Black Sea

All 316 employees of the thermal power station in Bulgaria's city of Varna are going out on strike.

They are demanding an end to the uncertainty surrounding the plant in Bulgaria's Black Sea city, which faces a potential shutdown and is currently now producing electricity, Bulgarian TV channel bTV has reported.

Bulgaria is ready to launch direct cargo shipping lines to Russia, Transport Minister Danail Papazov has announced.

According to Papazov, the shipping lines will be successful, because carters may face difficulties passing through Ukraine on their way to Russia, Darik news reports.

The construction of the Black Sea Eco Garden Resort at the Karadere area will start in September 2014, said Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoinev.

The construction will continue through September 2017, according to Stoinev who presented the project at the Monday meeting of Bulgaria's government. 

Bulgaria's city of Varna could be granted up to BGN 70 M until end-2014, an MP from the ruling Socialists announced.

In Varna, which is his hometown, Borislav Gutsanov announced funds are to be allocated for the construction of a new court building and a Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical University.

Region calls for diplomatic solution of Ukrainian crisis

Diplomacy is the only way out of the deadlock in Crimea, officials say.

The wives of Ukrainian soldiers hold a banner reading "No War" during a rally outside the Sevastopol tactical military brigade base in Sevastopol. [AFP]

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Asya Petrova has informed that the prosecuting authority is not seeking a reinvestigation of a high-profile organized crime case codenamed 'The Killers.'

In a Sunday interview for Nova TV, Petrova explained that the prosecuting authority had lodged a protest against the acquittals stipulated in the ruling of the Varna Appellate Court.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the law ratifying the incorporation of Crimea into the Russian Federation.

Concessioners have complained that the winter weather has shrunk beaches along the southern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

Pro-Russian activists detained Wednesday Ukraine's Navy Chief Serhiy Hayduk, short after taking control of the navy's HQ.

Russian website Lenta.ru, citing Kriminform news agency, explains that Hayduk had ordered "the use of weapons against civilians".

Ukraine's army has not confirmed that he issued such an instruction.

Crimean forces occupy naval base in Sevastopol

SEVASTOPOL -- Crimean units for self-defense have occupied a Ukrainian naval base in Sevastopol on the Black Sea, reported the AP.