Barysaw

15-20% Growth in the Village Tourism, Association of Bulgarian Villages

This year has been very successful for the development of village tourism, which has grown by 15-20%, surpassing the forecast 10-15%, the chairman of the Association of Bulgarian Villages (ABV), Borislav Borisov, according to Inews. 

Data for August-September are very positive and perhaps the 20% growth will be surpassed in some places, Borisov commented.

Death Toll of Bulgaria's Hitrino Blast Rises to 7

The number of fatalities after the incident in Hitrino in northeastern Bulgaria has increased to seven, authorities say.

More than two dozen people have been left injured.

On Saturday morning, cisterns full of liquefied petroleum gas and propylene went off the rail tracks and crashed into buildings in Hitrino, with one of them subsequently exploding.

PM: Bulgaria Maintained Stability Despite Last Year's Global Challenges

In a Facebook publication on the occasion of the new year, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov noted that Bulgaria had managed to maintain stability despite the dynamic events taking place around the world in 2015.

Borisov identified 2015 as a year full of work and new challenges, when many projects had been fulfilled and the foundations for the long-awaited reforms had been laid.

Bulgaria PM: I Pray to God that Sanctions on Russia May Be Revoked

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov hopes sanctions on Russia will be lifted soon, TASS reports him as saying in an exclusive interview.

Borisov asserted that his country was doing "everything" to restore normal relations with Russia.

He also made clear that historically cordial and friendly ties were not dependent on political ones.