Bulgarian athletes from Banska Bystrica https://bnr.bg/en/post/102022813/dimo-andreev-takes-european-silver-in-hammer-in-slovakia 102022813 Dimo Andreev and his coach Andrian Andreev

Bulgaria's Dimo Andreev took the silver medal in the hammer throw (5 kg) at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, on 20 July. He scored 72.49m in his best attempt and was only behind world rankings leader Thomas Williams (Ireland), who registered 73.95m, Athletics magazine reported.

This is the third medal for the Bulgarian athletes from Banska Bystrica after Radina Velichkova's gold in the 100m and Hristian Kasabov's bronze in the 110m hurdles.  
"With your results you have shown that Bulgaria has a talented generation in athletics, which will delight us even more at the big sports forums," Bulgarian prominent athlete and President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) Stefka Kostadinova stated.

The competitions in Banska Bystritsa continue.

]]> Sport Sun, 21 Jul 2024 10:15:57 +0300