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☆ Bulgaria launches probe of crypto lender Nexo, raids sites
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SOFIA, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Bulgarian prosecutors have launched an investigation into alleged illegal activities conducted by cryptocurrency lender Nexo, they said on Thursday, raiding more than 15 sites in the capital Sofia. Prosecutors said Nexo has been operating through many companies, many of which were just "post boxes". Crypto lenders act like banks for the crypto world, offering customers interest on cryptocurrencies they deposit with the platform. According to Bulgarian prosecutors $94 billion has gone through the Nexo platform in the past five years. The firms grew rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but as crypto markets slumped last year various crypto lenders froze withdrawals, leaving customers with large losses.

☆ Bulgaria summons Russian envoy over Bellingcat journalist Grozev
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SOFIA, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's foreign ministry said it would summon on Thursday the Russian ambassador to Sofia "for explanations" after Moscow put Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian citizen and the executive director of investigative news outlet Bellingcat, on a wanted list. Grozev, Bellingcat's chief investigator on Russia, is "wanted under an article of the Criminal Code," according to information published on Russia's interior ministry website earlier this week. "The Russian ambassador will be summoned for explanations," a foreign ministry spokesperson said, after leading Bulgarian political parties called for official support for Grozev. Grozev "focuses on security threats, extraterritorial clandestine operations, and the weaponisation of information" according to Bellingcat's website. Grozev said he has been offered help by the Netherlands, Sweden, Estonia and Austria, where he has been living in recent years.

☆ One country, one picture, one year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Dave Lucas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Bulgarian Muslim bride Kimile Avdinova has makeup applied to her face during her wedding ceremony in the village of Ribnovo, in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria, January 2. The remote mountain village of Ribnovo in southwest Bulgaria has kept its...moreBulgarian Muslim bride Kimile Avdinova has makeup applied to her face during her wedding ceremony in the village of Ribnovo, in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria, January 2. The remote mountain village of Ribnovo in southwest Bulgaria has kept its traditional winter marriage ceremony alive despite decades of Communist persecution, followed by poverty that forced many men to seek work abroad. The wedding ritual was resurrected with vigour among the Pomaks - Slavs who converted to Islam under Ottoman rule. The highlight of the ceremony is the painting of the bride's face, where in a private rite open only to female in-laws, her face is covered in thick, chalky white paint and decorated with colourful sequins.

☆ Pictures of the year: Religion
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

☆ Romania defuses mine drifting near its Black Sea shore
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUCHAREST, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Romania's navy carried out a controlled explosion on Saturday of a naval mine that had drifted close to the country's Black Sea shore, the defence ministry said. Mines began floating in the Black Sea after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, and Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish military diving teams have been defusing those drifting in their waters. The ministry said the navy was alerted by a Turkish cargo ship about a mine drifting some 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) north of the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta. The Black Sea is crucial for shipment of grain, oil and oil products. Since the war started, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine have destroyed roughly 40 mines in western waters of the Black Sea.

☆ Bulgaria to send its first military aid to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SOFIA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will send its first military aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion after parliament on Friday approved a list of arms drawn up by the interim government. It had been one of the few EU countries not to send aid after the Russia-friendly Socialist party, a coalition partner in the previous government, blocked a previous proposal in May. The list of arms is classified, but government officials have said Sofia would mainly send light weaponry and ammunition. While Bulgaria has not been sending arms to Ukraine, its arms manufacturers have seen a surge in exports, a report by the Bulgarian Industrial Association showed in November. A total of 148 lawmakers from the 240-seat parliament voted to send the aid on Friday, with the Socialists and the pro-Russian Revival party voting against.

☆ Jeffrey Epstein's 'sumptuous' 18-room apartment in Paris has been sold for more than $10 million, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jeffrey Epstein's Paris apartment sold for $10.5 million to Bulgarian businessman Georgi Tuchev. The listing didn't mention the apartment's connection to the late convicted sex offender. Epstein's Franco-Brazilian butler told news site Franceinfo it also had a purpose-built massage room that "a great many women" visited. Following the financier's death — and numerous fresh allegations from French women — French authorities opened their own investigation into Epstein on August 23, 2019. In 2021, his New York townhouse sold for about $51 million, while his Palm Beach mansion went for $18 million.

☆ Russia says it foiled sabotage at 'South Stream' gas pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 24 (Reuters) - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday that it had prevented Ukrainian special services from carrying out what it said was sabotage on the "South Stream" gas pipeline. "As a result of a set of investigative measures, [the FSB] prevented an attempt by Ukrainian special services to commit an act of sabotage and terrorism on the South Stream gas pipeline supplying energy resources to Turkey and Europe," the FSB said. It was not immediately clear which pipeline the FSB was referring to. South Stream, originally intended to transport Russian gas under the Black Sea to the Bulgarian coast, was scrapped in 2014 in favour of TurkStream, which makes landfall in Turkey and can supply gas to Hungary and Bulgaria. Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin LiffeyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ LUKOIL's Bulgarian refinery may shut down if it cannot export
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union has agreed to a ban on Russian crude oil imports as part of its sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in February. The ban takes effect next month, but Bulgaria has been given an exemption and is allowed to import Russian crude until the end of 2024. The Bulgarian caretaker government plans to allow the LUKOIL Neftochim refinery to continue importing Russian crude once the ban takes effect and give it permission to export its output. LUKOIL Neftochim, which has switched to only Russian crude since the spring, expects to process a record high 7.1 million tonnes of crude oil this year, Sharafutdinov said. "The refinery cannot work if the exports are curtailed," Sharafutdinov told a joint news conference with Bulgarian deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic policy, Hristo Alexiev.

☆ Bulgaria charges five people in connection with Istanbul blast
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A man, charged for supporting terrorist acts in connection with an explosion in central Istanbul, is escorted to the courtroom, Sofia, Bulgaria, November 19, 2022. REUTERS/StringerSOFIA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Bulgarian prosecutors have charged five people for supporting terrorist acts in connection with an explosion in central Istanbul that killed six people on Nov. 13, the country's chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev said on Saturday. The charges are in two groups - for supporting terrorist acts in another country, namely the attack in Istanbul, and for human trafficking," Geshev said. Turkish prosecutors have already asked for some of the suspected accomplices in the blast to be extradited, Geshev added. The Turkish government swiftly blamed Kurdish militants for the blast and police have said the suspected bomber was trained by Kurdish militants in Syria.

☆ Diego Maradona: How the 'world's most famous football' became a 'gift from God' for former referee Ali Bin Nasser
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It comes as little surprise, then, that the match ball from that day in Mexico City – now deflated and faded in places – is expected to fetch up to $3.3 million at auction on Wednesday. “Without a doubt, it’s the world’s most famous football,” Terry Butcher, who captained England during the 2-1 defeat against Argentina at the 1986 World Cup, tells CNN Sport. It’s a reminder of how he remonstrated with Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser after Maradona’s first goal, and of how he tried in vain to stop the second with an outstretched leg. The match ball from the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal is expected to sell for up to $3.3 million. Unable to see what had happened in the aerial contest between Maradona and Shilton, Nasser instead turned to his linesman, Bulgarian Bogdan Dochev.

☆ Bulgarian lawmakers give government month to devise Ukraine military aid plan
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SOFIA, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Bulgaria should send military aid to Ukraine, the parliament decided on Thursday, giving the caretaker government one month to come up with a plan for what weapons the Black Sea country could send to support Kyiv. At present, Bulgaria is one of the few European Union countries not sending military aid to Ukraine, after the Russia-friendly Socialist party, a coalition partner in the previous government, blocked such a decision in May. It was not immediately clear what military aid could be sent or how soon it can happen. Georg Georgiev, a lawmaker from centre-right GERB party, outlined the need to support Ukraine and start giving weapons instead of only selling them. Bulgarian arms exports have more than doubled since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a recent report by the Bulgarian Industrial Association showed.

☆ Alcaraz breezes into Paris quarters, Djokovic also through
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Paris Masters - Accor Arena, Paris, France - November 3, 2022 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his round of 16 match against Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov REUTERS/Christian HartmannPARIS, Nov 3 (Reuters) - World number one Carlos Alcaraz swept aside Grigor Dimitrov 6-1 6-3 to book his place in the Paris Masters quarter-finals on Thursday and reigning champion Novak Djokovic advanced with a 6-4 6-1 win over Karen Khachanov. Top seed Alcaraz dominated from the outset and dropped just two points on serve in the opening set before fending off a second-set fightback from Bulgarian Dimitrov to close out the match in one hour 12 minutes. "(Grigor's) level is very much not the level you saw today, but I played very well," said Spaniard Alcaraz, who is chasing a third ATP Masters 1000 title this season. Djokovic, a six-times winner at the ATP Masters 1000 event, delivered a commanding performance in his straight-sets victory over Russia's Khachanov, hitting 18 winners. Musetti, 20, fired 37 winners as he came from a set down to eliminate third-seeded Norwegian Ruud 4-6 6-4 6-4 and advance to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.

☆ Credit Suisse to pay $234 million to end French tax probe
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Tangi Salaün | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The agreement resolves an investigation in France over whether the Swiss bank, which is trying to recover from losses and scandals, helped clients to avoid paying tax on their wealth. Credit Suisse lawyers declined to answer questions on the settlement in court, with one of them saying that the deal was the best way to "turn the page". Credit Suisse shares dipped slightly after news of the settlement. One of Switzerland's systemically important banks, Credit Suisse is scheduled to release details of its strategic review alongside third-quarter results on Oct. 27. The U.S. Justice Department is also reported to be investigating whether Credit Suisse continued helping U.S. clients hide assets from authorities, eight years after the Swiss bank paid a $2.6-billion tax evasion settlement.

☆ Credit Suisse settles French tax probe for 238 mln euros
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Tangi Salaün | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse Group (CSGN.S) settled a tax fraud and money laundering case in France on Monday with a 238 million euro ($234 million) payment to the state, putting another legal headache behind it as it readies to unveil a strategic overhaul. The agreement, announced in a French court and confirmed buy the bank in a statement, resolves the investigation in France over whether the Swiss bank helped clients avoid paying tax on their wealth. The alleged scheme, which prosecutors say took place in several countries between 2005 and 2012, caused a fiscal damage of over 100 million euros to the French state, the prosecution office said. One of Switzerland's systemically important banks, Credit Suisse is scheduled to release details of a much-anticipated strategic review alongside third-quarter results on Oct. 27. The U.S. Justice Department is also reportedly investigating whether Credit Suisse continued helping U.S. clients hide assets from authorities, eight years after the Swiss bank paid a $2.6-billion tax evasion settlement.

A clock is seen near the logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse at the Paradeplatz square in Zurich, Switzerland October 5, 2022. Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia were weighing up, through their sovereign wealth funds, whether to put money into Credit Suisse's investment bank and other businesses, Bloomberg reported. A spokesperson for Credit Suisse declined to comment, reiterating that it will update on its strategy review when it announces third-quarter earnings. The largest Middle Eastern sovereign fund investor in Credit Suisse, the Qatar Investment Authority, declined to comment. The New Jersey case was the largest of its remaining exposure on its legacy RMBS business, Credit Suisse said, with five remaining cases, all far smaller, still in litigation.

☆ Credit Suisse pays $495 mln to settle legacy U.S. case
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( John Revill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The latest RMBS case, brought by the New Jersey Attorney General, alleged Credit Suisse had "misled investors and engaged in fraud or deceit in connection with the offer and sale of RMBS." "Credit Suisse is pleased to have reached an agreement that allows the bank to resolve the only remaining RMBS matter involving claims by a regulator," the bank said in a statement. "The settlement, for which Credit Suisse is fully provisioned, marks another important step in the bank’s efforts to pro-actively resolve litigation and legacy issues." The New Jersey case was the largest of its remaining exposure on its legacy RMBS business, Credit Suisse said, with five remaining cases at various stages of litigation. The U.S. Justice Department is also investigating whether Credit Suisse continued helping U.S. clients hide assets from authorities, eight years after the Swiss bank paid a $2.6-billion tax evasion settlement.

☆ Russian security forces say a key bridge to Crimea was sabotaged by a truck bomb hidden inside rolls of plastic wrap that repeatedly went unnoticed
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia says a key bridge to Crimea was attacked by a truck bomb hidden in rolls of plastic. Russia's Federal Security Service said Ukrainian military intelligence organized the bombing. Ukraine has not directly claimed responsibility for the weekend bombing of the Kerch Strait Bridge. Russia's Federal Security Service claimed that the bombing — which Russian President Vladimir Putin has deemed a "terrorist attack" — was organized by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense and its head, Kyrylo Budanov. Russia's Federal Security Service said that the explosive device that destroyed part of the bridge was "camouflaged" in rolls of construction polyethylene film on 22 pallets weighing in total more than 25 tons.

☆ Hiking rates too quickly could trigger a ‘prolonged recession,’ IMF head warns
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-06 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“This is the size of the German economy — a massive setback for the world economy,” she said. Those will be lowered again when the IMF releases its latest World Economic Outlook report next week, Georgieva said. “In less than three years, we lived through shock, after shock, after shock,” the Bulgarian economist said. She urged policymakers to stay the course on fighting inflation but cautioned that tightening monetary policy too much could hurl the globe into a prolonged recessionary period. “Uncertainty remains extremely high in the context of war and pandemic.

[1/3] Cargo ship Despina V, carrying Ukrainian grain, is seen in the Black Sea off Kilyos near Istanbul, Turkey November 2, 2022. The agreement, reached in July, created a protected sea transit corridor and was designed to alleviate global food shortages, with Ukraine's customers including some of the world's poorest countries. So far, some 9.76 million tonnes of agricultural products have been shipped, predominately corn, but also volumes of soybeans, sunflower oil, sunflower meal and barley. A drop in shipments from major exporter Ukraine has played a role in this year's global food price crisis, but there are also other important drivers. At the start of the conflict there were around 2,000 seafarers from all over the world stranded in Ukrainian ports.

☆ ‘The World Without Us’: The abandoned sites overrun by nature
▼ + stars: | 2021-12-23 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

However, French photographer Romain Veillon is making it his mission to capture in pictures the potential result of a planet without people. The 38-year-old has spent years photographing abandoned places around the world that have been overtaken by nature, with eerily beautiful results. ‘Post-apocalyptic vision’An image of abandoned Namibian ghost town Kolmanskop by photographer Romain Veillon. The first showcases deserted places that remain relatively well preserved and the second focuses on dilapidated sites in a far worse state. Nature reclaimingThe photographer managed to visit abandoned theme park Nara Dreamland in Japan before it was demolished.

Persons: Romain Veillon, ”, Romain Veillon Veillon, ” Veillon, “, Romain Veillon “, Veillon, Georgia that’s Organizations: CNN, Google, Bulgarian Communist Party, Romanian Ministry of Culture Locations: Namibia, Brussels, Ukraine, ‘, Brandenburg, Germany, Paris, Veillon, Soviet, Bulgaria, Constanța, Japan, Peru, Abkhazia, Georgia

☆ UNDP Moldova: Procurement Associate - UNDP Moldova Country Office
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-29 | by ( Alte Articole | ) www.civic.md time to read: +13 min

BackgroundUnder the guidance and direct supervision of the Procurement Analyst/Head of Procurement Unit, the Procurement Associate provides leadership in execution of procurement services in CO ensuring their effectiveness, transparency and integrity. CO Procurement business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Procurement and Logistics, control of the workflows in the Procurement Unit. Organizes procurement processes for CO, NIM/DIM projects and at the request of other Agencies focusing on achievement of the following results:Preparation of procurement plans for the office and projects and their implementation monitoring. Review of procurement processes conducted by projects; submissions to the Contract, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP) and Advisory Committee on Procurement (ACP). Ensures implementation of sourcing strategy and e-procurement tools focusing on achievement of the following results:Development and update of the rosters of suppliers, implementation of supplier selection and evaluation.

Persons: • Organizations: Procurement Unit, Unit, UNDP HQs, Organization, UN, UNDP, Logistics, Procurement, ., Procurement Committee, Management Systems, Business, Administration, United Nations Locations: Moldova, Republic of Moldova

☆ Programme Specialist/Effective Governance Cluster Lead-UNDP Moldova CO
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-22 | by ( Alte Articole | ) www.civic.md time to read: +16 min

Duties and Responsibilities Summary of Key Functions: Develops programme strategies in the thematic area of Effective Governance and its sub-areas. Ensures effective management and implementation of Effective Governance country programme portfolio and management of the Effective Governance Cluster team. CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management, control of the workflows in the Effective Governance Cluster. Ensures effective management and implementation of Effective Governance country programme portfolio and management of the Effective Governance Cluster team, focusing on the following results: Design and formulation of country programme within thematic areas of responsibility, translating UNDP corporate priorities into local interventions. Constant monitoring and analysis of the country programme environment, timely re-adjustment of programme.

Organizations: Senior Management, UNDP, UN, Sustainable, Office, Government, UNPFSD, Management, Organization, Atlas, Financial, UNDP Country Office, Global, Administration, Economics, Law, Political Sciences, Social Sciences Locations: South, UNPFSD, Moldova, Republic of Moldova

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