The Bulgarian state Commission on Protection of Competition imposed a BGN 10 290 fine on mattress producer AS&Co. for mimicry of the logo of rival TED company.

Business | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 14:59

Bulgaria's M-Tel Launches Own Mobile Phone Brand

Bulgaria's first and biggest mobile operator M-Tel has developed its own brand of mobile phones, which it is launching on the market, the company announced.

Business | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 14:00

EBRD Trims 2010, 2011 Growth Forecast for Eastern Europe

The London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has modestly revised downward its forecast for the economies of east Europe to central Asia, citing risks arising from financial market volatility and the impact of fiscal tightening.

Business » Finance | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 18:27

Bulgarian Right Wing Hands Anti-crisis Package to Cabinet

The co-chairs of Bulgaria's right-wing Blue Coalition handed Thursday to the co-chairs of the Parliamentary group of the ruling, center-right GERB party, Krasimir Velchev and Iskra Fidosova, a list of their concrete proposals for anti-crisis measures.

Business » Finance | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 14:02

TBB CEO Upbeat about Bulgaria's Participation in Burgas-Alexanroupolis Project

The Bulgarian government has expressed good will and understanding with respect to the future of the Burgas-Alexandoupolis oil pipeline, according to Vladislav Emelyanov, CEO of Trans-Balkan Pipeline.

Business » Energy | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 21:48

Bulgarian Govt Puts Forth New Manager of Trans-Balkan Pipeline

Bulgaria's Finance Ministry wants to appoint a new manager in charge of the Bulgarian branch of the Trans-Balkan Pipeline company set up for the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

Business » Energy | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 21:25

Sofia Municipality Gets Back Debt-Ridden Heating Utility

Heating utility Toplofikatsiya Sofia will be transferred back to the municipality along with its debts, exceeding BGN 510 M, the municipality council decided on Thursday following a long debate.

Business » Energy | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 14:15

Romanian EconMin: Romania, Bulgaria Not Competing for South Stream

Romania is not in vying with Bulgaria to secure a place in the Russian gas pipeline project South Stream, declared Romanian Minister of Economy Adriean Videanu Thursday in an interview for Romanian daily Adev?rul.

Business » Energy | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 13:14

EVN Confirms Talks for Majority Stake in Bulgaria Thermal Plant

Austria's utility EVN has confirmed it is holding talks for the acquisition of a majority stake in Bulgaria's Maritsa East 3 coal-fired power plant.

Business » Energy | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 12:04

Romania Set to Attract French Company for 2nd NPP - Report

Romania has invited French nuclear power company Areva in the project for its second nuclear power plant, according to an interview of minister of economy Adreian Videanu published Thursday by Romanian daily Adev?rul.

Business » Energy | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 11:52

Sofia City Hall Seals Downtown Property Swap

The Sofia City Hall finalized Thursday the deal to swap its shares of the Central Market Hall and become the owner of the park near the Russian Church, both in the downtown of the Bulgarian capital.

Business » Properties | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 16:28

Benchmark Fund Puts on Sale Sofia Office Buildings

Benchmark Fund Estates REIT, one of the biggest property funds on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, is holding talks on the sale of its largest project, a business center on Sofia's Tsarigradsko Shosse Boulevard.

Business » Properties | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 11:23

Bulgarian Govt to Demolish Hundreds of Hotels in Sunny Beach

Bulgaria's authorities are going to demolish 750 illegal buildings in the country's largest Black Sea resort Sunny Beach, announced Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov.

Business » Tourism | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 20:49

Politics

German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Visit Bulgaria October 12

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel is going to arrive on an official state visit in Sofia on October 12, 2010.

Politics » Diplomacy | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 20:23

Sofia, Berlin Mull Priority Joint Projects

The Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit and Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, discussed Thursday future joint projects between the German and the Bulgarian capitals.

Politics » Diplomacy | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 13:26

Berlin Mayor to Meet Bulgarian President, PM

The mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit is going to meet Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and PM Boyko Borisov during his official visit to Sofia Thursday.

Politics » Diplomacy | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 09:31

Bulgaria Urges NATO to Include 'Soft Power' in New Strategic Concept

NATO must find a way to integrate its "soft power" into its new strategic concept, which is currently under discussion, according to senior Bulgarian government officials.

Politics » Defense | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 18:11

Bulgarian Army to Be Cut in Half - Report

The numeric strength Bulgarian army is going to be reduced in half, according to information gathered by Bulgarian daily Standart.

Politics » Defense | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 10:32

Iceland to Start EU Accession Talks July 27

The European Union is going to open accession negotiations with Iceland next Tuesday.

Politics » Bulgaria in EU | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 19:01

Conservatives Unwavering in War with Bulgarian FBI

The Bulgarian conservative Order, Law and Justice (RZS) party is submitting with the Supreme Prosecutor's Office of Cassations an official notification about violations in the National Agency for State Security (DANS).

Politics » Domestic | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 14:52

Bulgaria's Judicial Council Blasts Govt over Judiciary Law

Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council has issued a devastatingly critical position with respect to draft amendments to the Judicial Authority Act proposed by the Borisov Cabinet.

Politics » Domestic | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 14:17

Bulgarian MPs Reject President's 'Paid Leave' Veto

The Members of the Bulgarian Parliament rejected Thursday the veto of President, Georgi Parvanov, on the mandate that all accumulated paid leave is used by employees in the country by the end of 2011.

Politics » Domestic | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 12:30

Investigators Question Bulgaria's Ethnic Turkish Leader

The leader of the opposition ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), Ahmed Dogan, had been called for questioning at the National Investigative Services Wednesday, the Bulgarian daily Trud informs.

Politics » Domestic | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 11:39

GERB MP: Bulgarian 'Special Court' to Hear High-Profile Cases

Iskra Fidosova, ruling GERB party MP and chair of the parliamentary legal committee, said that draft laws are under way for the creation of a "specialized court" for heavy cases like treason, organized crime, embezzlement, violations by senior officials.

Politics » Domestic | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 10:13

Society

Bulgarian MPs Toss Murder of Killer Bears into Hands of Agriculture Minister

Bulgaria's Agriculture Minister will be the person in charge of granting permits to shoot down killer bears and other wild animals, according to draft legislation.

Society » Environment | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 20:11

Public Preschool Education Becomes Mandatory in Bulgaria

Nearly half of all children in Bulgaria do not speak Bulgarian as a native language, the Member of the Parliament from the ruling GERB party, Irena Sokolova, says.

Society » Education | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 10:55

Sofia Architect to Preside over Bulgarian Louvre Contest

Sofia chief architect Petar Dikov will head the jury in the competition for the new museum complex in the capital Sofia, known as the Bulgarian Louvre, it emerged on Thursday.

Society » Culture | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 17:00

Crime

Bulgaria Police Brutality Trial Stalls

Bulgaria's Military Appellate Court has referred back for more evidence the case against five anti-mafia policemen, accused of killing Angel Dimitrov aka Chorata more than four years ago.

Crime | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 17:52

Bulgarian Police Hits on Prostitutes in Special Ops

The Bulgarian police arrested Thursday 27 prostitutes during their latest special operation, codenamed "Butterflies.

Crime | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 17:29

Bulgarian Court Sentences Organizer of Fatal Ohrid Trip

The District Court in the southern town of Dimitrovgrad ruled that Boryana Georgieva, the organizer in the tragic trip to Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, is guilty of not having the required registration as a tour operator.

Crime | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 15:30

Bulgarian Poaching Fishermen End up in Jail

The Bulgarian Executive Agency on Fisheries and Aquaculture announced that two persons are entering prison Thursday for illegal fishing, following a sentence by Sliven Regional Court.

Crime | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 14:29

Italy Nabs Second Bulgarian for Gruesome Murder

The Italian police has arrested one more of the murderers of a Bulgarian and his daughter, who were beaten to death on June 22 this year, local media reported.

Crime | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 12:59

Quotes

Today's Quote

"I am protesting and demanding that Naomi Campbell should become my secretary! It is normal that a person who is insecure about the quality of their work to react in this way.

Quotes | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 19:02

World

US, EU Welcome ICJ Ruling on Legality of Kosovo Independence

The top diplomats of the United States and the European Unions have welcomed the advisory ruling of the International Court of Justice stating that Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence was "not illegal.

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 21:19

UN Warns against Provocations in Wake of ICJ Ruling on Kosovo

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged all sides involved in the Kosovo issue to abstain from provocations after the UN Court ruled Thursday that the independence of the former Serbian province was "not illegal.

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 20:50

Kosovo President: ICJ Ruling No Invite for Global Separatism

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu has sought to assuage fears that Thursday's ruling of the International Court of Justice in favor of Kosovo's independence might spur a wave of separatism around the world.

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 19:43

Serbia Vows to Never Recognize Kosovo Despite ICJ Ruling

Serbia will never recognize the secession of Kosovo, declared Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic after the UN Court of Justice ruled that the independence of the newest Balkan republic was "not illegal.

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 18:40

UN Court of Justice: Kosovo Independence Is Legal

The International Court of Justice in the Hague issued their advisory opinion Thursday afternoon ruling the declaration of independence of the former Serbian province of Kosovo is not in violation of international law.

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 17:15

Serbian FM: International Court Decision on Kosovo Will Be Complicated

The decision of the UN International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo's independence will be a long and complicated text and will not warrant any quick and clear conclusions, stated Serbian minister of foreign affairs Vuk Jeremic.

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 13:45

Serbian President: Serbia is Ready for Court Decision on Kosovo

Serbian President Boris Tadic has declared that Serbia is ready to hear the decision that the International Court of Justice is set to announce Thursday regarding the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo from Serbia.

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 09:57

US Reiterates Support for Kosovo Independence

US Vice-President Joe Biden has reiterated American support for an independent Kosovo during a visit by Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci just hours before the International Court of Justice announces its decision on the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration o

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 09:38

Utrinski Vesnik: UN Court Decision on Kosovo Relevant for Macedonia

Macedonians should watch out for the decision of the International Court of Justice regarding the legality of Kosovo's independence and learn from the response of the international community, writes an article in Macedonian daily Utrinski Vesnik Thursday.

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 09:10

UN Court of Justice Decision on Kosovo Independence Looming

The International Court of Justice based in the Hague will issue Tuesday its advisory opinion on the legality of the declaration of independence of the former Serbian province of Kosovo.

World | July 22, 2010, Thursday // 08:14