Media & Democracy: Council for Electronic Media chair Gabriela Naplatanova says Reuters Institute’s 2026 Digital News Report mirrors Bulgaria’s media reality, with BNR and BNT topping trust figures while political instability and slow EMFA-related legal changes keep press freedom under pressure. Education & Youth: Natural science olympiads under the “Participate! The Olympiad Is for Everyone!” campaign added 9.85% more entries in the first year, reaching 78,033, as Bulgaria pushes wider access to STEM. Culture & Books: The Union of Bulgarian Writers will premiere two Botev anniversary anthologies at the National Library, spotlighting “Whispering Grasses” and “Support My Hand.” Arts & Cities: Haskovo’s Ivan Dimov Drama and Puppet Theatre reopened after a major energy-efficiency renovation, cutting primary energy use by 72%. Religion & Society: Metropolitan Arseniy of Sliven rejects claims that UOC clergy are “substituting” Bulgarian traditions, defending their canonical role serving Ukrainian refugees. Rights & Housing: A CSD report warns Bulgarian law lacks clear protection against forced eviction, leaving families with children and the elderly especially exposed. LGBT & Church: Orthodox patriarchs in Bulgaria and Romania condemn LGBT “pride” parades as incompatible with Christian morality. International Culture: Pictoplasma’s contemporary character design festival returns to Varna in September, bringing European artists to the “Heroes in the Kitchen” theme.