Novinite News

Since I can't get any direct news about Grace, I settle everyday for indirect information about the country of Bulgaria. In addition to following a couple of blogs from other adoptive parents and checking the daily weather forecast, I read, well actually, I skim the headlines and read a few articles here and there from the digital version of the Sofia Morning News. Over the past few months, here are summaries of a few of the most memorable (but not very positive) news stories:

Bulgaria Police Warn Parents of Sofia Syringe Stabber: This man was injecting children with an unidentified liquid in a syringe. To date they have a composite sketch of the man, but have made no arrests.
Eleven Patients Infected with Hepatitis C in Bulgarian Hospital: Reuse of syringes was blamed for the epidemic.
Bulgaria Second in Europe Smoking Research: 46% of Bulgarian men and 32% of Bulgarian women smoke. Of course the newest article tells about the increased tobacco tax that was passed this month.

Bulgaria Investigates Consecutive Draws with Same Lottery Numbers: Lottery officials drew the exact same lottery numbers two days in a row, and decided that there was no evidence of corruption. Which is interesting considering the next article...

Bulgaria Most Corrupt in Central, SE Europe - TI Report: The Global Corruption Report of 2009 found that 54% of business owners said that corruption occurs often or always in Bulgaria, and one-third said that corruption had a negative impact on their businesses.

Another Election, Another Government in Bulgaria: The GERB Party (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) won the election which was the 7th parliamentary election since 1989-90 when Bulgaria moved away from having single party communist rule. Bulgaria's GERB party is newly developed since the last election, which shows how volatile the government is at this point. This election has caused increased uncertainty about adoptions in Bulgaria.

Health Minister Reports First Swine Flu Death in Bulgaria: 72 cases of swine flu have been reported in Bulgaria.

Light Quake Shakes Southwest Bulgaria: A small quake of 2.7 on the Richter Scale occurred 100 kilometers from Sofia but most citizens did not notice it.

Bulgaria Plans to Adopt Euro by 2013: Bulgaria still uses the lev.
Bulgaria with Worst Healthcare System in Europe: Bulgaria lacks patient protection, access to new innovations, and medicines as well as having the lowest patient outcome rating of 33 European nations.

15 Bulgarians Dead as Boat Sinks in Macedonia Lake: This tragedy in Ohrid caused Bulgaria to cancel all Unification Day celebrations across the nation. Unification Day is a celebration of the treaty between Bulgaria and the Ottomans in 1885.

Bulgaria Bishop: God's Wrath over Madonna Concert Caused Ohrid Tragedy: The Bulgarian Bishop said that God had punished Bulgarians for too much celebrating and partying at the Madonna concert in Sofia by causing the Ohrid Tragedy described  in the above article.

Bulgaria Fire Dancing Gets UNESCO Protected Cultural Status: On our last day in Bulgaria, Mark and I saw traditional Bulgarian dancers and watched a man dance on fire and eat hot coals. This man actually danced across the pit of coals several times...