The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bulgaria

  • Nigeria committed to deepening relations with Bulgaria, says Tuggar

    Nigeria committed to deepening relations with Bulgaria, says Tuggar

    Nigeria remains committed to deepening relationships with Bulgaria for the mutual benefit of both countries.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, stated this in his congratulatory message to the government of Bulgaria.

    The minister, according to a statement by the Acting Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said both countries have enjoyed cordial bilateral relations over the years.

    He said: “Nigeria and Bulgaria have enjoyed cordial bilateral relations over the years, characterized by cooperation in various fields, including education, trade, and cultural exchange.

    “We remain committed to deepening these ties and exploring new avenues of collaboration for the mutual benefit of our people. As Bulgaria celebrates its Liberation Day, we reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening the bonds of friendship and partnership between our two countries.

    Read Also: Tax Reform: All views will be considered, Speaker Abbas assures Nigerians

    “We look forward to continued cooperation in addressing global challenges and advancing the cause of peace and prosperity worldwide.”

    Tuggar in his congratulatory message on the occasion of Bulgaria’s Liberation Day said “This historic day commemorates the bravery, resilience, and unwavering spirit of the Bulgarian people in their pursuit of freedom and self-determination. Therefore, as we join Bulgaria in celebrating this significant milestone, we reflect on the shared values of peace, democracy, and mutual respect that bind our two nations together.”

    He added, “Once again, we congratulate the Government and people of Bulgaria on this momentous occasion and wish the Bulgarian people continued progress, unity, and success in the years ahead.”

  • Bulgaria to partner Plateau on agriculture, security, education

    Bulgaria to partner Plateau on agriculture, security, education

    Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Yanko Yordanov, has expressed strong interest in partnering with the Plateau State Government to boost key sectors such as agriculture, security, education and tourism, which are vital to economic growth.

    Ambassador Yordanov made this known  during a courtesy visit to Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Old Government House, Rayfield, Jos. 

    The Ambassador noted that Plateau State has a distinct advantage in agriculture and tourism due to its favorable climate, peaceful environment, and welcoming populace.

    “We have identified three major areas of cooperation between Bulgaria and Nigeria, specifically with Plateau State: agriculture, security, and education,” Yordanov said. 

    He pledged Bulgaria’s commitment to assisting Plateau in developing modern agricultural technologies to improve the value chain. He added that Bulgaria will provide training support for the state’s security outfit, Operation Rainbow, to enhance security intelligence. 

    In education, the Ambassador said the focus will be on capacity building for staff at Plateau State University, Bokkos, to raise the standard of teaching and learning.

    Mutfwang expressed appreciation for the Ambassador’s visit and the proposed collaboration, stating that Plateau has already aligned with the Federal Government’s year-round agricultural program aimed at achieving food security.

    He welcomed Bulgaria’s interest, noting that Plateau was eager to collaborate with foreign partners to strengthen its economy.

    “Tourism is one of our state’s natural endowments and a key driver of our economy. We are open to partnerships with foreign countries to develop this sector, and we warmly welcome investors and visitors,” Mutfwang said.

    He further revealed that the State has established an agricultural faculty at Plateau State University and looks forward to cooperation with Bulgaria to enhance the skills of both teaching staff and students. 

    The Governor added the Polytechnic, which offers engineering courses, would also benefit from Bulgarian expertise.

    “Your visit has opened a new chapter in the relationship between Plateau State and Bulgaria. We are eager to explore further collaborations, particularly with Bulgarian companies and the government, to deepen this partnership. We look forward to building on this relationship for the mutual benefit of both parties,” the Governor stated.

     Mutfwang, in a statement by his spokesman Dr Gyang Bere, reiterated the administration’s commitment to revitalising the economy by actively seeking partnerships with credible organizations and foreign governments. He emphasized that such collaborations are key to unlocking the full economic potential of Plateau State.

  • War Against Racism:  EPL to launch Anti-Racism balls

     

    The Premier League will roll out specially-designed footballs for the next two weeks as a show of commitment towards the fight against racism.

    Top flight fixtures this and next weekend according to Sportsmail will be played with balls carrying the slogan ‘No Room for Racism’ – the name of the Premier League’s anti-discrimination campaign

    In a week where racism in football has been at the forefront of the national agenda following the disgraceful abuse England players were subjected to in Bulgaria, the Premier League are re-asserting their anti-discrimination campaign.

    Teams who are playing at home this weekend have been sent the white version of the ball. Next weekend, home clubs will be sent the high-visibility version in luminous yellow.

    Former Newcastle ace Shola Ameobi featured in the anti racism video

    The Premier League have also filmed a video featuring the likes of Raheem Sterling and Tammy Abraham to encourage supporters to report instances of racial abuse. It will be aired before matches over the next two weekends.

    Arsenal legend Ian Wright is one of the figures on a eight-person black, Asian and minority ethnic panel set-up by the Premier League to tackle the issue of racism.

    Doncaster manager Darren Moore chairs the group, while Leicester defender Wes Morgan and former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi are also involved.

    Tammy Abraham featured in the Premier League’s No Room For Racism Video, featuring stars from all 20 top-flight teams

    The campaign – also featuring Arsenal’s Joe Willock – will be shown at Premier League grounds from this weekend

    Tammy Abraham and Joe Willock say ‘No Room For Racism’ in new Premier League’s new video

  • 11 untouched 1994 BMW 5 Series discovered in Bulgaria

    A body shop in Bulgaria has posted some incredible pictures on its Facebook page showing 11 essentially never-before-driven 1994 BMW 5 Series (E34s) just sitting there alone.

    Posted by Bozhurishte, Bulgaria-based body shop, the images and video below show an old factory in Blagoevgrad filled with historic black and red Bavarian sheet metal with pristine, still plastic-wrapped, interiors.

    It was learnt that the owners of the BMW 520is and 525is do not want people talking about them.

    David Tracy of an online medium, Jalopnik, who spoke with the shop representative, wrote: “They (the owners) bought more than 300 cars from a bankrupted Spanish dealer and they thought that they could (get) good business with (the cars). But in 1995, the VAT (Value Added Tax) appeared in Bulgaria and some other changes were made by the government and it became hard to sell these expensive cars. Yes, they even thought of making a (rental) car business, to sell part of them to the government.”

    The rust repair shop suspects that the cars were at a Bulgarian BMW dealership outside for a few years prior to being moved, and while the person doesn’t know how long the cars have been wrapped up in the factory, they guess it’s “more than 15 years.”

    A number of people on the Facebook comments seem keen on getting their hands on these basically-undriven 5 Series sedans (and one wagon), and have apparently even sent the workshop offers. But according to the spokesperson, it’s up to the owners to decide how to proceed, going on to say that there will likely be an auction at some point.

    As for when or where that auction will be held, or how much the cars—which have a few exterior blemishes, but appear in excellent shape inside and underneath—will fetch, we just don’t know. A Bulgarian website Autoclub said the expected price will be 15,000 euro per car. When asked about this, the Bulgarian auto body shop simply responded with a thumbs up, apparently confirming the figure.

  • Bulgarian journalist Viktoria Marinova killed in Ruse

    Police in Bulgaria are investigating the killing of investigative reporter Viktoria Marinova.

    Her body was found in a park in the northern city of Ruse, near the River Danube, on Saturday.

    It is not known if the killing is linked to the 30-year-old’s work at a local television station, TVN. An investigation is looking into her personal and professional life.

    Her death immediately drew international condemnation.

    “Shocked by horrific murder of investigative journalist Viktoria Marinova in Bulgaria,” tweeted Harlem Desir, the media freedom representative for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OSCE) , of which Ms Marinova was a member.

    “Urgently call for a full and thorough investigation. Those responsible must be held to account.”

    Ms Marinova is the third high-profile journalist to be killed in the European Union in the past year, and the fourth since the start of 2017.

    Swedish reporter Kim Wall was killed by Danish inventor Peter Madsen after boarding his homemade submarine to do an interview in Copenhagen in August 2017.

    In October 2017, Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb near her home, while in February this year Slovakian journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova were shot dead.

    Both Ms Caruana Galizia and Mr Kuciak were known for their work exposing corruption, while Ms Marinova’s most recent work had been to interview two other Bulgarian journalists, Attila Biro and Dimitar Stoyanov, who were arrested in September while looking into a case of fraud involving the misuse of EU funds.

    Ruse regional prosecutor Georgy Georgiev said Ms Marinova had suffered blows to the head and was suffocated in the fatal attack, adding that her “mobile phone, car keys, glasses and part of her clothes were missing”.

    Bulgaria is considered the worst country in the EU when it comes to press freedom, according to Reporters with Borders. The organisation says investigative journalists in the country “are often subjected to pressure, from mere warnings to intimidation and physical assaults on themselves or their property”.

  • EU top court rules against Austria in asylum case

    EU top court rules against Austria in asylum case

    The European( EU ) Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday that Austria was obliged to examine the asylum application of an Iranian national even though he had previously sought international protection in Bulgaria.

    Majid Shiri, the asylum seeker, applied for international protection first in Bulgaria, and then in Austria.

    Under current EU law – also known as the Dublin regulation – the member state which was the first point of entry into the EU – in this case Bulgaria – is obliged to handle asylum applications.

    Read: Nigeria records 1,300 registered victims in EU countries

    But the ECJ found that because Shiri was not transferred back from Austria to Bulgaria within a six-month time limit, the “responsibility is transferred automatically” to Austria.

    The ruling is likely to have repercussions for a number of asylum cases lodged in 2015 and 2016 when a large number of people seeking international protection entered Europe.

    Read Also: EU agrees on new labour rules to prevent social dumping

  • Kante ruled out of France’s final qualifier

    Kante ruled out of France’s final qualifier

    Chelsea midfielder N‘Golo Kante has been ruled out of France’s final 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier at home to Belarus on Tuesday due to a muscle injury.

    National team coach Didier Deschamps disclosed this after Kante limped off shortly after half an hour and was replaced by Adrien Rabiot during France’s 1-0 away win over Bulgaria on Saturday.

    The 1998 champions have now moved within touching distance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

    “I can’t count on him for the next game. It’s a muscular problem behind the thigh,“ Deschamps said. ”Kante and Rabiot pretty much swapped. It is fixed for Tuesday.

    “N‘Golo had a crucial part to play, obviously. After N‘Golo’s injury, Adrien Rabiot came on in the same role, maybe not with the same quality as N‘Golo.”

    Les Bleus lead Group A with 20 points, one ahead of Sweden, and will qualify directly for the World Cup if they beat Belarus.

    NAN

  • FUTA students for Bulgaria maths contest

    Four Students of the Mathematics Department of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, will fly Nigeria’s flag at the International Mathematics Competition (IMC) at the America University, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria holding July 25-29, 2016.

    This follows their wining the 8th National Mathematics Competition for University Students (2016 NAMCUS) in Abuja organised by the National Mathematical Centre.

    They beat 23 other universities with teams of four students to earn a spot in the international competition.

    The FUTA Team was made up of Michael Omolaja, a 500-Level student who got a gold medal and the title of Best Student Mathematician across Nigerian Universities; Mary Akinade and Segun Ofe, also 500-Level students who won silver medals; and Desmond Dike, a 300-Level student who picked a bronze medal.

    They were supervised by Dr Babatope Omolofe and Mr. Ayodeji Afolabi, lecturers in the Department.

    In Bulgaria, at the competition organised by the University College, London, the team would compete against students from about 80 countries.

    The competition would feature two sessions of five hours each with problems from Algebra, Real and Complex Analysis, Geometry and Combinatorics.

    Speaking on their success talisman, Omolaja, said the team depended on God and worked together. Omolaja, who has a record of tutoring students at Masters and PhD levels, is a Fluid Numerical and Complex Analysis major with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.69. Already, he has published several papers.

    Akinade, the only female on the team, has a CGPA of 4.68.

    Ofe, who is a second time participant has a CGPA is 4.59.  He said of the upcoming Bulgarian competition: “It is a privilege to represent Nigeria and we are going to put in our best to make the most of the privilege”.

    Dike, who has a CGPA of 4.68, said he learnt from team mates in order to give his best.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Adebiyi Daramola, praised the team and assured its members of total support. He described their feat as a big boost to the university’s image and a testimony of its excellence in academic matters.

  • We must produce what we eat -Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that his administration will vigorously implement policies that will revive Nigeria’s  agricultural sector and reposition it as the mainstay of the national economy.

    Speaking at an audience with the new Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria,  Mr. Vesselin Blagoer Delcher, President Buhari said that his administration will evolve and implement policies that will help Nigeria become self-sufficient in food production because continued importation of food could expose the country to more external shocks.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that the unbridled importation of food also contributes to the depletion of  the country’s foreign reserves and  deprives citizens of job opportunities.

    He said: ‘‘We must produce what we eat. We don’t have unlimited resources to continue the importation of  food items that can be produced locally.

    “Fortunately, some Nigerians have shown foresight by building factories that process agricultural products within the country.

    ‘‘They have created a value chain that boosts employment, protects our foreign reserves and safeguards the economy from external shocks.

    “We will do all that we can to encourage others to join in the effort to achieve national self-sufficiency in food production,” President Buhari said.

    His administration, he said, will also help and encourage Nigerian farmers to adopt modern, technology-driven methods that guarantee higher production and returns on investment.

    Buhari, who also received Mr. Paul Lehmann, the new High Commissioner of Australia, Hajiya Afsatu Olayinka Ebiso-Kabba, the new High Commissioner of Sierra-Leone and Thordur Aegir Oskarsson, the new Ambassador of Iceland, said that Nigeria will welcome the  further strengthening  of relations with their countries, especially in the areas of   agriculture, solid minerals and trade.

    He wished the four envoys, who were at the Presidential Villa to present their letters of credence to him, very successful tenures in Nigeria.

  • Bulgaria PM to resign over protests

    Bulgaria PM to resign over protests

    Bulgaria’s government has announced it is resigning after nationwide protests against high electricity prices and austerity measures, Prime Minister Boiko Borisov has said.

    The PM said he had decided to go after protesters against rising electricity prices clashed with police in Sofia.

    At least 25 people were taken to hospital, BBC reports.

    “I will not participate in a government under which police are beating people,” Mr. Borisov said.

    “Every drop of blood is a shame for us,” he added.

    Tens of thousands have taken to the streets across Bulgaria, the European Union’s poorest country, against high electricity bills.

    The PM tried to calm the protests on Tuesday by promising to slash prices and by sacking his finance minister.

    He also pledged to punish foreign-owned power companies that he said charged too much.

    But BBC says that many Bulgarians remain deeply unhappy over high energy costs, power monopolies, low living standards and corruption.

    It was not immediately clear whether or not a parliamentary election scheduled for July would now be brought forward.

    “Our power was handed to us by the people, today we are handing it back to them,” Mr. Borisov said.