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EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel tipped to be Bulgaria’s prime minister

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EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel tipped to be Bulgaria’s prime minister

Mariya Gabriel currently serves as European Commissioner for innovation and research, overseeing programmes such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus.

Mariya Gabriel, the European Commissioner for innovation and research, has been nominated by the centre-right GERB party to be Bulgaria’s next prime minister in what appears to be a technocratic bet to help the country overcome years of political instability.

The nomination was confirmed on Wednesday morning by Boyko Borisov, the controversial former prime minister and current leader of the GERB party, who said Gabriel’s present tasks covered topics that had a prominent presence in the party’s priorities, according to Euronews Bulgaria.

Borisov also said talks would focus on securing the necessary votes to successfully appoint a new GERB-led government. The centre-right party won 69 seats in the last parliamentary elections, well short of the 121 seats required to form a majority.

This means Gabriel, if successful in her bid, will lead a coalition government with like-minded parties.

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A fluent French-speaking official, Gabriel has served as European Commissioner since 2017, when she replaced Kristalina Georgieva, now the head of the International Monetary Fund, as commissioner in charge of the digital economy and society.

After the arrival of Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, Gabriel was assigned a beefed-up portfolio of innovation, research, culture, education and youth, which includes the €95.5 billion Horizon Europe programme and the Erasmus student exchange.

Prior to that, the 43-year-old had served as Member of the European Parliament, sitting with the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the largest formation in the hemicycle.

Gabriel’s exit from Brussels is expected to result in her portfolio being temporarily assigned to another European Commissioner while Bulgaria comes up with a new candidate to replace her.

The candidate will have to undergo a confirmation before the European Parliament.

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Reacting to the news, EPP President Manfred Weber said Gabriel had “the experience and international authority to overcome the political stalemate in Sofia.”

“Full support for our sister party GERB-Udf for putting the interests of the country first,” Weber tweeted on Wednesday morning.

Bulgarian politics have suffered from instability in recent years, going through four different prime ministers, including Borisov, and five parliamentary elections since 2021.

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Ferry tickets to Capri were temporarily halted due emergency

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Ferry tickets to Capri were temporarily halted due emergency

Thousands of keen island-hoppers had to remain on Italian mainland as the mayor of one of the country’s most popular islands, Capri, temporarily banned tourists.

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A water emergency prompted the mayor of one of Italy’s most popular islands, Capri, to order a halt to the arrival of tourists on Saturday. The move was prompted by a water crisis that has deprived some areas of any water supply.

Mayor Paolo Falco said that without a water supply, it is impossible to guarantee essential services to “thousands of people” who travel to the island daily during the tourist season.

“The health and hygiene situation is explosive, we have taken our countermeasures and activated the crisis unit and issued a restrictive order,” he said.

The emergency was caused by a failure in the mainland’s water system that provides vital supplies to the famous island.

At the moment water is still being supplied to most of Capri, but some isolated areas of the upper municipality of Anacapri are already dry. Only local reservoirs supply the network, which in the absence of supplies from the mainland risks being run out.

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Meanwhile, tanks are expected to reach the island to support essential services that require water.

The Mayor’s order was notified shortly after 9am causing an immediate stop to boat crossings.

The move has created long lines of passengers at the ticket offices at the ports of the southern city of Naples, the departing point for most ferries to Capri.

Ferries and hydrofoils that had already departed for Capri were contacted by radio by the maritime authorities, which ordered them to return to the mainland.

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No fairytale return to Germany for Lewandowski

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No fairytale return to Germany for Lewandowski
Given Germany is where Robert Lewandowski forged his fearsome reputation, Euro 2024 would have been a fitting arena for the Polish poacher to add significant gloss to an illustrious career and potentially end his international playing days on a high.
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Medical intern surprises would-be sexual abuser with hidden talent: 'Those lessons saved my life'

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Medical intern surprises would-be sexual abuser with hidden talent: 'Those lessons saved my life'

A medical intern in Thailand fought off a drunk nurse who tried to grope her one night, busting out fighting skills that helped her kick her would-be assaulter to the curb. 

“I have been doing Muay Thai boxing since I was a kid,” Petcharaporn Phadungjai, 22, told reporters. “I know how to kick, knee and punch someone. I know how to wrestle with them. It was my instinctive reaction to protect myself.”

“I’m lucky my grandfather taught me self-defense skills when I was a young girl,” she added. “Those lessons saved my life.”

CCTV footage from around midnight shows the 30-year-old male nurse approaching Petcharaporn from behind as she picked up some food before leaving for the night. He first circles behind her as though just wandering around the area aimlessly before turning and reaching for her.

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ANIMAL CARETAKERS IN THAILAND ‘SHOCKED’ AFTER SURPRISE BIRTH OF RARE TWIN ELEPHANTS

Petcharaporn Phadungjai, a 22-year-old medical intern in Thailand, fought off a would-be sexual abuser with Muay Thai.  (ViralPress)

As soon as the nurse’s arms wrap around the intern, she grabs him and drives him back towards the far wall. He keeps a strong grip on her, but as soon as she faces him, she drives her knee into his groin, giving herself a chance to pull free.

Once separated, she kicks him again, striking him in the stomach before setting into a defensive stance and yelling at him to back off. 

DOZENS ARRESTED AS THAI POLICE DISMANTLE CRIME NETWORK THAT FACILITATED LONG-TERM STAYS FOR FOREIGNERS

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Medical intern assault

A petite Thai medical intern used Muay Thai kicks to fight off a drunk male nurse assaulting her in a hospital. Speaking out publicly for the first time since the incident, Petcharaporn Phadungjai, 22 (pictured) said she was working a nightshift when the colleague crept up behind her and groped her in Samut Prakan, Thailand. But he was unaware that her hobby is Muay Thai boxing, and she kneed him in the crotch then kicked him in the stomach to subdue the alleged attacker. 

The hospital reported the incident to the police and fired the nurse as allegations that he had similarly harassed other female interns emerged, ViralPress reported. 

Petcharaporn said she had ordered dinner but could not pick it up herself, so the nurse, who was drinking at a neighboring food stall, offered to bring it to her. She had to go to the general ward, because men are not allowed in the women’s ward. 

THAI TOWN OVERRUN BY WILD MONKEYS LAUNCHES CAPTURE AND RELOCATION OPERATION

Bangkok tournament fighters

Muay Thai fighters warm up ahead of a Rajadamnern World Series Muay Thai tournament at Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on March 9, 2024.  (Valeria Mongelli/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“When he arrived, he told me to scan the QR code to pay for the food,” Petcharaporn said. “I placed the phone on the desk, and that’s when he grabbed me from behind.”

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She alleged that the nurse had flirted with her during her internship, often calling her “darling” or indicating he liked her, but she had treated it as teasing. She also revealed that she feared that he would try to rape her if she didn’t fight him off. 

Thailand suffers a significant sexual violence problem, with at least seven women sexually assaulted or abused per day, according to a report from the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC). 

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