2025 has yielded some extraordinary own goals that have exposed the posturing of Western politicians and left the EU isolated, irrelevant, and alone, pursuing policies contrary to self-interest. Unwelcome stories often cling to reality, like an alien to John Hurt’s face. And just as the notorious s»»»

The Prevala and Troyan mountain passes are temporarily closed due to heavy snowfall, the press centre of the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) said here on Thursday. A total of 582 snow-clearing machines are treating road surfaces across the national road network. The roads remain passable under win»»»

As Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro from January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Interior (MI) advises citizens to use only official currency exchange points, such as banks or post offices. During the first six months following the currency changeover, these exchanges will be free of charge. To ensure »»»

In 2026, Bulgarians will work a total of 1,984 hours spread across 248 working days, with May being the shortest month in terms of workdays at 18, and July the longest at 23. The new year begins with an extended break due to the introduction of the euro, as January 2 is declared a non-working day b»»»

Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil arrived on his first peaceful visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul on Thursday. On the church delegation are metropolitans Anthony of Western and Central Europe, John of Varna and Veliko Preslav, Naum of Ruse, Cyprian of Stara Zagora,»»»

With the adoption of the euro on 1 January 2026, all payments in Bulgaria will move from levs to the single European currency. This applies to wages, pensions and all types of social and cash benefits, which will be recalculated under legally defined rules designed to prevent any loss of income. Wa»»»

Three smoothbore hunting rifles, 20 gas pistols, and 5,750 blank cartridges were seized by officers from the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) and the Customs Agency at the Kapitan Andreevo customs checkpoint. The weapons were discovered during a joint inspection by Bulgaria»»»

The EU is beginning to disintegrate as decisions made in Brussels are increasingly ignored by member states, now divided between advocates of war and of peace, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said. In an interview with Magyar Nemzet newspaper published on Wednesday, Orban said the process»»»

Snow and ice are complicating traffic conditions across nearly the entire country, with multiple incidents reported and authorities urging drivers to exercise extreme caution. In the Vidin region, a truck overturned and another heavy vehicle ended up in a roadside ditch. Drivers report that both in»»»

The Interior Ministry Thursday issued preventive tips to citizens in connection with the official introduction of the euro in Bulgaria on January 1, 2026. In a Facebook post, the Ministry advises citizens to exchange BGN for EUR only at banks or post offices, where the exchange is free of charge un»»»

President Rumen Radev, outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and political leaders extended their Christmas greetings to the Bulgarian people on December 25. In his Facebook message, President Radev wished that the great Christian holiday bring health, warmth and hope for a better future to ever»»»

If someone decides to exchange Bulgarian leva for euros at a currency exchange office right now, the loss is noticeable. For every 100 leva, the difference compared to the official fixed rate amounts to around 1.70 leva, or about 0.88 euros, Radio Free Europe reports. After January 1, however, exch»»»

For yet another winter, Bulgaria’s leading ski resorts continue to rank among Europe’s most affordable mountain destinations. Borovets and Bansko again place in the top five cheapest resorts on the continent, drawing attention as the new ski season approaches. With Bansko officially opening the 202»»»

President Rumen Radev and outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov extended Christmas greetings to the Bulgarian people through messages published on Facebook. In his message, President Radev wished that the great Christian holiday bring health, warmth and hope for a better future to every Bulgaria»»»

When Bulgarians talk about real home cooking, svinsko sas zele—pork with cabbage—always comes up. This hearty, warming dish is the kind of food that makes you feel instantly better on a cold winter day. While it might not have the elegance of some holiday dishes, what it lacks in sophistication it »»»

After the quiet, meatless traditions of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day in Bulgaria bursts into life with joy, abundance, and the unmistakable aroma of roasting meat filling homes across the country. December 25th, known as Коледа (Koleda), transforms the solemn fasting into a full-blown celebration w»»»

The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) has issued a warning for heavy snowfall Thursday, December 25. Yellow and orange code weather alerts will be in force, according to data published on the official NIMH website. An orange code has been issued for the regions of Vidin, Montan»»»

President Rumen Radev and his wife Desislava Radeva will attend the Bulgarian Christmas charity concert here on Thursday at 8:00 PM, the President’s Press Secretariat said. The performance will be held at the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and will be broadcast live on NOVA Television, Bulgarian Natio»»»

EU leaders meet on December 18-19  to vote on rules that would allow the seizure of billions of euros of Russian money frozen in EU accounts that will be used to back €210bn worth of Reparation Loans for Ukraine that is bound to trigger a significant retaliation by Russia if the vote succeeds.»»»

Bad loan levels across Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe (CESEE) remain close to historic lows despite mounting economic and geopolitical headwinds, but early warning indicators point to rising stress in commercial real estate, small businesses and household credit, according to a new report pu»»»

A deepening ideological rift between Europe and the United States is beginning to mirror the Sino-Soviet split of the 1960s, according to political commentator and IntelliNews contributor Arnaud Bertrand. Bertrand draws a »»»

The EU’s vote on the Reparation Loan needs to fail. If it passes it will kill off any chance of a peace deal being signed. The US version of the plan is well advanced and special envoy to Ukraine retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg said last week that only points remain to be agreed. The EU ve»»»

Italy has thrown its weight behind France's opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, putting at risk this week's planned signing of the long-negotiated pact between Brussels and four South American nations. Giorgia M»»»

Europe’s wildfire crisis is intensifying, with 2025 on track to be the worst year on record, following a 2024 season that was already above the 17-year average, according to a report published on December 8 by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). »»»

EU leaders meet on December 18-19  to vote on rules that would allow the seizure of billions of euros of Russian money frozen in EU accounts that will be used to back €210bn worth of Reparation Loans for Ukraine that is bound to trigger a significant retaliation by Russia if the vote succeeds.»»»

Bad loan levels across Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe (CESEE) remain close to historic lows despite mounting economic and geopolitical headwinds, but early warning indicators point to rising stress in commercial real estate, small businesses and household credit, according to a new report pu»»»

Nearly three years into the war in Ukraine, a former senior White House official has acknowledged that the conflict might have been avoided had the United States been willing to forgo Nato membership for Ukraine. Amanda Sl»»»

A deepening ideological rift between Europe and the United States is beginning to mirror the Sino-Soviet split of the 1960s, according to political commentator and IntelliNews contributor Arnaud Bertrand. Bertrand draws a »»»

The EU is today (and maybe tomorrow) discussing how to formally use the frozen Russian Central Assets to fund Ukraine EU summit to formalise use of Russian frozen assets. The issue of the frozen Central Bank assets appea»»»

Europe’s wildfire crisis is intensifying, with 2025 on track to be the worst year on record, following a 2024 season that was already above the 17-year average, according to a report published on December 8 by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). »»»

This is going to get very messy. This morning Fitch announced it was putting Euroclear, which holds most of Russia’s frozen money, on “ratings watch with negative outlook.” That is a polite way of saying the proverbial is about to hit the fan. »»»

This is going to get very messy. This morning Fitch announced it was putting Euroclear, which holds most of Russia’s frozen money, on “ratings watch with negative outlook.” That is a polite way of saying the proverbial is about to hit the fan. »»»

The European Union faces a mounting challenge in the Western Balkans as a surge of foreign investment, much of it from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), tests the bloc’s ability to promote transparent governance while enlargement gathers new political momentum. »»»

The Europeans are preparing for a possible war. But how do they plan to fight? Amid all the talk of a possible war, Nato launched its largest exercise in decades, Steadfast Defender 2024, on January 24. It involved 90,000 troops. »»»

EU leaders meet on December 18-19  to vote on rules that would allow the seizure of billions of euros of Russian money frozen in EU accounts that will be used to back €210bn worth of Reparation Loans for Ukraine that is bound to trigger a significant retaliation by Russia if the vote succeeds.»»»

Cool Carriers, the world’s largest  operator of specialised refrigerated cargo vessels, known as reefers, has rejected allegations broadcast by Danish TV2 linking the group to a cocaine-smuggling scheme off Denmark’s coast, insisting it had no operational control over the ships or the crew inv»»»

Bad loan levels across Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe (CESEE) remain close to historic lows despite mounting economic and geopolitical headwinds, but early warning indicators point to rising stress in commercial real estate, small businesses and household credit, according to a new report pu»»»

The EU’s vote on the Reparation Loan needs to fail. If it passes it will kill off any chance of a peace deal being signed. The US version of the plan is well advanced and special envoy to Ukraine retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg said last week that only points remain to be agreed. The EU ve»»»

A deepening ideological rift between Europe and the United States is beginning to mirror the Sino-Soviet split of the 1960s, according to political commentator and IntelliNews contributor Arnaud Bertrand. Bertrand draws a »»»

The US and Ukraine are hunting for a formula to meet the Kremlin’s demands that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) withdraw from the Donbas region that doesn’t mention the word “withdraw”. “There are some points I don’t lik»»»

The US and Ukraine are hunting for a formula to meet the Kremlin’s demands that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) withdraw from the Donbas region that doesn’t mention the word “withdraw”. “There are some points I don’t lik»»»

Dubai: In the blink of an eye, life can change forever. For Zafar Masud, that moment came aboard PIA flight 8303. Masud, one of only two survivors of the tragic PIA flight crash in on May 22, 2020, captivated an audience of business leaders, professionals, and community members during a deeply pers»»»

Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Asfura speaks during an election day event in Tegucigalpa on Nov. 30. He was declared the winner on Wednesday. Photo by EPA Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Nasry Asfura, with backing by U.S. President Donald Trump, on Wednesday was declared the winner of Honduras' presidentia»»»

The US is not seeking to “conquer” Greenland or take over Danish territory, Washington’s new special envoy to the Arctic island, Jeff Landry, has said. President Donald Trump had previously signaled that the semi-autonomous territory should become part of the US. Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, La»»»

1 of 5 | Palestinian children sing in the grotto of the Church of Nativity, where tradition believes Jesus Christ was born, in the biblical town of Bethlehem, West Bank, on Tuesday. Photo by Debbie Hill/ UPI | License Photo Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Christians in Israel and Palestine are celebrating Christm»»»

Road surfaces are mostly wet and partially icy in shaded areas, but remain passable under winter conditions, the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) said on Wednesday, commenting on the condition of the national road network in the late afternoon. Light rain is falling across the country, while snow h»»»

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry speaks as President Donald Trump listens in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 24. Trump named Landry as his special envoy to Greenland on Monday. File Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo Dec. 24 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's new»»»

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev described 2025 as a challenging but successful year, marked by tangible progress across multiple sectors, in an interview with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Terziev said the municipal administration focused on delivering sol»»»

The US is subjecting Venezuela to the “greatest extortion” in the country’s history, Caracas’ envoy to the UN, Samuel Moncada, has said. Moncada made the statement during a UN Security Council session on Tuesday, called by Caracas after Washington seized another tanker off the Latin American countr»»»

Consumption of home-produced rakia in Bulgaria is steadily declining, while younger generations are increasingly distancing themselves from alcohol altogether. These are among the key findings of the latest study by the Spirits Bulgaria association, presented by Ralitsa Skorcheva-Slavova. According»»»