Issue 188

How will technology develop and how will it affect the way we live and do business? This is a tough question that has engaged the brightest minds of our time. Accenture is an organization that does not only consider the subject, but takes active action in implementing the future of technology now. Its concept for the Metaverse Continuum is a spectrum of digitally enhanced worlds, realities and business models that will revolutionize life and enterprise in the next decade.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has polarised public opinion in Bulgaria. In fact, Bulgaria has emerged, since the start of the war in Ukraine, as the only EU state where public support for Putin remains high.

Do not interpret my criticism as a desire to topple the government.

President Rumen Radev

If the most Russia dependent country with the lowest per capita GDP in the EU can afford to stand up to Putin, everyone should be able to stand up to Putin.

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov in the New York Times

Mr Radev's position that if we provide weapons to Ukraine we will prolong the conflict is a disgrace.

"Russian warship, go f*ck yourself!" When the Ukrainian defenders of Black Sea's Snake Island shouted out to the outnumbering Russian forces at the beginning of Putin's "special military operation," they hardly anticipated that they would coin a catchphrase that would define the conflict and become a global meme. Today everyone with access to unfiltered Internet is aware that somewhere in the Black Sea there is a piece of rock called Snake Island.

1. Where can you see genuine firewalkers?

A. In the Strandzha

B. Sofia

C. Sunny Beach

2. Where is Devetashka Cave?

A. In the Rhodope

B. Northern Bulgaria

C. On the Black Sea

3. Which Bulgarian mountain is also called The Balkan?

A. The Rila

B. The Pirin

C. The Stara Planina

There are places in the world where you can get to know long-vanished nations and their former glory: Egypt, China, Greece... Bulgaria also makes it on this list. Long before this country appeared on Europe's map, an ancient nation inhabited its lands, and left behind rich remains – tombs and burial mounds, rock shrines and forts, fortifications and mysterious rock niches.

These people were the ancient Thracians.

Sometimes they are "parked" in the middle of villages, in one or two instances inside Communist-era housing projects, often they will be the first to greet you as you drive into some Bulgarian town. Aircraft aficionados will be thrilled particularly as the whole history of Warsaw Pact air force and civilian hardware will be in front of them to explore. 

One of the more spectacular collections of grounded airplanes is by a small Bulgarian town whose chief claim to fame is that one of the two Bulgarian astronauts, in the 1970s-1980s, was in fact born there. 

Born in 1883 near Serres, which was then in the Ottoman Empire and today is in Greece, Stoyna Dimitrova was seven years old when she experienced something extraordinary. While she was ill with smallpox, a strange storm engulfed her home and tried to push the door open. Her parents attempted to keep out the elements, but Stoyna told them not to – the storm was actually St George, who wanted to enter the house. Her parents complied and a strange light filled the room. When it all ended, Stoyna had become blind.

Lovers of freedom were quick to cry fowl. Is this what the supposedly liberal, pro-Western Changes Continued government is doing? Protecting itself from the love of the general public with iron bars? Not even in the darkest days of Boyko Borisov's GERB had we seen anything like that, they intoned to their agony aunt, Facebook.

Despite some researchers' claims that Bulgaria's largest city on the southern Black Sea coast is ancient (related in some way to... Troy), most would agree that Burgas is quite new.

The first poverty-driven settlers came here at the end of the 19th century, only to find themselves in a swampy, malaria-infested area fit for little save fishing. Burgas began as a maze of squalid streets, randomly built harbour warehouses and tumbledown buildings. It took 13 years to approve the first town plan with its 289 small neighbourhoods and seven parks.

Sunni Islam is Bulgaria's second largest religion after Eastern Orthodoxy. In the centuries that have passed since its arrival with the Ottoman Turks in the second half of the 14th century its adherents have created some stunning and impressive mosques – though many have been lost to time, dereliction or active destruction, particularly after Bulgaria was liberated from the Ottomans in 1878.

The increased connectivity of the public and the private sphere, and of people and devices, combined with an economy crisis, the war in Ukraine, the turbulent development of crypto currencies and the continuing trend for working from home as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic: cyber crime is destined to boom in 2022. The recent attack on the Bulgarian postal services proved it. The breach delayed the payment of thousands of pensions and forced an unknown number of business clients to seek alternative, and more expensive, ways to deliver their products.

Higher quality: one of the effects of the pandemic, which is now ending, was the change in our attitudes when choosing where to spend our vacation. We have become more demanding of the hotels where we stay and the environment and service that we expect to get there. We seek more luxury and exclusive experiences, unforgettable author's cuisine and intriguing interior design, bars with unusual and impressive vision, the opportunity to meet new interesting people and to indulge in top class spa pleasures.

The summer is coming, and with it our excitement increases. Our souls crave the caress of the sun rays and the sea, the light clothes and the journey that we can finally take on. But are our body, face, skin and hair ready as well?

Probably, like most women, you think that the answer is negative. You are probably bothered by some body imperfections or you realise that your face needs special care and protection. Or you probably just need something to bring more colour to your life.