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Bulgaria in his heart: A South African exile recalls

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:43:00 +0300

Thabang Makwetla, South Africa’s deputy defence minister who was hosted in exile in Bulgaria in the early 1980s, interviewed by The Sofia Echo Editor-in-Chief Clive Leviev-Sawyer.

Saab awarded $2.4M military training equipment contract in Bulgaria

The Sofia Echo staff — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:31:00 +0300

The funding is provided under the foreign military sales programme of the US army's Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training and Instrumentation.

Czech Republic, Romania mull shale gas moratoriums

The Sofia Echo staff — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:18:00 +0300

Governments in Prague and Bucharest could soon join Sofia in instituting temporary moratoriums on shale gas exploration.

Bulgaria secures one-year extension on Belene loan - minister

The Sofia Echo staff — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:46:00 +0300

The option to postpone the due date was contingent on securing 55 million euro for immediate repayment of the amounts loaned by Belgium's Dexia and Japanese bank Mizuho.

Putin takes Russian presidency for historic third term

VOA News — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:18:00 +0300

World leaders acknowledged Putin's victory with reservations, and international observers say the election was skewed in the former president's favour.

France elects first socialist president in nearly two decades

Lisa Bryant - VOA News — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:56:00 +0300

Hollande's call for more spending and economic growth has struck a chord with French voters.

Two Brits fined for hooliganism in Bulgaria’s Veliko Turnovo

The Sofia Echo staff — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:28:00 +0300

The UK nationals were arrested after throwing beer bottles at people after being refused entry to a restaurant that had closed for the night.

Tourism: Bulgaria to spend 300M leva on restoring castles, ancient sites

The Sofia Echo staff — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:37:00 +0300

Restoration and development projects include Madara Horseman, Arbanassi fortress, Magura cave.

Move Russia’s capital from Moscow to Siberia? | Russia Watch

James Brooke, VOANews Moscow Bureau Chief — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:08:00 +0300

Sergei Shoigu, the newly appointed governor of the Moscow Region, recently proposed that Russia move its capital to Siberia. The idea was immediately squelched.

Serge Sarkisian’s ruling party wins Armenian parliamentary elections – exit polls

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:23:00 +0300

Gallup International Association poll gives president Sarkisian’s party 44 per cent, while three main challengers alleged ‘machinations’ by ruling party in what – in contrast to 2008 – reportedly was a largely peaceful election.

Super Moon 2012 show: Photo Gallery

The Sofia Echo staff — Sun, 06 May 2012 23:40:00 +0300

On average, the moon is about 378 195 km away. At its furthest it is nearly 400 000 km away. During a lunar perigee and full moon, however, the lunar surface can appear up to 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than any other full moon.

Serbia: Tadić leads as presidential elections head for second round

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Sun, 06 May 2012 23:33:00 +0300

Coalition around ruling Democratic Party has largest share of vote in Serbia's parliamentary election, according to exit polls.

Greek voters punish major centre-right, socialist parties at polls

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Sun, 06 May 2012 22:56:00 +0300

Centre-right New Democracy is said by exit polls to have largest share of votes, but diminished even from its 2009 defeat, while socialists Pasok – the 2009 victors – gets somewhere around 14 to 17 per cent.

Sovereign Order of Malta assists hospital in Bulgaria’s Iskrets

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:12:00 +0300

Simeon Saxe-Coburg and his spouse Margarita opened a new heating and insulation system at the Tsar Ferdinand Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases in Iskrets, a project implemented thanks to the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Sofia and the Nando Peretti Foundation.

Report: Only 14.5 per cent of people have access to free press

Suzanne Presto - VOA News — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:35:00 +0300

The Freedom House report says the media environment in the Middle East and North Africa underwent major improvements in 2011, but remained the worst-performing part of the world.

Don’t like the job, time to move on

Rafaela Frietas - The Budapest Times — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:29:00 +0300

Dissatisfaction with jobs is a global phenomenon and two-thirds of workers all over the world intend to look for another job in the near future, the survey concluded.

Bulgarian Parliament passes confiscation act

Alex Bivol — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:18:00 +0300

According to the law's provisions, the commission will have the power to investigate individuals without prior notification and would not require a criminal conviction in order to launch an investigation.

Poland slams calls for Ukraine Euro 2012 boycott

The Warsaw Voice — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:40:00 +0300

Led by German chancellor Angela Merkel, leaders of several EU countries have called off scheduled visits to Ukraine during the Euro 2012

Unemployment in Bulgaria in Q1 2012 was 12.9% - National Statistics Institute

The Sofia Echo staff — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:23:00 +0300

The number of unemployed people in the first quarter of 2012 in Bulgaria was 422 500, according to official statistics.

France prepares for final round of presidential election

VOA News — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:36:00 +0300

National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who came in third in the first round election last month, would not vote for either Hollande or Sarkozy.