World

Until now, EUR 57,087,659 of the EUR 160 million of European support for border protection have been absorbed, assigned and paid out, Interior Minister Valentin Radev said at a briefing on the government's programme for public order and security, Actualno.com, reported.

The Croatian government said on Thursday that it will revoke controversial Ordinance on the Increase of Import Taxes that threatened to lead to a trade war between Zagreb and neighbouring Balkan countries.

Croatia recently adopted new rules that increased fees for inspections of fruit and vegetable imports from 12 euros to 270 euros.

Greece's jobless rate dropped slightly to 21.7 percent in May from an upwardly revised 21.8 percent in the previous month, statistics agency ELSTAT said on Thursday, but the rate remains the eurozone's highest.

Greece's foreign ministry accused the British newspaper Financial Times of defaming and lying and accused it of "violating journalistic ethics" for an article about Minister Nicos Kodias.

The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and his team racked up a bill of £24,450 by chartering a private plane for a one-night visit to Rome, campaigners have revealed. 

South Korea's military said on Thursday North Korea's recent statements regarding striking the U.S. territory of Guam are a challenge against Seoul and the U.S.-South Korea alliance, Reuters.

Sonja Biserko says the government "has no serious intention to devote itself to regional cooperation and normalization of relations".

In the period January - June 2017 Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 25.4% in comparison with the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to BGN 8 798.8 Million, reported the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

Qatar, isolated by its neighbors in a diplomatic crisis, on Aug. 9 introduced a visa-free entry program for 80 nationalities to stimulate air transport and tourism.

"The visa exemption scheme will make Qatar the most open country in the region," tourism department official Hassan al-Ibrahim told a news conference in Doha.

In the period January - May 2017 Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 10.8% compared to the same period of 2016 and added up to BGN 13 283.0 Million. Main trade partners of Bulgaria were Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece, France and Belgium which accounted for 68.9% of the exports to the EU Member States.