ARCHIVE - 17 February 2012

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Business

Bulgaria's Press War Culminates into New Media Association
Bulgarian Pharmaceuticals Market Grows by 12% in 2011 Y/Y
Three Bidders Said to Eye Bulgaria's Vivacom, Deadline Extended
Telekom Austria Gives Up Bid for Bulgaria's Vivacom - Report
Brussels Probes Bulgaria over Govt Darling Corpbank
Migrant Remittances Main Lifeline to Bulgaria's Economy 2011
Gazprom Agrees to 10% Price Cut for Long-Term Contracts in Europe
E.ON, CEZ Bulgaria Units to Launch IPOs in April, May
FIS Head: Bulgaria Fails to Make Use of Sofia's Mountain Vitosha

Politics

Kosovo Fans: God Created Macedonians as Bulgarians
Russian Could Become Official EU Language because of Latvia
EC to Urge All EU States to Let In Bulgarian, Romanian Workers
Dutch Stance on Schengen Enlargement Remains Firm
Bulgaria Unanimously Welcomes Croatia to EU
9 EU States to Explain Why They Kicked Bulgaria Out of Labor Market
Social Networks Can't Be Piracy Police, EU Court Says
Bulgaria to Give Nod to Croatia's EU Membership
Bulgaria's Child Protection Agency Head Resigns
Bulgarian Top Cop: No Plea Bargain for Deadly Car Accidents
Bulgaria's Irrigation Systems Chief Lacking University Degree
Bulgarian Top Cop Comes under Fire from 80 Judges

Society

Bulgarian Top Cop Demands Tougher Sanctions for Road Killers
Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Chief Resigns over Bonus Scandal
Bulgarian PM Seeks Resignation of National Health Insurance Fund Chief

Sports

Cuba Entire Boxing Team Joins Bulgaria Contest
FIS Chief Kasper: President Plevneliev Is Bulgaria's Top Skier
Bulgaria's Pironkova Out of Doha Tournament

Crime

Another 4 Years in Jail for Former Sofia Property CEO

Smiles

Bulgaria's Happy Hens and Pigs

World

Sarkozy: Britain, France Closest on Defense since World War II
Turkmenistan's 'New Father' Sworn In after 97% Election Win
Merkel Seeks Broad Consensus on New President
Seehofer Named German Interim President
German President Quits amid Scandal
UN General Assembly Condemns Syrian Regime in Resolution
Cameron Makes Plea for Scotland to Stay in UK

Business

Bulgaria's Press War Culminates into New Media Association

Several major Bulgarian newspaper and magazine publishers have founded a new media association in Sofia, after the Union of Publishers in Bulgaria has been ripped apart by conflicts.

Business | February 17, 2012, Friday // 19:46

Bulgarian Pharmaceuticals Market Grows by 12% in 2011 Y/Y

The sales of pharmaceuticals in Bulgaria increased by 12% in 2011 compared with 2010, according to data of IMS Health, a global healthcare industry consultancy.

Business | February 17, 2012, Friday // 18:56

Three Bidders Said to Eye Bulgaria's Vivacom, Deadline Extended

Turkey's Turkcell, the head of Bulgaria's Corporate Commercial Bank and Icelandic businessman Thor Bjorgolfsson are interested in the sale of Bulgaria's telecom Vivacom, local media reports say.

Business | February 17, 2012, Friday // 10:06

Telekom Austria Gives Up Bid for Bulgaria's Vivacom - Report

Telekom Austria is no longer interested in the sale of Bulgaria's Vivacom, heir to the state-owned Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC), a foreign media report says.

Business | February 17, 2012, Friday // 09:46

Brussels Probes Bulgaria over Govt Darling Corpbank

The European Commission has launched an investigation against Bulgaria on allegations of liquidity support to Corporate Commercial Bank, which is believed to finance the media group of mogul Irena Krasteva.

Business | February 17, 2012, Friday // 09:02

Migrant Remittances Main Lifeline to Bulgaria's Economy 2011

Remittances - money sent by Bulgarian migrants to family members back home – continue to increase slightly, but steadily despite the global downturn, data from the central bank shows.

Business » Finance | February 17, 2012, Friday // 13:54

Gazprom Agrees to 10% Price Cut for Long-Term Contracts in Europe

Russian energy giant Gazprom has reduced the price of gas in its long-term contracts for European consumers by 10%.

Business » Energy | February 17, 2012, Friday // 18:28

E.ON, CEZ Bulgaria Units to Launch IPOs in April, May

Bulgaria's government is expected to list its 33% minority stake in E.ON and CEZ power distributors in April and May respectively in a bid to enliven the local stock exchange and boost revenues.

Business » Energy | February 17, 2012, Friday // 12:53

FIS Head: Bulgaria Fails to Make Use of Sofia's Mountain Vitosha

Bulgaria does not utilize properly the Vitosha mountain located right next to its capital Sofia in order to develop winter sports, according to Gian-Franco Kasper, President of the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Business » Tourism | February 17, 2012, Friday // 17:31

Politics

Kosovo Fans: God Created Macedonians as Bulgarians

Several hundred sports fans in Kosovo's capital Prishtina have sought to offend Macedonia by declaring that God created Macedonians as Bulgarians.

Politics » Diplomacy | February 17, 2012, Friday // 14:29

Russian Could Become Official EU Language because of Latvia

Latvia is set to vote in a referendum on Saturday on whether to adopt Russian as a second official language in the country, which could also mean a potential official EU status for Russian.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 17, 2012, Friday // 18:02

EC to Urge All EU States to Let In Bulgarian, Romanian Workers

The European Commission will request that labor restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians be lifted by the last nine EU member states to have them, EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Laszlo Andor said in Brussels.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 17, 2012, Friday // 16:32

Dutch Stance on Schengen Enlargement Remains Firm

The Netherlands has reiterated its "no" to Romania and Bulgaria's bids to join the Schengen Agreement, it has been made clear.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 17, 2012, Friday // 14:52

Bulgaria Unanimously Welcomes Croatia to EU

Bulgaria's Parliament unanimously ratified Croatia's EU accession treaty on Friday.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 17, 2012, Friday // 12:04

9 EU States to Explain Why They Kicked Bulgaria Out of Labor Market

Nine EU states are to share the arguments behind their decisions to stop Bulgarians and Romanians from their labor markets until the end of 2013 during EU's Council of Employment and Social Policy Ministers on Friday.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 17, 2012, Friday // 09:24

Social Networks Can't Be Piracy Police, EU Court Says

The Luxembourg-based EU Court of Justice has ruled that social networking sites cannot be compelled to install general filters to prevent the illegal trading of music and other copyrighted material.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 17, 2012, Friday // 08:46

Bulgaria to Give Nod to Croatia's EU Membership

Bulgaria's Parliament will ratify Croatia's EU accession treaty on Friday, becoming the third EU country after Hungary and Slovakia to do it.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | February 17, 2012, Friday // 08:14

Bulgaria's Child Protection Agency Head Resigns

Nadya Shabani, head of Bulgaria's state Child Protection Agency, has submitted her resignation, citing personal reasons.

Politics » Domestic | February 17, 2012, Friday // 17:38

Bulgarian Top Cop: No Plea Bargain for Deadly Car Accidents

Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov has demanded that the option of plea bargain be barred for defendants in traffic accidents involving death.

Politics » Domestic | February 17, 2012, Friday // 17:01

Bulgaria's Irrigation Systems Chief Lacking University Degree

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the state-owned Irrigation Systems company, Georgi Harizanov, has not completed a bachelor's degree and is currently a student.

Politics » Domestic | February 17, 2012, Friday // 15:41

Bulgarian Top Cop Comes under Fire from 80 Judges

Over 80 Sofia-based judges have urged the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) to come up with a proper institutional response to the occasional accusations of Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov against the judiciary.

Politics » Domestic | February 17, 2012, Friday // 13:58

Society

Bulgarian Top Cop Demands Tougher Sanctions for Road Killers

Bulgaria needs legislative amendments to ensure harsher sanctions for those who have killed people in traffic accidents, the country's Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov has declared.

Society | February 17, 2012, Friday // 10:37

Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Chief Resigns over Bonus Scandal

The embattled director of Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Fund, Neli Nesheva, who got involved in a bonus scandal on Wednesday, has filed her resignation.

Society » Health | February 17, 2012, Friday // 12:33

Bulgarian PM Seeks Resignation of National Health Insurance Fund Chief

Commenting on the scandal with the director of Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Neli Nesheva, who was revealed Thursday to have pocketed a huge bonus for 2011, Prime Minister Borisov has called for her resignation.

Society » Health | February 17, 2012, Friday // 11:58

Sports

Cuba Entire Boxing Team Joins Bulgaria Contest

The entire Cuban boxing team will participate in the Strandzha Tournament in Bulgaria next Wednesday, which will be the competitive debut of the islanders for this Olympic year, reported the Cuban Information Agency (AIN).

Sports | February 17, 2012, Friday // 17:16

FIS Chief Kasper: President Plevneliev Is Bulgaria's Top Skier

The President of the International Ski Federation Gian-Franco Kasper has praised Bulgaria's head of state Rosen Plevneliev for his ideas about the development of skiing and winter sports.

Sports | February 17, 2012, Friday // 15:26

Bulgaria's Pironkova Out of Doha Tournament

Bulgaria's top female tennis player Tsvetana Pironkova has been beaten in the third round of the tennis tournament in Doha, Qatar.

Sports | February 17, 2012, Friday // 14:23

Crime

Another 4 Years in Jail for Former Sofia Property CEO

Following a long-protracted trial, a Bulgarian court has delivered another four-year jail sentence to Toshko Dobrev, former CEO of the scandalous municipal real estate company Sofiyski Imoti (Sofia Properties).

Crime | February 17, 2012, Friday // 18:30

Smiles

Bulgaria's Happy Hens and Pigs

A: It is good that Brussels forces the government to make hens and pigs in Bulgaria happy.

Smiles | February 17, 2012, Friday // 13:29

World

Sarkozy: Britain, France Closest on Defense since World War II

The UK and France have signed a deal on increased cooperation in the development of nuclear energy while also announcing closer defense ties.

World | February 17, 2012, Friday // 15:50

Turkmenistan's 'New Father' Sworn In after 97% Election Win

'Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov has been inaugurated for his second five-year term after winning the local presidential elections with 97% of the vote.

World | February 17, 2012, Friday // 14:58

Merkel Seeks Broad Consensus on New President

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has declared that she will seek agreement with the opposition on a new German president after Christian Wulff's resignation on Friday.

World | February 17, 2012, Friday // 13:27

Seehofer Named German Interim President

Horst Seehofer, the President of Germany's upper house of Parliament, will become interim president of the country, announced Christian Wulff, who resigned as President on Fiday.

World | February 17, 2012, Friday // 12:54

German President Quits amid Scandal

Germany's President Christian Wolf resigned on Friday after a series of scandals that rattled the country over the past three months.

World | February 17, 2012, Friday // 12:11

UN General Assembly Condemns Syrian Regime in Resolution

The UN General Assembly has approved a non-binding resolution that endorses an Arab League plan calling for embattled President Bashar Assad to step aside.

World | February 17, 2012, Friday // 11:21

Cameron Makes Plea for Scotland to Stay in UK

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has offered to consider more powers for Scotland if it votes against independence in a referendum expected to take place in 2014.

World | February 17, 2012, Friday // 09:57
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