Ani

Ercan Çiftçi, a man who draws pictures of artifacts of the Ani archaeological site on the walls of his house in Kars' village, fascinates people.

As the winter tightens its grip, Western Bulgaria is waking up to a bone-chilling morning on January 22nd. Temperatures are set to dance between minus 8C and minus 3C, dipping even lower in the picturesque valleys. The capital, Sofia, won't be spared either, with the thermometer hovering around a frosty minus 7C.

The meteorological outlook for January 6 predicts scattered clouds across Bulgaria, with increasing cloud cover by evening, accompanied by rain in the southern regions and the Rhodope Mountains. Expect light to moderate south-southwesterly winds, occasionally becoming stronger in the Danubian Plain. Temperatures will range from 10C to 15C, reaching 13C in Sofia.

The weather on December 20 promises a mix of sunshine and cloud cover across Bulgaria. The day will begin with mostly sunny conditions, especially in Eastern Bulgaria, gradually giving way to layered clouds around water bodies and basins. Expect increasing cloudiness in the afternoon, while Eastern Bulgaria remains predominantly sunny.

December 18 brings predominantly sunny weather across Bulgaria, with varying temperatures and light to moderate winds in different regions of the country.

A group of people searching for treasures in the eastern province of Kars has looted a 150-year-old church during their excavations, prompting residents to react with demands for the preservation of the historic church.

Within the scope of excavations this year, works have been initiated in the Ani Ruins, located on the Turkey-Armenia border, at four different points in order to unearth the underground history.

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The first Turkish mosque in Anatolia, located in the eastern province of Kars' Ani district, will be opened to service on Aug. 16, after a year-long restoration.

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"The Ebu'l Menuçehr Mosque will be open on the 957th anniversary of the conquest of the Ani district," Kars Governor Türker Öküz told Demirören News Agency on Aug. 4.

Within the scope of excavation works, efforts will be made to unravel the history of Ani Ruins, also known with the names the City of the World, Cradle of Civilizations, the City of Thousand and One Churches, and City of 40 Gates in history.

Eleven Socialist Party deputies signed a draft bill on Thursday designed to reduce the powers of the National Integrity Authority, the body which verifies the legality of assets and conflicts of interests among state employees.