US Department of State

The US Embassy says it has received information of a "possible threat against an unspecified bus line or bus lines" in Bulgaria's capital Sofia.

It has advised US citizens to avoid the area of what has been known for years as Hotel Pliska (Boulevard Tsarigradsko Shose 87).

The move by Turkish authorities to initiate a takeover of Zaman newspaper has triggered an international backlash.

The US Department of State has said the decision is "the latest in a series of troubling judicial and law enforcement actions taken by the Turkish government".

US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland is to meet Bulgarian officials this afternoon, the Bulgarian President's press office has said.

Energy, defense and the push for reform will reportedly be part of the agenda of her meetings.

Nuland is to talk with President Rosen Plevneliev at 15:00 local time (EET).

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland will visit Bulgaria in January.

In the Bulgarian capital, Nuland will meet with senior government officials to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues, the website of the US Department of State informs.

The US Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew had a phone contact with his Greek counterpart Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Tuesday evening and stressed the key role of the IMF in the process of reforms, while urging the Greek government implement the reforms.

Nasser al-Wuhayshi, the "second-in-command" at al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, was killed Friday in a drone strike, the Al-Qaeda network has confirmed.

A former private secretary to al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, al-Wuhayshi was sought by the US Department of State which had offered a USD 10 M reward for those able to bring him to justice.

Both EU and US representatives showed reactions of concern over the newly passed bill allowing foreign NGOs to be banned in Russia.

The US has welcomed the announced plans of the Polish government to purchase US-produced Patriot surface-to-air missiles at a total cost of USD 5 B.

Reportedly, additional USD 3 B will be spend on weapons from European contractors. The helicopters 725 Carcal also known as Super Cougar will be a part of the purchase.

Neither Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels have started pulling arms out of the areas of conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

Kiev says the army would not pull back until the siege around Debaltseve ends, whereas the rebels insist the army should leave the beleaguered city which in their opinion is not part of the Minsk agreement.

Former Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana at the US Embassy headquarters on Wednesday met US Department of State Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland, with whom he talked about the political evolution in Romania, but also about 'the chance for Romania to play an extremely important role both from a strategic and from an economic stand in the region.'