Latest News from Bulgaria
Fortieth Annual Caricature Exhibition Takes Place in Sofia
National Exhibition Caricature is a traditional event - an annual review of the brightest accomplishments of fifty contemporary Bulgarian painters, working the various caricature genres.
PM Ponta announces VAT cut to 9 percent for all foodstuffs
The Value Added Tax on food, non-alcoholic beverages and catering services will be 9 percent from June 1, Prime Minister Victor Ponta announced on Tuesday.
Photo credit: (c) Liviu SOVA / AGERPRES PHOTO
Bulgaria's Finance Minister: Differentiated VAT Rates Are Tough to Administer
Bulgaria's Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov has ruled out proposals to introduce differential VAT rates on food products.
Speaking Tuesday at a discussion on Bulgaria's economy, he said that differentiated VAT rates were hard to administer.
He claimed that the unified VAT rate was the fairest and most neutral option as regards risks of skewing consumption trends.
Bulgarian Nina Dobrev Leaves The Vampire Diaries Behind
The 26-year old Bulgarian-born Nina Dobrev (Nicolina Konstantinova Dobreva) devastated her fans Monday as she announced she was leaving the People's Choice Award winning TV show Vampire Diaries.
After six seasons, Dobrev took the decision to pursue new career goals and to leave her multiple vampire and non-vampire impersonations behind.
Blagoevgrad Hosts Exhibition Uniting Artists from Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia
Novinite is publishing a report by Anna Bashuk, a third-year Journalism student at the American University in Bulgaria, about an exhibition that is currently on display in the city of Blagoevgrad (where the university is based).
FAZ: Bulgarian, Romanian Benefit Receivers in Germany Up 83% in 2014
Germany has registered a surge in receivers of the Hartz-IV unemployment benefits among immigrants coming from Bulgaria and Romania in 2014, according to media reports.
Between January and December 2014, there were 83 082 receivers from Bulgaria and Romania in the country, according to official statistics of the unemployment agencies quoted by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Bulgaria's Pernik Seeks Interest-Free Loan of BGN 5 M from Central Budget
Bulgaria's Pernik Municipality seeks a short-term interest-free loan of BGN 5 M from the central budget in order to cope with debts.
The Pernik Municipal Council decided on Monday at an extraordinary meeting that the loan was a life-saving measure to ensure the further development of the municipality.
3 Bulgarian Ministers to Report Measures Taken against Greece's New Tax
Bulgaria's parliamentary budget committee will hold hearings of three ministers over the introduction of a 26% withholding tax on Greek business transactions originating in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Ireland.
Doctors in Bulgaria to Stage Symbolic Protest over New Funding Model
Doctors at a number of hospitals in Bulgaria will stage symbolic protests on their professional holiday, April 7 (World Health Day), over the new methodology of distribution of financing.
Tsatsarov Opposes Plans to Allow Prosecutors to Block Commercial Deals
Any changes to Bulgaria's Code of Civil Procedure that would enable prosecutors to intervene in commercial deals are extremely dangerous, according to the country's Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov.
Bulgaria Police Bust Suspected Organised Crime Group in Varna, Six Detained
Three members of a suspected organized crime group arrested in the city of Varna on 3 April 2015 will remain in police custody, according to BGNES news outlet.
Another three, who were also arrested on 3 April, could be released on bail if the Appeals Court rejects the prosecutors demand to keep them behind bars on 16 April.
Bulgarian Customs Foil Dollar Notes Smuggling Attempt
Bulgarian customs have thwarted an attempt to smuggle US dollar notes - some of them suspected to be fake - to Ukraine.
Customs officers at the Danube Bridge border crossing between Bulgaria and Romania have found undeclared USD 6,500 stashed in a mini-bus travelling from Bulgaria to Ukraine with one passenger and the driver, the Customs Agency said in a press release.
SMEs in Northwestern Bulgaria to be Granted EU Funds with Priority
The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Northwestern Bulgaria will be granted EU funds with priority when applying with projects for improving their production capacity.
This was announced by Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski on Monday during a presentation of the application procedure for the new Innovations and Competitiveness Operational Programme.
Staggering 55% of Greeks Ready to Emigrate, National Survey States
Over half of Greek citizens are ready to leave their country if they find better jobs abroad, a new survey has established.
Data revealed that 55% of people in Bulgaria's southern neighbor are ready to emigrate, as unemployment is constantly increasing on account of the financial crisis, local newspaper Vima reported.
Japanese Dairy Company Meiji Interested in Investing in Bulgaria's Petrich
Japanese dairy products maker Meiji has expressed interest in investing in Bulgaria's southwestern region of Petrich, according to a media statement of the Petrich Municipality.
Bulgaria's Deputy Economy Minister Lyuben Petrov met with representatives of Meiji in Sofia in early March.