Bulgaria's construction output decreased by 10.2% in November 2011 year on year, the second largest fall among the EU member states for which Eurostat has available data.

Business | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 08:25

Poland Shale Gas Ambitions Undaunted by Bulgarian 'No'

The ban on the exploration and production of shale gas in Bulgaria has in no way affected the resolution of the Polish government to pursue the approach in Poland.

Business » Energy | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 19:44

US Grows More Pessimistic on Nabucco Pipeline

The full implementation of the Nabucco gas pipeline becomes less probable every year, according to the the Special Envoy on Eurasian Energy Issues of the US State Department Richard Morningstar.

Business » Energy | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 18:48

Bulgarian Govt Will Reverse Shale Gas Ban Within Months – Expert

Ilian Vassilev, energy expert and former Ambassador of Bulgaria to Russia, has criticized the government for the newly imposed all-out ban on hydraulic fracturing, saying that it betrayed weakness.

Business » Energy | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 16:02

German Investors Show Interest in Biomass Production in Bulgaria

German investors have shown interest in biomass production in Bulgaria, according to Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov, who is on a visit to Berlin.

Business » Energy | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:06

Watchdog Clears E.ON Bulgaria Sale to Energo-Pro

Bulgaria's Commission on Protection of Competition (CPC) has cleared the acquisition of E.ON Bulgaria EAD by Czech utility Energo-Pro.

Business » Energy | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 12:27

Strike Day 5 at Bulgaria's Maritsa Iztok Mines

The strike at Bulgaria' s biggest state-owned coal-mining company, the Maritsa Iztok Mines, headed into a fifth day on Thursday.

Business » Energy | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 11:42

Bulgaria's New President Eager for 'More Europe', Ties with Growing Regions

Bulgaria's foreign policy under the newly inaugurated President Rosen Plevneliev is to be characterized by a push for both stronger EU integration and opening up of the nation towards more distant regions with faster economic growth.

Politics » Diplomacy | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 11:11

Final Text of EU 'Fiscal Compact' Completed - Report

A text of the intergovernmental fiscal treaty that EU member states are about to sign at the next European Council January 30 has been leaked to media.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 20:49

PES President Stanishev: Orban Brings Hungary Down

Party of European Socialists and Bulgarian Socialist Party chair Sergey Stanishev has once again slammed what socialists see as the autocratic rule of Hungarian PM Viktor Orban.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 18:17

Bulgaria's New President Thinks He's PM - Left Wingers

The speech delivered by Bulgaria's new President Rosen Plevneliev on Thursday would have been more appropriate if he was sworn in as Prime Minister instead, members of the oppositional Bulgarian Socialist Party believe.

Politics » Domestic | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 13:58

Outgoing Bulgarian President: My Successor Has Similar Ideas

The most important task ahead of Bulgaria's new President Rosen Plevneliev is to "maintain the high degree of trust" in the Presidential institution, according to his predecessor, Georgi Parvanov.

Politics » Domestic | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 12:59

Bulgarian PM: New President Must Unite Nation

Bulgaria's new President Rosen Plevneliev must be a unifying factor for the Bulgarian nation, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov stated in a laconic comment after Plevneliev was formally sworn into office Thursday.

Politics » Domestic | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 12:31

Absences, Posters 'Mar' Bulgarian President's Oath of Office

Angel Marin, Vice President during the two consecutive terms of Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, was notably absent from the ceremony during which President-elect Rosen Plevneliev was sworn in.

Politics » Domestic | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 12:13

Plevneliev Pledges to Be 'Pragmatic' Bulgarian President

Rosen Plevneliev, who was sworn in as Bulgaria's new President on Thursday, vowed to be "the pragmatic President" during the lackluster speech he delivered in the country's Parliament.

Politics » Domestic | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 10:45

Bulgaria's New President: Predecessors Established Democracy

Bulgaria's new President Rosen Plevneliev pledged to defend the country's national interest during his first political speech since being sworn in.

Politics » Domestic | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 10:36

Plevneliev Sworn In as President of Bulgaria

Rosen Plevneliev from the ruling center-right party GERB got sworn in as the President of the Republic of Bulgaria at 10.05 Eastern European Time on Thursday, January 19, 2011.

Politics » Domestic | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 10:12

Plevneliev Is Bulgaria's 4th Democratically Elected President

Rosen Plevneliev, elected President in the fall of 2011 from the center-right party GERB of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, is the fourth democratically elected President in the history of Bulgaria.

Politics » Domestic | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 09:26

Bulgarian Renegade MPs to Create Yet another Patriotic Party

Former MPs from the troubled Bulgarian far-right Ataka (Attack) party will create a brand new patriotic formation within a month and a half, local media revealed.

Politics » Domestic | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 08:45

Who Is Who: Bulgaria's New Vice President Margarita Popova

Former Justice Minister Margarita Popova was nominated by the ruling centrist-right party GERB to run for Vice President of Bulgaria in the elections that took place on October 23 2011.

Politics » Presidental & Local Elections 2011 | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 09:10

Who Is Who: Bulgaria's New President Rosen Plevneliev

Rosen Plevneliev, former Bulgarian Regional Development Minister, was elected President on the ticket of the ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria part (GERB) on October 30 2011.

Politics » Presidental & Local Elections 2011 | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 08:55

Bulgaria's President-Elect to Be Sworn In Thursday

Rosen Plevneliev, Bulgaria's newly elected President, will be officially sworn in on Thursday.

Politics » Presidental & Local Elections 2011 | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 07:55

Society

Naked Ukrainians FEMEN to Protest Home Violence in Bulgaria

Provocative Ukrainian female rights activists FEMEN are coming to Bulgarian capital Sofia Saturday to protest domestic violence against women and children and human trafficking.

Society | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 20:41

Bulgarian Sports Daily Stirs Scandal with Racist Front-Page Title

Bulgarian sports daily "7 Dni Sport" ("7 Days Sport") has stirred public outcry with a racist front-page headline.

Society | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 17:31

Fire Erupts in Sofia Roma Slum

A vast fire erupted in a Roma slum located in Bulgarian capital Sofia's "Razsadnika" residential district late on Wednesday.

Society | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 10:00

Sports

Bulgaria's Jekova Grabs Silver at Snowboard World Cup Run

Leading Bulgarian snowboarder Alexandra Jekova grabbed the second place in the World Cup bordercross race taking place in Veysonnaz, Switzerland Thursday.

Sports | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 19:19

Berbatov Transfer Rumors Denied by Bayer, Agent

German club Bayer Leverkusen have no intention of signing Manchester United's Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, it has been made clear.

Sports | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:46

Crime

Bulgarian Police Nab Gun Wielding Pupil

A 17-year-old Bulgarian high school student has been detained after being uncovered to carry a handgun in class.

Crime | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 17:47

Sofia District Court Gripped by Bomb Alert

The building of Bulgarian capital Sofia's District Court was emptied early on Thursday due to an anonymous bomb alert, the Bulgarian National Radio has informed.

Crime | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 10:19

Criminal Shot in Downtown Sofia

A 37-year-old man with a criminal record was shot early on Thursday in the very downtown of Bulgaria's capital Sofia.

Crime | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 10:02

World

Perry Quits US Republican Presidential Race, Backs Gingrich

Texas Governor Rick Perry has confirmed Thursday earlier reports he is quitting the presidential primaries currently held by the US Republican Party.

World | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 20:11

Bulgarian Telegram Discloses Birthday of North Korea's New Chief

The birthday of North Korea's new state chief Kim Jong-un is January 8, a telegram sent to him from the Association for Friendship between Bulgaria and North Korea has revealed.

World | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 13:54

Eurozone on Verge of Recession, Juncker Alarms

The euro zone is on the verge of technical recession, Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European single-currency area's Finance Ministers, has warned.

World | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 09:43