International relations

The outlook for the global travel industry looks brighter for 2014 as European economic recovery and rising consumer confidence are prompting holidaymakers and businesses to loosen their purse strings again.

Tourists are spending more on their vacations, going for higher-quality or more frequent trips abroad.

Bulgaria launches in Germany a new advertising campaign under the slogan “Bulgaria – discover and share”.

The strange incident in Bulgaria's Parliament on Thursday when an unidentified man released a swarm of exotic butterflies in the lobby, was part of a reality show. 

Bulgaria is among the top 15 countries worldwide in terms of greatest manufacturing growth potential.

Bulgaria was ranked 7th in the 'High Growth Locations' category based on Costs, Risks and Conditions parameters, in a Manufacturing Index report by Cushman&Wakefield (C&W) commercial real estate services company.

At least 2 protesters have been killed in Venezuela, as violence on the streets escalates once again.

Demonstrators demand the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro over food shortages and failed economic policy. The violence, concentrated mostly in the capital Caracas, has already claimed at least 20 lives, Euronews reports.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has said that he visited Tunisia to commemorate World War I events relating to a rescue of Serbian soldiers and to offer support for the government of the country on its path to democracy.

The Prime Ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia,Plamen Oresharski, Victor Ponta and Ivica Dacic will hold a trilateral meeting in Bulgaria's Danube city of Ruse on Friday.

A lunch has been scheduled after the meeting.

Transit permits expected to help Turkey and Bulgaria

A new liberalised transit permit regime between Bulgaria and Turkey should help businesses and develop the economy in both countries, officials and business owners say.

New liberalised traffic rules between Bulgaria and Turkey are expected to take effect in April. [Gabriel Petrescu/SETimes]

BELGRADE - The deadline for international observers applying to monitor the upcoming early parliamentary elections in Serbia expires on Thursday, while domestic observes have four more days to submit their applications to the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK).

“Albania’s future is in the EU… but the political parties need to work together and efficiently,” Stefan Fule said in a joint press conference with Albania's centre-left Prime Minister, Edi Rama, on Thursday.

“The culture of confrontation does not help Albania’s EU integration process,” he added, referring to the country's history of fierce political disputes.