Montana

A Code Red alert has been issued in Bulgaria's northern and southeastern regions, meteorologists have said.

This is a warning of possible forest blazes spreading quickly throughout the respective regions and turning hard to contain.

The areas include Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Lovech, Burgas, Yambol, haskovo, and Varna.

A Code Red warning has been issued in Southeastern Bulgaria over potential wildfires on Friday, the Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS)'s weather department has announced.

The alert is in force within several regions including Yambol, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, Sliven and Burgas, but also for three regions in Bulgaria's northeast. These are Shumen, Varna and Dobrich.

Code yellow has been issued in 23 municipal regions of Bulgaria because of the heat wave expected Wednesday.

The warning concerns the regions of Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Sofia, Pernik, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, Smolyan, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Yambol, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Plovdiv, Lovech, Pleven, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Razgrad and Silistra.

Rain, thunderstorms and hail are projected for today's May 24, according to the official data presented by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

A German meat processing company is exploring opportunities to open a plant in Northern Bulgaria, Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski has said.

A code orange warning has been issued by authorities in twelve Bulgaria districts as Southern and Eastern Bulgaria have seen heavy downpours in the past 24 hours.

The districts affected are Silistra, Dobrich, Shumen and Varna (in the north-east), Burgas and Yambol (south-east), Haskovo, Kardzhali, Smolyan, Plovdiv, Pazardzhik (south) and Blagoevgrad (southwestern Bulgaria).

Bulgaria's Mizia Oil and Gas company has obtained the right to conduct prospecting and exploration of oil and natural gas at Block 1-5 Devetaki, Block 1-7 Tarnak, Block 1-9 Mizia, and Block 1-10 Botevo.

A total of nineteen project applications have been approved for funding in the Do-It-Yourself Contest 2015 organized by Za Zemiata, one of Bulgaria's largest non-profit environmental organizations.

The contest aims to prove that anyone who has a brilliant idea, puts in some effort, and is provided with financial assistance can introduce "green" changes to the place they live in.

Venezuela paid tribute Thursday to leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez two years after his death, but the movement he founded faces its worst approval ratings ever amid a deepening economic crisis.
      

Forecasts of Bulgaria's Tourism Ministry for the 2015 summer season point to a 3-4% growth in tourist numbers, according to Minister Nikolina Angelkova.