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SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Hundreds of angry farmers took to the streets in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, on Monday to complain of what they called “the total failure” of the government to meet the mounting challenges of the agricultural sector. They called on Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev to step down for not keeping his promises to ease the administrative burden on the farming sector, to seek state compensation for high costs and falling incomes. Ventsislav Varbanov, who chairs the Association of Agricultural Producers, complained that the government is adding more undue burdens, instead of seeking some relief for the farmers. The association expressed discontent with a statement made by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov in response to their demands for compensation that only grain producers who can prove a loss for 2023 will receive financial support. The association wants some form of compensation for all grain producers.

Persons: Kiril Vatev, Ventsislav Varbanov, Varbanov, Nikolay Denkov Organizations: Agriculture, of Agricultural Producers Locations: SOFIA, Bulgaria, Bulgaria’s, Sofia, Europe, Ukraine

☆ Scholz, Zelenskiy Discuss Military Support, Push for Peace -Berlin
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated Berlin's unwavering support for Ukraine in a telephone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday, a government spokesperson in Berlin said. The two leaders agreed to continue their exchange, "also with a view towards the global support for a peaceful solution" to the conflict, the spokesperson said in a statement. Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, said he expressed thanks for assistance in telephone calls with Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov. Our agreements...are all being implemented," Zelenskiy said. (Writing by Rachel More, editing by Thomas Escritt and Ron Popeski)

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Nikolai Denkov, Rachel More, Thomas Escritt, Ron Popeski Organizations: BERLIN, Ukraine, British, Bulgarian Locations: Berlin

☆ Russia accuses Bulgaria of malice over diplomatic overflight ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Russia accused Bulgaria of malice and stupidity on Thursday for refusing to allow Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's plane to fly through its airspace. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who is under European Union sanctions, said her presence on board the plane was the reason given by Bulgaria's foreign ministry for denying access to its airspace. Zakharova suggested that Russia could apply similar overflight bans to "thousands of NATO functionaries", and accused Bulgaria of creating "a dangerous precedent". Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania declared a boycott of the meeting in Skopje in protest of the Russian delegation's presence. Athens took all the steps required before allowing the overflight, the official added.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov's, Lavrov, Dmitry Peskov, Maria Zakharova, Zakharova, Felix Light, Mark Trevelyan, Kevin Liffey, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Organisation for Security, Cooperation, Kremlin, Russian Foreign Ministry, European Union, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, Europe, Skopje, North Macedonia, Russian, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Athens

☆ US Navy foils gunmen attempting to hijack an Israel-linked tanker off Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A US Navy warship responded to a distress call and secured the seized ship, an official said. London-based Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group. Crew members of the Central Park tanker locked themselves in the ship's safe room for safety, the official told Griffin. Zodiac Maritime has been targeted previously amid a wider yearslong shadow war between Iran and Israel. Both the Symi and the Central Park had been behaving as if they faced a threat in recent days.

Persons: —, Ambrey, Zodiac, Eyal Ofer's, Ofer, Daniel Guy Ofer, Jennifer Griffin, Griffin, Mason, — Jennifer Griffin, @JenGriffinFNC Organizations: US Navy, Zodiac, Service, Attackers, Liberian, Zodiac Maritime, Associated Press, Reuters, Clumvez Shipping Inc, Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group, Clumvez Shipping, Fox News Chief National, Central, NEW, U.S, US, Navy, Business, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, CMA, AP, Ships, AIS, Israel, Palestinian Locations: Israel, Yemen, Gulf, Aden, London, Saudi, Houthi, Gulf of Aden, Japanese, Iran, Oman, British, Yemen's, Djibouti, Somalia, Suez, Red

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Attackers seized a tanker linked to Israel off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, authorities said. The attackers seized the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, in the Gulf of Aden, the company and private intelligence firm Ambrey said. London-based Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group. Both the Symi and the Central Park had been behaving as if they faced a threat in recent days. The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge the seizure of the Central Park.

Persons: Ambrey, Zodiac, ” Zodiac, Eyal Ofer’s, Ofer, Daniel Guy Ofer, ”, — Organizations: United Arab Emirates, — Attackers, Liberian, Zodiac Maritime, Associated Press, Turkish, Clumvez Shipping Inc, Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group, Clumvez Shipping, U.S, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, CMA, Central, AP, Ships, AIS, Israel Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Israel, Yemen, Gulf, Aden, London, Saudi, Houthi, U.S, Iran, Oman, British, Yemen's, Djibouti, Somalia, Suez, Palestinian, Red

☆ Israeli-linked chemical tanker seized in Gulf of Aden, US official, vessel company say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Aziz El Yaakoubi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

RIYADH, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Unidentified armed individuals have seized a tanker carrying a cargo of phosphoric acid in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, the vessel's managing company and a U.S. defence official said. It followed a seizure of an Israeli-linked cargo ship by Yemen Houthis, allies of Iran, in the southern Red Sea last week. The group, which also fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, vowed to target more Israeli vessels. "U.S. and coalition forces are in the vicinity and we are closely monitoring the situation," the U.S. official said. Central Park, a small chemical tanker (19,998 metric tons), is managed by Zodiac Maritime Ltd, a London-headquartered international ship management company owned by Israel's Ofer family.

Persons: Yemen Houthis, Israel's Ofer, rampaged, Aziz El Yaakoubi, William Schomberg, David Goodman, Louise Heavens Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, U.S, Zodiac Maritime, Liberian, Clumvez Shipping Inc, Britain's Maritime Trade Operations, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, Gulf, Aden, U.S, Central, Israel, Yemen, Iran, London, Somalia, Turkish, Tehran, Israeli, Gaza

Four years after calling time on his playing career, Berbatov has grand ambitions of reshaping the football landscape in his native Bulgaria. “Bulgarian football is in major crisis,” Berbatov tells CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies from London in a recent interview. Mihaylov re-electedTwo years after submitting his resignation, Mihaylov stood again and was re-elected as BFU president for a fifth term when Berbatov was also a candidate. In the voting, 241 voted for Mihaylov, 230 for Berbatov, eight for a third candidate, and four did not vote. Dimitar Kyosemarliev/ReutersBulgaria last qualified for a major international tournament at Euro 2004, when a squad featuring Berbatov lost all three of its games.

Persons: CNN — Dimitar Berbatov’s, Berbatov, it’s, Amanda Davies, “, – Stiliyan Petrov, Martin Petrov, –, Borislav Mihaylov, Mihaylov, Mihaylov’s, Gareth Southgate, Boyko Borissov, Bulgaria “, ” Mihaylov, Borissov’s, ” Borislav Mihaylov, Georgi Paleykov, Georgi Ivanov, “ I’ve, ” Berbatov, Dimitar Dilkoff, Nikolay Doychinov, ”, Dimitar Kyosemarliev, hasn’t, Simon Holmes, Aleksander Čeferin, Čeferin, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Bulgarian, –, Manchester United, Bulgarian Football Union, England, Bulgaria, ”, Guardian, Balkan Insight, FIFA, UEFA, CNN Sport, Latvia, Getty, Bulgaria’s, Hungary, men’s, Plovdiv’s Hristo Botev Stadium, Police, Vassil Levski Stadium, Hungarian Football Federation, Reuters, Croatia Locations: Germany, England, France, Greece, India, Bulgaria, Europe, London, Sofia, Bulgarian, “ Bulgaria, AFP, Plovdiv, Reuters Bulgaria, BFU

☆ Hungary qualify for Euro 2024 with dramatic 2-2 draw against Bulgaria.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier - Group G - Bulgaria v Hungary - Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria - November 16, 2023 Hungary's Zsolt Kalmar and Daniel Gazdag celebrate their second goal an own goal scored by Bulgaria's Alex Petkov REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov Acquire Licensing RightsSOFIA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Hungary qualified for the Euro 2024 finals with a game to spare after a last-gasp own goal from Alex Petkov earned them a 2-2 away draw against Bulgaria in their qualifying Group G on Thursday. The result put them on top of the group with 15 points from seven games, with an unassailable seven point lead over third-placed Montenegro, who have two games left to play. Hungary took the lead through Martin Adam's close-range header following a free kick from captain Dominik Szoboszlai from the right after 10 minutes. Hungary were also reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Milos Kerkez was sent off and suffered a major setback in the 78th minute as Kiril Despodov scored with a penalty to give Bulgaria a 2-1 lead. Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico CityOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hungary's Zsolt Kalmar, Daniel Gazdag, Bulgaria's Alex Petkov, Stoyan, Alex Petkov, Martin Adam's, Dominik Szoboszlai, Marco Rossi's, Bulgaria's, Valentin Antov, Ilia Gruev, Milos Kerkez, Kiril Despodov, Petkov, Janina Nuno Rios Organizations: Soccer Football, UEFA, Vasil Levski National, Bulgaria's Alex Petkov REUTERS, Rights, Bulgaria, Delev, Thomson Locations: Bulgaria, Hungary, Sofia, Montenegro, Bulgarian, Mexico City

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Thousands of Bulgarian football supporters on Thursday took to the streets of the capital, Sofia, in protest over the management of the national football union, a demonstration that eventually turned violent. The qualifying match between Bulgaria and Hungary for next year's European soccer championship fell victim to a bitter dispute between the management of the Bulgarian Football Union and soccer fans from across the Balkan country. Political Cartoons View All 1253 ImagesThe Bulgarian national team has failed to qualify for a major tournament for nearly two decades. The decision fueled anger not only amid Bulgarian fans. As they had already planned their trip, they intended to join the Bulgarian fans’ protest, according to BTA.

Persons: “, Bulgarian Football Union Borislav Mihaylov, Mihaylov, ”, BTA Organizations: Bulgarian, football union, Bulgarian Football Union, Media, Bulgarian Football Union Borislav, UEFA, Vasil Levski National Locations: SOFIA, Bulgaria, Sofia, Hungary, European, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgarian

☆ Hungary criticises 'unsportsmanlike' Bulgaria as Euro qualifier venue changed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 14 (Reuters) - The Hungarian football federation slammed the Bulgarian federation for "unsportsmanlike" conduct as Thursday's Euro 2024 qualifier match was moved from Plovdiv to Sofia on Tuesday. The Hungarian FA called hosts Bulgarian Football Union's (BFU) actions "unprecedented, totally unjustified and grossly unsportsmanlike" in a statement. "It is not even possible to organise a family holiday in this way, let alone an international football match with a huge stake, involving millions of people," it added. "UEFA ordered that the match will be played behind closed doors at the Vasil Levski stadium in Sofia," the BFU said on Tuesday. Bulgaria are bottom with two points as they look to secure a qualifying playoff berth in their remaining matches against Hungary and Serbia.

Persons: BFU, Chiranjit, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Hristo Botev, Hungarian FA, Bulgarian Football, UEFA, Vasil Levski, Hungary, Thomson Locations: Hungarian, Bulgarian, Plovdiv, Sofia, Hungary, Montenegro, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bengaluru

☆ OneCoin’s Compliance Head Pleads Guilty in $4 Billion Crypto Fraud Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Mengqi Sun | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

OneCoin, which was started in 2014 in Sofia, Bulgaria, marketed and sold cryptocurrency by the same name. Photo: 360-Berlin/Jens Knappe/Zuma PressAn executive who held the title of compliance head at purported cryptocurrency issuer OneCoin pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud and money-laundering charges, the U.S. Justice Department said. Irina Dilkinska, a 42-year-old Bulgarian national, was the so-called “head of legal and compliance” for OneCoin. She pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering for her role in what the prosecutors described as a $4 billion global multilevel-marketing scheme. She potentially faces a total of 10 years in prison on the two counts.

Persons: Jens Knappe, OneCoin, Irina Dilkinska Organizations: Zuma Press, U.S . Justice Department, Bulgarian, OneCoin Locations: Sofia, Bulgaria, Berlin, Manhattan

☆ Hungary seeks EU action over Bulgaria's new fee on Russian gas transit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

European Union (EU) flags fly in front of the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, July 8, 2020. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Hungary has asked the European Commission to launch an infringement procedure against Bulgaria over a new fee it has imposed on Russian gas transit shipments, EU affairs minister Janos Boka said in a post on Facebook on Friday. Bulgaria introduced the new transit fee of about 10 euros per MWh of Russian gas last month, prompting strong criticism from Hungary and Serbia. "Today I have sent a letter to the European Commission asking it to launch an infringement procedure against Bulgaria without delay," Boka said. He has asked the EU executive to call on Bulgaria to suspend the fee until the procedure is completed, he added.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Janos Boka, Boka, Krisztina, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Union, European Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, European Commission, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia, Europe

☆ Opinion | Are We Looking at George H.W. Biden?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Frank Bruni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

It breaks your heart, but as Carly Simon sang, there is more room in a broken heart. And yet here we are, atoms with consciousness, each of us a living improbability forged of chaos and dead stars. Flagg’s highlight mixtapes are downright gratuitous — look at him reducing these poor kids into piles of gristle and bone! It should honestly come with a content warning.” (Matthew Dallett, Brooklin, Maine)In The Wall Street Journal, Jason Gay rendered a damning (and furry!) Maybe the dog lies down and chews a big stick.” (Paul Shikany, the Bronx)

Persons: Anne Lamott, Carly Simon, ”, Melissa France, Steve Aldrich, Maria Popova, “, “ Oppenheimer, Jo Radner, James Bennet, Donald Trump, Mitt Romney, Trump, Romney, bankrupting bender, Roger Tellefsen, Luke Winkie marveled, Cooper Flagg, Flagg, Matthew Dallett, Jason Gay, Paul Shikany Organizations: Washington Post, Times, Republicans, Duke basketball, Street Locations: Washington, Flemington, N.J, Minneapolis, Bulgarian, Lovell , Maine, Berwyn, Pa, Brooklin , Maine, Bronx

☆ U.S., NATO to Suspend Participation in Landmark Cold War Arms Treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Michael R. Gordon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bulgarian troops during a NATO exercise. Suspending participation will give the U.S. more flexibility to deploy forces in Romania and Bulgaria, near Ukraine. Photo: nikolay doychinov/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON—The U.S. and its NATO allies served notice Tuesday that they will formally suspend their participation in a 1990 treaty limiting conventional forces in Europe, marking the demise of another landmark arms control agreement. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s move follows Russia’s formal withdrawal from the accord on Tuesday and longstanding Western complaints that Moscow wasn’t honoring the terms of the treaty.

Persons: nikolay doychinov Organizations: Agence France, Getty, WASHINGTON, NATO, Atlantic Treaty Locations: NATO, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, The U.S, Europe, Atlantic, Moscow

☆ Djokovic eases past Dimitrov to win record-extending Paris title
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/6] Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Paris Masters - AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France - November 5, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy after winning his men's singles final match against Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 5 (Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic cruised to a record-extending seventh Paris Masters title on Sunday when the top-seeded Serbian outclassed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-3 in the final. In a clash featuring the two oldest players in the world's top 20, the 36-year-old Djokovic drew first blood, breaking the 17th-ranked Dimitrov for a 4-3 lead in the opening set, and he closed it out comfortably in 51 minutes. The unseeded Dimitrov's only victory over Djokovic in 12 previous meetings came a decade ago and although the 32-year-old put up more of a fight in the second set, he could not prevent Djokovic from taking his 40th ATP Masters 1000 title. Victory was sealed when Dimitrov sent a backhand wide, extended Djokovic's winning run to 18 matches since his defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon title clash in July. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, Stephanie Lecocq, Novak Djokovic, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, Djokovic, Dimitrov, Dimitrov's, Carlos Alcaraz, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Clare Fallon Organizations: Paris, Rights, Bulgarian, Djokovic, ATP, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Bengaluru

☆ Tsitsipas marches into Paris semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Paris Masters - AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France - November 3, 2023 Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas speaks to the crowd after winning his quarter final match against Russia's Karen Khachanov REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Stefanos Tsitsipas maintained his stunning form at the Paris Masters with a 6-3 6-4 defeat of Russia's Karen Khachanov to reach the semi-finals on Friday. He will now face Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the final after the Bulgarian beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-1 4-6 6-4. Seventh seed Tsitsipas is yet to drop a set this week in disposing of Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, Germany's Alexander Zverev and now Khachanov. He had far too much variety for Khachanov in the opening set, using his all-court game and accurate serving to great effect. He then moved a break ahead in the second set before Khachanov hit a brief purple patch to get back on terms.

Persons: Stefanos Tsitsipas, Russia's Karen Khachanov REUTERS, Stephanie Lecocq, Tsitsipas, Russia's Karen Khachanov, Grigor Dimitrov, Hubert Hurkacz, Canada's Felix Auger, Germany's Alexander Zverev, Khachanov, Dimitrov, Novak Djokovic, Denmark's Holger Rune, Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Paris, Rights, ATP, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Turin, raptures

☆ Daniil Medvedev booed off the court after Paris Masters exit, while Novak Djokovic eases through
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

3 Daniil Medvedev also faced a shock second round defeat at the Paris Masters, losing in three sets to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday. After Dimitrov took the first set 6-3 and with the score locked at 5-5 in the second, Medvedev threw his racket before stepping up to serve. Despite the disruption, Medvedev managed to level things up and won the second set tie-break to send the match to a deciding final set. Djokovic, who hold the record for the most Masters 1000 tournament wins, celebrates after the match. With Medvedev and Alcaraz both suffering earlier-than-planned exits, Djokovic’s path to a 40th Masters title may have just gotten slightly easier.

Persons: Carlos Alcaraz’s, Daniil Medvedev, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, Dimitrov, Medvedev, Antonio Borga, Renaud Lichtenstein –, ” Medvedev, Alexander Bublik, jeered, “, ”, Novak Djokovic breezed, Tomás Martín, Djokovic, Stephanie Lecocq, Reuters Djokovic, Alcaraz Organizations: CNN, Paris Masters, Bulgarian, Medvedev, Reuters, Argentine Locations: Eurasia, Paris, Serbia

☆ Medvedev denies obscene gesture after Paris Masters loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Paris Masters - AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France - November 1, 2023 Russia's Daniil Medvedev in action during his round of 32 match against Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Acquire Licensing RightsNov 1 (Reuters) - Russian Daniil Medvedev denied making an obscene gesture towards the crowd after losing 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(2) to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the Paris Masters second round on Wednesday. World number three Medvedev walked off court at the end of the match examining his hand before pointing his middle finger at the stands. "No, I didn't (give my middle finger to the crowd), I just checked my nails," Medvedev told reporters. I played much better here without the crowd," added Medvedev, who won in Paris in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. World number 17 Bulgarian Dimitrov hit 48 winners and needed seven match points to reach the third round in Paris, a week after Medvedev beat him in the second round of the Vienna Open.

Persons: Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, Stephanie Lecocq, Russian Daniil Medvedev, Grigor Dimitrov, Medvedev, Bulgarian Dimitrov, Janina Nuno Rios, Ed Osmond Organizations: Paris, U.S, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Russian, Mexico City

☆ Dominant Djokovic wins Paris Masters opener
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Paris Masters - AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France - November 1, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his round of 32 match against Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 1 (Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic got off to a solid start in his quest for a record-extending seventh Paris Masters title with a resounding 6-3 6-2 win over Tomas Etcheverry in the second round on Wednesday. The 24-time Grand Slam winner made only nine unforced errors and did not drop serve throughout the match as he beat the Argentine world number 31 in one hour and 23 minutes. But I think it is normal to be rusty a little bit after not playing an official match for so long," the 36-year-old Djokovic said. World number three Daniil Medvedev lost to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(2). The Argentine will next play 11th seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, who earlier beat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3 6-2 in less than an hour.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Stephanie Lecocq, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Etcheverry, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic, Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, Daniil Medvedev, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger, Alexander Zverev, Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6, Tommy Paul's, Botic Van de, Alex de Minaur, Dusan Lajovic, Francisco Cerundolo, Norwegian Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz of, Roberto Bautista Agut, Janina Nuno Rios, Angelica Medina, Toby Davis Organizations: Paris, Rights, Davis, Argentine, Bulgarian, ATP, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Australia, Turin, Norwegian, Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, Mexico

Overall EU support for Ukraine has totalled almost 83 billion euros since Russia invaded in February 2022, the Brussels-based executive European Commission said this week. Slovakia's Robert Fico, attending his first EU summit since being appointed for his fourth term as prime minister on Wednesday, adopted a similar line. Orban has also said he would not endorse in its current form the proposed EU budget revision, which includes the 50 billion in new aid for Kyiv. Fico said there was endemic corruption in Ukraine and demanded that any new EU aid include guarantees that the funds not be misappropriated, according to a statement from his office. "The questions are, what type of aid and how it is used, how we are sure, the European Union is sure, that this aid is used efficiently," he said.

Persons: Fico, Orban, Olaf Scholz, Slovakia's Robert Fico, Vladimir Putin, Nikolai Denkov, Jan Strupczewski, Phil Blenkinsop, Bart Meijer, Tassilo Hummel, Marine Strauss, Krisztina, Jason Hovet, Miranda Murray, Gabriela Baczynska, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Ukraine New, Union, EU, Ukraine, European Commission, Russia, Kyiv, European Union, European, Bulgarian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Ukraine New Slovak, Ukraine BRUSSELS, Russian, Hungary, Slovakia, Brussels, Russia, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY Hungary, Budapest, Bratislava, European Union

☆ Why Louis Vuitton and Tom Ford spend up to $15,000 for one kilo of Bulgarian rose oil
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Enxhi Dylgjeri | Emily Christian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Bulgarian rose oil is the most valuable rose oil on the market. Buyers are willing to pay $15,000 for a single kilogram. But to make the highest-quality Bulgarian rose oil, producers must spend the year cultivating fields that will bloom for only a few weeks. The petals are distilled the same hour they're harvested, costing producers $8,000 a kilo for labor alone.

Organizations: Buyers

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s government has approved the purchase of U.S.-made Stryker combat vehicles to modernize the country’s land forces and bring them in line with NATO standards. The decision, announced Friday by the government’s press office, followed the approval by the U.S. State Department of the sale of 183 Stryker vehicles and related gear to Bulgaria for an estimated cost of $1.5 billion. Bulgaria, which is located on NATO's eastern flank, has intensified its military modernization by replacing its outdated Soviet-built weapons systems. In the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev has pledged that his country will speed up efforts to set up a heavy mechanized brigade and other projects to guarantee security in the Black Sea region. Political Cartoons View All 1173 Images

Persons: —, Todor Tagarev Organizations: NATO, U.S . State Department of, Bulgarian Locations: SOFIA, Bulgaria, U.S, Ukraine

☆ First big grain ship leaves Ukraine's Black Sea port
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It was the second of two bulk carriers to leave the port this week using what Kyiv calls a new temporary humanitarian corridor. From July 2022 the ports were reopened under the UN-backed grain deal, allowing Russia to inspect ships for arms. Kyiv has also kept up exports from river ports on the Danube while its Black Sea ports were shut. Russia has launched frequent drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian grain export infrastructure in what Ukraine and its allies call attacks with no military justification. Odesa's three seaports, including Chornomorsk, shipped tens of millions of tons of grain during Russia's invasion under the U.N.-brokered deal before Russia abandoned it.

Persons: Oleksandr Kubrakov, Moscow, Pavel Polityuk, Tom Hogue, Miral Fahmy, Peter Graff Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Kyiv, UN, Thomson Locations: Palau, Ukrainian, Moscow, Egypt, Africa, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Bulgarian

☆ Bulgarian nationalists protest against NATO bases, want government out
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Stoyan Nenov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SOFIA, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Bulgarian police on Thursday scuffled with supporters of the ultra-nationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party protesting against the policies of the pro-Western government, calling for the government to resign and for the closure of NATO military bases. Many shouted "Resignation", while fully equipped riot police protected the government buildings, including the defence ministry at which some protesters threw eggs. Bulgaria, which has sent arms to Ukraine, lifted its ban on Ukrainian grains last week. [1/5]Protesters scuffle with police as they try to remove construction fences surrounding the Soviet army monument, during an anti-government demonstration organised by the ultranationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party, in Sofia, Bulgaria, September 21, 2023. Bulgaria is a zone of peace", referring to the opening of a new military base in the NATO member.

Persons: Neli Tyulekova, Stoyan, Neli Balabanska, Stoyan Nenov, Daria Sito, Jan Harvey Organizations: SOFIA, Bulgarian, NATO, EU, Ukraine, REUTERS, State Agency for National Security, Thomson Locations: Russia, Russian, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Sofia, U.S, Soviet

☆ Cargo ship crew evacuated after explosion near Romanian Danube port
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUCHAREST, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The crew of a Togo-flagged general cargo ship bound for one of Ukraine's Danube river ports were evacuated early on Wednesday after an explosion on board near the Romanian port of Sulina, Romanian officials said. The Seama ship reported an explosion early on Wednesday and requested the evacuation of the 12-person crew near Sulina, where the Danube flows into the Black Sea. "At the moment the causes ... are unclear, whether it was a mine or merely an explosion in the engine room," Romanian Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu told reporters. The crew were evacuated by the Romanian Agency for Saving Life at Sea (ARSVOM), which is coordinated by the transport ministry. Moscow has also been intensifying attacks on Ukraine's Danube river ports across from Romania since it abandoned a deal to lift a de facto Russian blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

Persons: Sorin Grindeanu, Luiza Ilie, Alex Richardson Organizations: Romanian Agency for, European Union, NATO, Thomson Locations: BUCHAREST, Togo, Romanian, Sulina, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgarian, Moscow, Romania, Ukraine's, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, U.S

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