No 'Angels': Bulgarians shake down Robbie Williams convoy / Photo: Paul ELLIS - AFP
-
Scotland cling to hopes of automatic World Cup qualification despite Greece defeat
-
Alcaraz secures ATP Finals showdown with great rival Sinner
-
England captain Itoje savours 'special' New Zealand win
-
Wales's Evans denies Japan historic win with last-gasp penalty
-
Zelensky renews calls for more air defence after deadly strike on Kyiv
-
NBA's struggling Pelicans sack coach Willie Green
-
Petain tribute comments raise 'revisionist' storm in France
-
Spain on World Cup brink as Belgium also made to wait
-
Spain virtually seal World Cup qualification in Georgia romp
-
M23, DR Congo sign new peace roadmap in Doha
-
Estevao, Casemiro on target for Brazil in Senegal win
-
Ford steers England to rare win over New Zealand
-
Massive march in Brazil marks first big UN climate protest in years
-
Spain rescues hundreds of exotic animals from unlicensed shelter
-
Huge fire sparked by explosions near Argentine capital 'contained'
-
South Africa defy early red card to beat battling Italy
-
Sinner beats De Minaur to reach ATP Finals title match
-
Zelensky vows overhaul of Ukraine's scandal-hit energy firms
-
South Africa defy early red card to beat Italy
-
Alex Marquez claims Valencia MotoGP sprint victory
-
McIlroy shares lead with Race to Dubai title in sight
-
Climate protesters rally in Brazil at COP30 halfway mark
-
Spike Lee gifts pope Knicks jersey as pontiff meets film stars
-
BBC caught in crossfire of polarised political and media landscape
-
'Happy' Shiffrin dominates in Levi slalom for 102nd World Cup win
-
Palestinian national team on 'mission' for peace in Spain visit
-
Brazilian 'Superman' cheers child cancer patients in Ghana
-
India close in on win over South Africa after Jadeja heroics
-
Huge explosions rock industrial area near Argentina's capital
-
Bezzecchi takes pole for Valencia sprint and MotoGP
-
Dominant Shiffrin leads after first slalom run in Levi
-
Nine killed in accidental explosion at Indian Kashmir police station
-
Climate protesters to rally at COP30's halfway mark
-
Fighting South Africa lose Rickelton after India 189 all out
-
Harmer leads South Africa fightback as India 189 all out
-
Prison looms for Brazil's Bolsonaro after court rejects his appeal
-
EU bows to pressure on loosening AI, privacy rules
-
India close in on lead despite South African strikes
-
Curry's 49 points propel Warriors in 109-108 win over Spurs
-
NZ boxer Parker denies taking banned substance after failed test
-
Australia setback as Hazlewood ruled out of 1st Ashes Test
-
Australia pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood ruled out of 1st Ashes Test
-
UN Security Council to vote Monday on Trump Gaza plan
-
Japan's Tomono leads after men's short program at Skate America
-
China tells citizens to avoid Japan travel as Taiwan row grows
-
Purdue Pharma to be dissolved as US judge says to approve bankruptcy
-
Iran's first woman orchestra conductor inspires
-
Wood gets all-clear in boost for England
-
Golf's world No. 8 Thomas has back surgery
-
Rebooted Harlem museum celebrates rise of Black art
NYSE - LSE
No 'Angels': Bulgarians shake down Robbie Williams convoy
Two Bulgarian officials have been sacked for demanding bribes from a lorry convoy carrying equipment for British pop star Robbie Williams's tour, authorities said on Monday.
The transport officers asked the lorry drivers to slip them 500 euros ($587) during a routine traffic check, resorting to Google Translate when the British drivers were unable to understand their request, police commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov told a news conference.
"They even asked those who didn't have cash to go to an ATM," he said.
Bribe-taking is a widespread practice in Bulgaria. But the incident, which happened on Thursday near the capital, Sofia, surprised Williams's tour convoy drivers, who filed a complaint.
Transport Minister Grozdan Karadzhov told local media the two longtime officers had been sacked as a result.
The pair were also detained on Sunday and charged, Sofia deputy prosecutor Desislava Petrova told AFP.
"Robbie Williams is more efficient at fighting corruption than Bulgarian institutions," joked one internet wit in Bulgaria, the poorest country in the European Union.
Road traffic is a "gold mine" for corrupt Bulgarian officials, said Tihomir Bezlov, an organised crime expert at the Centre for the Study of Democracy think tank in Sofia.
Williams, the 51-year-old singer-songwriter known for such hits as "Rock DJ", "Come Undone" and "Angels", played Sofia on Sunday night as part of his "Britpop" tour.
N.Shalabi--SF-PST