Bulgaria–China Diplomacy: President Iliana Iotova and Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin met in Sofia to expand cooperation in economy, trade, tourism, advanced technologies, education and culture, with talks also touching AI and a possible Sofia–Beijing direct flight. Education & Culture: Sofia University welcomed 1,431 international students from 55 countries in 2025/26, while the Education Trade Union (Podkrepa) reports 88% of surveyed secondary teachers oppose linking pay to student results and warn of protest readiness. Contemporary Dance: Sofia’s new venue Baza launches DanceMeld (June 8–July 6) with four weeks of workshops and public presentations blending dance, voice, text, digital media and circus arts. Performing Arts: “Mystery and Freedom” returns for an open-air Varna staging on June 9, combining Baroque music with improvisation and a multi-continent cast. Film & Youth Exchange: Bulgaria’s Cultural Institute in Warsaw presented the Student Film Festival of Slavic Countries (June 5–7), featuring the Bulgarian short “The Revolt of the Suit.” Lifestyle Spotlight: A Serbian coffee house, Kafeterija Magazin 1907, made Monocle’s global top 25 list, ranking 8th and praised for its “cathedral-like” space and in-house roasting. Maritime Environment: Marina Dinevi in Burgas retains Blue Flag status, highlighting water-quality monitoring and safety upgrades.