Latest News from Bulgaria
Bulgarian Couple Hitch-hikes to India in 511 Days
Boris Kanev and Marta Samalea, a couple from Bulgaria, needed 511 days to hitch-hike across Asia to reach India, Hindustan Times has reported.
Burma, the kitten they picked up on their way, became their third companion in the journey.
Over 18,000 migrants rescued in Turkey's Aegean since January
Turkish Coast Guard Command has rescued 18,598 migrants in multiple operations in the Aegean Sea since the beginning of this year.
Bulgarian Parliament Lowers Threshold for Initiating Referendum
The Bulgarian Parliament adopted at second reading on Tuesday the amendments to the law on direct participation of citizens in the government.
According to the adopted amendments, the collection of 400 000 signatures will be enough to initiate a compulsory referendum, daily Dnevnik repots.
Turkish developer to invest $260 mln in Sofia project
Turkish developer Garanti Koza will build a 240 million euros ($260 million) commercial and residential complex in Sofia, one of the biggest private-sector property projects in Bulgaria, the company said on July 21.
The Black Sea state needs foreign investment to spur growth and help reduce fiscal deficits that have put pressure on its lev currency peg to the euro.
60 000 Greek Firms Have Readiness to Redirect Business to Bulgaria
Due to the introduction of bank holiday and capital controls, 60 000 Greek firms have readiness to redirect their business to Bulgaria.
Although Greek banks re-opened on Monday after remaining closed for three weeks, the funds of firms remain blocked in banks, leaving them unable to make payments to foreign suppliers.
New Section of Fence at Bulgaria-Turkey Border Could Cost BGN 100 M
The new section of the fence at the border with Turkey, which is being constructed to deal with the influx of illegal immigrants in Bulgaria will be several times more expensive than the already existing part.
Bulgarian Producers of Fruit, Vegetables Seek to Boost Cooperation with Hypermarkets
Bulgarian fruit and vegetable producers are increasingly interested in expanding cooperation with hypermarkets after the adoption of amendments to the Competition Protection Act, according to Slavi Trifonov, Chair of the National Union of Gardeners.
Only 15% of the goods sold at hypermarkets in Bulgaria are domestically produced, according to the Bulgarian National Radio.
Bulgarian PM Borisov to Pay One-Day Working Visit to Bavaria
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will pay a one-day working visit to Bavaria on Tuesday.
In Munich, Borisov is to meet the Minister-President of Bavaria Horst Seehofer, the government's press service informs.
The Bulgarian PM will also be an honorary guest to the reception given by the president of the Bavarian parliament Barbara Stamm.
Bulgaria Submitted Only 22 Applications with European Patent Office in 2012
Bulgaria submitted only 22 patent applications with the European Patent Office (EPO), according to Eurostat data on innovations registered in 2012 in the EU.
According to the report, as cited by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), Germany tops the ranking with over 22 000 applications.
Bulgaria to Accept 500 Refugees in 2 Years under New EU Voluntary Scheme
Bulgaria will receive 500 refugees currently residing in other countries over the next two years, according to Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova.
Speaking Monday after a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, she made clear that Bulgaria had sought a special statute, opposing the quota of 788 proposed in May.
Merger of Piccadilly, Carrefour in Bulgaria Falls Through
A merger between teh owner of Bulgarian supermarket chain Piccadilly and Carrefour's franchisee in the country has been called off, dnevnik.bg.reported on Monday.
According to KMB BV, the company holding the Carrefour franchise in Bulgaria and owned by Greece's Marinopoulos Group, the merger won't proceed.
Greek Firms Seeking to Move to Bulgaria Due to Capital Controls, Trade Group Says
Capital controls imposed in Greece three weeks ago have made 60,000 companies to submit requests to move their headquarters to neighbouring Bulgaria, the head of a Greek employers' association has said.
Bulgaria's Defense Companies Regain Lost Ground in India - Commercial Attaché
Bulgaria's defense industry is regaining lost ground in India, one of the traditional markets over the past 40 years, according to Stefan Ionkov, Head of Bulgaria's Commercial & Economic Affairs Office in Delhi.
Turkish Airlines crew member detained for bomb hoax
A male crew member of Turkish Airlines (THY) has been detained for a bomb hoax on a plane flying from Istanbul to Basel in April.
European Court of Justice Finds Bulgaria Guilty in Illegal Landfills Case
The European Court of Justice has ruled that Bulgaria has failed to fulfil its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive and has not taken the necessary steps to open new landfills matching EU requirements, according to Bulgarian media reports.
The ECJ has not made clear in its ruling what penalties Bulgaria will face for the delay, Sofia-based Capital daily reported on Monday.