The facility became operational in early June 2024 following the installation of Hithium's 16 energy storage containers Hithium has launched a 55 megawatt hours (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Razlog a company specialising in energy generation and storage solutions across Europe following the installation of Hithium’s 16 energy storage containers Hithium’s Block 3.44MWh container is an advanced liquid-cooled battery storage system It utilises prismatic LFP [lithium iron phosphate] BESS cells with a 280Ah [amps per hour] capacity The system is designed for stationary battery storage applications requiring top-tier safety The BESS project stands out for its low levelised cost of storage which when combined with superior thermal management Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis This is achieved by maintaining an optimal operating temperature and high energy density The system is equipped with a comprehensive thermal management system fire protection system and a battery management system Austria and Switzerland] and northern and eastern Europe sales senior director As Kelson Li stated: “We are honoured to partner with Solarpro By providing comprehensive technical and after-sales support throughout the project lifecycle we aim to foster local expertise and expand the network in Europe “We believe our collaboration with Solarpro will help to accelerate the renewable energy transition and make a positive impact in the region.” Solarpro CEO Krasen Mateev stated: “As strategic partners in this landmark project we are excited to collaborate with Hithium in bringing this significant BESS utility to operation This undertaking reflects Solarpro’s dedication to advance renewable energy infrastructure in Eastern Europe ensuring a sustainable energy future for generations to come.” Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Please enter the email address you use for your account so we can send you a link to reset your password: union leaders say Biden’s big climate law is making a difference Even if the IRA’s labor provisions are starting to work The rules only apply to the construction of projects — not to their operations It’s an improvement to have labor standards for construction jobs wind and solar farms don't take many people to operate The federally subsidized clean energy manufacturing plants springing up around the country due to the IRA will create a lot more jobs Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the “good faith effort” exception to the apprenticeship provision and that both provisions apply only to construction Emily Pontecorvo The administration can’t have it both ways on the Clean Air Act The Trump administration filed lawsuits this week against four states that are pursuing compensation from oil and gas companies for climate change-related damages But Trump’s separate aim to revoke the government’s “endangerment finding,” the conclusion that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and should therefore be regulated under the Clean Air Act could directly undercut the legal basis for the suits the Trump administration is arguing that the Clean Air Act preempts the states’ actions But if the Environmental Protection Agency rules that the Clean Air Act does not require the federal regulation of greenhouse gases Two of the lawsuits target Vermont and New York for their new “climate superfund” laws that require the companies responsible for the greatest amount of emissions over the last three decades to pay into a fund supporting adaptation and disaster response The Department of Justice is also suing Hawaii and Michigan to block them from suing fossil fuel companies for damages for climate change-related harms Neither state had actually filed such a lawsuit yet although both had expressed interest in doing so (Hawaii went ahead and filed its suit on Thursday night.) “I just want to start by saying that these lawsuits by the government are totally unprecedented,” Rachel Rothschild an assistant professor of Law at Michigan State University never before has the federal government tried to preemptively stop a state from filing a liability case against companies Trump had directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to “stop the enforcement” of state climate laws and actions that “may be unconstitutional” or “preempted by federal law.” The order singled out lawsuits against oil companies as well as climate superfund laws calling both a form of “extortion” and a “threat to economic and national security.” Nevermind that climate change is a major threat to economic and national security and states have filed these lawsuits and created these laws because they are scrambling to find ways to pay to address the unprecedented damages brought by the increasing severity of wildfires and floods the federal government had warned states that they were going to need to take more responsibility for preparing for and responding to increasing natural disasters “[States] do not have the resources alone to address this problem,” said Rothschild “These companies have engaged in an activity that causes external harms that they’ve not taken into account as part of their business practices they’'re imposing all the costs of those harms on states and citizens and they should be liable to help us deal with the resulting problems That’s a very normal activity for tort suits.” that some states are testing to get oil companies to pay up The DOJ’s lawsuits claim that states cannot fine oil companies for their emissions because that authority lies with the federal government under the Clean Air Act That argument is underpinned by the Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding which stems from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that greenhouse gases are a pollutant as defined by the Clean Air Act and therefore the EPA must determine whether these emissions pose a threat to public health The court said that if the agency finds there is enough scientific evidence to say greenhouse gases are harmful it must develop regulations to rein them in This was a big headache for Trump during his first term He wasn’t allowed to simply repeal Barack Obama’s greenhouse gas rules — by law If he’s able to reverse the endangerment finding he could undo climate protection rules and that would be that At the same time, he’d make oil companies much more vulnerable. “There is great concern that reversing the finding would open the door to a lot more nuisance lawsuits against all types of energy companies,” Jeff Holmstead, a partner with Bracewell, a lobbying firm, told E&E News “It would eliminate one of the best arguments that oil companies have used to get lawsuits against them dismissed,” he added is confident that states’ superfund laws and tort suits are defensible regardless of what happens to the endangerment finding These actions have nothing to do with the Clean Air Act because they are not an attempt to regulate emissions “They're trying to impose liability for local and public health harms from past activities,” she said One thing is for certain: Between states’ lawsuits suing oil companies and probably future suits against any actions the Trump administration takes on endangerment there’s going to be a whole lot of new case law about greenhouse gases over the next four years The fundamentals are the same — it’s the tone that’s changed At some point in the past month, the hydrogen fuel cell developer Plug Power updated its website Beneath a carousel explaining the hydrogen ecosystem and solutions for transporting fuel the company’s home page now contains a section titled “Hydrogen at Work.” reliable power while reducing reliance on imported fuels,” the text in this new box reads “Plug’s hydrogen and fuel cell solutions strengthen the energy grid and enhance national security as a leader in the global energy transition.” It is fairly ordinary website copy, but to a keen reader, the text jumps out as an obvious Trump 2.0 tell. Plug Power — like many green economy companies — has pivoted to meet the political and economic moment, where “energy independence” and “energy dominance” are in and “climate” and “sustainability” are out “I am actually shocked every time I look at the website of a climate tech company that still uses the language from 12 months ago from four months ago — that doesn’t do them any good,” Peter Atanasoff the managing director and vice president of Scratch Media and Marketing which helps B2B technology companies and climate tech businesses achieve growth and recognition The shift in language is more significant than just brands chasing the latest buzzwords “The real trigger” for resulting differences in branding between the first and second Trump administrations has been “the change of tone and change of economic policy,” Atanasoff told me “It is explicit opposition to any of these technologies." Lobbyists and clean energy companies that want to be in the administration’s good graces have adapted That has changed the tenor of green business at large office of Browning Environmental Communications told me over email that tweaking brand language is “typical after any change of administration particularly when there are significant shifts in policy.” But especially for organizations in the public eye “it’s more important than ever to highlight the historic and potential economic benefits of environmental solutions — and show how they are supported by the president of the management consulting service Green Strategies and the chairman of the White House Climate Change Task Force under President Bill Clinton “It’s what I refer to as climate capitalism which is the realization that by incorporating climate change and its risks and opportunities into your business strategy you’re actually going to be a more successful Companies are attempting to match the frequency of the administration and the broader policy ecosystem — a frequency that tends to be aggressive and heavy on words like “dominance” and “security.” It might also take the form of decreasing the volume at which companies had previously shouted their climate bona fides the senior vice president of public relations at Scratch M+M said her team has also advised touting “American-made production” in brand messaging and reframing copy to focus on “the positive impacts and immediate business benefits” of the companies rather than more idealistic messaging about climate goals that may have had stronger resonance during the Biden administration and at a time when even the word “green” can give you a black mark dismissed reading too much into how language itself changes under President Trump “If yesterday a new technology company was touting itself as a climate solution and now it’s touting itself as a way to achieve energy dominance — I don’t care,” he said “Good business remains good business,” Ballentine went on It might sound like branding agencies are encouraging companies to “play along” with the administration but Nelson of Scratch M+M stressed that wasn’t what she was trying to say “To be a thriving company that is going to change the world you need to make sure you don’t go out of business.” The message might be more accurately summarized as “read the room.” A report from Heatmap’s San Francisco Climate Week event with Tom Steyer Climate Tech's Next Winners.Sean Vranizan Tom Steyer and Robinson Meyer.Sean Vranizan Sam D'Amico and Nico Lauricella.Sean Vranizan Impulse's high-power Cooktop on display at the event.Sean Vranizan All three panelists acknowledged that it’s a delicate time for clean tech investors and companies alike “Volatility and uncertainty are the enemies of running and planning a business,” warned Kra The true cost of the tariffs is therefore extremely high Kolster agreed that things are generally gloomy in the investment space but also highlighted the technologies that are currently thriving in the past few weeks.” The companies and technologies she’s excited about faster,” as Steyer pointed out earlier in the evening Swaminathan added that there will always be a certain element of risk when it comes to investing in emerging technologies “Clean tech companies have so many single points of failure,” he said “And you have to prop up each part with the right leadership team You have to have strong pillars so that [your company] doesn’t break.” Guests following the discussion.Sean Vranizan The development of the region as a mission and the successful symbiosis between the neighboring municipalities were discussed by the mayors of Razlog and Bansko They took part in the BG Tourism - Winter 2024/2025 forum organized by BTA with the partnership of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism (BUBSPA) The Mayor of Razlog pointed out that the area has not only skiing opportunities but also mineral water a golf course and other features that attract tourists pointing out that he sees little advertising of native products at the expense of advertising of tourist sites of other countries My wish is to reverse the emphasis and be more present in Bulgaria and in other countries Gerchev also commented on Bulgaria's full accession to Schengen pointing out that this gives many opportunities because there are wonderful places that people don't know about Bansko Mayor Banenski said that the municipalities of Bansko as now the guests of a resort or tourist site want to visit as many places as possible he would like to see the Bear Park in Belitsa people want to see a lot of things in one week," Banenski explained.  The Mayor of Bansko put an emphasis on the communication with state authorities commenting on the need to be heard about the problems He gave as an example the topic of a second gondola lift in Bansko He noted that the construction of a second gondola line has been a topic for 20 years and not only Bansko but also other mountain resorts have such a problem and there are things that we can solve at the local level but this is not a problem of the municipality the mayor or the municipal council; it is a problem of the people," Banenski argued.  BTA's tourism forums are held twice every year at the beginning of the summer and winter tourist seasons to discuss the messages in the presentation of tourism in Bulgaria in the coming season with representatives of state and municipal institutions The list of participants in the latest forum includes caretaker Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev the President’s advisor for environment Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism (BUBSPA) Ambassador Meglena Plugchieva Also participating were Bulgarian National Radio Director General Milen Mitev member of the Board of Bulgarian National Television producer of the newsroom planning at Nova TV Council of Electronic Media member Gabriela Naplatanova as well as rectors and representatives of three universities Contacts +359 2 9262 210 By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? a tragic incident occurred in Pirin when a 29-year-old Irish tourist fell into a chute under Todorka Peak and later died from his injuries The young man had been taking photos with friends when he likely slipped and fell from a height of 600 meters The Bulgarian Road Safety Service was notified around 2:00 p.m and an air ambulance was immediately requested for rescue was transferred to a hospital in Razlog after an hour-long effort by the Mountain Rescue Service of the Bulgarian Red Cross Despite earlier reports suggesting he was transported to a hospital in Sofia it was later clarified that he was taken directly to Razlog The National Board for the Investigation of Transport Accidents has launched an inquiry into the situation especially surrounding a technical issue with the medical helicopter several violations were found during the initial investigation including the lack of pilot names on the flight plan The crew also failed to notify the investigation body promptly and questions are being raised about the decision to return the helicopter to Sofia instead of proceeding with the rescue The black box of the helicopter will be analyzed to determine the exact cause of the failure We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria lost their lives when a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near New York City on Thursday afternoon and Poland will assist their Bulgarian colleagues in maintaining public order across resorts along the Black Sea Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh announced that work has begun on the creation of a tourist police in Bulgaria The third emergency medical helicopter has arrived in Bulgaria as confirmed by the Center for Emergency Medical Assistance by Air on its Facebook page intended for emergency air medical assistance is ready for operation and currently stationed in Brindisi Travel agency GoVola reports a significant increase in travel bookings among Bulgarian tourists with January emerging as the most cost-effective time to secure flights Israel has turned to Bulgaria for assistance in battling the rapidly advancing wildfires in areas near Jerusalem The Bulgarian mobile operator A1 has confirmed that it is experiencing technical difficulties affecting both calls and text messages across its network A series of minor earthquakes were recorded in the Nessebar area with the strongest tremor measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale A woman sustained serious injuries after being attacked with pepper spray and an electroshock device and subsequently set on fire inside a hospital in the Bulgarian town of Botevgrad A 25-year-old man is in critical condition following an accident at the amusement park in Yambol A serious traffic accident in the Bulgarian town of Harmanli has left a 13-year-old child in critical condition after he was struck by a car while riding an electric scooter Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase the Czech artist and folklorist Ludvík Kuba travelled to Bulgaria with one goal in mind: to explore the country's rich song heritage The melodies he collected were published in a separate volume of his Slavic Song. the feasts of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday are related holidays From Lazarus Saturday  (Lazarovden in Bulgaria) which is performed on the morning of Palm Sunday In April and May the visitors of the Strelcha Historical Museum will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the traditions connected with the Easter holiday cycle through the exhibition A Fine Easter english@bnr.bg EPC company Solarpro has deployed a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 55MWh in Razlog It was realized in partnership with battery manufacturer Hithium The new facility officially went live in early June with the delivery of Hithium’s 16 energy storage containers managed the entire project lifecycle – from design and integration of the SCADA management system The Hithium Block 3.44MWh container is a liquid-cooled battery storage system based on Hithium prismatic LFP BESS cells with a 280Ah capacity and a high cyclic lifetime It is specially optimized for use in stationary battery storage systems regarding safety The system’s low levelized cost of storage (LCOS) improves energy throughput by ensuring optimal operating temperature and high energy density It also integrates with a thermal management system Also see the former project announcement Hithium is committed to fostering a stronger and more collaborative relationship within the local European market, the company announced. To this end, the company has set up a regional office in Munich, Germany to offer unparalleled transportation services to advance the energy sector in terms of environmental responsibility and technological advancement With the subscription to this newsletter, I agree to be informed about interesting publishing and online offers of Alfons W. Gentner Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. I can revoke this agreement and unsubscribe at any time. Further information on the handling of data can also be found in our privacy policy Then read one of our other pv europe newsletters - special newsletter for investors (monthly) - special newsletter PV for farmers (monthly) Looking to stay on top of all relevant industry and business news? Click here to subscribe to our free twice-weekly pv Europe newsletter. A podcast for investors on the opportunities and risks of the solar market The pv Europe editorial team offers their own analysis and discusses current topics with experts a medical helicopter landed at the Razlog hospital to transport a tourist who fell from a terrace The victim is a 37-year-old citizen of Israel A team of professionals assisted in his transportation - Dr as well as laboratory technicians from the clinical laboratory at the Multidisciplinary Hospital for Active Treatment “Dr The teams of the Razlog hospital and the Emergency Department carried out all measures to provide first aid to the tourist The hospital explained that the man was intubated and will be transported to a hospital in Plovdiv The medical helicopter managed to arrive from Sofia in 26 minutes More news from Bulgaria A rescue helicopter tasked with going to the aid of an Irish tourist who had been seriously injured after a fall at a ski resort in southern Bulgaria was forced to return to base after a technical malfunction Local media is reporting that the helicopter had taken off when the alarm was raised but the mission was aborted before it made a safe landing The 29-year-old Irish tourist was seriously injured after he lost his balance and fell into the gullies below Todorka Peak According to The Bulgarian Mountaineering and Hiking Association (MESA) he was part of a group taking photos when he fell from a height of about 600 metres He had been admitted to Razlog Hospital to be treated but was later transferred to hospital in the capital Sofia the report of a seriously injured tourist was received on Wednesday at 2.30pm by the officer on duty at the Central 24-hour post of the Emergency Medical Service The Emergency Medical Service-Bansko rescue team was then dispatched Mountain rescuers who reached the victim assessed his condition as “serious” and air assistance was sought and a medical helicopter dispatched “Although the helicopter failed to reach the victim the rescue operation continued on land and thanks to the quick and professional work of the EMS team,” local media reports “The tourist was provided with first aid and transported on a stretcher in a vacuum mattress to Banderishka Polyana he was taken by snowmobile to the parking lot of Stara Kotva and then to the hospital in the city by ambulance of the Central Emergency Medical Service of Razlog “Due to the extremely serious condition of the victim he was transported from Razlog to a hospital in Sofia for treatment.” He was taken to the hospital where “life-saving measures were taken and a full assessment of his injuries was carried out” But despite all efforts of our medical team he eventually succumbed to his grave injuries,” Dr Valentin Belchev told The Associated Press A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson confirmed that the department “is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases” Please check your inbox to verify your details Now download the free app for all the latest Sunday World News, Crime, Irish Showbiz and Sport. Available on Apple and Android devices Dolna Mitropolia is home of an Air Base where the two pilots served Mayor Polya Tsonovska has issued an order on Friday declaring September 13-15 days of mourning when public celebrations and joyful rituals are prohibited two top pilots from the [Dolna Mitropolia Air] Base died within seconds At first I didn't want to believe it was our pilots from the Base we will comply with the rituals of the military unit and will coordinate our actions," Tsonovska told BTA She added that she had seen Major Dimitrov on various occasions and Tsonovska attended his ceremony where he was promoted in rank together with then defence minister Krassimir Karakachanov an L-39 ZA combat trainer crashed while preparing for a demonstration flight at Graf Ignatievo Air Base Major Petko Dimitrov and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Dunkin from the 12th Air Base in Dolna Mitropolia A day of mourning has also been declared on Saturday in the Municipality of Razlog (Southwest Bulgaria) where First Lieutenant Ventsislav Dunkin was born Lom Mayor Tsvetan Petrov has declared Saturday a day of mourning in memory of the perished pilots Although born in Burgas (on the Black Sea) Major Petko Dimitrov moved to Lom with his parents and went to high school there.   Three-day mourning has been declared in the Armed Forces on the orders of caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov due to the airplane crash the largest energy EPC company in Eastern Europe The project is co-located to a 33 MWp PV plant this hybrid solar plus storage project is seamlessly integrated into the transmission system operator (TSO) grid Kehua supplied the 1500Vdc PCS and MV transformer integrated solution This solution can be applied in various applications and auxiliary grid connection for new energy systems Solarpro plans to replicate the success of the Razlog project leveraging their expertise to advance the integration of cutting-edge high-reliability energy storage solutions across its Eastern European portfolio The Razlog BESS project sets a precedent for the future of the renewable energy sector in the region and highlights the key role that Kehua's top-of-the-line PCS innovations and Solarpro's proficiency in hybrid energy projects can play in enabling the smooth integration of solar power and energy storage Through collaborative efforts from industry leaders like Solarpro and Kehua, this project is an important step towards a more sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure. As the world's leading energy storage provider, Kehua will continue to demonstrate its expertise in achieving sustainable energy transition and grid modernization programs to drive the energy transition and combat climate change has made significant progress in the global market being recognized in Bloomberg New Energy.. the renowned research firm Omdia released "2024 Global Modular UPS Market Report," providing insights and analysis on market trends,.. Computer & Electronics Electronic Components Utilities Oil & Energy Do not sell or share my personal information: You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Billed as the largest operating battery energy storage system in Bulgaria to date From pv magazine ESS News site Vienna-based developer Renalfa IPP has started commercial operation at its 25 MW/55 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) located in the city of Razlog which is connected to the transmission network and located alongside a 33 MW solar plant successfully went live at the start of the month Renalfa IPP claims the facility is the largest operating BESS system in Bulgaria and one of the first of such scale in Eastern Europe The facility is being managed and optimized by KER Toki Power a fully digital Bulgarian electricity trader The system participates in capacity and balancing markets via the trader’s platform providing automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR) and manual Frequency Restoration Reserve (mFFR) services to the grid said the project marks the start of the company’s hybridization of over 1 GW of renewable assets either in operation or in construction He added the company is about to introduce similar solutions to its other wind and solar assets in the region To continue reading, please visit our new ESS News website More articles from Patrick Jowett Please be mindful of our community standards and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. × The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this Close The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students The investment amounts to 12 million euros Two years after the signing of the concession agreement for the construction of a sports complex in the Bulgarian municipality of Razlog the construction of the mega-arena will start soon. On the 22nd of March the ceremony of the official start of the construction of "Sports complex" by the concessionary company will be held.   The impressive facility will be located on an area of ​​nearly 103 decares In the sports complex football stadium with dimensions of 68 to 105 meters with capacity of 2000 seats will be built and all UEFA requirements will be met In the complex there will be four more open soccer playgrounds of the same size two of them with outdoor stands with a capacity of about 2300 seats There will be small car parks for all four football grounds and a multifunctional sports hall with a capacity of 1500 seats also will be part of the sports complex Outdoor parking for 450 cars and 10 buses is also planned.  The concession is for 35 years and the investment amounts to 24 million leva (12 million euros) The construction of the mega sports complex in Razlog municipality should be completed within five years It is of great importance for the development of sport and tourism infrastructure of the region and of the country The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital Sign In Register The Bulgarian city of Razlog and the surrounding villages start feverish preparations for Babinden or Midwives’ Day The holiday is dedicated to the “grannies” who helped women give birth In Razlog it is among the most revered folk customs There is no exact information when the tradition emerged in the city but according to the descriptions of a local historian the elders passed on their memories to the younger ones and thus preserved the tradition from generation to generation starts much earlier," Hristina Manova from the Regional History Museum in Razlog says in an interview with Radio Bulgaria special clothes are sewn for the child or the baby There is a specific costume that the midwife wears on this day A metal ornament called tepelak is placed on the head and the headscarf is placed over it." The feeling of wearing the festive folk costume is indescribable who wishes everyone to have the chance to experience this joy "The women who continue to wear folk costumes to this day radiate festiveness and solemnity And we hope that this tradition will be preserved because it is the thing that brings people back to the past The ritual begins with pouring water out for the granny who used to help with the birth of the children go to the midwife to ritually wash her hands with clear water from the Pirin Mountain poured into a clay vessel with a special decoration: "All this is accompanied by special words with which the midwife sends wishes to the child,” Hristina Manova says and adds: “The young mother presents the granny with a cloth a bar of soap and other interesting gifts the granny presents the little child with socks that she has knitted - red if it's a girl and blue if it's a boy as all grandmothers with grandchildren born after January 21 of the previous year The dance is a special one as grandmothers dance carrying their grandchildren in a cloth on their backs and utter certain ritual words and wishes pays special respect to grandmothers in Razlog unites families and preserves traditional values grandfathers have also been included in the celebrations “All grandmothers with grandchildren participate in the horo dance and so far not a single child has fallen ill because of Babinden And this year the preparations are in full force and I want to invite all Radio Bulgaria listeners on January 21 to Babinden in Razlog." 'Butter' and 'Permission To Dance' will continue BTS have explained why they made the decision to start writing and singing their new hits in English Speaking to Billboard following their new remix of their second English single ‘Butter’ featuring Megan Thee Stallion yesterday (August 27) the Korean pop group admitted they would have preferred to continue singing in Korean – but felt they needed to make the move to continue their international success ‘Dynamite’, ‘Butter’ and ‘Permission To Dance’ are BTS’ three English-language singles to date RM said he felt there was “no alternative” to keep the band’s popularity high during the coronavirus pandemic while Jin added: “The English I learned in class was so different from the English in the song I had to erase everything in my head first.” president of BTS’s label Big Hit Music regarded the move as “a testament to the band’s strengths the way they can come to a friendly resolution and be mindful of the company’s needs.” Back in 2019, RM told Entertainment Weekly: “We don’t want to change our identity or our genuineness to get the number one But if we couldn’t get number one or number five The seven-member act also spoke about their early days in the K-pop industry, when they initially debuted as the first boyband under Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE Labels) “We made our debut through such a small company, and it’s been tough from day one,” said Suga The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952 who was injured in an accident near Bansko This was reported by the hospital in Razlog to NOVA The man had injuries incompatible with life We recall that on Tuesday the man fell from a height of 600 meters into the gullies in the direction of the "Banderitsa" hut A team of the Mountain Rescue Service - Bansko participated in the rescue operation The man needed transportation by medical helicopter the only one of its kind in our country made an emergency landing after a 15-minute flight to the site the helicopter generated an indication of low oil pressure in engine No Today it became clear that the black box from the aircraft will be removed to begin an investigation into the causes of the incident This was assured by the chairman of the National Board for the Investigation of Accidents in Air the names of the pilots were not written in the flight plan the crew is obliged to immediately notify the investigation body The main question is who gave permission for the helicopter to return to Sofia airport Presidential and legislative elections were delayed a long-standing opposition leader died and violence in eastern Congo continued And the incumbent was still in power when his constitutional term ended on Dec that deal looked like yet another false dawn for the DRC And as the year draws to an end there seems to be little hope of a resolution to the major crises that have intensified over the past 12 months The violence in Kasai is escalating and the conflict in south eastern Congo looks set to continue Joseph Kabila has been president since 2001.Image: Reuters/Kenny KatombeAdvertisementKabila’s insistence on remaining president of the DRC throughout 2017 only compounded these dynamics While there was some hope in 2016 that he would step aside 2017 proved that removing him will be a very protracted process But the violence in Kasai is threatening to overshadow even that disaster But he lacks his father’s experience and gravitas It is widely believed that the Bana Mura—a government sponsored militia—perpetuated this violence The government fears that if left unchecked a rebel movement in Kasai could seriously undermine its sovereignty in the province The UN has accused the DRC army of digging mass graves for those they have killed It has attempted to investigate the atrocities in Kasaï but the investigations have been marred by tragedy A UN inquiry found that the two investigators were probably killed by members of a local Kasaïan militia The patchwork of rebels operating in the east has been fragmented but remains heavily networked Violence could potentially spread to Kivu and beyond But given the small numbers of their forces this might be a long way off But the announcement of a date is an indicator that elections will eventually take place The country risks slipping into civil war if they don’t You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience cannot accept more patients with complications from Covid-19 There is no intensive care unit in the medical institution "We have 40 Covid beds and they are occupied We can not have more because there are not enough medics From a critical situation it has been turning into a real crisis that we cannot control " the correspondent of BNR in Blagoevgrad Keti Trencheva has reported Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev has left for Washington where he will participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (May 5-7 The forum is organised by the Munich Security Conference The foundation Unity- Kočani has sent an open letter to key Bulgarian institutions expressing gratitude for the support and humanitarian assistance provided by Bulgaria after the tragedy of the fire at a nightclub in Kočani The foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Greece Georg Georgiev and Giorgos Gerapetritis signed a joint declaration on the use of the waters of the river Arda on 2 May the BNR reports citing an announcement published by the Greek Foreign Ministry.. people will be able to withdraw money  from ATMs only in the new currency according to the website of the Bulgarian. helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force will fly at low altitude over Sofia in preparation for a military parade marking the Day. The Bulgarian student teams that participated in the European Olympiad of Experimental Sciences EOES 2025 in Zagreb have returned with. As is the tradition, this morning kukeri in the town of Razlog came out to banish the forces of evil on the first day of the new year People in Razlog woke up to the beating of drums and the ringing of bells this misty morning The local kukeri festival was cancelled this year but the kukeri still decided to mark the tradition at the same time observing the anti-coronavirus measures They passed through the streets of the town while the locals applauded them from their balconies and windows The police were also there to make sure there were no breaches of the restrictions Covid-19 was the reason why traditional kukeri and masquerade games They are clad in genuine animal skins weighing 30-40 kgs wear horns and all kinds of different-coloured charms They sometimes hide their faces behind fearful masks at other times they show their weather-beaten faces Their pictures were taken in their natural environment They are the people safeguarding the traditions of the masquerade rituals and the characters in the photographs by Evo Danchev “I have been absolutely obsessed by masks and kukeri these past three years,” says the photographer who has been travelling the country in search of colourful characters for his project called “Guardians” Evo is focusing on the connection between kukeri and livestock breeding – and it is a very old and a very powerful bond A great many of the participants in these ritual games tend livestock to this day The fur-length of a billy goat can reach one metre and the price of a first-class costume – up to 20,000 Leva (EUR 10,000) While he was looking for characters for his project The father and his young daughter have continued the tradition of the chaushi – as the kukeri are called in and around Razlog Ivana was just 4 when her father dressed her up in animal fur and so she became a chaush Since that day the little girl has never missed an appearance in the kukeri games and she dreams of becoming a first chaush one day One freezing winter day Evo Dahcnev went to their farm snuggled between the snowy mountains of Rila and Pirin “The idea of the photo session was to illustrate the bond between the generations and how customs are handed down the road they cover to reach us in our day from time immemorial,” Evo says and adds: “The bond between Radi and his daughter Ivana is very strong the power of these places can only be the power of guardians of the tradition There are so many parents and children who have been safeguarding this tradition all over Bulgaria In this story there is one more interesting character – their billy goat an animal whose fur is typically used in the kukeri costumes He was in perfect form for the making of the costume But the animal had made friends with the little girl Ivana and she forbade her father from using the animal for such a purpose and he too became part of our photo session,” Evo says Evo Danchev’s shooting season coincided with the kukeri festivals which starts on 1 January all over the country It is during these noisy and colourful festivals that the photographer finds the characters for his “Guardians” project On the first day of 2022 he is in Razlog for the Starchevata carnival Some of the photographs will find a place in the album he is working on for popularizing Bulgaria’s masquerade traditions around the world Kanye West took a posse of grime emcees onstage with him at the Brit Awards to perform ‘All Day’ It’s about time someone gave the grime scene the credit it’s due says one of the genre’s biggest hitters We asked him for his take on the performance… The Brits is out of my league. Unless I make another ‘Heatwave’ or something that’ll sell millions and millions for 10 years solid Kanye West opened a door that’s closed to most of us There’s no way Skepta or JME or Novelist or Stormzy were gonna get onstage without Kanye doing that and what he did won’t just happen again next year but people will be more open-minded about the people he got into the building and onstage The statement he made at the Brits was: I can walk in and out of here as I like even though you don’t like me for ranting at Taylor Swift who you wouldn’t usually let in here in any shape or form I’m gonna bring ’em out and let you know they’re with me and you cannot stop it But it’s not a power we’ve got I just mean people who are part of that culture rather than us as grime or UK rap or us from the council estate whose parents had milk tokens Dizzee Rascal and a few other urban artists have been there But if that wasn’t Kanye it wouldn’t have been allowed I hate saying this and I’m not hating because I like this person but if Tinie Tempah was performing at the Brits never in a million years would him or his manager even dream of bringing a scene of people behind them If I called up my manager and said ‘I got this show at the Brits I need 25 backstage passes’ he’d switch off the phone Why didn’t Kanye get Skepta to spin a 16?’ But 25 men are not gonna bust lyrics I’m just gonna go and embrace the Brits because this year I could look and say,‘That’s my mates up there Now the next step is: what song will be made with Skepta or Kanye that could connect them so that when the Brits come around again they can perform there again Skepta ain’t told me this but I know what he’s thinking He’s looking back at the reason he hasn’t been given his dues he’s laughing at all the labels who didn’t sign him ‘I didn’t even have to be signed to meet Kanye and for him to bring me and my fam onstage’ It’s revenge: ‘I’ve worked hard I’ve broken my neck and you don’t give it to me Wiley’s new album ‘Snakes & Ladders’ is out on Big Dada now Kanye West’s Brit Awards Censoring Wasn’t A Mishap: It Was A Powerful Cultural Protest the woman who was seriously injured in a shooting near the Bulgarian mountain town of Razlog has died at 3 am Thursday morning in the local hospital Two men were shot dead in the same incident Tuesday in an SUV in the southwestern village of Banya The two murdered men were 49-year-old Vasil Donev aka "Donevio" He is to be released from the hospital later Thursday The woman was listed in critical condition with 8 gunshot wounds Her condition did not allow her to be moved to a hospital in the capital Sofia Doctors list the cause of death as acute heart and respiratory failure Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov has revealed The Interior Minister suspects that the killers were acquainted with the vehicle's daily route An 18-year-old girl who had been reported missing in Haskovo has been found dead A serious criminal case has emerged in Sofia after the body of a man was discovered in a water-filled basement of a municipal apartment building Authorities in Bulgaria have charged two men with the murder of 20-year-old Marian Paskov from the town of Kula The prosecutor’s office is expected to release more details later today about the investigation into the brutal murder of 20-year-old Marian Paskov in the Bulgarian town of Kula The investigation into the double murder of two children in the village of Vakarel is ongoing A 25-year-old Bulgarian national has been arrested in connection with a double murder in Montgomery County A 33-year-old man from the village of Semchinovo has been taken into custody by the police for physically assaulting a 10-year-old child A 12-year-old boy from Lukovit has been hospitalized with two broken arms and head injuries after reportedly being assaulted and thrown from a bridge the director of the Plovdiv Customs Office was arrested earlier today for allegedly facilitating a new smuggling route for cigarettes The Sofia Police has launched a targeted operation against drivers of electric scooters and electric motorbikes who engage in reckless behavior in the city's central areas opened fire with a gas pistol near a kindergarten in Sofia's Lyulin district On this day Maria’s parents took her to the temple in Jerusalem to serve God The event described in the holy s scripture is known as the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is celebrated by Christians all over the world In the Bulgarian folklore calendar the day on which Mary entered the temple has been declared day of the Christian family That is why there is one tradition people in Razlog have been following for 34 whole years – the celebration of the silver and gold wedding anniversaries in the region “There are many anniversaries in the life of a family but the ones people love best are probably the quarter and half-century jubilees,” says Reny Racheva director of the registry office in the town This year there are 125 couples with a silver or gold jubilee and they all celebrated at a party organized by the municipality and the registry office “The youngest family in the town welcomes the jubilarians with geranium they pass under an arc and are congratulated,” Reny Racheva says “The “gold” couples bring a loaf of bread In a special receptacle they also bring fire which they hand over to the silver jubilarians as a symbol of love They on their part hand it over to the youngest family – to keep the home fire burning and to sweeten their bread Then all jubilarians sign a book of records which we have been keeping since 1985 The mayor of Razlog municipality also attends the event and hands out the marriage licenses – though they have no official standing they are beautifully crafted And as the mayor plays the symbolic role of best man Reny Racheva adds that it would be difficult to enumerate all of the couples who have celebrated wedding jubilees She says that there are around 50 “golden” families every year so they had to start a fresh book of records How does renewing marriage vows affect families very good,” the director of the registry office says “I can see the couples positively glowing seeing the emotion in the eyes of the gold jubilarians seem to take heart to keep going as a family.” They have been through hard times but have kept the magic of love alive as they have built their lives together on the basis of three principal virtues – mutual trust Young people tend not to regard the family as something of special value wrapped up in their lives tend to forget they have such a special anniversary I can see it in the couples who come to register for this party they thank us for taking them down memory lane The young who are just starting a family have other things on their minds – what more they can achieve They tend to hold material things in high regard rather than family or tradition If the young were to turn to their grandparents for advice more often they would get to feel where their roots lie and learn what family responsibility means Only on the Day of Bravery and Holiday of the Bulgarian Army (May 6) we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three of perhaps the most interesting machines from our outdoor exhibition Dozens of enthusiasts and nature lovers will kick off the 44th edition of the Move and Win campaign with a spring hike to Bozhur Hut The meeting point will be the Vladishki Bridge in Veliko Tarnovo The third edition of the Samardala Festival will be held on 3 May in the central square of Nova Zagora is used as a spice and is harvested at the peak of its flowering in May we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three. Bulgarian state-run gas transport network operator Bulgartransgaz said it has launched an enrvironmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure for a proposed pipeline meant to supply mountain resort towns of Razlog and Bansko in Southwestern Bulgaria Bulgartransgaz announced that there are two envisaged routes – one 34 km-long crossing the territory of seven townships in Blagoevgrad region All concerned parties can express their views on the investment intent of Bulgartransgaz by March 31 In May 2014 Bulgartransgaz and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed an agreement providing grants from Kozloduy International Fund for the construction of three gas transmission pipelines with automatic gas regulation stations (AGRS) to Svishtov The total cost of the three projects is estimated at EUR 21,790,000 of which EUR 11,000,000 will be granted from Kozloduy International Fund Bulgartransgaz EAD’s co-financing amounts to EUR 10,790,000 American reality star Kim Kardashian has revealed why she divorced controversial billionaire rapper Kanye West She noted that West was “the best rapper of all time and richest black man in America” but lacks character She added that she divorced the ‘Ye’ crooner because of his personality Speaking in a recent episode of the Big Boss show “I married the best rapper of all time a talented legit genius who gave me four incredible kids So when I divorced him you have to know it came down to just one thing Kim Kardashian and Kanye West officially finalised their divorce on November 29 the former couple have joint custody of their four children: North I met my wife before I had money – Davido Actress Dayo Amusa reacts as Bobrisky wins ‘Best Dressed Female’ award I caused Kim Kardashian trauma – Paris robbery suspect Kanye West claims he performed sexual acts with male cousin Kanye West blames Taylor Swift for not being selected to perform at Super Bowl Kanye West hints at split from wife Bianca Censori after two years American rappers should learn from Nigerian artists – Kanye West I never wanted to have children with Kim Kardashian – Kanye West Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd Traveling from Sofia in a southeastern direction Many are the stories of how the village came into being local people tell the young Some of the local legends and customs are recorded in a book long-time secretary of the local community culture club Bachevo lies at the foot of Mount Rila and the view it commands of the three mountains – Rila Perivol – an old Persian word meaning “beautiful view” is what the surrounding locality is called the village derives its name from a story about brothers who scattered across the valley though some remained in what is today Bachevo Another legend has it that the name is connected with the once numerous flocks of sheep bred here and the processing of their milk – this ancient occupation was once called bachia What is life like in this Bulgarian village – here is Mayor Sonya Koulincheva with the answer: “The village currently has a population of 1,700 and what is hope-inspiring is that people are not moving away and we have many young people here People here mostly hold jobs in Razlog and in Bansko Bachevo is only 4 kilometers from Razlog and 10 from the ski resort of Bansko Bachevo is well-known for its beautiful landscapes but also for its curative mineral spring The water temperature here is 26 degrees C. and it is considered to be one of the three springs in Bulgaria with the most potent healing capacity But there is one other thing: there is one animal that is held in high esteem in Bachevo – the horse tourists coming here can also make use of the horse riding facilities,” Mayor Koulincheva says “It is no coincidence that Bachevo’s coat of arms features a horse,” she says “Visitors coming here can choose between three horse riding schools in the village; two of them were set up with funding under European projects They now have accommodation for tourists who can go horse riding or see the countryside from a horse-drawn carriage the wave of emigration has not passed Bachevo up Some of its younger inhabitants have found work in Great Britain “But they invariably come back here in summer to enjoy the beautiful surroundings,” Sonya Koulincheva says The allure of this Bulgarian village is the reason why several families from Great Britain and Russia have bought houses and have settled here that Bachevo has one more natural landmark – the rock of St all you have to do to verify this is to go to this rock that is cleaved in half George once lived here among our fellow villagers the Turks said to themselves that the only way they could subdue the people in the village and force them to convert to Islam was by killing St George fled on horseback and reached the rock Down below was the precipice and behind – the Turkish posse the horse flew over the precipice and landed at the foot of the rock; where his hooves touched the ground a mineral spring sprang and the rock was cleaved in two To this day people climb up to the rock to squeeze through the cleavage If you are a sinner you will be left trapped if you are free of sin the rock will let you pass.” “In one’s thoughts there are no limits,” says Maria Paskalska secretary of the village’s culture community club The club also helps people have a good time during holidays when the men’s and women’s folklore groups bring villagers together To pass their skills and traditions down to the younger generation it organizes different groups like “Granny’s knitting” or the group for making folk-style dolls with the national costumes typical of this part of the country Maria Paskalska herself has collected folk songs legends and everything connected with the history and the life of the people of Bachevo And that includes the cuisine typical of these parts One local recipe is for string beans which are dried in the sun And in winter there is a popular recipe using dried beans to which sudjuk is added in the pot – which is a raw meat product as well as blood sausage – the Bulgarian version being with several kinds of meat – and pig feet Niche market investors are being tapped with the aim of enticing them to invest in a Maltese project in Bulgaria Stockbrokers are currently being presented with a private placement memorandum aimed at encouraging local investors to contribute towards a Maltese project in Bulgaria The Balkan Jewel is a 160-residential and tourist complex overlooking a golf course designed by Ian Woosnam in Razlog and which is situated adjacent to the slopes of the Pirin Mountain who is one of the promoters and the man behind Dhalia Real Estate and Bay Street explained that "four years ago we decided to invest in a central European country and visited a number of such countries Albania and Croatia to see their property development potential but was also on the verge of joining the EU "The country's tourism grows considerably year on year Not only but there are also direct flights to and from Sofia We chose Razlog and the site we went for was still virgin territory and potentially a 12-month destination There were a lot of anchors one could hold on to for the 12 months of the year." Mr Grech added: "So we went for a residential and tourist complex This is purely an investment with return purposes We decided to rope in Colliers International a leading global affiliation of independently owned and operated companies with more than 293 offices in over 61 countries We paid hundreds of thousands of euro to get them on board and they have been there since day one We launched the project in October 2006 and thought we'd sell some 20 units We were overwhelmed since in the first week we sold 70 apartments Over the past year the company has also been working on a scheme to offer local investors an opportunity to participate in this project A new company has been formed to manage the project and the board of directors is made up of Mr Grech "We feel we are moving with the financial markets The company has already put forward €2.5 million Our aim is now to collect €7.5 million and pay off the remaining debt which amounts to €3 million." The strategy of the company managing this project is to generate income through the leasing of properties It is envisaged that the Balkan Jewel will be put up for sale on the market in seven or eight years' time At the end of that period the investors would share the proceeds from the sale of the property The group's financial controller Nicky Camilleri explained that Bulgaria had very "strict financial authorities The financial regulation in this country discourages those who are not fully committed to operate professionally" With a preferential tax rate of 15 per cent Bulgaria's economy is growing steadily at around five per cent per year After five years of boom and equally booming prices the commercial residential and second holiday home market is cooling down and prices are becoming more realists The situation in the holiday accommodation sector is a different story Growth is still evident albeit in quality accommodation in anticipation of a steady minimum average increase of 4.5 per cent in tourist arrivals till 2017 when arrivals are expected to reach 20 million tourists I joined some other journalists and company directors to Bulgaria to get a view of the Balkan Jewel Work is going on at a very fast pace and the infrastructure has been completed At present work is being carried out on the landscaping while others are busy finishing off the apartments which are being finished to a high standard No corners have been cut and the parquet flooring furniture and all material used is of the highest quality offering residents dramatic views and landscapes of the gardens Complementing the development are various amenities: a services department a conference room and outdoor swimming pool The development is situated only a short drive away from Bansko A small historic town situated some 925 metres above sea-level It is a two-hour drive away from the capital Sofia and plans are in hand to build a small airport in Bansko Colliers should start marketing the complex in the coming months please register for free or log in to your account.