The last passengers aboard the MV Hondius were finally evacuated this week from the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak. However, once repatriated to their home countries, they faced widely differing public health protocols for containing the virus. The United States stands out for its particu»»»

The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on more than a dozen Russian officials suspected of helping Moscow to abduct thousands of children from Ukraine.  The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 16 officials accused of helping Russia to abduct tens of thousands of children»»»

European Union foreign ministers on May 12 agreed new sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians, as a change of government in Hungary ended months of blockage. The bloc also moved to sanction leaders from the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israel has condemned the sanction»»»

A series of police operations across Bulgaria has led to the seizure of nearly €30,000 linked to vote-buying schemes, as authorities intensify efforts ahead of the upcoming elections. Acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev reported that €20,000 was confiscated during an operation »»»

At the opening of its first working plenary session, Bulgaria’s new parliament rejected proposals to establish two separate investigative committees targeting the declared assets of Delyan Peevski and the influence of the so-called “Capital circle” linked to Ivo Prokopiev. The decisions immediately»»»

Four employees of the Bobov Dol Thermal Power Plant have been detained during a police operation conducted by officers from the Bobov Dol and Kyustendil regional directorates. Authorities confirmed that documents, lists of names, and internal proposals for staff rewards were seized during the searc»»»

At the final session of Bulgaria’s caretaker cabinet, Acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov delivered a strongly worded address to his ministers, thanking them for what he described as their willingness to engage directly with difficult decisions rather than avoid responsibility during a short govern»»»

In the first working day of Bulgaria’s new parliament, Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria (PB) found itself at the center of a political dispute after refusing to back proposals to create parliamentary commissions targeting influential figures and oligarchs such as Delyan Peevski and Ivo Prokopiev.»»»

After weeks of unofficial discussions and party maneuvering, the final composition of “Progressive Bulgaria’s” regular cabinet has been formally unveiled. Following President Iliyana Yotova’s handover of the first mandate to the largest parliamentary force in the 52nd National Assembly, Prime Minis»»»

Bulgaria’s debate over public finances and new borrowing has intensified, with political forces divided over whether additional state debt is unavoidable, while the outgoing caretaker finance minister insists that the country’s fiscal position remains stable and manageable. During a parliamentary h»»»

A total of 2,066 reports of election-related crimes and violations have been registered across Bulgaria as of 9:00 a.m., Acting Interior Minister Emil Dechev announced in Pleven. He compared the figure with the 2024 parliamentary elections, when 612 signals were filed, highlighting a significant in»»»

Rumen Radev said the proposed cabinet of “Progressive Bulgaria” is made up of experienced professionals capable of handling the difficult challenges facing the country, ahead of today’s parliamentary vote on the new government. Further reading: Bulgaria: The Full Cabinet of Prime Minister Rumen Rad»»»

Following the April 19 snap parliamentary elections, Interior Ministry acting Secretary General Georgi Kandev said the ministry had done everything possible to make the electoral process “fairer” and “more secure,” while acknowledging the deep public distrust surrounding elections and the long-stan»»»

After the close of election day for Bulgaria’s snap parliamentary vote, Interior Minister Emil Dechev presented detailed data on election-related crimes, including reports of vote buying linked to specific political parties, a sharp rise in investigations, and several high-profile cases across the »»»

Rumen Radev, presenting what he described as the priorities of the future government, said the recent mass vote had restored legitimacy to the National Assembly and created conditions for more effective parliamentary work. He thanked citizens for what he called an end to the political crisis and ar»»»

At the “Kapitan Andreevo” border checkpoint, Bulgarian authorities seized more than 1.5 tons of chicken meat after inspectors found it being transported without the required documentation, according to official inspection reports. The operation was carried out by the Border Control Directorate of t»»»

The Bulgarian National Assembly has elected Rumen Radev as prime minister, approving both his nomination and the proposed structure of the new Council of Ministers. The decision passed with 124 votes in favor, 70 against, and 36 abstentions, followed by the swearing-in of the cabinet. The governmen»»»

The Plovdiv District Court has ordered the permanent detention of a 22-year-old man accused of killing his father, dismembering his body and disposing of the remains in waste containers in the Trakia district. The proceedings were held behind closed doors due to the disturbing nature of the case an»»»

A new sociological survey by the “Myara” agency outlines what Bulgarians expect from the recently formed government, placing immediate economic concerns at the top of the public agenda. The study was conducted between May 4 and May 7 among 800 adult respondents and provides a snapshot of priorities»»»

The Sofia City Court has ruled that the two Ukrainian nationals accused of espionage in Bulgaria will remain in custody, rejecting their request for a lighter detention measure. The decision was issued on Thursday and is not final, meaning it can still be challenged before a higher court. According»»»

A sophisticated cannabis cultivation facility has been discovered inside an underground mine gallery near the town of Kyustendil, according to the Directorate of the Bulgarian Anti-Mafia Police, which announced the operation on its official Facebook page. The structure was found during an ongoing l»»»

Newly elected Prime Minister Rumen Radev declared that his cabinet represents the beginning of what he described as stable and strategically focused governance in Bulgaria, during the official handover ceremony at the Council of Ministers on Friday. The event followed the swearing-in of the new gov»»»

The United States has removed Bulgaria from its intellectual property Watch List, according to the 2026 Special 301 Report issued by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative under the administration of President Donald Trump. The report evaluates global protection and enforcement of intellectual»»»

Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed that Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev will remain in office, while at the same time announcing that a new head of the State Agency for National Security will be proposed soon. Speaking to reporters at the Council of Ministers after formally taki»»»

The caretaker cabinet of Andrey Gyurov formally handed over power to Rumen Radev’s newly elected regular government in a ceremony at the Council of Ministers. Gyurov, the outgoing prime minister, described his team’s tenure as a moment when the state rediscovered its spine, telling the incoming min»»»

A criminal scheme involving fraudulent consumer loans obtained through falsified identity documents has been uncovered in Bulgaria, officials from the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office and the Economic Police at the SDVR announced. The case began after a bank reported suspicious activity linked to sev»»»

At the first operational meeting of his cabinet, Prime Minister Rumen Radev set an extensive agenda focused on inflation control, institutional reform, and economic restructuring, describing the priorities as urgent and interconnected. He opened the session by stressing the need for immediate actio»»»

A 47-year-old Lithuanian woman injured four people in a knife attack in the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Varna on Monday afternoon, according to local reporting. Police detained the suspect shortly after the incident, which took place in a grocery store on Podvis Street. According to initial inform»»»

Two of the four people injured in Monday’s knife attack in Varna remain in serious condition after undergoing surgery, hospital officials confirmed. The victims, a man and a woman, suffered severe stab wounds to the chest and are currently being treated in the intensive care unit at St. Anna Hospit»»»

Petar Vitanov, MP from Progressive Bulgaria, has dismissed comparisons between newly elected Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and former Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, arguing instead that the closer parallel is with Hungary’s new prime minister Peter Magyar. Further reading: Bulgaria Already H»»»

A violent incident involving two 16-year-old boys in Veliko Tarnovo ended in an attempted homicide after a dispute escalated into a knife attack, according to statements from local police and the prosecutor’s office. Authorities said the confrontation took place around 7 p.m. near the farmers’ mark»»»

Democratic Bulgaria (DB) declared that it intends to establish itself as the main right-wing opposition force in parliament, as party leaders gathered for a national conference focused on the coalition’s political strategy, upcoming elections, judicial reform, and the state budget. Representatives »»»

President Iliana Yotova warned that it is “not normal” for a producing country to face extremely high prices for basic food products, as she addressed journalists in Veliko Tarnovo. With the fruit and vegetable season beginning, Yotova argued that the first policy responses should focus on food aff»»»

A large-scale international police operation targeting counterfeit and unapproved pharmaceuticals has led to arrests, seizures, and the dismantling of criminal networks across dozens of countries, including Bulgaria, according to Interpol and reporting by AFP. Authorities say nearly 270 suspects ha»»»

A Lithuanian woman accused of stabbing four people in the Bulgarian coastal city of Varna will be transferred to the prison psychiatric hospital in Lovech for evaluation, according to information released by the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office in Varna. The 47-year-old suspect, who has already been c»»»

“Progressive Bulgaria” has introduced a package of legislative proposals aimed at curbing rising prices and limiting what the party describes as unjustified markups in retail trade. The measures include amendments to the Competition Protection Act and the Consumer Protection Act, with the proposals»»»

Proposed amendments to Bulgaria’s Judiciary Act, focused largely on replacing the current Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), passed their first reading in parliament’s legal committee with broad political backing. Three separate draft laws were submitted by “Progressive Bulgaria,” “We Continue the Cha»»»

A violent clash between two families in the Bulgarian town of Simeonovgrad escalated into a serious incident involving sticks, clubs, and an axe, according to reporting cited by Radio Stara Zagora. The confrontation reportedly began after an exchange of remarks between two girls from the respective»»»

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova used her first meeting with North Macedonian Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski in Brussels to deliver a firm message over Skopje’s stalled European integration, stressing that the conditions tied to EU accession are no longer a bilateral dispute wi»»»

The proposed anti-inflation measures of Rumen Radev’s “Progressive Bulgaria” government cleared their first parliamentary hurdle despite strong criticism from opposition parties, business organizations, and employers’ groups. The amendments to the Law on Protection of Competition and the Law on Con»»»

Bulgaria’s Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) has approved a higher natural gas price for May 2026, setting the rate at 35.98 euros per megawatt hour, excluding access, transmission, excise duties, and VAT. The adjustment represents an increase of around 5% compared to April levels. The »»»

Bulgaria’s employers’ organization, the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (AIKB), has taken a firm stance against the current practice of extending public holidays when they fall on weekends, arguing that the system generates significant economic losses and should be reconsidered. Accor»»»

Bulgaria is currently facing the highest inflation rate in the eurozone for the past month, alongside a budget deficit exceeding the 3% threshold, according to entrepreneur and KRIB (Confederation of Employers and Industrialists of Bulgaria) chairman Kiril Domuschiev, who voiced concern in a social»»»

Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova has described the Vertical Gas Corridor as a project of key strategic importance for Europe’s energy security, saying it carries both economic and political weight amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts. Her remarks were made during a high-level dis»»»

Global airlines are sharply reducing flight schedules and available seating capacity for May as concerns grow over potential fuel shortages and ongoing instability in energy supply chains. Industry data cited by the Financial Times shows that roughly 2 million seats have been removed within a two-w»»»

Gazprom Neft Badra B.V. is a Dutch-based oil extraction company within the Gazprom group that handles operations at the Badra oil field in eastern Iraq under the Development and Production Service Contract. Starting February 2025, it exited Gazprom Neft’s corporate perimeter; the ownership chain no»»»

Economists in Bulgaria are warning that fiscal discipline needs to be restored, arguing that the current budget deficit has moved away from what they consider sustainable levels. Former Social Minister Hristina Hristova and former Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (AICB) chairman Vasil »»»

Bulgarian freight volumes were up 11.9% in Q4 2025 year on year. When I ask fleet operators around Sofia and Plovdiv what shifted, the answer keeps coming back to the same thing. It's not some grand strategy or government initiative. It's the fact that they finally have live numbers from their own »»»

A used car lot on the southern edge of Sofia had seven imported sedans sitting on it last March, all from German auctions, all priced between 9000 and 13000 euros, and the owner told me he had run history reports on every single one before photographing them for his listings. Two years ago, he woul»»»

Denis Kitaev is a Russian real estate developer. The company he co-founded, Vesper, redevelops historic buildings in central Moscow into high-end housing. Denis Vladimirovich Kitaev was born on February 3, 1977. From childhood, he showed a natural talent for drawing and drafting, and he graduated»»»