German company Paul-Heinz Wesjohann Group wants to buy Bulgarian Ameta Holding, owner of the “Ludogorsko pile”brand of poultry and poultry products and the PilCo processing plant in Razgrad.

Business | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 10:43

Bulgaria Records Second Lowest Inflation Rate in EU

The latest figures of Eurostat, which were released on Tuesday, reveal that Bulgaria had the second lowest inflation rate in the EU in January – minus 2.3 %.

Business » Finance | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 15:10

Bulgarian Businesses Operate at Increased Debt Levels

Bulgarian businesses have continued accumulating in unpaid debts over 2013, thus reaching BGN 171 B at the end of the year.

Business » Finance | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 12:52

Bulgarian Industrial Energy Consumers Seek 22.7% Gas Price Decrease

Industrial energy consumers call for a reduction in the price of natural gas by at least 22.7% as of April, according to an open letter of the Bulgarian Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers to the ministers of economy and energy.

Business » Energy | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 15:06

Gazprom Threatens to Stop Gas Supplies to Ukraine in 2 Days

Russian energy giant Gazprom warned on Tuesday that Europe was running a serious risk of losing access to the flow of gas via Ukraine in the next two days.

Business » Energy | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 12:34

Bulgaria's Leftist ABV Party To Propose Referendum on Shale Gas Extraction

Deputy Chair of leftist party ABV, Rumen Petkov said Monday that a new referendum will be proposed in Dobrich regarding shale gas acquisition.

Business » Energy | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 10:25

Bulgaria, Romania to Attract Asian Tourists with Joint Product

Bulgaria and Romania are to attract tourists from the more distant Asian countries through the development of a joint tourism product.

Business » Tourism | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 17:02

Politics

Bulgaria Defense Ministry 'to Lay Off 4600' over Budget Shortfall

Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said his institution will be forced to lay off 4600 military and civilian officers due to budget restrictions.

Politics » Defense | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 08:01

Bulgarian FinMin Goranov Proposes New Rules on Compensations after Natural Disasters

Bulgarian Financial Minister Vladislav Goranov proposed that the financial compensation on properties after natural disasters be only applicable to people who are not financially able to pay for insurance.

Politics » Domestic | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 16:10

Bulgaria's PM Borisov Accepts Resignation of MP Tonev, Former Military Hospital Chief

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has accepted the resignation of Gen. Stoyan Tonev, the head of the Health Commission in parliament and former chief of Sofia-based Military Hospital, 24 Chasa daily reported on Tuesday.

Politics » Domestic | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 15:28

Bulgaria's Patriotic Front Demands Compulsory Voting for Local Elections

The Patriotic Front (PF), one of the parties supporting the coalition government, demands the introduction of compulsory voting in Bulgaria prior to the forthcoming local elections in the autumn.

Politics » Domestic | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 13:25

Improving Deplorable State of Roads in Northwestern Bulgaria Is Essential - MP

Desislava Atanasova, MP from ruling center-right party GERB, has suggested that improving the deplorable condition of road infrastructure in Bulgaria’s northwestern region, the poorest region in the country and in the EU, is a vital necessity.

Politics » Domestic | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 13:16

Bulgaria’s Interior Minister Appoints New Directors of 2 Chief Directorates

Ivaylo Spiridonov has been appointed Director of the Chief Directorate "Combating Organized Crime" (GDBOP) of the Interior Ministry.

Politics » Domestic | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 11:15

Bulgaria President to Begin 2nd Day of Consultations

President Rosen Plevneliev is set to continue his "month of political consultations" meeting leaders of the Patriotic Front and Bulgarian Democratic Center, the fifth and sixth political forces in Parliament respectively.

Politics » Domestic | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 09:26

Bulgaria PM 'Demands Resignation' of Key GERB Lawmaker

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has demanded that Gen Stoyan Tonev, an MP who heads the Healthcare Committee in Parliament, media sources say.

Politics » Domestic | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 07:46

Society

Vladimira Yaneva Resigns as Sofia City Court Chair

Vladimira Yaneva has resigned from the post of Chair of the Sofia City Court.

Society | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 11:44

US to Monitor Air Quality Around Its Embassies

The US has decided on monitoring air quality around US embassies across the world.

Society » Environment | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 09:38

Lamb Concert in Sofia Shifts to Larger Venue

The concert of the trip hop duo Lamb has been moved from Sofia Live Club to Orpheus Club.

Society » Culture | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 15:24

Two Turkish F-4 Jets Crash, Killing Four Pilots

Two F-4 fighter jets of the Turkish Air Force have crashed in eastern Turkey, killing the four airmen in them, Turkey’s Daily Sabah reported on Tuesday.

Society » Incidents | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 21:49

Collision of Train, Truck Leaves at Least 30 Injured in California

A Metrolink train derailed in Oxnard in southern California after colliding with a tractor trailer on Tuesday, leaving at least 30 people injured.

Society » Incidents | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 18:03

Sports

FIFA: World Cup in Qatar Most Likely be Held at End of 2022

Following a six-month consultation process, FIFA identified end-November/end-December as the most suitable period for staging the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Sports | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 11:55

Crime

Czech Shooting ‘Not Terrorist Attack’, Interior Minister Chovanec Says

The gunman who killed eight people in the Czech town of Uhersky Brod on Tuesday had a gun licence and the shooting wasn’t a terrorist attack, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec has said.

Crime | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 21:19

At Least Nine People Killed After Shooting in Czech Republic

At least eight people were killed after a shooting in the town of Uhersky Brod in the eastern part of the Czech Republic.

Crime | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 17:19

European Court of Human Rights Rules against Bulgaria in 2 Cases

European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has ruled against the Bulgarian state over the clash between supporters of nationalist party Ataka and Muslims outside Sofia’s Banya Bashi mosque in 2011.

Crime | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 16:12

Views on BG

VoA: Bulgaria Key Battleground in US-Russia Energy War

Bulgaria is on the frontline of confrontation between the US and Russia as the former is battling Moscow's energy dominance in Eastern Europe, according to a recent article.

Views on BG | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 11:44

Quotes

Today's Quote: The Best Words to Draw Customers Away

"It seems absurd to tell a customer who every day comes to your shop: "Tomorrow I am opening a shop in the city nearby, you should go there," when the customer has the opportunity to simply change you as a supplier.

Quotes | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 09:33

World

UK to Send Military Personnel to Train Ukraine Troops

Britain will send military personnel to Ukraine over the course of next month to help advise and train Ukrainian government forces, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday.

World | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 20:30

Stratfor: Eurozone, Ukraine, Iran – Three Crises ‘Inextricably Linked’

A deal to keep Greece in the eurozone was reached in Brussels, a cease-fire plan was agreed to in Minsk and Iranian negotiators advanced a potential nuclear deal in Geneva within the past two weeks, Stratfor said on Tuesday.

World | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 19:06

IMF Approves EUR1.2 Billion Loan Program for Serbia

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a three-year loan program worth EUR 1.2 B for Serbia.

World | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 09:41

Merkel Asks German Conservatives to Back Greek Bailout Extension

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has asked her conservative Christian Democratic Union to support the proposed extension of Greece’s bailout programme in a parliament vote this week, AFP reported on Tuesday.

World » EU | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 19:49

Eurozone Finance Ministers Give Go Ahead to Greek Bailout Extension

Eurozone finance ministers on Tuesday gave the green light to Greece’s reform proposals that will enable extension of the country’s bailout programme, VOA reported.

World » EU | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 17:15

Bosnia on the Road to EU Accession

A declaration was adopted by Bosnia and Herzegovina's parliament on Monday, stating the political willingness of he country representatives to comply with EU criteria for member accession.

World » Southeast Europe | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 14:29

EU Commission 'Satisfied' with Greece Reforms List

The EU considers the list of reforms submitted by Greece to be "sufficient" and satisfactory, sources say.

World » Southeast Europe | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 10:25

Greece Unveils Summary of Reform Proposals to EU

The Greek government has cast light on some of the reforms it has drafted in return of agreeing to a bailout extension.

World » Southeast Europe | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 07:27

Russia's Putin Dismisses Apocalyptic Scenario of War with Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview for a local TV channel that an apocalyptic scenario of war with Ukraine can be deemed ''unlikely''.

World » Russia | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 11:30

Novinite Insider

EU 'Should Involve Turkey in Energy Talks with Russia'

Turkey and Russia do not have common interests in energy in the long-term, and EU could boost cooperation with Ankara through its nascent Energy Union, a recent report argues.

Novinite Insider | February 24, 2015, Tuesday // 09:04