Latest news with #Nikolov
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bulgarian border city hails Schengen tourism boom
There always used to be a long line of traffic waiting to cross the steel truss Danube Bridge over the river between Giurgiu in Romania and the Bulgarian city of Rousse on the other side. But since both EU countries fully joined Europe's Schengen open-borders zone this year, removing time-consuming frontier checks, traffic flow has increased significantly. One traveller, who only gave his name as Christian, drives the 75 kilometres (46 miles) south from the Romanian capital Bucharest to Rousse to stock up on "cheaper" cigarettes or perfumes that save him money. "With Schengen, it's faster: no more queueing to have our papers checked," he said, leaning against his blue Mustang. On weekends, a long line of cars with mostly Romanian registration plates crosses the border bridge towards the Bulgarian commercial hub, bringing with them tourists who boost the local economy. According to data from Romania's road management agency, around 160,000 cars crossed the border at Giurgiu between January and March 2025, compared to 128,000 during the same three-month period last year. - Romanian menus - With tourism in Rousse booming, Bulgaria's fifth-largest city has begun catering to its new clientele, with restaurant menus printed in Romanian and bilingual staff highly sought-after. The city of 125,000 people -- also called "little Vienna" -- is known for its eclectic mix of architecture ranging from neo-baroque to communist-era buildings. In front of a popular restaurant in the city's central square, a young couple from Giurgiu waited patiently in a long queue. "It's easier to come now. We really like this place, it's one of our favourites," said 43-year-old teacher Claudia Badarau, standing next to her partner Bogdan. Full integration into the now 29-country Schengen zone has had "a positive impact on the city, because there are many more tourists", restaurant manager Todor Ratsov told AFP. "There are quite a few Romanian tourists, mainly because of easier entry," he said, adding that "90 percent of his menus" are now in Romanian. According to Adrian Nikolov, senior economist at the Sofia-based Institute for Market Economics think-tank, "the effect is almost exclusively tourism-related". Over time, Nikolov added, it will be interesting to assess the impact on turnover of hotels and restaurants. - More pilgrims - Created in 1985, the Schengen zone includes 25 of the 27 European Union member states as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and allows more than 400 million people to travel freely inside the area. Romania and Bulgaria endured a frustrating 13-year wait for full entry and finally joined on January 1, after Austria dropped its threat to veto membership over migration concerns. Truckers and cross-border workers especially have benefited. "For companies whose lorries cross the border, this means reduced journey time, more reliable delivery times, and lower fuel and personnel costs on the same route compared to last year," Nikolov explained. According to Romania's transport federation, each carrier can save "two to three hours on average", which translates into "extra money and extra freight". The Basarbovo monastery just outside Rousse -- named after a shepherd who once lived there as a hermit and whose relics are venerated in Bucharest -- has seen more visitors. Carved into the side of a mountain, the monastery remains a popular destination for Romanian pilgrims -- and more recently families on holiday. Father Aleko has noticed a "clear increase" in the number of visitors. "Once they pass through Rousse, they never fail to come and light a candle and pray to the saint," he told AFP, referring to the shepherd who became Saint Dimitar. Translator Oana Manulescu was visiting the hermit's cave with her family from Bucharest. "There are things to see, the prices are more affordable. And the Bulgarians are a very welcoming people," she said. ani-rb/kym/phz/rjm/sco
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bulgarian border city hails Schengen tourism boom
There always used to be a long line of traffic waiting to cross the steel truss Danube Bridge over the river between Giurgiu in Romania and the Bulgarian city of Rousse on the other side. But since both EU countries fully joined Europe's Schengen open-borders zone this year, removing time-consuming frontier checks, traffic flow has increased significantly. One traveller, who only gave his name as Christian, drives the 75 kilometres (46 miles) south from the Romanian capital Bucharest to Rousse to stock up on "cheaper" cigarettes or perfumes that save him money. "With Schengen, it's faster: no more queueing to have our papers checked," he said, leaning against his blue Mustang. On weekends, a long line of cars with mostly Romanian registration plates crosses the border bridge towards the Bulgarian commercial hub, bringing with them tourists who boost the local economy. According to data from Romania's road management agency, around 160,000 cars crossed the border at Giurgiu between January and March 2025, compared to 128,000 during the same three-month period last year. - Romanian menus - With tourism in Rousse booming, Bulgaria's fifth-largest city has begun catering to its new clientele, with restaurant menus printed in Romanian and bilingual staff highly sought-after. The city of 125,000 people -- also called "little Vienna" -- is known for its eclectic mix of architecture ranging from neo-baroque to communist-era buildings. In front of a popular restaurant in the city's central square, a young couple from Giurgiu waited patiently in a long queue. "It's easier to come now. We really like this place, it's one of our favourites," said 43-year-old teacher Claudia Badarau, standing next to her partner Bogdan. Full integration into the now 29-country Schengen zone has had "a positive impact on the city, because there are many more tourists", restaurant manager Todor Ratsov told AFP. "There are quite a few Romanian tourists, mainly because of easier entry," he said, adding that "90 percent of his menus" are now in Romanian. According to Adrian Nikolov, senior economist at the Sofia-based Institute for Market Economics think-tank, "the effect is almost exclusively tourism-related". Over time, Nikolov added, it will be interesting to assess the impact on turnover of hotels and restaurants. - More pilgrims - Created in 1985, the Schengen zone includes 25 of the 27 European Union member states as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and allows more than 400 million people to travel freely inside the area. Romania and Bulgaria endured a frustrating 13-year wait for full entry and finally joined on January 1, after Austria dropped its threat to veto membership over migration concerns. Truckers and cross-border workers especially have benefited. "For companies whose lorries cross the border, this means reduced journey time, more reliable delivery times, and lower fuel and personnel costs on the same route compared to last year," Nikolov explained. According to Romania's transport federation, each carrier can save "two to three hours on average", which translates into "extra money and extra freight". The Basarbovo monastery just outside Rousse -- named after a shepherd who once lived there as a hermit and whose relics are venerated in Bucharest -- has seen more visitors. Carved into the side of a mountain, the monastery remains a popular destination for Romanian pilgrims -- and more recently families on holiday. Father Aleko has noticed a "clear increase" in the number of visitors. "Once they pass through Rousse, they never fail to come and light a candle and pray to the saint," he told AFP, referring to the shepherd who became Saint Dimitar. Translator Oana Manulescu was visiting the hermit's cave with her family from Bucharest. "There are things to see, the prices are more affordable. And the Bulgarians are a very welcoming people," she said. ani-rb/kym/phz/rjm/sco Sign in to access your portfolio
Sky News
18-03-2025
- Sky News
'Professional travelling burglar' broke into Newcastle striker Alexander Isak's home and stole jewellery worth £68,000
A member of a "professional group of travelling burglars" has been convicted after he broke into the home of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak and stole jewellery worth £68,000. Valentino Nikolov, 32, also took the Swedish footballer's sports car and up to £10,000 in cash when he carried out the raid with three members of his family in April 2024. Isak, who scored during Newcastle's victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at the weekend, was not in the Northumberland home at the time. Nikolov's family members - brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28, sister Jela Jovanovic, 43, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23 - all admitted conspiracy to burglary. However, Nikolov, from Birmingham, denied the charge and was found guilty on Tuesday following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court. His three family members, who all lived in Italy and travelled to the UK to carry out the burglary, will be sentenced at a later date. Isak noticed bins were moved Dan Cordey, prosecuting, told jurors how Isak left his home between 4pm and 10pm on 4 April and discovered the break-in when he returned and saw his bins had been moved. The gang smashed a glass door to enter the property before entering the TV room and carrying out an "untidy search", Mr Cordey said. Isak told detectives that he kept cash in bags upstairs, made up of notes of varying denominations as well as coins, and the amount taken was between £5,000 and £10,000. The 25-year-old striker added that bespoke men's jewellery from Frost of London worth about £68,000 - made up of bracelets, necklaces and rings - was taken, along with his Audi RS6 estate car. A member of the public later found the car abandoned and called the police, the jury heard. The gang also took a safe which had been left by the home's previous tenant and did not contain anything valuable, Mr Cordey said. Isak told police he had never used the safe and he had not been able to open it. Images of raid on 'doggy cam' CCTV images of the break-in were recorded on what Mr Cordey described as a "doggy cam". The prosecution said: "This was a professional group of travelling burglars. "It contained one female and three men - all related. "Two of those men and one female have admitted their part in pleading guilty." Gang used Citroen and Ford motorhome The thieves had already stolen jewellery and clothes worth more than £1m and the CBE medal belonging to Tyneside businesswoman Helen McArdle, as well as designer goods worth £100,000 from a woman in Whitburn, Sunderland, in the days before breaking into Isak's home. The gang arrived in the UK via a ferry from Calais to Dover in a Citroen C3 and a Ford motorhome last March. They headed to London then drove to the North East a few days later, the court has heard. The gang used the Citroen to travel to break-ins and the motorhome was a base where they slept. Nikolov represented himself and used an Italian interpreter during his trial. Safet Ramic, who is the 58-year-old father of Valentino Nikolov's former partner, and who is from Winson Street, Birmingham, was cleared of a single charge of handling stolen goods.
Sky News
18-03-2025
- Sky News
'Professional' burglar broke into Newcastle striker Alexander Isak's home and stole jewellery worth £68,000
A member of a "professional group of travelling burglars" has been convicted after he broke into the home of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak and stole jewellery worth £68,000. Valentino Nikolov, 32, also stole the Swedish footballer's sports car and up to £10,000 in cash when he carried out the raid with three members of his family in April 2024. Isak, who scored during Newcastle's victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at the weekend, was not in the Northumberland home at the time. Nikolov's family members - brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28, sister Jela Jovanovic, 43, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23 - all admitted conspiracy to burglary. However, Nikolov, from Birmingham, denied the charge and was found guilty on Tuesday following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court. His three family members, who all lived in Italy and travelled to the UK to carry out the burglary, will be sentenced at a later date. Isak noticed bins were moved Dan Cordey, prosecuting, told jurors how Isak left his home between 4pm and 10pm on 4 April and discovered the break-in when he returned and saw his bins had been moved. The gang smashed a glass door to enter the property before entering the TV room and carrying out an "untidy search", Mr Cordey said. Isak told detectives that he kept cash in bags upstairs, made up of notes of varying denominations as well as coins, and the amount taken was between £5,000 and £10,000. The 25-year-old striker added that bespoke men's jewellery from Frost of London worth about £68,000 - made up of bracelets, necklaces and rings - was taken, along with his Audi RS6 estate car. A member of the public later found the car abandoned and called the police, the jury heard. The gang also took a safe which had been left by the home's previous tenant and did not contain anything valuable, Mr Cordey said. Isak told police he had never used the safe and he had not been able to open it. Images of raid on 'doggy cam' CCTV images of the break-in were recorded on what Mr Cordey described as a "doggy cam". The prosecution said: "This was a professional group of travelling burglars. "It contained one female and three men - all related. "Two of those men and one female have admitted their part in pleading guilty." Gang used Citroen and Ford motorhome The thieves had already stolen jewellery and clothes worth more than £1m and the CBE medal belonging to Tyneside businesswoman Helen McArdle, as well as designer goods worth £100,000 from a woman in Whitburn, Sunderland, in the days before breaking into Isak's home. The gang arrived in the UK via a ferry from Calais to Dover in a Citroen C3 and a Ford motorhome last March. They headed to London then drove to the North East a few days later, the court has heard. The gang used the Citroen to travel to break-ins and the motorhome was a base where they slept. Nikolov represented himself and used an Italian interpreter during his trial. Safet Ramic, who is the 58-year-old father of Valentino Nikolov's former partner, and who is from Winson Street, Birmingham, was cleared of a single charge of handling stolen goods.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man guilty of burgling striker Isak's home
A man has been found guilty of burgling three wealthy homes, including that of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. Valentino Nikolov, 32, was part of a professional gang of touring burglars which stole more than £1m worth of goods from three homes in the north-east of England, Newcastle Crown Court heard. His sister, brother and nephew had previously admitted burgling the homes, with the gang to be sentenced at a future date. A fifth man, 58-year-old Safet Ramic from Birmingham, was found not guilty of handling stolen goods. Nikolov, of Tew Park Road, Birmingham, had represented himself during the trial with the aid of an Italian interpreter. Jurors took less than two hours of deliberation to find him guilty. The gang travelled to the North East three times from the Birmingham area to commit the crimes in April last year, the trial had heard. They stole £1m worth of valuables, including a CBE medal, from a home in Jesmond, Newcastle, and designer shoes, handbags and jewellery worth £100,000 from a house in Whitburn, South Tyneside. On 4 April, they broke into Mr Isak's home in Darras Hall, Ponteland, at about 20:00 BST, with the striker discovering the break in when he returned two hours later. A glass door had been smashed and an "untidy search" of his home carried out, with up to £10,000 in cash and jewellery worth £68,000 stolen, the court heard. The haul included bespoke men's bracelets, necklaces and rings from Frost of London, while the star's Audi RS6 estate car was taken and later found abandoned. The gang also took a safe that had been left by a previous occupant but it was empty. Judge Robert Spragg said prison would be "inevitable" but he needed more information about Nikolov and his associates before determining their sentence. Nikolov's brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28, their sister Jela Jovanoic, 43, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23 - who all reside in Italy - previously admitted conspiracy to commit burglary. A pet camera in Mr Isak's living room captured Giacomo moving around the room, with him being identified in part by a distinctive PSG logo on his tracksuit bottoms. The group was captured on CCTV at service stations in the region and travelled in a Citroen C3 using registration plates stolen from a car in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here. 'Pro' thieves stole £80k goods from striker's home Isak targeted during break-in spree, court hears HM Courts and Tribunals Service
