Boxer

The government's decision to cancel a deal on the purchase of armoured personnel carriers closed by the previous government in its dying days will cost Slovenia a little more than €4 million, considerably less than the €70 million some initially thought the cancellation would cost.

The 3,000-year-old pieces include the torsos of two boxers

Brdo pri Kranju – Slovenia will rescind the EUR 281 million agreement on the purchase of 45 Boxer armoured personnel carriers from the OCCAR programme after an audit of the deal was completed, Defence Minister Marjan Šarec announced after Thursday’s cabinet session. The contractual fine could reach as high as EUR 70 million.

Ljubljana – The Defence Ministry said that the 45 Boxer armoured vehicles Slovenia is buying through OCCAR satisfy all technical demands as it responded Friday to a report alleging that equipment had been pared down to hit a low enough price point.

Only “less important technical requirements” were dropped in negotiations for the purchase of the vehicles, the ministry said.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly has voted 43 to 30 to endorse the government proposal not to allow a referendum on a law ratifying the agreement with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). The opposition Left, which initiated the referendum bid, is now planning to appeal to the Constitutional Court.

Bulgaria's Ministry of Defense announced that, on August 5, it had sent formal Requests for Proposals (RFP) to four companies invited to bid to supply armored infantry carriers. These four companies are ARTEC GmbH (Germany), Patria (Finland), Nexter Systems (France) and General Dynamics European Land Systems - MOWAG (Switzerland).

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence has announced it will seek offers for the supply of 150 armored vehicles from four Europe-based manufacturers: Germany's ARTEC, Finnish Patria, France's Nexter Group, and Swiss-based General Dynamics Land System - MOWAG, reports Defense News. 

A legendary Dutch boxer lives in a caravan without electricity and water in Kosharitsa village in Nessebar. The 73-year-old Rudi Lubbers, who has managed 12 rounds against Mohamed Ali, is currently in miserable condition. A charity campaign is being organized in the Netherlands for his rescue.