Neither Russian, nor Turkish companies have declared any interest in buying the state-owned BDZ Freight Services, the cargo company of the Bulgarian State Railways, according to Privatization Agency head Emil Karanikolov.

Business | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 17:11

Bulgaria to Ban 'Dairy Product' Label for Foods Containing Vegetable Fat

A new ordinance in Bulgaria will ban the labeling of food products containing vegetable fat as dairy products.

Business | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 16:03

2011 Brings Best Results for Bulgaria's Port Varna in 106 Years

In 2011, Bulgaria's largest seaport – Port Varna – achieved the best results in its 106-year history of commercial shipping, its CEO Capt. Danail Papazov has announced.

Business | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 15:57

150 Italian Businesses Come Together over Bulgarian Investment Opportunities

A total of 150 companies, members of Confindustria Bulgaria, the association of Italian businesses in the country, have come together for a round table on Bulgarian investment opportunities.

Business | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:54

Facebook Plans IPO on May 17 - Report

The social networking company Facebook is poised to go public on May 17 after filing its initial public offering (IPO) documents at the start of February 2012, according to reports.

Business | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:46

Subway to Open 1st Restaurant in Bulgaria's Plovdiv

Fast-food chain Subway has announced it is to open its first restaurant in the southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv.

Business | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:41

Bulgaria-Romania 2nd Danube Bridge 73% Completed

The second bridge linking Bulgaria and Romania across the Danube has been completed at 73%, the Spanish construction firm FCC announced Thursday.

Business | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:23

After Bulgaria, Germany's WAZ Pulls out of Macedonia Too

The three Macedonian daily newspapers, owned by Germany's WAZ Media Group, have been sold as part of its strategy to withdraw from the media market in South Eastern Europe.

Business | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 13:15

April 20 is Tax Freedom Day for Bulgarians

Bulgarians will stop "working for the government" for this year on April 20, according to data provided by the Institute for Market Economics (IME)

Business » Finance | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:50

Bulgarian Economist Condemns Silver Fund Draft Law

Yordan Tsonev, an economist and Deputy Chair of the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, has termed the proposal of Finance Minister Simeon Djankov concerning the Silver Fund as a blow against the stability of the Bulgarian lev.

Business » Finance | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 12:29

Govt Inches towards Sale of CEZ Bulgaria Minority Stake

Bulgaria's Privatization Agency will table to the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) the paperwork for the sale of the government's 33% minority stake in the CEZ Bulgaria power utility within 1-2 weeks.

Business » Energy | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 17:34

South Stream Construction to Be Launched in December - Putin

The construction of the South Stream gas pipeline will begin in December 2012, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced.

Business » Energy | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 16:25

Bulgaria PM Highlights Energy Diversification in Talks with Moldovan Counterpart

Speaking after a Thursday meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Vladimir Filat, Boyko Borisov yet again emphasized the importance of gas grid interconnection projects for energy security.

Business » Energy | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 13:16

Bulgaria Snatches Major Black Sea Property from Oligarch

The Bulgarian government has won a suit over the ownership of a sizable Black Sea beachfront plot against a firm owned by Nikolay Banev, a wealthy local oligarch.

Business » Tourism | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 20:01

Wastewater Issue Half-Fixed in Bulgaria's Black Sea Resort of Sozopol

Regional Development Minister Lilyana Pavlova has vowed cleaner water near the southern Black Sea resort of Sozopol.

Business » Tourism | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 17:02

Politics

Macedonia Ex-Foreign Minister Bashes Bulgaria for 'Vetoing' Serbia EU Bid

Bulgaria is trying to use its right to veto within the EU as a means for blackmail, according to Macedonia's former Foreign Minister Slobodan Casule.

Politics » Diplomacy | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 11:37

Moldova PM in Sofia, Tensions over Bulgarian Community Ease

Ways to boost Bulgarian-Moldovan cooperation in trade and tackling natural disasters will top the agenda of Prime Minister Vlad Filat during his official visit to Sofia on Thursday.

Politics » Diplomacy | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 08:05

Bulgaria Slams Switzerland for Restoring Foreign Worker Quotas

Bulgaria has criticized Switzerland for the decision of its authorities to restore the quotas for foreign laborers from eight Eastern European member states of the EU (Bulgaria included).

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 19:34

Bulgarian PM Fires Ex Intelligence Head as Adviser, Scandal Alleged

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has fired Gen. Kircho Kirov whom he appointed as an adviser only two months ago, after dismissing him as head of the National Intelligence Service.

Politics » Domestic | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 18:21

Bulgarian Left-Winger Blames Rulers for Canceled No-Confidence Vote

Bulgaria's ruling centrist-right GERB has deliberately ruined the planned no-confidence vote against it by forcing MPs from the far-right Ataka to withdraw their signatures from the motion, left-wing leader Sergey Stanishev has claimed.

Politics » Domestic | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 16:57

No-Confidence Vote Canceled, Bulgarian Ruling Party Says

The planned no-confidence vote against Bulgaria's ruling centrist-right GERB will not take place, according to Parliamentary Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva.

Politics » Domestic | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 15:52

Bulgaria Far-Right Drops Support for No-Confidence Vote

Bulgaria's far-right Ataka (Attack) party has decided to withdraw its support for the upcoming no-confidence vote against the ruling centrist-right GERB.

Politics » Domestic | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:09

Bulgarian President Dreams of Bright IT Future

Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev believes that his country may become regional leader and a factor of global importance in the IT sector.

Politics » Domestic | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 13:31

Bulgarian Far-Right May Withdraw Support for No-Confidence Vote

Bulgaria's far-right Ataka (Attack) party may withdraw its support for the upcoming no-confidence vote against ruling centrist-right GERB, it has been reported.

Politics » Domestic | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 12:41

Society

Sofia Airport Stages First Ever Flash Mob under Eurovision 2011 Song

Sofia International Airport, Bulgaria's largest airport, has seen its first flash mob ever when students danced to Bulgaria's song for the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.

Society | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 17:54

Sofia Municipality Mulls Measures to Encourage Pet Registration

The Sofia Municipality has checked 554 owners of dogs in 46 operations conducted in the past two months.

Society | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 17:41

Spring Returns to Bulgaria after Gloomy Rains

Following the Easter spell of cold and rains, the sun is shining over Bulgaria again with forecasts promising temperatures of up to 22°C.

Society » Environment | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 09:20

Sports

Bulgarian Fans Rally in Sofia for Cancer-Stricken Petrov

Bulgarian fans will gather at the national stadium in downtown Sofia on Thursday, April 19, to express their support for Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov, who was recently diagnosed with acute leukemia.

Sports | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 09:03

Crime

Bulgarian Roma Boss Goes to Jail for 3.5 Years, Court Confirms

Notorious Bulgarian Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, will go to jail for 3.5 years for making death threats, a second court has confirmed.

Crime | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 16:41

Sofia Property Ex CEO Gets First Acquittal in Court

Following a long-protracted trial, a Bulgarian court has cleared for the first time Toshko Dobrev, former CEO of the notorious municipal real estate company Sofiyski Imoti (Sofia Properties).

Crime | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:06

Bulgarian Family to Get 'Cancer Ransom' Money Back, Court Rules

A Bulgarian family, involved in a peculiar kidnapping saga back in 2008, should get back the money they were forced to donate to a foundation fighting breast cancer, a court has ruled.

Crime | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 10:29

Smiles

Barbeque Routine

1) The woman buys the food.

Smiles | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 08:27

World

Russia Mulls Skipping NATO Summit in Chicago

NATO has invited Russia to take part in its May summit on Afghanistan in Chicago, but Moscow says it is still undecided whether to accept the invitation.

World | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 15:37

Convicted Neo-Nazi Spotted in Front of Oslo Courthouse

A convicted neo-Nazi has been spotted in front of the Oslo Courthouse, where the trial against mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik is taking place, according to Norwegian media.

World | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:56

Breivik Was Planning 'Suicide Action' While Playing WoW

Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik took a year's sabbatical from 2006 because he was planning a "suicide action", it emerged on Thursday.

World | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 12:03

India Says Test-Launch of Long-Range Missile Success

India said Thursday that it had successfully carried out the maiden test flight of its longest-range nuclear-capable missile, which can reach targets in China and Eastern Europe among others.

World | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 10:00

Syria Fails to Keep to Truce - Ban Ki-moon

Syria has failed to comply with its obligation under a peace plan to pull troops and heavy weapons out of urban areas, the UN secretary-general alerted.

World | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 08:37

US Panetta on Scandalous Photos: This is Not Who We Are

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has issued an apology following the leaking of photos of US soldiers posing with bodies of suspected Afghan insurgents.

World | April 19, 2012, Thursday // 07:07